Project RBZ

[Rob]

This is the z from my garage and the progress (what little there is) I have made with it so far.

garage link; http://www.garage208.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=16

When I first got it home this is what it looked like.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2826.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2827.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2828.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2829.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2831.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2832.jpg

Didn't run at the time, tuned the carbs to the best of my ability. New plugs, wires and resetting the timing to where it should be as well as cleaning up the fuel system got it up and running.

However, tuning on these...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2916.jpg

...was a huge pain in the ass. For those of you that don't know, these are called SU carbs and they are the worst possible fuel delivery device I've ever laid my hands on. So I replaced them with a custom aluminum manifold and a holley 4 barrel carb, infinitely easier to tune, and after some tinkering and rebuilding the carb got it to run like this.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/th_zenginerunning.jpg (http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/?action=view&current=zenginerunning.flv)

That was fine for a few days but just wasn't what my goals were for the project so a few days later the motor was out.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2915.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2913.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2914.jpg

Sold that, emptied the bay and cleaned it up a little bit. EDIT; this is prior to cleaning, I seem to have lost those pictures, will post if I find them.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2917.jpg

All to make way for this...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2904.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_2906.jpg

It's a 1991 Infiniti Q45 and more importantly contains the following that I'll be stealing;

- VH45DE - 4.5 liter aluminum block/head DOHC V8 that revs to 7k in stock form and also has VVT. This motor is built like a full on race motor, sodium filled exhaust valves, full length main bearing girdle, 6 bolt main caps, iron sleeves cast into place in the aluminum block, forged steel crank, forged steel rods, aluminum pistons will full coating treatment, COP ignition, etc... rated at 278 hp, but really made more like 315 in stock form.

- RE304A trans - standard Q45 auto trans, not terrible, not great

- R200 VLSD rear diff - VLSD = very limited slip differential = :dance:

- I'll also be stealing and shortening the driveshaft since it's beefy enough to handle the torque output.

- As well as possibly stealing the brakes.

I will be transplanting, the AC, CC and TCS systems from the Q into the Z in an effort to make it a more well rounded car, and in a chassis that only weighs 2200 lbs I'm not terribly concerned with the little added weight.

I'll post more pics and progress as it happens.

[CharlieMurphy]

Does your dad happen to be Rob? Ive been down that driveway before to a big green house/garage to look at a yellow drop top camaro (1969)

[Rob]

^ Wrong driveway, no green house or large garage down there, just our house.

[spastik]

HURRY ROB! i wanna go drifitins in it

[Dos Plunder]

Pretty cool project. I can't wait to see this finished. Better post up some late night drifting vids when it is done;)

[CharlieMurphy]

damn, Looks like one of the long driveways off of Boise Ave.


-Looks like an awesome project as well!

[Rob]

Alright, so some more pics of slow progress I made over the last few days.

Stock exhaust that will not be coming with the motor.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3191.jpg

What the picture doesn't show is that there's a pre-cat in each manifold too, so that leaves 2 cats per side, 1 muffler per side and a final muffler... restrictive anyone?

VLSD rear end

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3192.jpg

And I know it's just a driveshaft, but the size and build quality on this thing surprised me. It's much bigger than most non-diesel truck driveshafts even.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3194.jpg

size comparison to a can of liquid wrench

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3195.jpg

Nice thick splines on the yokes

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3196.jpg

[Grip240sx]

This car is gonna be fuggen awesome! Cant wait to see it done.

[CHRIFFIN]

GET ERRRR DONE ROB!!!

+ rep for a unique build.

[bcool]

http://myweb.cableone.net/mjbless/gay.jpg

[InSepsis]

http://myweb.cableone.net/mjbless/gay.jpg

LOL WTF BBQ!!!!!

[e2blade]

insane swap man,hope you get it done

[RunninWild]

damn I didn't realize the q45 were built so rugged.

So you're going to boost it someday right? It's just begging for it.

[spooledx2]

Got to love 4 cam V8's. It will be sweet as hell to see that beast on the road. Good luck.

[Rob]

http://myweb.cableone.net/mjbless/gay.jpg

I hate you

damn I didn't realize the q45 were built so rugged.

So you're going to boost it someday right? It's just begging for it.

