I have been a reader of the threads here for a while but this is my first post. My name is Brian and I live in San Diego, Ca. I have a '71 Skyline that I brought in from Japan late last year. I have pretty much torn it down and rebuilt most of the essentials. My car, like most other KGC10's, is a full GT-R clone. It is actually a GT-X with the power windows and such. The drivetrain was pretty much standard when I got it but now there is an RB26 in it's place. The suspension is full comp now with 17 x 8 front and 17 x 9 rear wheels shod with race tires. I pulled out the Nismo R180 and installed a Kaaz R200 with 280ZX turbo C.V. joints and a full 5 lug conversion using parts from an '86 300ZX. I have Wilwood brakes on all four corners and just recently finished the motor and tranny mounts. Here are some pics of the progress. I have started with the day I picked it up from the port. The next are of a trip to a local car show. All the rest are of the rebuild over the last 8 months.

Brian

1: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/side%20shot%202

2: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/side%20shot%203

3: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/me%20with%20car

4: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/loaded%20on%20trailer

5: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/side%20shot

6: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/On%20the%20road%201

7: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/On%20the%20road%202

8: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Front%20shot

9: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Orig.%20engine%20bay

10: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Engine%20bay

11: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Original%20strut

12: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Strut%201

13: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Strut

14: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/Wheel%20shot

15: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/engine%20bay.JPG

16: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/engine%20bay%202.JPG

17: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/oil%20pan.JPG

18: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/downpipes.JPG

19: http://members.cox.net/bdooley/Skyline/collector.JPG

20: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/axle.JPG

21: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/diff.JPG

22: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/right%20rear.JPG

23: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/underside.JPG

24: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/underside%202.JPG

25: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/wheel.JPG

26: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/wheel%202.JPG

27: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/rear%20shot.JPG

28: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/engine%20bay3.JPG

29: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/engine%20bay%204.JPG

30: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/intake.JPG

31: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/sitting.JPG

32: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/right%20side.JPG

33: http://members.cox.net/b.dooley1/KGC10%20Skyline/front.JPG

oh man!!! (what else can i say!)

looks like there is going to be plenty of room in the engine bay! (i just hope i have enough too (RB30DET in a C110))

would be very interested in how you go with wiring on the car and things like radiator, intercooler, fuel pumps etc.. i look at my bad sometimes and just wonder where on earth they are going to fit!

G'day Brian,

....and welcome! good to see another KGC10 owner.That's an interesting twist on the KGC10. Nice to see you'll have suspension and brakes to back up the RB. My preference is for the original look, with the Watanabes even if what's under the bonnet is later technology something to do with the fact I'm pushin' 50 :classic: . then again, there are so many already done with the triples, watties, silver paint etc your departure from the masses makes it all the more interesting. I don't think I would ever do that to mine, and because of that it will never be the track weapon yours promises to be

If you're familiar with the old Prince Skyline GT, I have a friend who has done much the same to his Prince as you've done to the C10...(aagh! bloody turbos, they're takin' over!..give me the induction roar and exhaust note of a normally aspirated mill anyday)

Thanks for the great pics too, and please keep us up to date on your progress. I just wish I could see the finished product in action!

Jim.

Nice. What engine was under the hood when you got it? L20? L28?

Nice Car Brian, I like the RB26 idea, what gearbox are you planning to run it in? Very nice Car.

Cheers, Big Cheers,

Bruce.

Thanks guys. The original engine was in it when I got it, except it had a Trust header and triple Solex carbs. I sold off the carbs and header, but the engine and five speed are sitting in the corner of my shop. The RB26 is bolted to an R33 RB25det five speed. It fits in the tunnel surprisingly well.

I actually almost bought a car from Australia. I think it is the one that you ended up with Jim. It was a while back, but I think the sellers name was Ron. He was asking just over $16k U.S., whatever that comes out to in Aus. dollars. I think I still have a bunch of the pics he sent me. It is quite impressive, in both overall condition and in equipment. I would have loved to have gotten it, but it was just outside of my price range at the time. When I tried back a few months later after I had scratched together the extra cash, he told me it was gone. I ended up with my car from Osaka. Luckily, I managed to do pretty well for my money. While I liked the way it looked when I got it, I never intended to leave it stock. I don't plan to alter the body, but the suspension and drivetrain had to be updated. There are only four other ones, two doors that is, that I know of in the U.S. All are pretty much as mine was. There are also a few KGC110 Skylines here too. One belongs to my friend Mike, he actually posts here quite often. He lives only a few miles from me. Another one was just brought in by my friend up in L.A. I'm looking to try to organize a meet of classic Skylines here in Southern Cal. once we all have running cars again. I'll keep you guys updated if we ever manage to get this done.

