Project Datsun 280Z

Stage 1

Gentlemen start your engines, let the
race begin! June 1st, 2001 a new
project race car starts.
The beginning of project 280Z.

We purchase two cars, a 1972 240Z,
with a L24 engine, and a 4-speed
manual transmission. The body was
rusted, but the spare parts are just
to good to pass up.

We plan on removing all the useable
parts, and scrap the rusted body.
The engine, trans, hood, seats, and
rims are the major components that
we wanted.

The second car was our race vehicle.
A 1978 280Z. A newer model than the
240Z and cleaner body parts.

This 280Z would adopt the best parts
from a pile of components we started
with. In the end, we will save just a
spare engine and trans.

The 240Z came with an engine and trans
installed and working. Tomorrow we will
pull the drive train and it will become
our spare race engine. We have decided
to race L24 engine because we own two of
them, and L28 engines are harder to obtain.

We plan to install one aluminum-racing
seat in the final 280Z, but for now, we
will use these black leather seats from
the 240Z.

The 280Z came with brown leather seats,
which shall be removed.

The interior of the 280Z will be removed
completely down to the bare metal.

The 280Z did not come with an engine or
trans, but we did get a modified 240Z
engine with a racing clutch.

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