Yes, eventual plan is turbo, not sure yet if I want to do twins or a big single... time will tell but on 6 lbs which is EASILY doable it should make 480 bhp and I've seen guys running over 10 on stock internals. The limiting factor for the most part is the 10.2:1 stock CR.

Got to love 4 cam V8's. It will be sweet as hell to see that beast on the road. Good luck.

Indeed, wish I could stay down here to work on it.

[NismoFreak]

Gonna be sick. love classic Zs

[Jserman]

awesome project....i was actually reading a thread on the 240 forum cause a company make s a kit to swap that motor in the S-chassis now.... it will be awesome to see it when its done...

[bcool]

Is it done yet?

[Rob]

Alright so I got depressingly little done over spring break, mainly because on a short trip like that I'd rather hangout with friends than spend all day on the car. But I FINALLY got the damn wiring harness out, what a pain in the ass in that car.

Glad this thing doesn't have a ton of electronics or anything...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3323.jpg

Just the ends on the engine harness... the chassis one is WAY worse so stealing TCS and CC is going to rock early this summer.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3324.jpg

Almost ready to come out...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3326.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3325.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3327.jpg

This...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3330.jpg
... is why getting the harness out sucked. The engine harness was intertwined with all of those others in the picture and the whole rats nest was behind the AC evaporator and blower motor assembly for the heating/ac systems.

Anyways, just thought I'd throw up a quick post about what little I got done the last week. Come mid May I'll be back and can really start to attack the project.

[kitty]

Balla!! Get that shit in there already ;)

[Rob]

Alright so it's been a long long time since I've really been able to get any substantial work done on the project so I thought I would post up the recent happenings.

Got the motor out
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3521.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3522.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3523.jpg

Went and cleaned it up a bit, I'll clean more later when I tear it down to do the timing chain guides and what not
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3524.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3525.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3526.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3527.jpg

I'm glad this thing has breathing room
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3528.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3529.jpg

[Rob]

A little more progress

COP area all nasty...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3541.jpg
Disassembly begins...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3548.jpg
Cleaned up the valve covers a bit and you can see the upper intake manifold, kinda looks like a dead spider on it's back.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3555.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3550.jpg
Here you can see the tops of each of the lower intake manifolds... every runner is exactly the same length from plenum to valves this way.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3554.jpg

[Jdmitr]

Awesome swap Rob...cant wait to see more progress....it was nice talkin to you the other night.

[Rob]

Awesome swap Rob...cant wait to see more progress....it was nice talkin to you the other night.

Yea, Sunday was fun and thanks, I'm looking forward to it being done... sometime.

Ok... so Nissan decided that in the early Q motors they would use plastic timing chain guides which when they wear out have a bad habbit of breaking and taking other things with them.. namely the whole motor. As I was starting to take the motor apart I mentioned to my dad that I thought one of the guides was pretty worn and it was a good thing I got to the motor when I did... turns out I couldn't have been more right, I found these...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3557.jpg

... in the oil pan. Those are the remnants of one of the timing chain guides. Don't worry, I'm replacing them all with steel backed ones so this can't happen which is the whole reason I was tearing it down in the first place.

[CHRIFFIN]

Don't worry it wasn't just the Q's..

Both my single slammers had that shit in the bottom too!

Hope everything else is ok and this is a SWEET build! GL

[spastik]

holy shit, you were right! i remember you said that on sunday

[Squarl]

dude that plastic is scary, silly engineers. The builds coming along, i cant wait to see how this turns out.

[spazz]

very cool project, cant wait to see it finished, keep us posted

[Rob]

Don't worry it wasn't just the Q's..

Both my single slammers had that shit in the bottom too!

Hope everything else is ok and this is a SWEET build! GL

Hah, awesome! I'm going to check out the oil pump and make sure it's ok, so far the chains and gears seem unaffected.

holy shit, you were right! i remember you said that on sunday

Yea, I was pretty surprised when I first dropped the pan and saw those in there.

dude that plastic is scary, silly engineers. The builds coming along, i cant wait to see how this turns out.

I dunno what they were thinking that day...

very cool project, cant wait to see it finished, keep us posted

I shall

[Jdmitr]

Yeah typical late 80's early 90's nissan. When I went through Jserman's KA24e it still had the plastic guide too. So I put in the updated metal backed one as well. Might want to look at the chain a little closer....it had to have slapped around a ton when the guide went. If it isnt a million bucks it may be worth replacing, just to be safe.

