300zx Build Update

[Tristan Smith]

Not that anyone asked, but I thought i would show the latest on the ITR build.

New used nose:

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7251/img1596u.jpg


Cage and interior are essentially done:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1889/img1595f.jpg


Front suspension: Ground Control Advance Design shocks on all four corners.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/989/img1586p.jpg

Rear Suspension. Full spherical set up. Rota D2 17 x8.5 wheels (not seen here)

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/339/img1589u.jpg

I had originally hoped to have it out for labor day.......but that's not going to happen.

I still have to plumb the oil system/cooler. Build the exhaust. Put in the racing radiator. Paint it, corner weight it, align it, and dyno tune it......

I am shooting for October race at VIR, now.

[Ron Earp]

Very nice, I'm liking the pictures and I'm happy to hear that you're making progress! Looks great Tristan!

[zzxracer]

very nice...should be in ITS...re-class old z's into ITA...it would do well in ITS...give those european cars a run for it...u know they always have a advantage in SCCA. I have a GTU/GT-2 300zx which i run in HSR/SVRA...has a hard time against the porsche's which have many tech advantage's...what's the weight you must be at?????anyhow good luck...your weak link will be the engine girdle(below block) that's why Gene Crow of BSR developed the solid steel girdle (about 25lbs) it works perfect...replaces your end caps (caps are built into girdel)also sleaveing you cylinders helps to strenghen your block...and protect it should you have a rod fail...I know about that...Bill Erdman

[erlrich]

Looks sweet, nice job so far Tristan! I think that is ultimately going to be one of the top cars for ITR, can't wait to hear the first race report.

[Tristan Smith]

a few more photos:
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/104/img1593.jpg
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9074/img1591v.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6667/img1592j.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9780/img1597m.jpg

[Andy Bettencourt]

More!!!!!!!

[Marcus Miller]

Why paint it?!?!?! I can see the shine from here :)

[Tristan Smith]

Thanks everyone.

It's coming along a lot slower than I remember the 240sx build, but that was a long time ago.

Marcus, gotta paint it in team colors! Besides there was a bit of body work done on the back and it is in primer. At a minimum I would have to paint at least the nose and hatch since they are a hodge-podge of colors.

I am looking forward to running it. Probably scare the piss out of me. Big, Heavy and fast.

I think I'll name her ZXena! Yeah, thats the ticket.

[pballance]

Cool build. Wish you could make it to Barber. I look forward to the shakedown!!

[GKR_17]

Barber? Better suited for lighter cars I'd guess....
This car is begging for a trip to Daytona!

[JeffYoung]

Man that is sweet. Nice job Tristan. Makes me want to ditch the TR and go to work on my hulk of a Z.

[erlrich]

Barber? Better suited for lighter cars I'd guess....
This car is begging for a trip to Daytona!

Or VIR - I would love to see it up there for next year's SARRC/MARRS event.

[CCARVER]

Looking Good T!

[Tristan Smith]

Well I am going to try for a shake down at VIR in October.......at least that is what I am shooting for. I'm out of town, but evidently the expensive Custom Griffin Racing Radiator showed up at the house today. So that is one more thing I can get done.

[Tristan Smith]

Well here's a little tease for you.

The good........

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1438/img00081l.jpg

base coat is down, still needs clear coat.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5561/img00082.jpg

and the bad....it won't betting out to race this year. Just too many hours working and not enough time to get everything done.

[trhoppe]

Where did you get those rear view mirrors?

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9074/img1591v.jpg

-Tom

[Tristan Smith]

Pep Boys I believe. They are just cheap aftermarket fish eye mirrors that I fabed into the roll cage bar.

[Tristan Smith]

It got the shiney stuff.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/4929/img00083.jpg

[benspeed]

Looks like my old RX7!

[Tristan Smith]

It's just the usual paint job for my cars.

It started with my vintage Datsun 200sx

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/488/svra200sxop3.jpg

Then the 240sx;

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5541/1000372ku2.jpg

and now the zx.

Guess I am unimaginitive, or a traditionalist. The line on the new cars looks odd where it goes over the front wheel well in the pictures because it goes from a horizontal surface to a verticle surface (quickly). You can see it in the picture below.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5561/img00082.jpg

[quadzjr]

I like it.. it is like the inverted factory paint scheme.

http://www.qmengineering.co.uk/images/nissangtp2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Cunningham_300ZX.jpg/250px-Cunningham_300ZX.jpg
http://www.freddifred.com/Trevor/Truck%20Roger%20Mears%20--%20desert.jpg

[erlrich]

I like that color scheme Tristan :D

http://www.improvedtouring.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=321

[Tristan Smith]

I guess so! ha

Here are some better pics of the car:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4505/new300zxpaintjob005.jpg

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9105/new300zxpaintjob004.jpg

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9489/new300zxpaintjob003.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6381/new300zxpaintjob002.jpg

[dspillrat]

Beautiful car Tristan!!!

Can't wait to see on the track!!!

David

[JeffYoung]

Those things just make beautiful race cars. Good job man.

Maybe I need to start picking on mine in the off season....

[erlrich]

That thing is going to look awesome once you get all the vinyl on; almost too nice to put in harm's way.

[JeffYoung]

His 240sx was just as nice. Tristan turns out top notch stuff.

[Tristan Smith]

Thanks for the good words, guys. I"ve got a few more things to do before I can start the corner weighting and tuning. Might still be able to get it out for a test day somewhere before I pull the motor and do the rebuild.

Earl, it is just a matter of time before someone does something stupid and whacks me (not that I have any immunity to DOING something stupid), so I just look at it as an "eventual".

