Description:

Datsun 260Z Restomod---------------------------------------------ENGINE: The original 132 HP 2.6 liter inline six was removed and replaced with GM’s venerable 3rd generation LS6 small block engine as used in the late model Z06 Corvette. This engine has an all aluminum block and heads, six bolt main caps, fuel injection, and individual ignition coils for each cylinder. This is a completely new engine design from earlier small blocks and actually weighs less than the original six cylinder engine that was removed from this car. The engine was mounted using JTR mounts in a set-back position which results in a 50/50 weight distribution. A custom cold air intake with a ported throttle body was added, and the exhaust flows through custom built Sanderson headers and a custom 3” Borla exhaust. This engine was dynotuned at Synergy Motorsports and produced 371 RWHP (about 438 HP at the motor!) and 380 RWTQ. This engine when mated to the lightweight 2410 lb Z chassis results in supercar 0-60 times of 3 seconds (est.) and quarter mile times of 10.9 seconds @ 125 mph (est.). The car is able to generate these astonishing times without a wild cam or ultra high compression pistons requiring race gas due to its light weight (almost 800 lbs lighter than a Corvette). The motor is very reliable, has a smooth idle, and gets 27 mpg on the highway using pump gas. I would not hesitate to daily drive this car (if it wasn’t so nice!---------------------------------------------DRIVETRAIN: The LS6 engine is mated to a Tremic T56 transmission using a Corvette Z06 clutch/flywheel assembly. The clutch is actuated with a new master and slave cylinders. A Hurst shifter topped with a TWM weighted shift knob handles the gear change duties. A custom built driveshaft using high strength u-joints is utilized. This is backed with a much stronger R200 differential that has been completely rebuilt using all new bearings and seals with a new Nissan Motorsports (Nismo) Limited Slip. In addition, the halfshafts were also rebuilt using new Nismo u-joints.---------------------------------------------BRAKES: The front brakes were upgraded to 12” Wilwood disc brakes using 1.125” thick vented rotors, aluminum hubs, and superlite forged aluminum calipers. The rear brakes were upgraded as well using the Modern Motorsports 11” rear disc brake conversion which includes a fully functional parking brake. A Wilwood brake bias valve was added, and all rubber brake lines were replaced with DOT braided stainless brake lines. The master cylinder was replaced with a new Nissan unit, and the brake power booster was completely rebuilt.---------------------------------------------SUSPENSION/STEERING: The Z came from the factory with fully independent suspension. In the early 70’s, the Z was very competitive with cars like the Porsche 911. However, several upgrades to the suspension were performed to both modernize the car and to handle all of the additional torque generated by the LS6 engine. The struts were sectioned by Techno Toy Tuning. Sectioning the struts is the most expensive but preferred way to lower a Z car because the stock ride height is lowered substantially while retaining the stock suspension travel. The sectioned struts were mated to Ground Control coilovers with Eibach springs and Tokico Illumina adjustable shocks. This setup allows the ride firmness and the ride height to be fully adjustable. The struts were topped off with EMI camber plates which allow for full Camber/Caster adjustment. The front and rear sway bars were replaced with upgraded units from Suspension Technics. All stock rubber suspension bushings were replaced with Energy System polyurethane. G machines tension control rod bushings and Techno Toy Tuning bump steer spacers were also utilized. The steering was completely restored using a new (not rebuilt) steering rack, new tie rod ends, new ball joints. The chassis was stiffened using PDK front and rear strut tower braces. Yokohama tires are mounted on custom 8.5” X 16” Panaport wheels using new Nismo wheel studs.