[Rob]

Yeah typical late 80's early 90's nissan. When I went through Jserman's KA24e it still had the plastic guide too. So I put in the updated metal backed one as well. Might want to look at the chain a little closer....it had to have slapped around a ton when the guide went. If it isnt a million bucks it may be worth replacing, just to be safe.

Interestingly enough when I got the top half of the timing covers off the first guide I saw was metal backed so someone might have beat me to it. I can only see the top half of the broken piece until I find an impact gun that can take off the crank pulley bolt as mine is too much of a little girl for the job. So more investigation is called for once that's off.

[Rob]

Alright, got the motor a little more torn apart and talk about scary close... this thing was a ticking time bomb...

Notice the piece of plastic on the chain closest to the camera
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/DSC00002.jpg

Yea... it's not supposed to be there, that's another piece of broken timing chain guide on it's way to destroy the oil pump chain.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/DSC00003.jpg

Timing chains are supposed to be under tension right? Oh and that piece of plastic just above my finger is where the rest of the timing chain guide should be...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/DSC00004.jpg

Notice how far my finger moved inwards?
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/DSC00005.jpg

[omg its drunk scott.]

i bet it sounded like a diesel truck.

[Rob]

The rest of the parts got here friday before work so yesterday I put the timing system back together with all the new chains, guies, tensioners, etc... Sorry for the blurry pic, I was crouched/balanced in a really weird little area between parts.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3574.jpg

[nikuman]

so where do you get these engines? thats exactly what i would do if i had one of these cars.

[Rob]

so where do you get these engines? thats exactly what i would do if i had one of these cars.

The engine is out of Infiniti Q45's from 89 to 96.

[Rob]

Alright so it's been a while... my bad...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3615.jpg

Either something really good or really bad is about to happen...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3630.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3631.jpg

Took some initial measurements, looks like the oil pan is going to be the biggest stumbling block as it is a front sump design and really needs to be rear sump in order to clear the cross member and steering rack without needing a ridiculous cowl hood which I really... REALLY don't want to do. So hopefully in the next few days real moch up can begin and we'll see where it goes from there.

[nikuman]

i know what they are i meant where do you buy one.

[spastik]

he bought a q and took the motor out

[mittens]

Go dry sump! Haha. Um, is there any way you could mount it back far enough so the sump will clear behind the rack? Or would you then have to cut the fire wall, and make a custom shifter?

[Rob]

Go dry sump! Haha. Um, is there any way you could mount it back far enough so the sump will clear behind the rack? Or would you then have to cut the fire wall, and make a custom shifter?

Upon rough initial inspection it MIGHT be possible to do that which would be super pimp for weight balance and provide plenty of front room for turbos down the road... although it would make things like heater core hoses, etc... almost impossible

[Rob]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3645.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3646.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3650.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3651.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_3652.jpg

Almost there

[zenkiderek]

you should put a b16 in there. then it'll run like a champ.

[nikuman]

this thing's cool. sell it to me.

[StanceSlyder]

i know shit is slow but keep it comin!

[Tom]

DIRY?

[daveyg]

Solution: buy some tubing, sheetmetal and a tig welder and make it rear sump. I would.

[bcool]

300z

[Rob]

Thursday 11/12 an RB25DET swap set will be arriving at my house and the project will resume. I wish the VH was a better fit, but the bay of the S30 chassis is fairly narrow and A LOT of modification is needed to make that V configuration DOHC motor "fit" in there. I'll post up some pics when the motor gets here.

[DubstepDave]

Rad

[Rob]

The RB got here today! 2 days earlier than I was expecting but I'm certainly not going to complain.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6814.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6816.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6817.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6818.jpg

[zenkiderek]

coooool!

[DubstepDave]

coooool!

seriously. this thing will haul ass.

i want burnout pics by thanksgiving.

[PyROO]

WOW i want burnout pictures to haha
this thing is gonna be MEAN

[bcool]

Wheres the best pictures of that motor??

[nikuman]

ugh want this car.

[Rob]

Thanks guys, I'm really hoping the car turns out as good as apparently all of us are hoping, hah.

