Datsun 280ZX IMSA GTU race car build...

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 8:46 pm

...many thanks! looks better from a distance...

Front suspension all in, so now onto the rear...
Front hubs at Road, Rally & Race getting a little love and the bearings pressed in.

Need to find some new lock nuts and measure up and machine some spacers for the rod ends.
Will also look at making a new rear diff mount, but need to get the rest assembled and up to work out what to do.

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Sat Dec 01, 2018 4:06 pm

Went to assemble and measure up the spacers needed on the outside of the rod ends, but threads need re-tapping... so that will need to wait until I get a tap next week.

So decided to clean up the radiator & oil cooler...
Brackets just got a coat of paint, so are drying, and radiator is currently propped up in position.
Before:

After:
...lots of elbow grease, scotch brite & CRC

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Sat Dec 01, 2018 6:58 pm

I'm most likely going to stick with the rear subframe isolators at the moment, though I have read that its worth modifying some 300ZX bushes to make it more solid... but just another job I don't need for a while...

Radiator nearly in, and oil cooler, both just need some bolts, and then some hoses.

Dry brake valve installed. its not perfect, but its on!

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:03 pm

Got the dry sump oil tanks in today.

Looking at what to do for the fuel cell...

@Andy & Anthony...
Schedule A part 1 says:
4.12 Fuel Tanks, Fillers, Lines and Pumps:
(1) Requirements: All tanks, fillers, lines and pumps shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) All fuel tanks (including swirl pots and 􀁂lters), 􀁂llers and pumps shall be isolated from the cockpit by a flameproof bulkhead or compartment, and...

Whats the best plan in accomplishing the above... I made a box some time ago, but looking like it wont do what I want, so need to go back to the drawing board... suggestions advice welcome.

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 7:38 pm

A very big thanks to Waidez for the rear assembly... I gave the inner flange a good tidy and squirt of paint.
Will take the rear arms to get the bearings and outer axles fitted tomorrow.

Also managed to fit the handbrake and hydraulic rear bias adjuster. The primary bias will be done with a mechanical one on the peddle box.

I decided to use the stock rear bushes, but will fit a Heavy Nitrile washer on the top, to limit the up down movement, then I think they should be ok.
they were a challenge to fit, I needed to press them together, wire them up, then using every limb I had get them pressed in whilst holding bits of wood to make sure I kept the finish all pretty...

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Sat Dec 15, 2018 8:16 pm

Cleaned up the rear stub axles today, and fitted new longer wheel studs.
Will get the wheel bearings pressed in early next week, and axles assembled.

I've got to get some small bushes made for the bottom of the shocks as the ID of the Koni is a few millimetres bigger than the shock mount.
And still not properly measured the rear suspension bushes to space the rod ends, maybe a task for tomorrow.

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Sun Dec 16, 2018 6:56 pm

Ok, I had better get some new flanged nuts for my rear axles, as the two I have seem a bit tight, maybe from the original staking.

Fitted the new longer studs to the front today, and looks like the front guards will need some surgery.
Will wait for car to be on its feet with wheel alignment done. May end up being cut down the length and pushed out and inch!
As I still have to fit a 6~10mm spacer, the current gap is <3mm.
Oh well... just add it to the left rear quarter that also needs fixing.

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 6:30 pm

Got my stub axles assembled thanks to Ron at Road Race & Rally.
I supplied new made in Japan bearings, seals and some new Nissan hub nuts.
Like the front hubs, new longer studs were fitted.
We used high temperature grease, and done... now I will set up the rear and assemble the Wolf Creek Racing axles...

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 1:12 pm

Merry Christmas everyone.
Rear lights all cleaned up and installed. I had some new reproduction gaskets from Z Car Depot.
The black surround on the RH light was painted with a spray bomb as it had gone light grey in the sun over many years of being outside no doubt.
Backing plates were gold passivated some years ago before I lost interest in the build.

Little hatch guide blocks found, cleaned up and fitted. I assume the arrow that is engraved on them points down? ...280ZX owners...?
And hatch hinges fitted.

Oh, and found a left over number plate for the rear.

Next will be peddle box or rear subframe...

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Thu Dec 27, 2018 7:50 pm

Made a start on the rear subframe today.
I still need to measure up and machine the proper rod end spacers, but that will need to wait until the new year when businesses open again.
Fitted the Wolf-Creek-Racing axles, only issue I had was the torque they specified, 50 ft-lbs for M8 seems a bit high so got some partially round nuts now.

After that I just done the rest up tight!
Tomorrow I need to pack the CV joints with the grease supplied and job done!

https://www.wolfcreekracing.com/index.p ... &Itemid=61
This CV kit was custom made for the 280ZX, I had to specify axle length so he could make it for me.
(I used Kelvin's old 280zx with R200 for the measurements).

Still need to make up some special resilient washers for the top of the mounts, so they become more like a solid bush...

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:44 pm

Greased the CV's up, and now fully assembled and tight.
Next job is to move it into place.
Still need to machine or make:
- Bottom shock bushes (4 parts, 2 per side)
- Rod end spacers (8 pcs, 2 per rod end)
- New rear diff mount.
- Resilient washers for OEM mounts. (2 pcs)

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Sun Dec 30, 2018 6:30 pm

I gave the insides of the strut towers a blast of white paint, so need to let that dry before I lift up the sub frame.
I'm not allowed to work on it tomorrow, so will need to wait a few days.

Today I measured up the front brake hats, will do the rear when I'm allowed in the garage again.

Will get the hats hard anodized once machined.
I have floating bobbins for the front and fixed for the rear.
Fingers crossed I've measured correctly.

I will only measure up the calliper mounts once the hats & rotors are fixed in position.

Drawing of my front hat...

djz · Post by **djz** » Mon Dec 31, 2018 5:10 pm

Are you running the hats bolted to the original rotor bolt holes? Not between the hub and wheel?

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:48 pm

I was going to mount them to the original rotor bolt holes...
Assumed that was ok, even though its a bit old school.

However, if I put it between the hub and the wheel, it would save making the ~8mm spacer I need.
But the hat step would be quite large, and similar to what I will need at the rear.

Grunzter · Post by **Grunzter** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:52 pm

Done a test fit of the rear subframe today, mostly so I can measure up for the new rear diff mount.
Rear wheels will push out another ~12mm when the rear brake hats are fitted.

And looking at the axle angle... the diff needs to go a little bit higher.

Datsun 280ZX IMSA GTU race car build...

Re: Datsun 280ZX IMSA GTU replica race car build...