A new 260Z is born - Jeffrey R's 260Z

[Ron Earp]

Well, a new 260Z build has started with Jeffrey Roussel pulling is excellently-caged 260Z out of hiding and starting work. We've done a lot of sanding, welding, grinding, patching, and we're hoping to go to paint in a day or two.

Here are a few shots, including one I know my home owners's association will love that has the tub and chassis on dolly with parts strewn all around the yard to dry overnight.

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/JeffworkingonZ.JPG

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/back.JPG

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/front.JPG

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/side.JPG

[Ron Earp]

And a few more:

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/welditup.JPG

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/IMG_4423.JPG

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/IMG_4431.JPG

[pballance]

Cool!! Another Datsun!! :happy204:

Keep us posted on the build and would you guys like to come to my house and help me get mine ready for paint??

[Seabee]

Ron did you have a senior moment while welding?

Nice project.

[Ron Earp]

Naw, that's Jeffrey. I'm the guy taking the pictures. Jeff Young was also over ambling about with Ed the Dog but didn't have pics of either of them.

[jrvisual]

I wouldn't call it born. More like the egg was taken out of the freezer and fertilized.

I won't call it born until I fire it up and it moves under its own power.

[jrvisual]

Ron did you have a senior moment while welding?

Nice project.

Not a senior moment, that was sparks burning the top of my head. The senior moment happen several years ago when I decide to build a Z car rather that by a built and running race car.

[Seabee]

All good stuff you guys. I am just jealous that you are outside working on race cars and although it was 50 today the weather supposed to turn into the teens at night this week.

Keep the pics coming of the project.

[jrvisual]

Thinking of painting it orange with either white stripes down the side like this or white racing strips running over the hood and roof.

Any other ideas for color are welcome, I am talking to the painter tomorrow.

[spawpoet]

Ohhh crap!!! This is giving me nasty flashbacks to our rebuild from this past summer! I just did get the scent of metal grindings and argon out of my system. That's looking good Jeff, and congrats. Doing a z won't feel like a senior moment once you're out on track. That cage looks good. Did you guys do it?? Has some similarities to our cage. I keep meaning to post some pics on here from our build, so I'll try to do that this week. I look forward to seeing more of yours on here. Good luck with the paintwork!

[JeffYoung]

Chris Schimmel at Competition Cages did the cage. It's a good cage.

Jeff R. and Ron E. have been working their tails off on the car, I mostly just drag it around (which I am fine with). This one is going to be built RIGHT from the shell up, so we'll see what it does.

These are such simple cars.

[Steam Corners]

Forgive the threadjack (the project looks cool, BTW!) but might I inquire why you guys are going for the 260z, versus the 240? I understand the extra displacement, and I'd imagine there's more flexibility with carbs vs. the injection on the 280, but I have nightmares of tuning the carbs on my dad's 260 as a child. . whereas the 240 was a relative breeze. What am I missing?

[spawpoet]

Forgive the threadjack (the project looks cool, BTW!) but might I inquire why you guys are going for the 260z, versus the 240? I understand the extra displacement, and I'd imagine there's more flexibility with carbs vs. the injection on the 280, but I have nightmares of tuning the carbs on my dad's 260 as a child. . whereas the 240 was a relative breeze. What am I missing?


Most of the english su guys I've talked to actually prefer the HIF carbs. They feel they can make a bit more power with them. They are just not as well understood. As to why more people are running 260's vs. 240's these days, I think it has more to do with the relative availability of a decent chassis at a decent price. Good 240 chassis are getting hard to find and are going for pretty good $. If we ever do another ground-up build we are going 280. At its current weight, that is the z chassis to run. Especially with the ECU rule opening up. My next choice would be a 260 with the extra displacement followed by a 240.

[spawpoet]

Chris Schimmel at Competition Cages did the cage. It's a good cage.

Jeff R. and Ron E. have been working their tails off on the car, I mostly just drag it around (which I am fine with). This one is going to be built RIGHT from the shell up, so we'll see what it does.

These are such simple cars.


You should be right around min weight if that's 1.5" tubing in the cage. We are a bit over 240 min, but Tim and I could both stand to lose a few pounds, plus we are real heavy on wheels/tires. We also have a couple extra braces in the cage running from the bend in the main hoop up to the rear shock mount that I think Jeff's cage doesn't have. Hard to tell in the pics. The cage is very similar though with the way the main hoop pinches in. We liked the way that tied into the chassis by the old seatbelt mount. Looks like it's gonna be a great car. And your right about how simple the cars are. As we redid ours we kept saying that over and over again. And amazingly they are still pretty fast. Good luck!

[JeffYoung]

This car got built because, well, we owned it. We had a decent chassis laying around, and Ron was already running a 260 so it made some sense.