As per Bgay's request...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6812.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6813.jpg

Pic 1; trying to have sexy time with motor... pic 2; more of the same but now with cramping.

[StanceSlyder]

buahaha

i want this car, i love these z's

maybe someday i'll get one

[MacDrizzle]

this car is gonna sound sooooooo fuuuuckkinnn good. I hope you make it loud! Hint straight pipe from downpipe back. DO IT

[makeitFit]

Fuck yeah! For those of us who are not experts(pretty much me), what RB is this exactly?

[zenkiderek]

rb25det

[MacDrizzle]

No better sound than L's and RB's Nissans sixes are bad as hell

[zenkiderek]

YouTube - RB25 240SX Burnout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3pYVtUiZJI&feature=related)

love that video

[MacDrizzle]

quit giving me boners you tease.

[zenkiderek]

two more.
sorry to clutter up your thread, but.... this guy even has your name.
YouTube - Rob's RB240z (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnWI7wbeTl4&feature=related)
YouTube - Datsun 240z RB25DET acceleration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmcsuTk6lV4)

[nikuman]

i wish i would've went rb instead of sr.

[Rob]

Alright, well... while I'm waiting for this...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6808.jpg

to get finished up and out of the way I decided I'd clean up some parts on the RB from sitting. Nothing really exciting but it's something and really all I can do until the space is clear. Although I did order my new "freddy" intake manifold today.

You can see in the original pictures of the RB what most of the piping and heat shields looked like before. After...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6832.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6834.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6835.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6836.jpg

I was going to go further with the intake piping... until I realized that it wasn't going to be used at all with the new intake manifold... so I stopped prior to final sanding and painting, hence the remaining oxidation.

[MacDrizzle]

Are you keeping the engine relatively stock?

[Rob]

Are you keeping the engine relatively stock?

I could say yes... but I'm not hoping to keep it stock for too long. I have a Megasquirt already built that I'd like to put on it. Just ordered a knock off greddy intake manifold. I'll be getting a 3" turbo back exhaust and as big of a FMIC I can fit. Beyond that... depending on available funds I'd like injectors, hx35 (if I can find one at the right price with the turbine housing I want) and cams... in that order.

[MacDrizzle]

I was mainly refering to internals. I assume RB's have pretty stout rotating assemblies anyhow. I'm sure you will have more than plenty of power with what you are doing.

[Rob]

Internals will be kept stock, they've been proven to over 600 horse and I don't plan on going anywhere near that far. Traction will be a big enough issue as is.

[nikuman]

dont the stock turbos asplode?

[Rob]

^Yup, just shy of 1 bar the turbine wheels come apart. Same thing happened to the RB's and 2J's, on both motors the japan spec versions have ceramic wheels which tend to split apart.

[beanerstyle]

250z

[Squarl]

the exploding turbos were also a feature on 1jz's

[nikuman]

so are you getting a turbo?

[Rob]

Removed some of the accessory drives I can't use/don't need. Also removed the fan that I won't be using. As you can see, this motor is much narrower than the RB especially down low where it will be between the frame rails.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6868.jpg

Also, my new intake manifold got here today, slapped it on real quick just to see...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6869.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6870.jpg

[JackV]

sweeeeet.

[StanceSlyder]

wait so you are or arent doing a rb, im confused, you said that motor is slimmer, what motor is that

[DubstepDave]

i think he was referring to the v8 he was going to try to cram in there.

[Rob]

Well with everything on the motor pretty much buttoned up as far as I'm concerned for the time being I decided to toss it in the engine bay for a minute to see how much modification this oil pan would need.

Ready
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6882.jpg

In...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6876.jpg

This pan will need to be converted to rear sump as well... new nissan motors hate my car.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6878.jpg

Anyone have any suggestions for where I should take the pan to for some surgery?

Also, sorry the pics suck, trying to avoid stepping on parts and balance and not shake to take pics just wasn't working out.

[beanerstyle]

:wiggle:

it's called cutting your steering rack. who modifies oyl payns?






i think you should set up a dry sump system somehow, definitely gonna be espensive but it would be fucking rad.

[bcool]

Well its not going to get running with you bitching about the oil pan.

[mittens]

I'd be happy to help you make a new pan out of sheet metal. I might be able to work some magic and get access to the bsu welding and fab lab.

