TopSpeed Motorsports - Datsun 240Z Project

Discussion in 'TopSpeed Motorsports' started by slowwrx, Mar 23, 2011.

  1. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    The Datsun Project:

    We at TopSpeed were recently approached by a client to do some work on a vintage Datsun 240z race car. The customer was having some tuning issues with the standalone in the car and brought it to us to sort out. While we were assessing the car our client mentioned that he was considering an LS swap at one point. After a few meetings and some discussion it has been decided that we would do a LS swap on the car rather than fix the existing issues.

    The customer wants big power and reliability for running endurance events. Much of the parts still have yet to be chosen will it be a LS1 or a LS7, 5 speed or 6.

    Everyone at the shop is very excited about this project. Its a little different than what we usually do here at TopSpeed and we think its a good chance for us to show off our versatility, and fabrication talent.




    Ill be updating this thread with pictures of the parts and the progress as it happens.

    Here are some pictures of how the car came in.

    Enjoy...

    -Matt

    [​IMG][/IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The “Decision”
    427 dry sumped inches that could

    We put a lot of thought into what would work best on this car as far as the drivetrain goes. There are many factors to consider when choosing a engine for a project like this. What is the intended use, who will be using it, are they an experienced driver\mechanic, what is the end goal peak power or a huge wide powerband?
    We had a long consultation with our customer and after much discussion he agreed that a built LS7 was the way to go. We were pretty excited about this decision to say the least, its exactly what we wanted to do and we were happy that he agreed.
    We consider ourselves to be very good at a lot of things and have built a lot of engines but we have never built a LS7 for endurance racing. The owners here at TopSpeed are firm believers that you do what your best at, and staff your weaknesses. That being the case we are lucky to have some very good friends down the street at MTI Racing that have done quite a bit of LS7 work…and by quite a bit I mean they are some of the best in the business. Reece Cox and the crew at MTI came up with a package that will give our customer everything he wants in a engine. Strong, reliable and very low maintenance for a race engine. Here’s a short list of the engine specs below.
    LS7 block
    Callies Rods
    LS7 Crank
    Mahle Pistons
    MTI CNC Ported LS3 Heads
    MTI Custom Grind Comp Cam and Lifters
    KSTech Timing Chain
    ARE Dry Sump System
    Target Horsepower for this project is just over 500whp. This engine will get us there and leave plenty of room to spare.
    Stay tuned for more pictures as parts begin to roll in.

    Boxes and boxes and boxes of parts.

    The parts are finally starting to roll in for the Datsun Project so an update is in order.

    One ultra trick item that was purchased for this project was a Quarter Master 5.5 inch triple plate clutch. Its ultra compact and will allow us to run a reverse mount starter and a very compact bellhousing. This will allow us to wrap the headers and exhaust down and around the motor in a much tighter fashion.

    Heres a view of the complete kit, keep in mind that this clutch is smaller than a dollar bill, its remarkably light.
    [​IMG]

    Heres a view of the inside of the bellhousing. This setup is all designed to work together, so theres no need to shim the throw out bearing.
    [​IMG]

    There were lots of transmission options and while it would have been perfectly acceptable to put some wild dog box tranny in this car it really just doesn't suit what this customer wanted. We choose to go with a proven winner and install a Tremec TKO-600. The TKO transmission is still a syncro style transmission but its designed to take some serious abuse.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2011
  2. wagunz_pwn

    wagunz_pwn Active Member

    subscribed!
     
  3. Strayen

    Strayen Active Member

    Look at that engine bay!! You could fit TWO Cohens in there. :p
     
  4. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    i just came in my pants.
     
  5. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Save some for later its going to get better.
     
  6. motomark

    motomark Loudest fuel pump Tucker Supporting Member

    That thing is HOT. What's it weigh as it sits? Can't be much...
     
  7. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    We estimate complete it will be around 2200-2400 lbs
     
  8. motomark

    motomark Loudest fuel pump Tucker Supporting Member

    That should make for a "nice" power to weight ratio with any LSx... always liked those 240Z's.
     
  9. techlord

    techlord Active Member

    his name is not victor by chance?
     
  10. superdoughboy4

    superdoughboy4 Active Member

    Subbed. Holy crap. That is one long Z.
     
  11. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    drooooool
     
  12. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    His name is not Victor.

    Yeah the IMSA Style kits are pretty long....and wide.
     
  13. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    This is gonna be sick. Is the kit just slapped on? I see gaps and holes everywhere.
     
  14. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    The front air dam isn't attached at all its just sitting on, the rest of the body is pretty straight for a racecar.
     
  15. Mike@TTR

    Mike@TTR Active Member

    Just out of curiosity, did that car have a megasquirt ecu in it before? It looks like one I saw at a shop near the house.
     
  16. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Yes it had a megasquirt in it previously.
     
  17. Mike@TTR

    Mike@TTR Active Member

    Ok, thought it was that car. I saw that a couple months ago just sitting in a shop. Really cool car.
     
  18. ballistic

    ballistic Member

    this thing is gonna be sick, just saw it in person
     
  19. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    I think we provide the kind of customer service he expects, so he brought it over for us to take care of.

    Glad you stopped by, the machine work on the sleeved block was incredible Ill post about it later this week.
     
