Building a 240Z!

[e_racer1999]

welcome Jason from San Diego!

Don't know about ITS prepped engines; what do the rules say regarding head series?

[dspillman]

HI Jay,

Get on the track with a safe car....cage, belts, just any kinda cheap tires. Get a decent coil over setup, with 300/275 F/R or maybe 325/275....spring rates, bilsteins Get on the track for at least a year, get a little seat time, then worry about building a engine.... Stock can be fast, and fun as well. Fresh valve springs, buy a new cam from nissan go racing..... ITS cams should be stock....leave those half inch lifts jobs for E-production!!! Have fun, talk with the other Zguys on the track, listen to their opinions. It will save you a ton in time and money. Good Luck!!!

David Spillman

[Sane]

Hey DSpill, thanks for the information on that. That plan sounds good to me. I honestly don't mind driving a stock car, because I wanted to do that in the first place! The only reason I wanted to buy a motor that was already built for ITS was because I don't have an engine or transmission, just a rolling chassis on my car. So I thought it would save me the time of money on that in the future, and I thought the built motor wouldn't be TOO big of a difference from stock. Anyway, cage, belts, comfy seats will be definite. As for coilovers, I was wondering what would be a good set for the ITS class which will be allowable. I didn't wanna end up getting a suspension setup that wouldn't be allowable, so I just want to make sure I don't waste time and money, because i'm really low on both of that right now. Thanks again, your a big help for me!

Jason

[dspillman]

Having an all out engine built early on would be great.....I personally would spring for rebuilding stock bore engine yourself......rings, bearings, freshen up the head, if money is any kind of issue. Yes, you can get a decent 40 over "ITS" engine built for you any where from $3000 - $13,000......how fast$$$ can you go?....

HP ranging from 165-200 at the crank......How important is that last 10 horse power$$$$$.........But your fresh engine will be for naught if you haven't spent much time on the track....Worry about the engine last....Money spent other places will do more good now......Shop around a little for a built car, I just picked up a nice car, with trailer for under 10,000 grand........Less expensive then a all out engine from Sunbelt....which by the way are worth every dime......

David

[Sane]

Thanks guys for all the responses, i'm really diggin' all this information thats being offered. I'll try my best to link up with the local Z guys and see where I can start out at. Do you guys recommend I get a parts car for the engine? The Z I have right now has everything except for engine, transmission, electronics, interior (except for steering rack n all). If possible, I want to keep this budget as low as possible. I have also been suggested to run on the BSP class in my local Autocross. All in all, I want the car to be built for a track rather than an Autocross event. I have also been suggested to get away from the L24 engine and just go for the L28 flattop F54 with an N42 head. The next meeting for the local ZCSD is next month, so it's quite a while. Would any of you guys know where I can run my Z competitively rather than just a run what you brung sort of deal here in San Diego? I've checked speedventures and a few other sites, but I don't really see a competitive route for the 240Z. Anyone mind pointing me in the right direction? Thanks again for all these great replies, Jason.

[DoubleXL240Z]

Jason,

Now my input!!

Join the SCCA( comes w\a crew license) be a pit rat like one of the guys already mentioned.

Get a GCR (General Competition Rules), its the bible of SCCA racers. Read it, memorize it.

Take that knowledge of the GCR and volunteer, beg, plead to help a local racer at the track. Watch everything that happens, help every where you can. Talk to people racing Zs, RXs, whatever!! Find out how much it cost, and how they did it. One thing you won't have a hard time in finding is a racer willing to talk about himself!!

If you can't find a racer, volunteer as a track worker.

Find the cheapest thing that runs, and run it!! Autocross, time attack, hillclimb, whatever!!

The 2.8 flat top n42 just put you into GT2. Against tube frame, 400 hp Panoz, GT3 Porsches etc.

As much as you believe in your driving( as 98% of all guys) your driving is the weakest link in the package for probably the first 5 years. A $3000 car with 7 weekends of racing will beat the daylights out of 10,000 car with a 2 weekend driver!!

Just my input,

your results and mileage may vary

[Sane]

Hey DoubleXL, thanks for your input. Yeah, from what the guy earlier told me about being a pit monkey, i've been trying my best to offer my assistance anywhere. I'm trying to go to every local SCCA event, so I can gain a better understanding. As for the GCR book, i'll definately cop one for myself. As for the 2.8 and N42, that's a real bummer! Is there another engine build you would recommend that would fit into a more suitable class? I plan on roadracing more than autocross, it'll be running my local mountains ocassionally and it'll definately be a daily driver. So, reliability will be my main concern, and performance can be a secondary. If possible, I want the engine build to be able to put a smile on my face when driving on a straightaway, but nothing too crazy. Just a little more oomph you know? =) Anyway, thanks again! Every suggestion from everyone will definately be taken into consideration!

Sincerely,

Jason

[d240zx2]

The most important thing you can "buy" is track time. The car is irrelevant at this point in your career pursuit. I would suggest that you enroll at a driving school (like Bob Bondurant's school) and get some high performance time. Other schools are around that have 'Vettes and Cobras, as well as Miatas and Porsches.

