Cuong Nguyen

Hi All, Ash and Nick, due to work commitments, I have had little chance to progress any further in making some conversion parts that would be available to sell, I will be making some "when time is available", but don't hold your breath! Nick, no they wouldn't come with engineering certificates, besides, you would have to satisfy yourself that such conversion would be legal in your state.

Hi All, very nice interesting thread!! Much better than the "how to change my brake pads" type question isn't it? I second Ben's comment that in Australia, many see the Datsun cars as being cheap, rusty cars that are now considered to be bombs, but amazingly they still manage to say that it was one of the most robust and reliable car that they have owned! Halz, how can the new Bathurst 24hr race be a production car race when the Monaro that won was a car specifically built for the event using 18" wheels with 10" slicks at the front and 13" slicks at the back, motor over 400 cubic inches (over 7L), sequential transmission (not even V8 Supercars are sequential, they are still H pattern). Holden puts LOTS of money into motorsport in Austalia and they seem to buy their win. Keep the Datsun story flowing everyone, Alan, Kats, Ben, Nate and everyone else.

Hi All, Ivan, how can you say that all the things you mentioned doesn't cost that much??? Maybe if you are mega rich, then relative to your wealth it doesn't cost that much, but for all of us others: it DOES cost and it costs lots!!! At least 3 times in your reply you said that things didn't cost much, ie ECU, exhaust and intercooler + plumbing etc, from my experience I couldn't say that those items were particularly cheap. If anyone thinks that they are going to build a quality performance engine (and all the extras that are needed to make the car a package) for cheap then they are kidding themselves, not even people in the trade with all their discounts can honestly call this kind of project cheap.

Hi All, here are some "Ken & Mary" stickers (they look like it to me, but may be badges???)

Hi All, Mr Camouflage, I spoke to the guy on Friday morning and he mentioned nothing at all about the $1000, what he told me is that the advertisment was wrong and it should have been a 2+2 260z, no rego. He said that no way a 240Z would be less than $1500 even if it was a bucket of sh#t (his words) and how would I expect that the ad be for a 240Z??? (well I only rang because thats what the ad said!!!) Sounds like he is making up bits on the fly! Oh well, sounds like a di#k to me... (to be honest, there are only a handful of zed owners that I have personally met that aren't weird or a bit ???

Hi Phil, Great to see you are keeping the 240Z! Alan has got it covered ... my suggestion if you want to replicate the look of the "works" race cars, or Japanese S30 race cars in general, the best thing to do is trying to source as many pictures that you can and see the kinds of alterations and details that they used to prepare their cars during those times. If you are thinking of using "over fenders" you should think long and hard if you really want to get involved in cutting up your wheel wells, as this is a fairly major operation! I too have gotten the itch to build a "period look" S30 racer myself (and in fact have promised myself that this will be the next thing on the plate) and I am working hard to save the money to fund the next project as well as "studying" the past racers. Good luck and hope all goes well I aggree with Alan, it is a shame that more people aren't interested in historical data of the S30 cars

Hi All, a second look at the previous posts I noticed Ivan's comment: "D = DOHC" I suspect this is not the case, as the RB30DE as found in the Holden VL commodores and also the Australian delivered R31 Skylines are single cam engines, not DOHC.

Hi All, the 240Z in the paper for $500 is actually not a 240Z. The guy said it was a misprint and it is a 2+2 260, auto, not rego and is rusty as hell. (Well that is what he told me when I rang and talked to him, so I don't know were this $1,000 is from.)

Hi all, lets be careful about saying the RB engines are used in Nissan Skylines (and its true that they are!!) because Skylines have had all different engines, depending on which generation Skyline. L series engines, FJ engines and RB engines (and possibly others) have all appeared under the bonnet ("hood") of Skylines. So... RB engines are used in "later" Skylines (because I can't think of the exact models that they started appearing in... they had them in the R31 Skylines for sure, but the previous generation, ie R30??? (I think they had the FJ engines) )

Hi all, Alan, I don't really smoke, so I'll let you keep the cigar, but thanks for the offer. (or how about I trade it with your car anyway??? or an ice cream cone will be my next preference) If someone payed you enough (or gave you any other incentive to motivate you) would you consider becoming a lecturer and take a class called "S30 history 101" ? (if so let me know and I will enroll) The project car that you are doing, the Z-L bodied one, is that a Japanese home market shell as well? (I am full of questions aren't I!!!) Cuong Nguyen

Hi all, thanks to having to prepare for exams I am late to join this thread!!! Ok Alan, my guess is that the build number is wrong, way too high. shouldn't the build number be much much lower than that?? (if I am right do I win your car as the prize??? )