That said, as noted above, the flattop carbs aren't that bad once you get them sorted, and the 260 makes a bit more power with a fatter torque curve than a 240z. Not quite as many revs though.

All in all, I think a to the hilt build on a 260z will be just as fast as a 240z. Plus, the chassis are just cheaper as they are not yet really sought after.

On the other hand, I think the 280zx -- 4 wheel discs and all - is the Z car to build from the ground up. Probably more so than the 280z, just due to the brakes.

All Z cars can be competitive, still, in ITS though.

[seckerich]

Jeff I am pretty sure there is a 12 step program we all need to be in. I just get to step 1 and say my name and my race car addiction and then quit going and buy another car. Seems to work for you and Ron as well.:D Good luck on the build. Just taking a break from the RX8 as I type.

[JeffYoung]

It is an addiction. I'm actually really looking forward to Ron's ITR car (probably a few years off) -- a strip down and build up that is done RIGHT. Both the TR8 and the existing 260z are sort of frankenracecars, pieced together by different folks over time.

Jeff R.'s 260z is a testament to commitment. That boy has had a lot of stuff get in the way of racing, but he keeps chipping away at it and we are actually starting to get close. It's cool to see.

[Ron Earp]

Some more werk.
http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/IMG_4439.JPG

[Mike Mackaman]

Ron, Jeff R, Jeff Y, I notice you don't have any camber plates in there yet. I just picked up a batch from the laser guy. I can hook you up for a lot less than the alternatives. Definately want to get those in before you paint the chassis. I don't know what equipment you have, but I just got a plasma cutter last fall that will make the rears a breeze compared to the others I have done with drills and sawsalls. A torch will also work, but it is amazing how thick the rear strut towers are! Call me, I can send you a set quick, 704-472-3302.

Mike

[Ron Earp]

Hey Mike,

PM or Email Jeffrey (jrvisual) direct. I am pretty sure he has some camber plates already, but not 100% certain.

This car actually has parts from all over. To list but a few:

Earp - parts from the Jensen Healey, guages, and his own 260Z stash
Young - gauges, extra Z parts, brake parts, and other assorted
Parrish - headers, wheels, some other parts
Spillman - indirectly some wheels
Diffenbaugh - some 260Z carbs and manifolds
MARS Z guy - carbs, cell, spoiler, few other things

So it is somewhat of a community IT car in a way!

[mom'sZ]

Very cool!
Hey Chris, that fuel cell mount picture looks like it got copy pasted from your photo album!

[JeffYoung]

Duplicate of what is in the existing Z.

[Ron Earp]

A few more pictures:

http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/inside.jpg

[Ron Earp]

Another
http://www.gt40s.com/images/JeffZ/outside.jpg

[jrvisual]

It's not pink. Ron's camera can handle orange.

It's like looking at the sun about an hour before sunset.

[spawpoet]

Cool guys. Looking good!

[JeffYoung]

Holy crap that is funny. The color looks NOTHING like that in person. I mean nothing. It is the brightest orange I've ever seen.

In the pictures it looks like it is ready to go to the Gay Pride Parade...

[Ron Earp]

See if that works better. Better camera, not bberry camera.

[pballance]

Looks good guys,. Ron, Tell Jeffrey I still have one more diameter to check and I am fairly certain the struts left are the larger diameter 280. I prepped them for sectioning and after being cut the sleeve wouldn't fit over the tube.

Paul

[jrvisual]

Paul, thanks we have a set of tubes that should arrive on Tuesday. Will let you know if they work for us.

Do you know the time frame of the strut tubes that have the thicker based, Kind of a built in anti-bump steer kit? We have one of these laying around and don't know where it comes from.

[jrvisual]

Just realized my signature has said "Soon to be ITS 260z" for 3 years. It actually may be finally be accurate.

[JeffYoung]

More progress:

- rear suspension mostly in, just short two bolts...

- engine headed to Ron's in the next day or two for final dress out....

- front struts just about finished....

- started tearing into calipers to rebuild them and....whew...rusty bores and pitted pistons, so probably need to get new ones. AND..disaster...I blew some brake fluid out in a cloud when blowing the pistons out with compressed air, and it settled on one of the fenders......so, it's back for a repaint. Always leave it to me to Jeff something up!

We may get the suspension and motor in and complete end of next weekend.

It's really, really cool building a car from the shell up. So simple these old turds.

[Tom Donnelly]

AND..disaster...I blew some brake fluid out in a cloud when blowing the pistons out with compressed air, and it settled on one of the fenders......so, it's back for a repaint. Always leave it to me to Jeff something up!



I did that last year. Woosh! Luckily, my face was in the way and I missed the car.