[Andy Bettencourt]

Keep your stuff all in this thread! MORE UPDATES!!! :)

[Tristan Smith]

Here's that latest pics. Getting all wheels today mounted up with 275 tire. Hopefully get it corner weighted (maybe even this weekend). Determine how much lead needs to go in!

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/8515/img1678h.jpg

The latest:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3424/finished300zxpaintjob00r.jpg


http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9003/finished300zxpaintjob00.jpg

[benspeed]

Looks badass fast!!!

[joeg]

Get its logbook yet?

[Tristan Smith]

Looks badass fast!!!

Only time will tell if it will live up to it's looks! It will always be handicapped with me driving it, though!


Get its logbook yet?

Nope, no log book yet. Going to wait till after the first of the year. It's essentially ready. Gotta buy new belts still.

[dj10]

Very clean looking build Tristan.

[Ron Earp]

Really really nice! I'm looking forward to seeing it on track! VIR?

[Tristan Smith]

Really really nice! I'm looking forward to seeing it on track! VIR?


Hope to get it out to many of the SE tracks this year. I think it will be better suited for places like VIR , Rd Atl, and Daytona, rather than Barber and CMP. But will try to hit the "circuit" as best as I can.

[pballance]

Tristan, I know it is a trip but come to Nashville Fathers Day weekend and I will buy you a beverage!

While certainly not an IT build this video is pretty impressive and it is a 300ZX at VIR. (Bob Lentz)

http://rebelloracing.com/racevideo1.htm

[Tristan Smith]

Tristan, I know it is a trip but come to Nashville Fathers Day weekend and I will buy you a beverage!

While certainly not an IT build this video is pretty impressive and it is a 300ZX at VIR. (Bob Lentz)

http://rebelloracing.com/racevideo1.htm


I just hope the motor sounds like that! If I get to Nashville I'll look you up on that offer!

[tim240z]

Tristan, I know it is a trip but come to Nashville Fathers Day weekend and I will buy you a beverage!

While certainly not an IT build this video is pretty impressive and it is a 300ZX at VIR. (Bob Lentz)

http://rebelloracing.com/racevideo1.htm

That may be a VQ35 from a 350z... You see in the description he states it’s a 3.5L. I could be wrong though and its still sounds amazing :)

Tristan... the car looks great!

[NORRIS]

I just hope the motor sounds like that! If I get to Nashville I'll look you up on that offer!

That sounds great!!

I love the sound of a six cylinder!!

I'm not so sure about the sound of that gearbox though!!

[Z3_GoCar]

Since it's GT I suspect it's a custom odd-fire (common pin) forged crank. I don't think an even fire crank would last to ~8k rpm, there's just not enough meat between crank pins on 90* V6's. Only a 60* V6 would last at those kinds of rpms as an even fire forged crank ( I just loved how my 2.8 german capri used to rev out)

[Tristan Smith]

ok here are the log book photos: still need to do some suspension tuning and get some camber on all four wheels. But I plan on doing the March 19th Road Atlanta Test day.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5448/img1783i.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/292/img1782e.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5828/img1785e.jpg

[Ron Earp]

Whooo hoo! Awesome!!! Looking forward to seeing it on track!

[spawpoet]

That looks great Tristan!

[JoshS]

It does look great, and it looks fast too! I'm curious, what size tires are those?

[Tristan Smith]

thanks.

275/45/17

[benspeed]

Can't wait to race ya! Looks great

[erlrich]

That thing looks schweeeeet!!! Are you going to bring it up to VIR for the SARRC/MARRS races this May?

[Andy Bettencourt]

VERY nice.

[Tristan Smith]

That thing looks schweeeeet!!! Are you going to bring it up to VIR for the SARRC/MARRS races this May?


Thanks.
Possibly. I have in the past, so will try again this year.

[Tristan Smith]

It does look great, and it looks fast too! I'm curious, what size tires are those?

I incorrectly answered you before. They are 275/40/17s. They sure do fill the wheel wells. It will be interesting to see if a get a rub anywhere with them.

[RedMisted]

Congrats. :happy204: That really is a nice-looking car. Nice to see ITR filling up with a variety of makes...Was getting a bit dull seeing mostly BMW 325s make up the fields...

[Tristan Smith]

Well it only took seven months, but I finally got the motor back from the builder. I finished dressing it out last weekend.

You can hardly see where we hid the super charger.....:)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6531/newmotor3.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6426/newmotor1.jpg

[erlrich]

Damn Tristan! You're not actually going to put that in a car and run it, are you? That thing is waaaaaaaaaaaay too pretty to actually use :D

Seriously, if it run half as good as it looks you should be in great shape. Who did the build?

[Tristan Smith]

Damn Tristan! You're not actually going to put that in a car and run it, are you? That thing is waaaaaaaaaaaay to pretty to actually use :D

Seriously, if it run half as good as it looks you should be in great shape. Who did the build?

It's a little blingly.......

Local engine builder named Don Dixon. I have been happy with his work in the past, but he took far too long to get this one built and it has delayed the start of my racing season. So I am not happy about that.

[Ron Earp]

Very pretty!!! Makes me want to build ITR car.......

[benspeed]

So nice - love the bling - who says IT cars can't look Pro???

[CRallo]

Wow! Looking good!

[spawpoet]

That's a damn good looking motor! Good luck with your race season.

[erlrich]

It's a little blingly.......


I wasn't thinking blingy at all, more like that is something you would expect to see under the cowl of a LMP or DP car. If that much attention to detail went into the rest of the machine work you should have a really stout, reliable engine. You'll have to let us know when you make your debut. :023:

[StephenB]

Car looks awesome and so does that engine! Like the others said... it looks like a lot of attention to detail and that should pay off in speed and reliability :)

Stephen