Hi all, I think it is harmless what the "young ones" do to their cars (not like I am old or anything!!) I say, if they aren't harming you in any way, then let them be!!! Its not like they are forcing you at gun point to attend one of their import car shows etc right??? I used to have a Honda Civic with 17" wheels, suspension work, exhaust, air filter, different body parts etc (this was when I 1st got my drivers licence in '95) But does that make me one of those guys that you are all bagging??? (so what if it does, I am still the same person regardless if I now drove a zed or a Civic!!!) There is no difference in "them" changing parts on their cars, then you guys spending money on your zeds, its all to a different "taste" ie swapping bulky later model impact bumpers on your zeds for 240 style ones etc Also with the money spent on cars issue: times have changed and you cannot compare old times with now!!! The amount of disposable income for each age bracket has changed etc and if now days the younger ones have more disposable income that what you had before, you should just think that they are luckier than you were and accept it at that and not be jealous etc!!! I had a Porsche 911 when I was 19 years old (and sold it to do my RB26DETT 240Z ) but did anyone know how much of a bank loan I had to pay off??? NO, people assume parents buy it for you or you are dealing drugs etc, can't they accept that even young kids can have a job and save up and get bank loans??? If you don't like something bad luck, if it is not harming you then people are allowed to freely do whatever pleases them!!! How boring would it be if the amount of zeds on the roads is the same as say Civics etc!!! Then would zeds be whitegoods too??? Relax a bit, give and take; there are others around on the planet too.

Hi Nate, I think a way to pronounce my name would be something like: KOUNG or KOONG. A LHD RB26DETT 240Z is should no problems, I don't think there are any interference issues with the steering etc. Ask Stony for a confirmation, I think he posts as RB26Z. He has done a 260Z LHD one and he is in Alaska, so no probs

Hi all, I am going into producing RB conversion parts and will be making them available for other RB swappers. This is to fit any RB engines into 240Z/260Z or 280Z (not ZX, but maybe the sump could be used) i.e. RB26DETT, RB25DET, RB20DET or their N/A versions. This is definite; I am getting a spare RB26DETT block at the end of the week to commence production of the sumps. 1st I am making modified oil sumps and oil pick up (sump needs to clear the steering rack and also clear the oil pick upas well), then engine mounts and gearbox mounts will follow soon afterwards. These parts will be exactly the same as the ones that I used for my own RB26DETT conversion, which you can see by clicking the blue "My Photo Gallery" to the left of this post. So it is known to work/fit (and fit well!!!). If you are SERIOUSLY interested you can email me at: nguyenxcuong @hotmail.com

Hi all, What’s wrong with that car??? I thought it was quite a good one to do up... (Maybe I am the least of the fussy zed owners...) DOHC, can you check to see if there is any expanding foam used to fix the collapsing frame rails???

Hello to all, ZVoiture, what's with calling it a Taurus??? as in Ford Taurus??? To me it looks like a Jaguar X-Type....

Hi all, I'm temporarily using Mitsubishi FTO front seats while I save up for some carbon/kevlar Recaro SPG race seats. The FTO seats are quite good, lots of adjustments and comfortable. The reason why I choose them is because they have the holes which allow for the over shoulders race harness to be used!! I'll try and get some pictures when the car gets back from the trim shop.

Hi all, For what you want to achieve and the prices that you gave above, go for the RB26DETT!!! It is a far superior engine than the rest of the RB engines. BUT if you are on a budget I would suggest you look into the costs of the whole conversion properly, and not fool yourself that it is going to be cheap, EVEN if you are going to do the work yourself!!! Don’t forget to include the cost of an intercooler and plumbing, exhaust system, fuel pumps and surge tanks, custom engine and gearbox mounts, engine management, suspension and brake upgrade (unless you are not planning to stop and keep on driving!!) and a million of other little things that I haven’t mentioned. Work out what you think it would cost and triple it (at least!!!), and then it is closer to what it really costs.

Hi Henry, nice choice of an engine for your 240Z!!! I have a RB26DETT powered 240Z also. You can see pictures of my car by clicking the blue writing "My Photo Gallery" to the left of this post. Good luck with the project and keep the pictures rolling in!!!

Hi Mike, nice car, good to see that you are doing a great job of it. Nothing better than seeing a car that is done "properly". Love the colour and the way you went the extra effort to paint all of the inside as well. Its time that people stop building S30 cars "half arsed" and getting the model the recognition that they deserve!!!

Hi all, Check out this link: http://www.geocities.com/executor365/uglycars.html hhhmmmm, I don't know.... to me the Porsche looks like a 935 or a factory homologation kit???? Anyone taking ideas from it???

I wish they made: 1) complete new body shells available from Nissan (hanging panels and all!!) 2) new runs of 240Z cars (not rebuilt ones from the North American project - not that I wouldn't have one of those - but fresh off the production line ones!! 3) people not as greedy and zed crazy as me

Hello there, I think that you are actually looking for a 240Z from 1969 (you would be very lucky to find one!!) to 1973 There are other zeds made, but they aren't all 240Z in that date range, ie 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX, 300ZX etc. Good luck with your search

Street racing tip??? I'll give you a street racing tip: don't do it!!! If you are serious about racing another car, the bring it down the drags/raceway that way I'll be able to really tell how you're performing and also doing it in a safer environment. 2nd tip: don't try and race my RB26DETT 240Z!!! (only kidding you are welcome to, especially if you are going to put money on it!!)