If you pull the pan off, mount the engine where you want it and take measurements it shouldn't be hard at all. Then you could put baffles in and shit too.

[mittens]

I'd be happy to help you make a new pan out of sheet metal. I might be able to work some magic and get access to the bsu welding and fab lab.

If you pull the pan off, mount the engine where you want it and take measurements it shouldn't be hard at all. Then you could put baffles in and shit too.

[Rob]

I'd be happy to help you make a new pan out of sheet metal. I might be able to work some magic and get access to the bsu welding and fab lab.

If you pull the pan off, mount the engine where you want it and take measurements it shouldn't be hard at all. Then you could put baffles in and shit too.

That would be amazing, I have a few ideas with how to do it. We'll have to meet up sometime and I'll show you. I think it'd be easy enough to modify the existing pan as well.

[DubstepDave]

can't wait to see this thing roastin' broadies.

[Excessfc]

Does the RB have the same config as the JZ's and some other toys that are actually 2 piece pans?

[Rob]

Does the RB have the same config as the JZ's and some other toys that are actually 2 piece pans?

No, one piece pan, they used to make a pan for the RB20's that had the sump in the right area and the correct pickup... but those have been discontinued... of course.

[MacDrizzle]

make sure to securly clamp the flange to an uber flat surface when you put heat to it. The guy who modded my dads pan didn't clamp it down and it leaks like a sive, NO BUENO for drags! They couldn't wait for me to do it...serves em right! Dumbasses!

[Excessfc]

No, one piece pan, they used to make a pan for the RB20's that had the sump in the right area and the correct pickup... but those have been discontinued... of course.

That makes it a little easier at least.

[spastik]

whats up with this crap pile

[Rob]

Just got the oil pan back from Megis today, he does amazing work. Moved the entire sump area back 9", retained stock pickup location (barley) and "shallowed" the area I needed to clear the front cross member, I'm happy.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/oilpaninside.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/oilpaninsidecloseup.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/oilpanoutside.jpg

While I was down there I also had him punch out the plates so I can start to make the mounts.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/motormountplate.jpg

I was hesitant to keep putting the motor in the bay with an exposed bottom end so now that I have the pan back, I'm going to clean it, paint it, and bolt it on, then some real progress can start.

[DubstepDave]

So, the motor should be all bolted down within a few days, then you can wire it up, plumb the radiator and intercooler, and fire it up. Should be running by New Year, right?

[InSepsis]

How much did he charge you?

[Rob]

To do the pan, with material and punch the mounting plates was $200

[nikuman]

making a custom baffled pan beats buying one.

[Rob]

Muffler and fuel pump got here today
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6913.jpg

Finally with the newly modified pan it really fits!
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6909.jpg

Mounts starting to shape up, flipped the RB mount upside down and bolted to stock Z pedestal, then a piece of square tubing cut to proper angles and another piece of plate for the mount side, hopefully within a day or two.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6910.jpg

Crappy pic but you get the idea, spacing between engine and firewall works out well, you can still get your hand back there... barely
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6911.jpg

[Rob]

Well after more or less a wasted week with some parts getting lost in the shuffle I decided I'd try to play catch up a bit. I made both engine mounts and tacked them together and tomorrow once those are completely welded and can support the engine weight I'll make the tranny cross-member and hopefully get the drive shaft shortened.

Driver's side
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6953.jpg

Passenger side
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6968.jpg

The plates that bolt to the cross-member will be gusseted with some triangular pieces of scrap for rigidity since the placement essentially forces the bolts to be off center.

So... if any of you are wondering I also thought I would post a quick how to about how I made these mounts (not that I'm in ANY way an expert but if it can help someone... here it is)

First; I measured the angle of each surface, in the driver's side I measured these angles separately using...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6967.jpg
...and then figured out the angle between them. On the passenger side I measured simply the angle between the two using the thickest arms of a feeler gauge that I tightened down.