  20. tolnep

    tolnep Member

    i had a 73 240z, with a built 280 motor with a turbo tom's setup running a holley 850 double pumper on the intake with adjustable boost and water injection. this was back in the day before people did dynos so i dont know what it put out. i ran up to 25psi on race gas. it had 8:1 compression ratio so i would run regular gas on trips and turn the boost down.

    before i went with the built 280, i considered a scarab v8 kit. drop a chevy v8 into a 240z. some guy did it and put a couple of turbos on the v8.

    the car is lite. so a little power goes a long way. lots of folks doing high hp upgrades would weld braces to the under body because the chassis will flex. i think paul newman's z race car (bob sharp?) had this sort of stiffening.

    of all the things i've seen in a 240, the coolest was a GTR iron double overhead cam block, what is that? rb26dett? with twin turbos.

    the car is light as hell. should be interesting..

    turbo tom used to hand fabricate everything. was expensive. i couldnt afford all the things he did. once of which was to install a handmade adjustable suspension with corvette disk brakes.

    i always found the 510s to be more fun to mod though.
     
  21. Doug@DBW Motorsports

    Doug@DBW Motorsports Active Member

    God this car is going to be so sick... can't wait for the drysump motor to go in... 600whp in a 2k lbs car is going to be nuts.
     
  22. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    what diff or axle is going in this?
     
  23. Doug@DBW Motorsports

    Doug@DBW Motorsports Active Member

    custom billet stuff...
     
  24. Allpro Subaru

    Allpro Subaru Registered Vendor Supporting Member

    Sick looking car guys!
     
  25. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Hmmmmm sounds like Lucy in another body and engine.
     
  26. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member


    Thanks for giving away the details Doug. I'm trying to keep a few things quiet so we will have stuff to post about as it comes in.
     
  27. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    The kind that spins and stuff. :eek3:
     
  28. Doug@DBW Motorsports

    Doug@DBW Motorsports Active Member

    I didn't give any details... thats like looking at two cars and just because they both have wings on them calling it the same.
     
  29. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Bwahahahahahahaha. Best response from Doug ever.
     
  30. WRboXer

    WRboXer Active Member

    nastiness.
     
  31. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    wings? planes? put a lycoming in that bitch
     
  32. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    I guess LS7 it is...question is, what tranny?

    Like to see some base figures on this as well, if the customer's willing. Should provide some good feedback for potential future projects between nicad, wrxin8or and myself
     
  33. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    they didn't say stock dry sumped... from what I gather, the drysump system in the LS7 has its shortcomings
     
  34. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    it does but its easily fixed
     
  35. blaster

    blaster my other ride is your mom Supporting Member

    Boner.
     
  36. BKiller

    BKiller Active Member

    Z car with V8 is one of the cars I have wanted to build for years.

    Also on that list is a V8 Porsche 914.
     
  37. AtlxPat

    AtlxPat Active Member

    love me some 240/280z
    subscribed
     
  38. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    The “Decision”
    427 dry sumped inches that could

    We put a lot of thought into what would work best on this car as far as the drivetrain goes. There are many factors to consider when choosing a engine for a project like this. What is the intended use, who will be using it, are they an experienced driver\mechanic, what is the end goal peak power or a huge wide powerband?
    We had a long consultation with our customer and after much discussion he agreed that a built LS7 was the way to go. We were pretty excited about this decision to say the least, its exactly what we wanted to do and we were happy that he agreed.
    We consider ourselves to be very good at a lot of things and have built a lot of engines but we have never built a LS7 for endurance racing. The owners here at TopSpeed are firm believers that you do what your best at, and staff your weaknesses. That being the case we are lucky to have some very good friends down the street at MTI Racing that have done quite a bit of LS7 work…and by quite a bit I mean they are some of the best in the business. Reece Cox and the crew at MTI came up with a package that will give our customer everything he wants in a engine. Strong, reliable and very low maintenance for a race engine. Here’s a short list of the engine specs below.
    LS7 block
    Callies Rods
    LS7 Crank
    Mahle Pistons
    MTI CNC Ported LS3 Heads
    MTI Custom Grind Comp Cam and Lifters
    KSTech Timing Chain
    ARE Dry Sump System
    Target Horsepower for this project is just over 500whp. This engine will get us there and leave plenty of room to spare.
    Stay tuned for more pictures as parts begin to roll in.
     
  39. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    updated First Post
     
  40. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    My dream car to build. These are one of my favorite cars of all time.
     
  41. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    pictures busted
     
  42. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Fixed the pictures and updated first post.
     
  43. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Is that the throwout in this pic with the two oil? lines going to it? How that work? Never seen that deal with oil lines going to it.

    [​IMG]
     
  44. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    One is the fluid supply line and the other is the bleed line.
     
  45. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Ah so it's a built in clutch cylinder. That's pretty cool.
     
  46. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Yeah its a hydraulic throw out bearing. Pretty common in applications like this.
     
  47. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    What's the latest?
     
  48. techlord

    techlord Active Member

    Saw this beast yesterday. Brandon was test fitting the suspension and looked to have both engine and tranny test fitted as well. He said once everything is fitted it all comes off and body work and paint.
     
  49. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Updated the blog on the website, Ill try and update all the post next week
     

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