[joeg]

I did that cleaning the spray gun with lacquer thinner...ARGHHHH

[CPLUCKER]

Jeff

What about that cart you are using to move the shell around ? I am working on a rx 7 with a buddy and we are about to make it immobile, but that cart looks really useful, did you buy it ?

Thanks
Chris Plucker

[jrvisual]

Northern Tool

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_47661_47661&issearch=125415


I already sold the one I had to a guy at Maaco.

[EAPCPA]

Hi Guys,

Good luck at the track this weekend. I am the new caretaker for the 260Z and have purchased the car from Jeff R. I am working hard to get this thing running. I have sorted through most of the parts and I have made a shit list of items to do. Still need to get the charging system, oil cooler, brake lines, drive line and fuel lines run. Those are the big items. I am coming to ITS from spec Miata several years ago and have helped Ron and Jeff Y over the years. I am a noob driver and I will get my son licensed as well. Jeff R. and Ron and Jeff Y have prepped a pretty nice tub so far. I am missing one rear brake shoe locating block that bolts to the top of the brake backing plate. Still looking through boxes. I picked up about four plastic tubs and three boxes from Jeff when I picked up the car. Looking forward to getting back to racing in my own car.

Cheers,

[tim240z]

Hope to see you down here in florida... Good luck with the car.

[Mike Mackaman]

Good to see another Z driver. I have a 260 that I drive once or twice a year, and I maintain David Spillmans 240. Let me know if you need anything. I make some nice camber plates, David's old car had them, the new tub we are looking at has them and I put a set on Parish's car this winter. Supposed to get Donnelly's car up here when the scheduling gods permit. I also make caliper cooling ducts that drop the caliper temp by 200 degrees in July at Road Atlanta and weigh like 1/2 an oz each. Fiberglass with high temp epoxy resin.

and I can powder coat suspension parts pretty cheap, sooo easy to clean!

Mike

[EAPCPA]

Thanks guys for the info and encouragement. Lots of little things to do but I just keep plugging away at it. I do need that brake shoe locating block. Not sure what to call it other than it bolts to the rear backing plate and the top of the rear shoes pivot against it. Found one and asked Jeff about the other side. He says its there but I just can't find it. I will ask Dr. Earp Monday when he gets back from Roebling. Unless one of you guys have a junker you can grab one off of. Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to source and hold you up the most. :shrug:

[spawpoet]

We have one down here (fla). Lemme see if I can put my hands on one quickly this pm. Check back tonight or tomorrow am for confirmation.

[spawpoet]

If you do still need it I have it sitting on my dining room table.

[EAPCPA]

Yes I do. So what is that little doodad called? You take paypal. I can send you an email with my address. I am humbled by your expedience on Friday especially.

[pballance]

Hi Ed, welcome to the fun as a Z pilot :)

I am just now reading this and since Chris has got you fixed up, I don't need to go look for a pivot block, which I know I have.

Hope to see you at the track, come on over to Nashville in June if you get the chance.

Paul

[spawpoet]

Yes I do. So what is that little doodad called? You take paypal. I can send you an email with my address. I am humbled by your expedience on Friday especially.


Blind luck really. My brother was stripping our parts car which is parked where I work, and literally was taking the rear wheels off when you posted. We have other rear brake backplates buried inside, but they would take an act of God to find. I'll figure out what shipping will cost and send you a PM. That's all it will be. I'm just happy to see more z-cars out there.

[tim240z]

Blind luck really. My brother was stripping our parts car which is parked where I work, and literally was taking the rear wheels off when you posted. We have other rear brake backplates buried inside, but they would take an act of God to find. I'll figure out what shipping will cost and send you a PM. That's all it will be. I'm just happy to see more z-cars out there.

Bout the only thing off that car thats any good LOL.


BTW Mike... we NEED 2 sets of those caliper cooling thingys asap... unless Chris has already dealt with it...

[spawpoet]

Bout the only thing off that car thats any good LOL.


BTW Mike... we NEED 2 sets of those caliper cooling thingys asap... unless Chris has already dealt with it...

We have em. We just have to tap our caliper bodies to attach it.

[spawpoet]

Ed, you have pms turned off so I couldn't send you one, but I can send the block UPS, and they quoted me $10 which seems high. Probably get to you on Wed.. USPS would most likely still be there by the weekend, and parcel post would only be about $3, and Priority mail flat rate should only be $5. You can send me an email at [email protected], if you still need the part, and give me your shipping address, and I can sen it out on Monday.

[Parrish57]

Jeff

What about that cart you are using to move the shell around ? I am working on a rx 7 with a buddy and we are about to make it immobile, but that cart looks really useful, did you buy it ?

Thanks
Chris Plucker

Chris... I built one myself out of scrap lumber and some casters that I had laying around. It was very simple with the only precise measurment being the distance between the rocker panel seams. After that it was glue it and screw it.