Second; Now that you know the angle between the surfaces you can bisect that angle which allows making complementary cuts which place the square stock in the right location. I used a miter saw because it's what I had available. I also mocked the pieces up out of wood first, as it's cheaper and easier to cut than steel so if I messed up it was quick to change.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6961.jpg
Also, for the passenger side it had to jog diagonally to allow space for the bolts and nuts that hold the mount to the block and crossmember
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6959.jpg
Thus, I angled the blade approx 6 degrees, the blade only tilts one way so you have to flip things around and reverse the horizontal angle of the cut to create a double angled complementary cut (if that makes any sense)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6965.jpg

Third; Put all the pieces in the engine bay and make sure it all fits with the engine where you want it. If it does, ideally you would tack everything together in the car, the placement of the welder in my garage doesn't allow me to do that, so I marked both pieces simultaneously and realigned everything by the welder. Not exact but the rubber part of the mount will allow a bit of fudge room.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6968.jpg

[Rob]

Alright, engine mounts finished, painted and installed.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6972.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6973.jpg

Driveshaft shortened and installed.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_6975.jpg
Sorry for the crappy pic on this one, but I have vertigo so I can't really look directly above me, combined with being on a creeper that doesn't want to stay still...

Pieces are cut for the trans mount, I missed the shop by 30 minutes earlier today to get them finish welded but hopefully he'll be in for a few minutes tomorrow to lay a quick bead then the motor/trans will be totally bolted in place.

[beanerstyle]

450z minus 2 liters equals 250z.

[Rob]

450z minus 2 liters equals 250z.

If I could change the thread title to "Project RBZ" I would... hint hint

[DICKARM]

Get running, them make look like thissssss


http://motormavens.com/emAlbum/albums/Antonio%20Alvendia/Feature%20Cars/Yuta%20Akaishi%20Shakotan%20S30%20Datsun%20240Z/IMG_9431_yuta_shakotan_S30_240Z%20copy.jpg

[zenkiderek]

yes..... yes.

[PyROO]

it looks ify to me
idk about that whole motor mount thing
but when this car is done itll be sweet

[CRIMES]

it looks ify to me
idk about that whole motor mount thing
but when this car is done itll be sweet

whats wrong with the motor mounts?

[DubstepDave]

Unless he start going for 500+hp and running 12" wide drag slicks in the rear, those mounts should be fine. I would have added a little gusseting, but they look fine as is.

And yes, make it look like the one we've all now seen 1000 times.

[Rob]

I will gusset them later on down the road, forgot the day I went down to the shop to get it welded. To a degree it is gusseted inherently simply by having the entire footprint of square tubing welded to the plate. But more will be added down the road. For stockish power these things are more than strong enough. This is all 1/4" steel... not going to break.

[DubstepDave]

Yeah 1/4" is PLENTY

[Rob]

Alright so it's been for-freaking-ever but I actually have had the chance to wrench on a bit the last day or two. Sorry, just two quick cell phone pics for now but...

I got the transmission mount finished up and painted today... proof that the engine and trans is now completely bolted in the chassis... no more chain hoist support... big step in the right direction. Also got the shortened driveshaft bolted to the diff and in the trans, fits well.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/Photo_050110_001.jpg

Also, the turbo is bolted on, need to take it back off and bolt everything together again now that I have it marked so it's clocked properly, but it all fits finally!
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/Photo_050110_002.jpg

Also removed all the crap from the really weird fuel pump install the previous owner did and will be mounting my walbro 255 shortly... even found a convenient location for a return line. At this point I'm just happy with progress of any amount, hopefully once finals are over I can get it on the road fairly quickly.

[SRinside]

I almost bought the rims off that slammed Z...

[revsx]

likin the progress

[Rob]

The turbo looks tiny in there now that it's completely clocked the right way.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_7394.jpg

This should help keep things cool.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_7395.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p62/rddc1987/IMG_7401.jpg

[SRinside]

SICK! I need to get me a thicker radiator soon.

[bcool]

y car nt run?

[DICKARM]

Almost looks like fabbing up a top mount log manifold would be worth it to free up some space

[Rob]

SICK! I need to get me a thicker radiator soon.

Thanks man, I'm trying to use parts that will lead to as little down time later on as possible... overheating included.

y car nt run?

I'm working on it, I just came in from working on the wiring, as soon as I find my set of hole drilling bits I'll punch a hole in the firewall for the harness to go through.

Almost looks like fabbing up a top mount log manifold would be worth it to free up some space

Eh, it fits for now, if I run into any problems with heat in its current location then I'll think about getting a different one.

[DICKARM]

More importantely, keep your brake fluid from boiling

[jfrolang]

in for updates.