Has anyone ever used a Z chassis to build an open wheeled roadster?

I've been into Z's for 30 years now and have one that is a basket case. I'm wondering if there's a way to remove the strut towers and attach short struts/shocks/mounts lower.

What I'm thinking of is something like this:

Anyone ever try it with a Datsun Z - even though it's a unibody type? Anyone ever remove the entire shell?

I think this is the wrong forum to ask those questions.

Chris

No, I don't recall ever seeing anything like that based on a Z unibody. By the time you build and apply the gussets and reinforcements that such a cut-up unibody would require, you would probably be better off to start from scratch and build a tube frame instead.

All unibody designed vehicles came about for pretty much the same reasons. Two of the main benefits are reduced weight and ease of assembly in a mass production operation. A custom built roadster such as you depict, open wheeled or not, would typically be built using a "body on frame" configuration, just because it is the practical/easier method. Not many of us hobbiests have the tooling to create our own custom stampings. A unibody design consists of a great number of stampings being welded together to form the "unibody" which has been designed to accept the suspension/steering components.

It is pretty common to see these suspension/steering components taken from a unibody designed vehicle being used in the construction of a tube chassis. Mounting points, clearance issues and maintaining the correct geometry of the components are key to the tube chassis design. Your post reminded me of this project for sale here locally.

http://windsor.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-33-willys-W0QQAdIdZ87125467

Anyone ever try it with a Datsun Z - even though it's a unibody type? Anyone ever remove the entire shell?

Remove the entire shell and you will have nothing left but a bunch of bolt on parts. Hence the term "unibody". :stupid:

Yep, I'd have to go with the consesus here. You had to expect these kind of comments since you refer to is as a 'crazy question'. I'm sure that if you really wanted to do it, it could be done. The only question would be.......why?

here's an idea for you. this is a Porsche 912, but you get the point