My 240z, like everyone else haha

[Seedy Al]

Hey guys of Ratsun, this is kinda a build I did for my normal web hang out

oldschool.co.nz

 

Sorry if you guys dont like the format I post it in or anything, I dont usually transfer over build threads, but its just so much Typing other wise haha

 

However I have crawled back here to have good read of whats going on in the rest of the world of datsuns heh

 

Anyway, we begin at the beginning

 

They have pretty much dream cars for me for years, and this one happened to come up at a time where I could do a sweet deal for it, not long after I sold my MS-55 crown to Jordan

 

So, shes a bit of a whore, but to me, that is kinda the way i like my cars, nice enough to thrash and park and drive without having to worry about it.

 

Anyway Some info

its a 1972, that has had a bit of a racing life. I believe it was brought over from Singapore in the 90's, already setup as a bit of a race car. has flares etc on it.

Since then it has had a few owners. I knew the last owner for a few years through my old work, so that is good.

Its got a stroker 3.1 using an LD28 crank, however i dont know any specs on the motor besides that. but I am just about to pull the motor down for a rebuild due to low oil pressure etc, so hopefully find out what is inside.

It has tripple webbers already, and some form of extractors. In the few drives I have had it goes fucekn well, lots of torque, which is what these motors are all about.

Also has a winged sump and a few other bits and pieces, stuff i didnt know were even on there haha

 

Also has 4pot front calipers, fuck knows what off, and an r32 skyline LSD diff head in the rear.

And has a bolt in half cage and a bucket seat.

 

its a bit of a shame really, as Although I do love the ratty matt / gloss black mix of paint, the zed was originally orange, and I really like my cars in factory looking colours. But oh well.

 

So yeah, some pics etc

this is how i bought it. Covered in stickers. yuck, and superlite wheels. also yuck. So I managed to sell the wheels back to the guy I bought it off, and pulled all the stickers off besides the fucken sweet ones (rising sun, jeah)

 

 

 

 

 

FUCK YEAH!

 

 

Pretty much how it looks now (besides the wheels)

 

 

 

Also bought these New old stock universal mirrors which are now on it, However the angles are all up the shit haha

 

 

So yeah...... just started removing motor this evening, however camera is in need or a charge, and a new charger is on its way, so Once I can take pictures i will take photos!!!!

Plan is getting this done in time for the August track meet day thing, So have a bit of shit ahead of me heh

 

Awesome, so happy. LOVE THIS CAR

[Seedy Al]

Gah, update with no pics as I dont have a cable for camera hah

 

Anyway, motor is out, and have started pulling motor to bits. head is off, and has been rebuilt and ported at some stage, so that is super, cam looks pretty factory spec but then again how do ya really know haha.

Might price up some thing fancy,

 

Um, Bores still have some hone marks, but also has some score marks... So might try some new pistons and an over bore. just not sure what the best pistons to use in there are.

 

other than that not much to report. Cant wait to get the crank out tomorrow to find out what that is like. just need a punch so I can mark the Caps etc.

 

So yeah, magic, hopefully have pictures tomorrow

[Seedy Al]

Right, An update with pictures

Cheery

 

So motor is now in 1 zillion pieces

Crank, rods etc removed.

Big ends and mains are 25 over, which is all good. bearings had some scores in them, and the thrust bearing was down through the harding.

However crank looks like it has survived and wont need a re-machine, but will get a recomnditioners opinion to confirm.

 

If I was going to guess. I would say the motor ha gotten pretty hot at some stage, which would explain the bearings and there scores, but would even more so explain why Piston number one has some epic scoring on it.

Not sure what the pistons are, pretty certian they are factory but need to do some reading and some measurements to confirm anything. current bore size is 88mm.

 

So anyway, picture time

 

The car as it sits now

 

 

no Engine

 

 

oh yeah, the flywheel had some pretty decent high spots on it etc so that will need a machine for sure

 

 

One engine sitting pretty

 

 

 

As you can see its nicely ported. migth see how well its port matched etc

 

 

One Cam, looks good

 

 

looks like I'm going to need a new ones of these, stupid corrosion

 

 

 

one crank etc

 

 

What the bores look like

 

 

Emtpy like KY's Sole

 

 

piston number one, which the scoring, Ring lands look mint etc, so i assume its from either over heated motor, or i guess the super low oil pressure

 

 

And one that isnt scored

 

 

And a bad picture of a crank

 

 

So yeah, Goodie good times

 

Plan at this time, replace big ends and mains assume a second opioion comes up trumps with them

And get some new pistons and over bore the block assuming they arnt crazy expensive.

Just not sure what pistons to use.

So suggestions would be amazing

 

Allan

[Seedy Al]

Not much of an update,

taking engine to rebuilder to get them to measure everything As i dont have the gear, and then decide what my options are.

Work mate is pretty sure that just a hone will fix everything with new bearings etc

 

Also..... I am struggling to decide what to do with the look of the engine, whether i get everything polished and shiny, or do the rocker cover in black wrinkle finish, and polish up the carbs or something.......

