looking to build OR buy scca Z

[learnerZpermit]

im looking to race scca events with a Z ,i need to know if anyone has experience in this category? i know phred does, but i also need suspension info, safety info, and drivetrain info.

[jmark]

Their are several SCCA ITS racers here who run a 240Z currently.

[Z_Chaz]

If you don't already have a copy of the General Competition Rules (GCR) and car sections (category and classes), it can be downloaded in PDF format at the SCCA site:

http://www.scca.org

In the list on the left of the home page, go to "Club Racing" then "Cars and Rules".

If you download the entire book, the categories are included.

[learnerZpermit]

thanx fellas, but im just going to build my own instead of trusting someone else's work. (what was i thinking?)

[Carl Beck]

Perhaps you were thinking of spending 1/4 to 1/3 as much money to buy a completed car, than to start from scratch yourself.

FWIW,

Carl

[ZagatoZ]

yes, a pre built race car will be much cheaper than building one yourself and will have most of the kinks worked out.

[Ron Carter]

I know a few people selling datsun race cars, drop me a PM

[learnerZpermit]

thats true but i dont want trust someone elses work-brake failure at the track is never cool!, and neither is losing sleep over thinking if bozo the clown torqued the motor mounts down right. or if he feeds a line of bull to ya about how bored his l28 out to a 3.3 , etc.

[Carl Beck]

thats true but i dont want trust someone elses work-brake failure at the track is never cool!, and neither is losing sleep over thinking if bozo the clown torqued the motor mounts down right. or if he feeds a line of bull to ya about how bored his l28 out to a 3.3 , etc.

Hi learnerZpermit:

Not to be argumentative, and in the full spirit of helping a learner...I'll have one more round at this discussion. It might benefit others that are following along. Sounds like you've been feed a few lines on previous car purchases and/or repairs ... yes/no?

I'd suggest that you think of it this way: Trusting someone else has very little to do with it, "buy" or "build" - YOU still have to do the work on the car yourself.

If you buy any Z and set it up from scratch for competition yourself... you'll be starting with a Z that you have purchased from someone at sometime anyway (so some amount of trust is involved). Then you'll have to determine what performance parts you need to buy, for the type of competition you decide to participate in. Past that point you intend to do all the mechanical work yourself... OK.

If you first determine what type of competition events you want to participate in, then decide what all performance parts you'll need .... then buy a Z that's already set up that way, with all the needed parts included .. You would be buying the Z and the parts as a bulk purchase - for about 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of buying all the individual parts. In this case YOU would still disassemble/ inspect/ reassemble everything yourself anyway.. Most guys that race go through this process every race or two anyway. No one would suggest that you simply buy a used race car -jump in and go racing (maybe we should have made that point more clearly to begin with).

If you buy a competition car that was campaigned successfully - and that's easy enough to check - you have the added advantage of getting a car that actually is equipped with items that do help performance, are legal for that type of competition and you avoid buying stuff in a trial and error mode.

I believe the main advantage of buying a well sorted out competition car to start with, aside from the cost savings - is the fact that you can now spend far more of your time learning to drive and gaining seat time - rather than chasing down parts, waiting on machine shops, welding shops etc. and/or figuring out how to best install the component parts yourself as you start from scratch to build a car. Driving experience is 90% of the battle...

Once you decide that SCCA competition is in fact the the type of competition you live for.. and once you have a lot of competition events under your belt - and a lot of experience with all the individual bits and pieces on your car ... then you may want to invest the heavy time and money in a ground up build of a competitive car of your own.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[Phred]

Carl took the words right out of my mouth. I'm sure most of us speak from experience. As soon as the car is completed, you can sell it for about 2/3 of what you have invested. I have built a couple cars from the ground up, the first because I thought I could save money, and I did. But its a major job. I also had all the equipment and ability to do the job right. I have also bought a used race car, (formula ford) and again Carl hit the nail on the head. You don't just jump in and go. You disassemble, recondition if needed, and reassemble. This gets you aquainted with all the parts, gives you confidence, and later at the track, if something goes wrong, you'll have a working knowledge of what the problem is and how to fix it. And you will have saved yourself a lot of money by buying instead of building. HOWEVER, there are some of us who actually enjoy spending hard earned money, inflicting pain, and doing things ourselves because we think we can do it better than the other guy. We're builders. We're the kind of people who would build an airplane rather than buy one. Even if we had the money to buy one. So if you're one of the latter, go for the gusto. Just be sure you have the ability, or desire to aquire the knowledge and ability, the equipment, and the space for an extended project. First, go to races, ask questions. Become informed before you start parting with all those greenbacks. Remember, Nothing happens overnight. Well... except for that girl I met in San Francisco back in 1969, but that's another story. Good luck.

Phred

[Chino 240Z]

Carl & Phred make some good points. Alot of people burn out, run out of money, or get in over their eye-balls in putting together a track worthy car from the ground up. It is very rewarding when you do complete a project of such. But never the less, to buy is just as good. We went the buy route and still found ourselves making corrections, changes, and updates to fit our needs and tastes. We feel just as proud and worked just as hard.

You will be turning wrenches, before, during and after each track event. There will be many "back to the drawing board" in both, buying or building. It is alot of work just maintaining a car that you put your life & others in no matter who builds it. I'm sure others will agree- the work is never done.

You may have a need for speed but the car will have its needs too: repairs, additions and improvements.

Track cars have an never ending hunger for tires, fuel, lubricants and even harnessess, belts and helmets have experation dates (every few years).

Don't forget to save some of that "building" money for track fees too. Some race groups require yearly fees and doctor physicals to keep your race permits current.

Get to those events and make friends, talk, take pictures, invest in "How to" books for building and driving. You will definetly get more bang per buck and sooner into the seat if you buy and also know you can build later. You can probably take someone elses well built project to an even higher level and have one awsome competitive ride. Hopefully the goal is to get on the track and not side tracked in building. Good luck with both directions, it will be alot of fun!

Craig

[learnerZpermit]

thanks fellas... my main concern was having to go back through a vehicle to comb it down, when i could go through it one time and it be done. like i said i could buy a race prepped sled, check the braking system, and find it needs new lines. OR, i could go through my own project and replace every bit of the braking system anyway to ensure quality parts were used, and never lose an ounce of sleep wondering if those "autozone special" brake pads are going to get me into the next round of soloII .my point being, why do something twice , when it only needs to be done ONCE...there are a lot of people that will tell you anything to sell a car. and ill be damned if im gonna take apart "roger rabbit's" toy car to see if he really has a diesel crank in his L28!??!?!? and if no reciepts? then i pass? then what if he was telling the truth and i just passed by an awesome deal! What then?