The car is important, but it's the nut behind the wheel that makes it go. Get the experience anywhere you find it...go karts, autoX, etc., are excellent venues to enhance your skills.

[Sane]

Definately, there's no substitution for experience, but with a daily driving car, techniques on the track can still be applied on the street as well. Under careful and safe conditions of course. Basically, my plan is to attend a racing school, and compete with their classes and probably rent one of there cars to compete for the day. I just don't see why I didn't think of this before! So I guess building the car with an F54 block and N42 head will work! Competing a Z would probably be the wrong car to start with anyway due to it's lack in a place to race here in San Diego. Do you guys suggest I get these parts individually or get a parts car? I'm really stuck on this decision, and I don't exactly have the highest budget either! Well, other than that thanks for the suggestion d240, it's great advice!

[sopwith21]

I'd like to offer some encouragement and perhaps what little advice I'm qualified to give.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it, regardless of your budget or lack of experience. I never drove a racecar in my life until I was 21. I had no money at all. I was a first generation driver and I spent the first years of my career running at the back of the pack, very discouraged, with no one to help me or offer advice and no internet through which I could get help from others. No, I did not make it to Indycar or Cup, but I got about 80% of the way up the ladder despite being in conditions as bad or worse than yours, and driving remains a critical part of my living.

FWIW, here are a few thoughts:

- I normally don't recommend driving schools. But if you cannot get seat time any other way and if you're a rank rookie with no background or experience at all, it would probably be worthwhile.

- If you can't afford a car yet, go to every event you can find and make all the friends you can.

- Drive anything you can get into every time you can... ANYTHING. Even go karts or autocross or dirt cars. Just drive. It all transfers to one extent or another. In the end, you're either a driver or you're not.

- Z-cars have a pretty good balance and they are good cars to learn with. If your budget is tight and you're a beginner, I'd say its a decent choice. If you're truly good with a 200hp Z-car, you can drive a Rolex car. No, that is not a misprint, and no, I'm not guessing.

- At some point in your life, do a few oval races. You'll learn things about yourself you never knew. And that last right-hander at Road Atlanta won't look so tough anymore.

- The term "professional driver" is a misnomer. Nearly all the drivers in every major series had gobs of money before they started; they never relied on racing to eat and pay bills. The reason they're a "professional" is because they started out with wealth obtained from another source. They are no more professional than you are. They can just afford more expensive hobbies.

- You can skip much of the mechanical stuff; drivers are specialists nowadays. But you can't skip tires. Learn all you can about tires and how they work. Ditto for suspension. I'm still awful with suspension stuff and it still hurts me.

[Sane]

sopwith21! Thanks a lot! That was very insightful. It provides me with that confidence i've been hoping to get from others as with myself. As for driving, I can definately understand what you are talking about. I currently drive a old 1989 Ford Ranger as a daily driver, and in my garage is an unfinished 240z. I can definately say even for daily driving that truck, it has definately helped me. I've tested the limits of the truck (under safe conditions of course) and this sort of exercise helps develope my traction sensing and those skills that involve driving a car at its limit.

As for schools, I am still unsure. I've been thinking of just participating at trackdays from Speed Ventures or any similar vendors. I have definately learned a handful especially in driving, by myself, and others of course, but I will definately always be pushing myself to learn from my experiences.

Lately, I can say I have definately surrounded myself with the right people in the direction i'm going, and it has truly helped me alot, and if not that it would have to be ENORMOUS! It helps a lot, and I will take the advice you provided me with on that matter.

As for my 240z, it's still under construction. Unfortunately, I recently had to switch over to another donor car for the actual restoration (the 240z body I was working with didn't have wiring at all, but the donor car did) after all the work I put into the car. I am looking forward to finishing the car very soon as the condition is very decent.

Thanks again! I will definately take all that advice and use it to my advantage!

Jason

[sopwith21]

I consider track days, or "high speed touring," or whatever you want to call open track driving for street cars, as very valuable training and I'd suggest doing all the track days you can manage. Doesn't matter what car you drive... take anything with four wheels to the track and just learn to drive it to its limits, while still managing your tire wear and car consumption (the rate at which you "use up" your car during a race).

Some of these drivers that show up for open track days, even in plain old street cars, are VERY good. The best thing to do is make friends and ask them for help. Go to the series director and ask them who the top drivers are, and which ones are have the kindest and nicest personalities. Those guys can point out things like tracking tire temps, air pressure in tires, and all the basics.

Also - and this is important - ask them to drive about 70% for the first two laps of their next session and allow you to follow them. If they drive 100%, they'll go off and leave you very quickly. And of course you can't really ask them to go slow during their entire session because they want to drive fast like everyone else.

But as a favor to help a rookie, most experienced drivers will give you two laps at 70% and allow you to follow them. Get about 4-6 car lengths behind them and practice following their line down to the inch. After two laps they can go off and leave you, and you can spend the rest of the session working on what you learned. Then in the next session, make a new friend and repeat the process with them. If they sit out for a session, ask them to watch your line and critique it. Most will be glad to do so.

That's the best and cheapest driving school in the world.