---------------------------------------------CHASSIS/EXTERIOR: A 260Z chassis was specifically chosen because Datsun incorporated substantial chassis/suspension upgrades over the 240Z chassis resulting in a much stronger/stiffer chassis without the unnecessary weight gains seen in the later 280Z model. This makes the 260Z a perfect car for a V-8 upgrade. This car started life as a 1974 rust free/accident free 260Z with 80,000 miles. The car has a clean title, and was purchased from the original owner in California. It took me over two years of searching to find a suitable car in this condition. (This project unlike most Z V-8 conversions did not start life as salvaged/neglected rust bucket – no rotisserie build here!). The restoration started by completely striping the car down to the bare shell. This included removing the complete drivetrain , the complete suspension, the interior including the dash, bumpers, doors, glass, gas tank, exhaust, front fenders, etc. Paint prep started with sanding all parts down to the bare metal. All emblem holes, side marker light holes, and unused bumper holes were carefully welded closed. The bare metal was etched and then primed. After block sanding, the show quality paint was completed using a PPG clear coat/base coat system in Viper metallic silver. The entire car was then wet sanded and buffed out to a beautiful shine. A front Motorsports Auto air dam was added as well as a rear BRE spoiler. The car also received new 240Z European style bumpers which are much lighter and better looking than the 260Z bumpers that were removed. The tail light surrounds were sent out and re-chromed, and the tail lights were restored. New halogen headlights were added which are powered through a new wiring harness using relays unlike the stock system that sends high current through the interior headlight switch. Restored limited edition Datsun “Black Pearl” mirrors were also installed. A new tinted windshield was installed and all of the remaining glass was tinted. The exterior was completed using all new OEM NOS (original equipment new old stock) weather striping on the doors and all glass. The OEM weather strip is much more expensive but vastly superior to the cheaply made aftermarket alternatives that are available.-----------------------------------------------INTERIOR: The interior including the dash was completely removed. The dash was covered and all stock gauges were replaced with Stewart Warner Performance Competition gauges. A Raptor Performance shift light was also added. The heavy old heater was completely removed and discarded. This was replaced with a lightweight Vintage air heater/defroster/air conditioning unit using a new I.C.E. compressor. This much more expensive compressor was chosen over the inexpensive Sanderson included in the Vintage Air kit due to its reliable lightweight and efficient design. The interior was completely covered in a sound deadening material. This was covered in new carpet. Since the door panels tend to warp with age, they were removed, flattened, and then covered with a layer of fiberglass on both sides. This results in a much quieter interior and assures that the panels will not warp again in the future. These were then sent out to be reupholstered. All other interior panels that were not reupholstered were removed, cleaned, and then re-dyed in the same black color as original to restore their original luster. The seats were replaced with a very supportive upholstered version of the seat that’s used in the late model Dodge Viper. A leather wrapped steering wheel as well as a Motorsport Auto center armrest was then added. Custom strut tower speaker enclosures were built using fiberglass to house Infinity Kappa speakers. A rear Motorsport Auto speaker enclosure was also utilized to house an additional two speakers.----------------------------------------------MORE DETAILS: Well over $50,000 invested. Receipts, dyno charts, and other documentation including wiring diagrams are included in the purchase. This car was never raced and only adult driven. Engine has been maintained using only Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil. For complete description of everything that went into this beautiful car check the web at //sites.google.com/site/ls6zmoreinfo/ ----------------------------------------------ABOUT THE OWNER/BUILDER: I have been building cars for myself as a hobby for over 32 years. Past projects include restoring Corvettes, building a 550 hp JBL Cobra, and building a high performance single engine aircraft that had similar performance to a P-51. I am an engineer and a certified aircraft mechanic. I am selling this project because I enjoy building cars, and this one is now complete and sorted. It’s time for another project. Unfortunately I do not have the funds or the space to keep multiple projects so I tend to sell them when they are finished. Perhaps someday I will win the lottery so that I can buy back all of my past projects.
Performance Data

• 2410 lbs
  

Engine

• GM
  
• LS6
  
• 5.7 Liter
  
• 371 RWHP
  
• 380 RWTQ
  

Fuel System

• Fuel Tank
  

Transmission

• Tremic
  
• 6 speed
  

Rear End

• Datsun
  
• R200
  
• 3.9
  
• LSD
  

Body

• Steel
  
• PPG
  

Chassis

• Ground Control coilovers
  
• Ground Control coilovers
  
• Tokico Illumina
  
• Wilwood
  
• rack & pinion
  
• Panasport
  
• Yokohama
  

Interior

• Black
  
• Vinyl. leather, cloth
  
• Stewart Warner
  

Spares

• none