In the vintage club that I race, 911s generally rule the CP class. I am curious to see if a 240z could be built to run with these cars. An early 911 can weigh as little as 2000 lbs, have about 200 hp at the wheels, and uses ventilated 11 inch brakes. Long wheelbase 911s weight slightly more, can have up to 2.7 liter engines, and uses the same brakes.

So, how much can a 240z reliably put out, and how low can you get the weight? What do the 1972 SCCA GCRs say about allowable modifications to the brakes?

Im not sure on the rules for your class but there is a guy running a 240 in our class that has a fairly std car that weighs about 1000kg and has about 220hp it usually knocks of the 911's with similar modification. This hp figure is with some head porting, big cam fitted and not much else on the motor. The brakes are only slightly upgraded aswell

Ash

Without knowing the exact rules you have to abide by there is no real answer to your questions.

Every club, region, etc has different prep rules. SCCA rules would be the most difficult to get the car down to the wieght you are hoping for unless you go into EP or GT class. An Improved Touring Z can get down to close to 2000lbs within the rules, but the brakes have to remain close to stock.

If you can run a lot of fiberglass body parts in the group you are running with, 2000lbs will be no problem.

Depending on the engine prep rules you are looking at anywhere from 200-250hp or maybe more. Everything depends on the rules you have to run with.

A good Z should be able to run with most 911's given the same prep rules, what the Z gives up in one area it will gain in another.

I run vintage with HSR-West with my ITS prepped 240Z.

They put me in a "medium-bore cars" or "small-bore" class, (depending on how many entrants they have). But you could run CP if you have the cajones, and are pushing +275hp.

Normally:

You need to equip your car with adjustable suspension to compete with Porsche 914-6 (an ITS car can do that). The Z handles high-speed sweepers awesome (like Willow Springs). But the Porsche has good power down the straights. So, if you wanna take down bigger game (the 911), you need to show up with suspension and at least a hot 280 motor w/triple webers. And don't forget about the brake ducting, MASSIVE front brake ducting!

Check out www.hsr-westracing.com

As far as your weight question, my ITS car weighs 2280 with dash and passenger seat, no driver.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I race a Sprite with VARA and have an aversion towards HSR-West.

I'm researching what the VARA rules are for a 240z, which would run in VARA's CP3 class. A general consensus is that if it was allowed in the SCCA, its allowed here.

Engines cannot be stroked. Everything else is free - how to make 200 hp?

I can update brakes as far as 1972 - I know that makes no difference, but ducting and lining materials are free. After market calipers are prohibited.

Suspension - no coilovers and must use stock attatchment points. Everything else is free.

So a target is 200hp, and 2000lbs. The only shortcoming is the brakes at that point.

My uncle gave me his 71 240z for my 16th birthday. I've had too many other car-related activities going on to do anything with it yet (3 years now). Its a rust free car that had its hydraulics go to hell so he parked it. It seems a shame to rip it up to make it a race car, so an ITS 240z seems like a good way starting point.

This isn't an imminent decision. Its research. But I am starting to like the idea of a 240z vintage racer...

I think a well prepared 240 could run with any early 911. Since we get to run CP3 with VARA, there really is a bunch of leeway. I spoke with another person prepping a Z for VARA, who also owns a BP car. Basically, whatever you want to do will fly as long as you stay within the spirit of the original rules. I'm also converting my ITS car to a vintage CP car currently. With tripple carbs and a well built motor, we should be pushing 300 hp. John Morton's car was over 300 hp in 1972, certainly it could be done again with today's technology in cams, etc. Four wheel disc brakes are already installed, and the car is going on a serious diet. With the ITS record at Willow already down at 1:34, a well done CP vintage car should be at least a few secs faster than that. I haven't seen anyone in a CP vintage car run under 1:32, and most aren't under 1:35. Imagine how freaked out those guys are going to be when we start running sub 1:30 in a Z car. Probably get bumped to BP and have to run with the big bore cars. I don't think my car handles well enough to get that quick yet, but it could be done.

If your target is 200 hp, that is a snap. The motor we took out is a Rebello 2.4 ITS bottom end, a ported N42 head with a decent cam, a modified OEM intake and original SUs, ran on pump gas. That motor was at least 200 hp, maybe 215 (at the crank). That motor is going to be available once the big motor is done. I didn't have a chance to run it at Willow with that combo, so I don't have a good laptime for comparison, but I think it was probably about a 1:36-1:37 car.

Mike

What do you have to do to the body to get it down to 2000 lbs with a roll cage?

Britt Boyette

Stripping the interior of all panels, trim, sound deadener(that nasty tar like substance, and undercoating on the bottom) will take a lot of wieght out a a Z. Using a racing seat, removing heater core and A/C if allowed, using the smallest diameter roll cage tubing allowed (with plenty of reinforcing tubes and gussets), window glass removal if allowed, fiberglass fenders and perhaps other body panels if allowed.

Engine wise it would entail removing any and all smog equipment and associated hardware. Replacing the stock gas tank with a fuel cell, the list could go on and on, it all depends on what rules you have to abide by.

It would be possible you could get a Z under 2000lbs if you were allowed to use fiberglass body panels such as a hood, doors, fenders, hatch.

That is just a start to what you could do with the right rules package, and a good sized budget:ermm:

I have a 74 260Z that I would like to run in FP in Solo 2. The rules allow for quite a bit of modification. I am looking at making the weight right at the minumum of 2000 lbs. If I were running a 240Z, I would be able to go 1900lbs.

You can also run up to 16X10 inch rims and add flares to the wheel wells if you want to as well as triple Webers, big cam, and glass body panels except the doors which may be lightened.

If I went to the EP class in Solo 2, the car would have to be set up like a SCCA Club Racing E Production car which is more restrictive as far as set up goes. I'm starting out with a running, rust free, "Barn car". It needs everything no matter which way I go, racing or restoration. I'd rather race.

Britt Boyette