My 240Z RB build thread

[Ricky Ricer]

Sup? I wasn't sure where to post this, either here, or the GTR section. Essentially, it's got the heart of a GTR, but it isn't one. This all started about 6 months ago. I was preparing to sell my 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, and was about to buy a 2009 WRX, or 2008 Evo, when I started looking into Skylines again. (I've been a member on just about every Nissan/Skyline forum, just never had the money to pull the trigger.) I received an offer on the car and decided "What the hell? I want something new, and I like this guy's offer." Unfortunately for me, fate did not want me to buy something new...

I set the date for the buyer to fly to Colorado, buy my car, and drive back to Maryland. The date was about a month out from when he agreed to buy the car. About two weeks after setting the date, I got laid off from my job! No more new car, no more Skyline. My dreams were crushed. Eventually, I would come to realize this is more than likely a good thing, with the recent seizures of Kaizo cars. I still sold my car, and somewhat regret doing it, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Here's where "Akuma" Z comes into play.

After selling my car I thought of a few options, buying another GC Impreza (older bodystyle) and swapping a sick JDM STI engine into it, or doing something totally off the wall. I decided to go with greater of two evils. I chose to swap an RB26 into a classic, the early 70s Zs.

After searching for about 2 weeks, and calling every possible lead. I decided to call one I hadn't thought to call. I found it on Craiglist for $3250. An old lady was selling the car. Her husband had recently passed away and she just wanted it out of her garage. I was able to talk her down to $2500. The car had the original Nissan Motor keys, owner's manual, and service records!!! Only 60,000 original miles. It wasn't running but a new battery, spark plugs and gas fixed that. I had it towed from Boulder to Highlands Ranch (thank god for AAA) and had it running in about an hour and a half.
Here it is the second day. Look at the paint! After washing and buffing/waxing it still has some gloss in it!


I immediately started ordering parts for it ::driver::
Here is the spoiler I put on it:

I also ordered fender flares and a front vented air dam:



I'm waiting to put the fender flares on for when I have my wheels. I plan on going with 17x10 in the rear and 17x9 up front.

And here's a little teaser of what's to come:


More pics to follow!

[Ricky Ricer]

Stock cars bother me. Can't explain why, they just do. My first car was a Mitsubishi Lancer, and while I didn't have it long I put my own personal touches on it. After that was my Impreza, which I had for 5 years. I consider it my first car, as I only had the Lancer for about a month. I never connected with it like I did my Impreza. Granted, I didn't have it for even a tenth of the time I had the RS. Anyway, I got right down to business with the Z. It is afterall, my fun car. It sits in the garage at all times. I hated the look of the stock valence. They just made the car look like a DATSUN. Nothing wrong with that, but I wanted her to look beautiful, to be a Fairlady

Putting the front air dam on was a BITCH. I've never seen so much mud caked on the inside of fenders. It took me longer to get all the crud off than it did to actually mount the darn thing!






A few days after putting the airdam on I got a phone call. "Did you order something from Porsche?" asked my father as a huge box was being unloaded. Maybe I shouldn't say box, as it was more like a crate. I was so excited I couldn't wait. I drove to his office on my lunch break just to see it!
I opened the box and was awe struck... Here's what I saw.


After that, progress STOPPED. Literally. More to follow.

[Ricky Ricer]

Copied from another forum.

I took the engine to a buddies shop in Sedalia, which is about 20-30 minutes south of where I live in Littleton. I had originally planned on doing the swap there, but I decided against it. So there my engine sat for over two months. My girlfriend bought a house in august, and closed the 1st of September, so we had our hands full with fixing it up. After it sat for two months I decided to move it to our house. The day before I was bored at work and looking for a transmission. You can use the 300ZX transmission if you bolt the RB front half of the bell housing to it. I found a great deal just by luck and called the guy immediately. The next day I had a 1992 JDM 300ZX TT transmission sitting in my garage.

And then the fun began. Seeing as how many people can be shady about JDM parts, I decided I'm going to give this engine a nice refresh. New piston rings, bearings, gaskets all around, hone, etc. I started tearing into it and at first thought I was in way over my head. I had never worked on anything Nissan before, let alone a GTR engine!

RB26 Bitches!


After working on it over the weekend/today here is how the engine sits right now.


The right side is much dirtier...


This weekend I plan on pulling the head, rods/pistons, and crank out to take the block to a machine shop.

Oh, and since I <3 JDM ish (fan boi?) here are the badges I have for "her"

I removed the T-belt, water pump, oil pump, cam gears, tensioners, cams, and head. Repositioned the block on the stand.





Pulled the pistons, and everything looks to be in great shape. All the bearings appeared to be in great condition. The block has light scoring, but the original cross hatching is still quite visible.



Just need to pull the crank out and then I'm going to take the block to get honed. I have been really busy lately and the cold is killing my motivation. Most likely I won't be working on it much more until after the holidays. Stupid gifts. I want parts!

And that's how everything sits at the moment. I'm getting ready to buy a bunch of parts for the RB to reassemble it. Originally I was planning on going with forged internals, but I think for the Z 400WHP will be plenty. My goal is to be able to at least give my old man's GT-R (R35) a run for its money. I'm thinking with R34 turbos, cams/gears, injectors, and Nistune I should be able to hit that.

[DrMango]

I love Zs. that car is sex on wheels, especially with an RB sound eminating from it

Kyle

[JZ]

Beautiful car Ricky, I'm a big fan of the old S30 cars.

Please keep this thread updated. I'm moving it to GTR builds.

[Ricky Ricer]

Beautiful car Ricky, I'm a big fan of the old S30 cars.

Please keep this thread updated. I'm moving it to GTR builds.

Will do. Thanks! I can't wait to hear the RB roar from it!

[RABBIT]

epic win!
what kind of wheels / tires you gonna run?
and what about suspension?
are you custom fabing engine /tranny mounts or did u buy them?
QUESTIONS!

[JDMricer]

Very nice! I'm not big into older cars but I've always had a soft spot for 240Zs when they are modernized a bit. Keep us updated!

[Ricky Ricer]

epic win!
what kind of wheels / tires you gonna run?
and what about suspension?
are you custom fabing engine /tranny mounts or did u buy them?
QUESTIONS!

I want watanabes but they are so damn expensive! I'll probably do tokico shocks with ground control coils. As far as engine and trans mounts, I'm going with Rick Wong custom mounts.

[89Baysideblue]

Damn!!! i miss my Z's and nice Vectors btw!

LOVE IT, and with a RB will rocket.