300 ZX project

[Leon]

Hello guys, I have started a new project with my good mate Kelvin who helped me a lot on the M20 McLaren.
This is a Nissan 300ZX with a twin turbo 3.0L V6. One of the rules Kelvin laid down was this is not a 12year project and we hope to have it ready for the next summer season which is 6 months away.
First job is a 12 inch motor set back and some after market race suspension, I want it to look like the set back is part of the car and as such the stock tunnel and fire wall are retained and once welded back in will be dressed up to look like part of the original floor we also get to keep the stock G/Box mount.
We have gone for 18" wheels same as the IMSA cars used and I originally wanted to build it to replicate the IMSA GTO that Steve Millen ran in the early 90s but that would have broken the 12 year rule so that's not happening. I will post photos as we progress and I hope it will be of interest to you.

Cheers Leon

 

[Leon]

Hi Guys,
Back from WA so had a couple of weeks off and got some work done on the roll cage in the Z. It had a part built cage when we got it but was not legal so cut it out and started from scratch. I have just tacked it up and a pro certified welder will complete the welding while I'm away at work this time. Also took to the doors with the cutoff discs and halved their weight as well as cutting out the trunk floor and any brackets that won't be needed. The partner in this project (Kelvin) made the dog house (engine cover)

 

[Brian Kissel]

Good to see you are back on it Leon. Looks good.

Regards Brian

 

[Leon]

I know you guys like photos so here are some progress shots. Still have a few tubes to go in yet but it gives the welder something to start with while I'm at work

 

[Leon]

A couple more. I have added the another side intrusion tube so its an X with a dropper in the middle to the floor and another from the back stay to the Centre of the main hoop and top intrusion bar. It also has tubes to the front strut towers from the dash bar going through the fire wall and they will triangulate to the foot plates in the front laterals of the main cage and drop at 45 degree to the chassis rails.

Cheers Leon

 

[Leon]

Well, some more time spent on the 300ZX. got the roll cage finished and welded up this time home. Made the engine and G/box mounts and bought Intercoolers and radiators but as always happens with these things we are now looking at maybe going the single turbo direction. For a brief moment we looked at going the LS3 way but as we have a built 3.0V6 and all the stuff to make it work, the economics makes sense to stick with it. Also got a Tilton pedal box/master cylinders, 14"AP rotors and huge Brembo calipers. Blasted and painted all the sub frames and suspension parts. Made the front clip a One piece unit and cut as much excess metal as Kelvin let me out of the shell.

 

[Leon]

Here are some photos of the cage. Will send more of the finished/painted shell before we start putting all the bits back in it. the plan is to paint the entire shell white then add the red and blue in the same scheme as the 90s Stillen Works car #75.

 

[Leon]

Back home for 6 weeks over Christmas and hoping for some real progress on the 300z, we are going with a single turbo and have mounted it in front of the engine running to twin intercoolers. Finally finished the rollcage and now making the alloy fuel cell and mounting Intercoolers and radiator, these will be ducked air from the front air dam and out through the bonnet. The body will then get blasted and painted and we can start fitting all the suspension, steering, brake system and wiring. Kelvin made the rear wing and did a nice job of it as well, he has done most of the body work while I do the engineering stuff and considering he is a builder and used to working with wood he got a good handle on the steel stuff.

Some more photos and I promise the last of the roll cage pics, next lot will be turbo install, coolers etc.

 

[Neil]

Back home for 6 weeks over Christmas and hoping for some real progress on the 300z, we are going with a single turbo and have mounted it in front of the engine running to twin intercoolers. Finally finished the rollcage and now making the alloy fuel cell and mounting Intercoolers and radiator, these will be ducked air from the front air dam and out through the bonnet. The body will then get blasted and painted and we can start fitting all the suspension, steering, brake system and wiring. Kelvin made the rear wing and did a nice job of it as well, he has done most of the body work while I do the engineering stuff and considering he is a builder and used to working with wood he got a good handle on the steel stuff.

Some more photos and I promise the last of the roll cage pics, next lot will be turbo install, coolers etc.

If running your 300ZX at Bonneville is in your future plans, get an SCTA rule book before you go too far with your roll cage, etc.

 

[Leon]

Hi Neil, I can assure you this car will never leave these shores, its being built to run in allcomers club events in NZ we also want to run in "Time Attack" and "Sports Sedans" which are pretty much run what you bring events so the cage is to MSNZ standard and the guy who did the welding is the guy who signs off on it so we're all good.

Cheers Leon

 

[Leon]

Hey guys had 6 weeks at home over Christmas/New Years so got a bit more done on the Z and also finally sold the M20 so successful time home.
Got the cage finished and mounted the radiator in the trunk ran the pipes to the front ran the exhaust through the car and out the side jut behind the left door and painted the entire car. Now we can start putting the suspension back in and fit out the engine etc getting to the fun stuff now.

Some pics to look at.