 

Silly things to be worring about at this stage, but if i want stuff polished, now is the time

[Seedy Al]

oh Well,

just got the call from the Engineer

looks like the pistons are shot, the have shrunk 8 tho, clearly from the epic amoutns of heat this had taken in the past.

So new pistons are currently being priced

 

Good news though, crank will come up mint with a polish, and the bores will probabaly be sweet with a hone, however we wont know until they have been honed.

looks like they are Z22 pistons, which are good.

So if the bore needs more than a hone, then will need to go z22 plus 1.5mm over

 

So thats all good and bad

bad because new pistons are going to cost coin haha

[Seedy Al]

So over the last few days well in my mulitple wasted states, i managed to make this happen

 

From this

 

 

To this

 

 

So i'm pretty happy

 

Now I just need to try and make the carbs a little prettier also

Might try polish and steel wool and see what happens

 

[Seedy Al]

Gah, motor has been honed and is not looking good at all.

So Now i need to make a decission, I can possible bore out to 89mm using z24 pistons, and paying stupid money on a head gasket to suit, on a block i dont like that much due to a known fault around one of the frost plugs

 

So next option is find another block, and hone that to 88mm using the z22 1mm over size pistons, Or, 87mm using standard bore z24 pistons.

I'm not to sure which road to take, and they are all moneyish things that my money ish might not make up in time for August track day.

 

I kind of like the idea of the 87mm pistons, as that gives me options later on, rather than going maxuimn everything and then having a rooted block if something goes wrong

[Seedy Al]

Gahhhhhhhh........

So i got another L28 engine while I was in wellington this weekend

I stripped it down at my mates work and left it with him, as they do engine rebuilding (custom works in NaeNae. Fucken good cunts

So its all ready for the rebore to suit the pistons, But.! i have no pistons!!!!!!!!!!

 

i dont know what the pistons are out of the old engine... they measure at 88mm diameter, So logic says z22. However, from what i have seen Z22 pistons have dished crowns.

the pistons I removed from the old engine have Flat top pistons pretty much....... So now I'm not sure!

 

And now I'm starting to worry I'm going to run out of time darn it.

Still, have corona as back up for track day, but that is besides the point!

[Seedy Al]

So back up plan is now in Action.

Muiltple posts no picture fails!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

L28 block, honed. factory l28 everything. new rings and bearings

My ported head, carbs cam etc.

Should go alright.

have been thinking of this route over the last few days. then Tim13 said i should do it. And i thought, fuck yeah might as well

Build up super sweet motor later.

[Seedy Al]

coz

 

[Seedy Al]

Cricky,

So many builds going on I see this was bumped to second page haha

 

SO its been mental

 

Block got cleaned, honed and decked (after the broken head stud was removed from the block)

Pick it up at swap meat thanks to hemi and bizzo

 

Since then, I painted the block, inserted new frost plugs.

then thanks to some timing luck the cranks got polished and some big end bearings and rings turned up on friday

So then it began, started gaping the rings etc (this shit takes heaps of time, i really had no idea how long it would tsake to put A motor together)

 

Anyway, the crank, rods, pistons with new rings, head and timing chain are all done

had an issue where for some reason one of the head studs broke. So I had to pull off the front cover again, and the head, to remove.

Still not sure why it happened as I simply un wound the broken stid out of the block.

 

So that set me back as far as time wise goes, as I had to make new front cover gaskets etc

But anyway. Hope to have it running tuesday night, and start running it in

From here its sump and oil pump on, paint and fit rocker cover. Fit machined flywheel, and box etc, then mash into hole

 

Pics!

 

Block cleaned and machined

 

 

painted and frosted

 

 

Rocker cover ready for wrinkle paint

'

 

fuel block ready for polishing (is done but no photo)

 

 

Block

 

 

B,lock with a crank'

 

 

With rods and pistons

 

 

 

Head, timing, covers, all that shit done after a hard weekend

Thank god for white spirits haha (vodka and gin btw)

 

 

And the mess as a result

 

[Seedy Al]

Lack of pictures is gay, however

 

So spent till 100 last night battling this thing.

Essentially the motor is now in the hole, however, to my delight, I noticed when i was bolting up the gearbox cross member that the clutch fork has sepertaed from the bearing carrier....

So now i need to pul the gear box off again, not an easy task as it took me 1 hour just to get it on right.

So I'm not looking forward to another battle this evening. Still, good progress really. With some luck everything should be bolted on tonight ready for test driving / running in.

 

Shame it doesnt change the fact there is still heaps to do on the bike for summit also..

HAH

[Seedy Al]

So i now have the motor all together, oil in the right holes, water etc

Have wound up the oil pressure so i know that is good, and have fuel at the carbs.

battery is a little low in charge due to epic winding over to get the oil pressure, so might swap for a new grunty one seeing as motor is all new and tight anyway.

 

tried to start but no go, probably timing or just a result of low battery. To late to check

Anyway some pics

 

Flywheel all machined and pretty

 

 

Carbs and crap on

 

 

Wrinkle finished rocker cover (got runs which was a fail)

 

 

And it all back together (besides dizzy cap)

 

 

 

Wish i had more time to detail everything how I want it, however there is always later, like when i build up the 3.1

 

Anyway, another few hours work And i should be driving the bitch............ to taupo!