Brian

Same car alright Brian! I keep in contact with Ron, He and his son Greg have a soft spot for the old Skyline.

Is the motor you pulled out a 2.8 litre? I'd be suprised if it was still the original 2 litre, running the triples and all the rest of the good gear. might be worth investigating considering all the nice internal bits available in Japan to build up a healthy L6. I would love to establish the history of mine.

My interest in this model stems from owning and playing with the earlier Prince Skyline GTB's.These were sold through dealerships in Australia from 1965 ~ 1968. It was at the inaugural Australian Prince owners national meeting that I first met Ron....and had a drive of the KGC10. As far as I know there are 4 other KGC10's in Australia..2 of those are works in progress. They were never sold new in Australia.

You sound like you were pretty serious about getting one, how did you get interested in such a relatively little heard of car? (outside Japan!)

Good luck with gathering the old Skylines together, and when you do...let's hear about it, I'd love to see pics of that event!!

Jim.

Ooook! That is gorgeous! Mikey was telling me about this car. I love it! Again, there are a few things I'd change but damn it looks good. Interesting moulded-in flares on the front too. Looks like a pretty good restoration! And now you're turning it on its head with all this new mechanical work! Excellent! What GTR was the RB26 out of do you know? Are you going to tune it up at all, or leave it stock? Frankly, stock would be more than enough power for me. It's great to see you're doing it all properly too, suspension and brakes-wise. That stuff makes me drool... I would love to do something similar with my C110 one day, though I'd keep the Watanabes.

Welcome

Brian's Skyline bought from Monky's Office in Osaka Japan. One of only about 6 in the USA. Nice job tearing down and rebuilding. I wish we could do more of that here in Japan but the laws and rules are too difficult to deal with, although they have loosened up quite a bit. A friend of mine managed to make his 70 Skyline with an RB20 conversion legal, but it was difficult. My car - 71 Skyline 2000 GT 4 door. Coming to America soon. Let's get more old Skylines into America.

Hiya Sakijo,

..and Welcome! Thanks for the information. Do you know of Rocky Auto ? I see from their site they seem to specialise in the RB conversion to a few cars. What is "Monkys Office in Osaka"? Are they an agent or a dealer?

It'd be good to see some photos of your 4 door Skyline

Jim

Ah yes. I remember your car, Brian. Saw it up close at last years Mossy Nissan Show. I see that you've done alot with it since then. I've always been a fan of the Skyline as well as other seldom seen Datsuns (in the US) such as the Silvia, Gloria, Cedric, etc. You'll notice that all of your replys come from Australia and one from Japan. I love to see that 'all Skyline' show. Maybe you guys could let me bring my 810 2dr. and park it off to the side somewhere with Les's Silvia.

Fantastic car brain, id do anything for the mechanical set up you have on your car on mine. Hope to hear the progress on the car as its made - more pics too

I just had a thought, thought. There is a relative scarcity of rb26 motors, and for that matter a majority of japanese import motors. How do you guys run your machines on the dishwater quality of American fuel? Additives, octane boosters or just putting up with it? [i dont know if some highly strung motors would run...?]

Regards,

Tom

Monky's is the dealer I used to find my car. Yasuhiro is the guy in charge and I can highly reccommend him. He went well outside of his usual range to find what I was looking for. It took about four months to get this car. He kept in contact with me at all times letting me know his progress. I still talk with him about my car from time to time. I may be bringing others in to the U.S. in the near future and I will definately go through Monky's again. My engine is from an R32. It is mildly built. I'm running Nismo turbos, Tomei metal gaskets, 700cc injectors, Haltec EFI, Greddy pulleys, Nismo clutch, and Tomei cam pulleys. I'm looking for around 500hp or so. And as for the fuel, we have both leaded and unleaded race gas available that really is not that much more expensive than the regular crap. About $4.50 a gallon compared to $2.75. The race gas is 110 leaded or 106 unleaded at the place near me. I'll be using one of these solely. The car is not a daily driver, in fact I doubt it will get more than 1000 miles of use per year. So it won't really cost that much to run.

Brian