Introducing "Ginger" -KHGC11000280

[akwikz]

As most of you know, I bought Kents '73 GT a while back. She was shipped up back in 2010 and sat sleeping in my garage for most of the time since. The progress that has been made has mostly been done in the last few months. That being said, I'm going to start at the beginning. So here we go;

Here you see the day we met in person. This is at the docks in Long Beach. When I went to pick her up we were escorted by security the entire time (new rules since 9/11). As you can see she was parked next to a race spec Evo 8. When the guard realized I was picking up the other car, he asks me "So, you payed to have that shipped from Australia?"

My response "Yep"

His reply "So.........................was this your first car or something?"

"She has potential" I said. And loaded her up on the trailer for the trip home to San Diego(I love my Armada).

Fast forward to January of this year. I started to pull her apart.

Here we have the drivetrain coming out. The front end was pulled apart as well. You can see my wing man (my 8 year old son Alex) helping move the car around. Just so you know, I'm doing all of this in a single car garage, so usage of space is the key to making progress.

[akwikz]

Here you see the empty engine bay, followed by what is to take the place of the original L24. Let me answer that question in your head, yes. That is a V8. And yes, that is a 350Z six speed.

Now, the GC110 has a large engine bay for it's era, but this drivetrain combo is not small by any means. This is a VH45 from a '94 Q45. My original plan was to go with an RB, as I did with my last '73. I just happened to be walking around the local junk yard and it occured to me that there might just be another option. After some measurements I figured it was worth a try.

[akwikz]

The VH45 width wise fits inbetween the strut towers with a good couple of inches to spare on each side. Length wise its about 4 inches shorter than the L24. What I did expect was a problem with the steering box. It is huge and for the most part would run right into the right side exhaust manifold. I saw no way for it to work with my motor choice.

Living in Southern California, I'm lucky to have junk yards with plenty of cars ranging 30 years to look at. And this is what I think some of you guys are going to find interesting.

Here is the stock crossmember and steering box coming out.

And here is the stock crossmember with its replacement. That would be a 280ZX crossmember with rack and pinion steering rack. Amazingly, it bolts right in.

The stocks bolts slide right in. The fore/aft placement for the suspension arms is identical. In fact, the GC110 and S130 front arms themselves are pretty much identical. Their lengths are the same, the sway bar mounting points are the same, and the TC rods are mounted to the arms in the same spot. The only real difference I have found is that the LCA bolt hole is about .5 inch wider per side than the GC110. Easily corrected.

The crossmember was easy enough for me to get. There are 10 ZXs in the junk yard at any time. The problem was obviously none of them are right hand drive. It took a little while, but eventually I sourced a non power steering rack in Japan. And as you can see, it fits like its factory.

From there I decided to test fit the motor. After getting so lucky with the crossmember swap, I was expecting the worst with the motor.

Well, I guess my luck was holding. The motor cleared everything. As you can see it even missed the clutch

Edited May 11, 2012 by akwikz

[uras1]

goin to keep it stock body or gtr style?

not the biggest fan of engine swaps in these but cant go past a nissan v8

[LeonV]

Very cool project, you need to post on HybridZ.org if you haven't already! Oh, and that V8 is begging for some ITBs! Keep up the good work.

[72 OJ]

I likes it.....................

[Disco Bob]

awesome.!!

got to love nissan/datsun lego.

[skyc110]

great job, new info we just came to know, the S130 CM fit on the C110

[khughes]

awesome work!

great to see the car again, I have to apologize to everyone (and Brian) for the mismatch of colours on the car, unfortunately this car didn't have the luxury of being garaged (it was always covered though), so i had to atleast cover some of the poor paintwork with something so it wouldn't rust out (especially while at sea!).

Brian, any ideas how your going to link up the steering shaft? (i had ideas of converting to rack and pinion but mostly for the RB26 Z i was going to build). Sounds like i need to get a hold of one and make sure that the engine mounts havn't moved, otherwise it will throw out my gearbox mount..

If you have a custom solution in mind for the steering shaft.. i would be keen on getting in on it and having one made up with yours!

and remember, let me know if you ever need a hand getting RHD parts.. i can certainly help out from here!

Kent

[ctcurnes]

Something to consider with the rack and pinion is the need to support the lower end of the steering column. On 280ZX box to rack swaps, you have to swap the steering column. There is a lower bearing in the rack column that is not needed when the steering column is attached to a steering box.

Good to know the 280ZX is an almost straing bolt-in though. I was doing some measurements on mine and found many of the 280zx parts closer than sedan or coupe parts. I think the rear control arms are 280ZX compatable also, except for the shock mounts.

Sounds like I need to get out to a junk yard and pull me a front suspension. I swapped in an L28ET, but had to modify the pan and oil pick-up. With a 280ZX crossmember, I could go back to the factory pan and pick-up as well as rack and pinion steering. My C110 already has the 280zx coil over strut conversion and Gabe at Techno Toy Tunning has a rear bolt-in coil over for the C110.

Keep the build thead going. I am really interested in this swap.

Chris

Edited May 14, 2012 by ctcurnes

[khughes]

My C110 already has the 280zx coil over strut conversion and Gabe at Techno Toy Tunning has a rear bolt-in coil over for the C110.

Chris

really? that is very cool! Do you happen to have any pictures of the rear coil over kit? and any ideas on pricing? I currently have a set of specially set koni struts, but this could be a much nicer solution!

Kent

[akwikz]

The rack and pinion conversion requires replacement of the stock steering column. I have no pictures to offer right now, but I have already planned it out. Chris is correct in that the stock c110 steering column is supported on one end by the steering box. Where it passes through the firewall there is merely a rubber gasket. My plan is to make use of an s130 column. I have an adapter plate designed but have not had it made yet. All it will to is have outer bolt holes that will bolt onto the firewall, then a large teardrop hole in the center with bolt holes to attach the s130 column to that. Then the s130 jumper u-joint will connect them. Essentially a complete steering conversion from the ZX.

There could be an issue though with those of you using stock motor mounts. I have not taken exact measurements but at a quick glance it looks like the zx crossmember moves the mounts rearward about an inch.