[Seedy Al]

Heh, attempted to drive it to work after fucking around for ages getting timing / fuel to do it's thing.

 

in all my haste i had failed to notice the the bottom radiator hose touching the alternator cooling fan, So didnt get very far. however called my worker and he towed me into work.

 

trip down to repco netted me the perfect hose and now everything clears. Got it warm and checked timing, shit is perfect.

So now its time to go fuel up and take for a decent teste run on some flat roads to get it run in abit more

[Seedy Al]

So bit of an update

 

For those who didnt know i made the track Day!

Was a fucken fun time, drive over the napier taupo was something else, glad I left when i did as there was some snow around, and it was on the brink of snowing at that time too

 

Um, the whole time it was coughing back through the carbs, i had kinda put it down to maybe oversized jets or something as it was tuned for a 3.1

However once at the track, i wasnt impressed at how well it was reving out, so once i did my running in oil change (at the track) i had a bit of a play with the timing.

Which i had some trouble with!

turns out when i chucked all the oil pump and dissy drive back in i didnt allow for the fact that the dissy can only go in one location on the shaft,

So i either ended up with not enough advance, or maybe a little to much

I opted for a little to much and it totally changed the vehicle!!!

however, it still also has low oil pressure. So i'm guessing the oil pump is well worn. I have a second hand one that i'm going to chuck in, and change the shaft at the same time to setup the timing correctly.

 

but all in all, freaken awesome

 

pic of it at the shit before leaving

 

 

And yes, you can fit bikes into the back of Coupes!!

 

 

And fuelling up once again at taupo

 

 

magic. might post some pics from the track later on

[Seedy Al]

Kewl

So everything from here on is will not be posted out of another web site

 

All of the above from about the second post happened in about 3 weeks, which i realise is lost when you post a mass updates at once

 

So I took it round the track, was super fun!

Had a few issues to sort out, which I did. need some new HT leads as since I reset the dissy to its correct locaton the ones I had do not reach any more

pretty weird,

 

And while at the track i got to take my friends 240z out with suspention work but factory motor

Was amazing comparing the goods and bads bewteen the two

Loved his handling, loved my power and gearing

 

 

 

Anyway... that will do for now haha

[datrod]

coz

 

 

Cool zed, what is that wagon. Looks like a 510 but not sure.

[Seedy Al]

Its actually a Vauxhall Chevette Estate.

The club over here I'm part of, oldschool.co.nz, has a sweet mix of all sorts of cars, usually japanese, british, Euro or Australian. not to many American cars though. But makes for a real good mix of cars at track days etc

[datrod]

Its actually a Vauxhall Chevette Estate.

The club over here I'm part of, oldschool.co.nz, has a sweet mix of all sorts of cars, usually japanese, british, Euro or Australian. not to many American cars though. But makes for a real good mix of cars at track days etc

 

I like it. The front end looks like a Monza that we had here. But I don't remember their being a wagon version of it.

 

Anyway your zed is lookin pretty good. I like to see them get used for racin. Have fun and keep posting pics.

[datrod]

Here is a pic of my street ZED

[datrod]

And one of my race car. This one needs to be gone thru. At this event I burned up the diff. And the motor is getting tired. But no time and no $$$$$$

[Seedy Al]

Oh god nice cars all round!

 

Race one looks pretty damn sweet.

Next step for mine Is going to be some ZG flares and get the wheels I currently have widened out to suit.

Nothing like the feeling of being out of the track, I just need to get out to do it more!

Unfortunaly I overload my self with muiltple car projects so i dont always spend the money where I should haha

I'm sure Im not the only one.....

 

What sort of suspention setup do you have in the race one if you dont mind me asking?

[datrod]

Oh god nice cars all round!

 

Race one looks pretty damn sweet.

Next step for mine Is going to be some ZG flares and get the wheels I currently have widened out to suit.

Nothing like the feeling of being out of the track, I just need to get out to do it more!

Unfortunaly I overload my self with muiltple car projects so i dont always spend the money where I should haha

I'm sure Im not the only one.....

 

What sort of suspention setup do you have in the race one if you dont mind me asking?

 

The suspention on the race car I made myself. Tube lower control arms with heims & full adjustable. EMI camber plates up top. Koni shocks and coilovers all 4 corners. Hyper coil springs.

 

The front I just modified the stock arm to make it adjustable. Turn buckle with heims.

[Tuan]

Nice Ratsun SPeedy Al, but your steering wheel is on the wrong side. Hahaha. Good stuff.

 

I like the look of your car, very similar to mine. =)

[RedBanner]

The suspention on the race car I made myself. Tube lower control arms with heims & full adjustable. EMI camber plates up top. Koni shocks and coilovers all 4 corners. Hyper coil springs.

 

The front I just modified the stock arm to make it adjustable. Turn buckle with heims.

how many points do they ad for that, or maybe its not like chump car circiuts with a pointscale