Figured I should post a build thread. Started with this:



Plans are to turn it into a budget race car. Thinking LeMons and track days. Need to remove the cage (I think it's for an S30 Z, it looks a little small in the ZX) and fabricate a new cage, fix any rust, rebuild the brakes, and take it racing.

It came with a rebuilt, 0 hour engine. N42 block, N42 head, flat top pistons, 87mm. We went thru the engine to make sure it was in good shape, bolted it all together with the 5 speed and dropped it in. Well, it turns out that the S30 and S130 had different oil pans. Thankfully we had the right one, so we had to pull it back out for an oil pan change.

Next order of business, differentials. The diff in the car has a welded spider gears. I pulled the R200 out of the spare subframe to see what we have there.

Turns out it's a 3.70. That'll go nicely with our tire size and transmisison, so with some cleaning, that'll go in. I just need to pick up a 14mm wrench/flare nut wrench to get the axle bolts off.

Most recently, remove the old cage, start ripping up the patches on the floor. The guy who built the car put in some subframe connectors underneath, filled 'em with spray foam, and then used sheet metal screws to install some thin metal over the rust holes. I'm going to clean up all the metal and weld in patches where needed.



Next update should include the diff install, bigger holes in the floor, and maybe the wiring rat's nest.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

What should it weigh when you're finished (cage included)?

......And the weld too. I could of told you were the rot is before showing the pics....yea, those are all to common for the rot spots. I'm sure when you done it will be as good as new.

I'm hoping to get it down to 2500lbs. The only glass we're running is the windshield. Door glass will be removed. Side and hatch glass will be replaced with Lexan/plexiglas. No dashboard, window cranks. It's a hardtop w/o AC or power steering, so that helps too. Only a driver's seat.

However, we're putting about 100lbs in for the cage, and the R200 feels about 20-40lbs heavier than the R180.

Today I'm picking up some steel for the rust patches, and maybe a set of wheels. We're going ahead with a 5x4.5" bolt circle change, we'll be drilling out the hubs and patching the unused holes. Turns out that factory Mustang wheels are a close match, plentiful, and dirty cheap.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

Idea for the rear hatch.......remove it completly and fit in some lexan. There's 50lbs. Also get rid of the storage pan in back of the seats. Holds the buckets and speakers. Another 2lbs.

Good tip Paul.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

Just an idea I had with my 79 pipe dream race car.

It's been a while since I updated this.

We've been hard at work on the with the 5 lug swap, cage and patching the floors.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

Neat work so far ~ who's doing the welding?

Also, never saw wheels like that before. What brand?

Frank

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1970 240Z

I'm doing the welding. Well, most of it; I saved the tricky upside down welding for a buddy of mine. I haven't quite mastered that skill yet...

Wheels are from a '94 Mustang GT. We did a 5x4.5" swap (modified front struts from a Z31, custom control arms, custom rear hubs) since the wheels are dirt cheap and readily available in 15-17" diameter.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

Race day is tomorrow. Here's a pic mid painting.


Got the carbs running pretty well, layed some rubber in the driveway, let's see how the weekend goes.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

DANG! That came out pretty nice!

Where are you racing tmrw? I notice you're not running a windscreen ~ track regulations against glass?

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1970 240Z

New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The windshield was broken, so we took it out to make the roll cage fabrication a little easier. Just dropped in a nice windshield (Thanks Paul!) last night.

Different tracks have different rules in the race series, some allow and some don't allow other glass. She's a garage queen now, so out it came.

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

The race was a blast. We lost a few hours at the start due to a fuel leak and poorly tuned carbs. Beyond that, the car ran flawlessly. Sunday was even better when we advanced the timing to where it should be....



And some youtube videos
http://youtu.be/GWiIlSRkVZ4

http://youtu.be/dRaSxvsHA54

-Andy

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'79 280ZX LeMons racer
'79 210 LeMons racer (future L20 candidate)

Fun videos! Looks like you had a blast. Do I zee an antenna on your car? Are you in touch with the pits, or listening to the Green Bay Packers spring training camp while you're driving?

I notice the THINK AND PATIENCE!!! sign ~ do you have opposite inclinations?

F

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1970 240Z