New Zealand Datsun Club

Been meaning to create a thread for awhile so here goes:

After regretfully selling a R33 skyline with a RB30/25 I had due to urgently requiring a run about, I decided to start looking for a 70's/early 80s Fairlady Z with left over funds, have always had a soft spot for them.

Came across 2x 280zx 2+2s, not a 2 seater unfortunately but will do until I find one, One is in very good condition for its age, L28E 5 speed manual, Targa top, low k's, only done 180,000, mint untouched interior, 14x8" SSR rims, little bit of rust, worst being in front of bonnet, needs to be reconstructed at some stage. It still has factory spare wheel that hasn't been inflated, tyre is compressed into the rim if that makes sense, i'll take a photo. Jack and tool kit is untouched too, all of it looks new! The other 280zx, well, it was far too gone, extremely rusted, but has some very useful and hard to get parts.

Some photos of when I first got it:





Before anyone asks, the wheels are long gone Get asked frequently.

Got repainted, Monza red sitting on Rota RBX 17x9.5" wheels:






Since then, has had another engine in it, L28ET:




That engine is now gone, prefer RB series over L6, better part availability, CROSSFLOW, so much easier to fabricate manifolds and most importantly, more power







Apart from it sitting a tad too high, its a nice fit, using a combination of VL and R32 engine mounts.

The engine will/is comprised of the following items:

-R32 RB25 Head, cleaned, skimmed and has been slightly ported.
-268 degree Cams, 8.7mm lift
-Series 2 VL RB30 Bottom end, in really good condition soing leaving as is for the time being. Fitted with 2x 1.3mm restrictors. Thank you Ivan for bringing it down from Christchurch.
-RB30ET oil pump
-Port matched RB20DET manifold, almost near impossible to find R32 RB25 manifolds now. Custom Plenum, massive!
-VH45 Throttle body
-Twin scroll equal length T3 manifold, made out of SCH40
-Holset HX35 7 blade turbo, AR. 82 turbine housing
-Undecided on injectors, will most likely get some around 700cc
-Project MU single plate clutch, this thing is seriously so light! Flywheel, clutch and pressure plate, it all weighs less than a factory 9 bolt flywheel!

Aiming for around 450-500hp.

How it has been sitting for the last few months, blame gaming for that haha:



The RBX's have been sold, going to have to upgrade the brakes for cert so converting to 5 stud, was pretty gutted at first until Rota wheels NZ annouced a 5 stud version! Got a set on order, 4x 17x9.5s, -20 offset, look alot better than the RBXs:



Hmm, about all I can think of for now. Oh, most of the interior has been redone with black leather mx5 seats. Few goodies like Autogauge oil pressure, water temp and boost gauge, Innovate Air/fuel gauge, steering wheel, carpet is next on the list:



Aimee "My partner" has been wanting to learn how to retrim interior so she will be doing the rear parce tray, heres a photo as it sits after stripping the horrible grey carpet off, seriously, what were they thinking! carpet? and grey. :\



Getting covered in Black vinyl with a thin layer of foam underneath.

Some of you guys may remember me, I owned a Blue B310 sedan, didn't really have anything done to it apart from an A15 put it, had a A12. Owned a few other dattos as well, last one before the Z was a 910 bluebird with a Z18ET. Once you have owned a datto, you will always go back to them.

Looks like it's going to be a WEAPON!

Looks like you have been real busy - looks like a sweet project.

Those new wheels are sick!

I wondered who those Z's got sold to....

Welcome to the club, and good luck with the build

Hey Karl great work mate,We need to go for a cruse soon

Digging the build mate !!

Done a bit of work over the last week, stripped rear subframe/diff etc out for a clean up and paint, replace all bushes when I'm at it. Thought the subframe bushes was going to be near impossible to remove without a press but they came out quite nicely....after dousing it with petrol and burning them out haha :





There doesn't seem to be any company's around that make polyurethane subframe bushes for 280zx's so looks like i'm going to have to get some alloy ones turned, found this on the internet so shouldn't be too hard/expensive to get some made:




Workshop helper, or more like his helper......:



Cut up the old sump, should have new one made over next couple of weeks as well as front brakes and coil over suspension fabricated, scored some Z31 5 stud hubs.

Got a bit of work done today, stripped the oil pump for inspection, turns out that it was reconditioned! not a bad score for $40. Packed the gears with a bit of vaseline to make it easier building oil pressure. Both that and head are now bolted on.






Port matched the inlet manifold flange, there is quite a big difference between R32 RB20DE and RB25DE, getting quite hard to find non VCT rb25 inlet manifolds and the ones that are around, they want a ridiculous price for them. This should flow better anyhow after its done.




Most of the work is done, just got to clean it up a bit with emery cloth and then tig the manifold together. All goes well, should have both manifolds fabricated in a week or so.

Sweet 2+2 & nice engine Build.

you might want to check out Z31 Rear sub frame bushes, i have aftermarket ones in mine. The 280ZX and Z31 Sub frame look nearly identical so I bet they have almost the same bushing. Alloy ones will be fine as long as you build a solid diff mount for it too.

Keep up the progress, Can't wait to see more !

Cheers man, will look into that. From what I have heard, Z31 is a tad bigger than S130 bushes but worth a shot.

Have put the engine back in to determine position of turbo and fabricate the sump.





Sitting forward more that traditional setups since battery is still in the engine bay, not much point relocating it to the boot.

Haven't done much on it lately, been busy with my partners car. Doing a VQ30DET+6 speed Z33 conversion on her S14 silvia.

Still slowly gathering parts for the Z, bought a RB20det gearbox and short shift kit, R32 rb20det loom, next on the list is ECU, going to use Nistune. Stillllll waiting on the Rota RKR 17x9.5s to arrive in the country, been delayed a couple of times. Arrive next month sometime.