300zx

[madrabbit15]

advantages, disadvantages........ how fast can they be? opinions anyone?

[kthomas]

You can't make a race car out of a pig, but you can make a damn fast pig.

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katman

[stephweiss]

Hey, hey, hey now, don't you be talking about my car that way.

Steph Weiss
#13 ITA BMW 2002tii ("The Flying Pig")

[Prince Makaha]

Funny.......somebody has read the article about Grayson Upchurch going fast enough for a ITS win in one. Weight works against that car and the fact that it has the same rear end problems that a 510 has in that you have to run extremely stiff rear springs to combat camber and toe change.

[bobpink]

"katman" supplied that quote for the 240Z/300ZX comparison article I wrote in GRM some years ago already. He didn't originate it, but it sure does apply to the 300ZX. Keith was also a great help in helping with tech info. We did the back-to-back comparison at Road Atlanta with drivers Grayson Upchurch, John Williams, Paul Reckert and Tom Horan all of whom had a lot of experience and just a few wins to their name.

The guys who normally drove a 240Z were genuinely surprised at how fast and how easy the 300ZX was to drive. The 300ZX has a very linear torque curve, 5-speed and great brakes. The downside is power steering the doesn't provide a lot of feedback and it is easy to lock up the tires under braking because of the lack of feel in the brake pedal.

Just the other night I was up at the E. Radatz Motorsports shop and discussion about the 300ZX came up. Eddie acknowledged that there was the "Grayson factor" in the 1995 ARRC win, but he thinks the car can still be competitive. Grayson has still run well in the ERM 300ZX since considering there has been no development done on the car since the ARRC win and it has gotten pretty beat up since then too.

About a year ago Mike Fitzgerald had his ITS 300ZX for sale, but don't know if it is still available. Car was at Ponder Racing Services. Well done car originally built by ERM for Larry Stepp with little expense spared.

Bob Pinkowski
Atlanta Region SCCA
OPM Motorsports
ITS Honda Prelude

[CrunchyFrog]

There's a guys in CalClub running one - Champ 2 years in a row.

[Warren]

All these posts are from 2002. Has anyone had a competitive 300ZX? I saw an ad in the paper for an '86 300ZX. The price is good and I was thinking about converting it into an IT car. Any thoughts?
Thanks,

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Warren

[Warren]

sorry, I forgot you can email me at [email protected]
Thanks again,

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Warren

[MMiskoe]

I am curious about the same question, and I have two sitting in the garage w/ ITS logbooks. Mine is a mid pack car, but I can't say I have done any engine developement work, the RX7's pull me down the straight even when I am equal or better off of a turn.

'84 & '85's are lighter, '86 was a transition year, some things change some didn't until '87. The '84 I have is about 2680#, no problem meeting min weight, the 87 is about 2800# (empty) & I can't see where to get rid of 100#.

There are not alot of parts out there ready to go on it for IT when compared to RX'7's & BMW etc, but it can be made to happen. Things like brake pads and shocks are not as smiple as they are on other cars.

They are bullet proof however.

If anyone has info on what a developed motor can make (real numbers w/ backup, not expectations) I would love to know. Email me off line [email protected]

Warren if you buy that car & have questions, feel free.

Matt Miskoe
'84 ITS Nissan 300zx
'87 ITS Nissan 300zx

Against all the ITS car with the exception of the E-36, I'd say they would be fairly competitive.
Of course, the Z32 is probably the only one that would have a shot at the top E-36's, but we know the SCCA thinks the Z32 has a competetive advantage (like the E-36 didn't)over the rest of the ITS field.

I think the limiting factor in the Z31 is tinkering with the FI system and possibly the throttle body size if you can make gains elsewhere.

[SpudZ]

Hey All,
2ManyZ's and I have been discussing this for awhile. I have looked at the 200SX , since ir shares some of the ZX's drivetrain. Aftermarket parts and R & D is lacking on the car . Steve Christiansen (sp) the ex Nissan Motorsports employee raced the turbo 200SX and felt the
chassis and brake were up to the task and we all know the VG30 is bullit proof.

Mike

This one has been listed twice on Ebay and hasn't sold yet... probably because there are so few of them competing in ITS that no one knows how they stack up against the rest of the competition.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...6&category=6398

[Greg Amy]

Uh, that's not a 300ZX, those photos are of a 200SX...

(Edit: disregard, I just re-read the above post...I like the idea of a V-6 200SX, but it's an uphill battle against the E36. They're getting 210+ *rear-wheel* horsepower at 2850 pounds, and the 200sx is listed at 2885 with nowhere near the development as the E36...)


[This message has been edited by grega (edited August 18, 2004).]