1973 Datsun 240Z Restomod

I tend to ramble, scroll for pics.

My first love before my Tacoma was sports cars. My dad was a motor head, and I was always wrenching on something. While in highschool and the Army I developed a love of racing games, and a propensity for old fun cars. When I lived in El Paso I had a ‘77 VW bug that was fairly hopped up, and once I went over to Afghanistan as a contractor in 2011 I was determined to buy a Datsun when I got back.

At first I was pretty intent on finding a 510. Unfortunately this was right around the time they started getting very collectible. Since I was also paying for a bunch of stuff due to a bad relationship... I couldn’t afford one really. That’s when my attention turned to the 240z.

I picked this one up shortly after getting back state side for $5k in 2012. It’s a numbers matching ‘73 240z that was in okay shape. Had been shoddily re-painted, but ran and drove alright.



I wish I still had early pictures, but lost them due to a hard drive failure. For a few years I drove it stock, made minor fixes and a few small upgrades. New alternator, rebuilt carbs, hoses, belts, fuel pump, and a couple electrical upgrades.

Then I decided to take it apart to start the body work. Then I bought a house and moved.

The rust repairs were not great....



I promise I have non-photobucket images haha. Just old stuff is gone.

Shortly after that a lot changed, I got into a new relationship, new career, got married, big house projects. The car sat like this for a few years. Which was kind of a good thing. Originally I had planned on a pretty simple build, some suspension, a 2.8l from a 280z, and a five speed. Nothing too drastic.

Here’s where things get interesting. As the 240z became more popular a few companies popped up with different products. New builds were being done, and plans changed. Too many Petrolicious and Hoonigan Autofocus videos led to my desire to tackle a big change. I wanted to swap in a V8, but not an LS, it had to be a Japanese V8. Queue the VH45.






4.5L Nissan V8, aluminum block and heads, DOHC, VVT, forged internals, six bolt mains w/girdle, 350ish hp, for $300!

Yes it comes stock with studs in the bottom end.

It’s getting a factory refresh with chain tensioner update, custom exhaust, BMW ITBs, and possibly re-ground cams.

I managed to find a six speed out of a G37. Same trans as CD009, but with a concentric slave. I was told that 5th and 6th were shot, but couldn’t pass it up for $300. Turns out that there was a broken lever in the trans, so I fixed it for $50 worth of parts and seals.




One of the only downfalls of this trans is the Concentric Slave cylinder. I picked up a kit from Z1 Performance that will delete this and move to an external slave. I’m also using their clutch and flywheel, which will all mate up to the engine thanks to an adapter from Collins.


This engine and trans combo would shread a stock 240z diff, so I needed a solution for the rear end. The rear end of the Z is not great, but luckily a company called Apex Engineered makes a subframe that allows you to bolt on modern diffs, CV axles, and adjustable LCAs. The uprights I am getting from TechnoToyTuning, who did my coil overs, will allow me to bolt up R32/Z32 rear hubs and brakes, including the stock e-brake.



To source all the parts for the swap I turned to EBay, and got a set pulled from an R32 GTST. This gives me big brakes, a 5-lug swap, CV upgrade, and an LSD.

I also discovered that the front knuckles from an R32/Z32 are direct bolt on to stock 240z front LCAs and tie rods. Need to get tubes welded to these to convert to McPherson after taking a few measurements. Hoping this will work so I can swap the front with FACTORY parts.


I’ll be rebuilding and painting the calipers. Also plan on new bearings, rotors, and refreshing without.

Lastly is the body. I honestly considered restoring this car, but it’s MY car, and who cares what the purists think.

Luckily a new company has popped up making panels for this car. Previously there weren’t very many good options. The stock sheet metal I got can be seen above, they’re green. The rest will be some things from a company called Ztrix. They make excellent FG parts for the Z.



This is their subtle wide body, adds a couple inches to the width without changing the lines too much. I have a few other ideas for the styling, need to sketch them up and find out a way to make them a reality.

I plan to keep the interior simple. Maybe modernize a bit.




If you read this all thanks! If not, thanks for looking! Hope to keep this somewhat updated. Most of the Datsun forums are dead.

 

Very cool project!

 

I love it! It's great that 1) You're not jumping on the LS bandwagon 2) You're building it 'your' way. So many people seem to find a formula which works and just follow it. Can't wait to see how it turns-out!!

 

Love it! esp the VH swap! I have a '66 Roadster with an SR swap that was completed back in the early 2000s and I love your decision to go VH instead of RB, etc. F*ck the purists .

My buddy Rob has a shop local to me that turns out some pretty sweet Z builds. Check 'em out if you get a chance. https://www.zcargarage.com/

 

The 2 PD units hiding
in the street made me LOL

 

The roadsters are nice! Another car that has exploded in price. I’m familiar with Rob, he has a lot of really cool builds.

 

That's a hell of a project car! Hope it turns out as well as you hope it to!

In 1976, I bought a 1972 240Z, in Burnt Orange. Left it completely stock except for a Borla muffler. Very fun car to drive, and even stock it got a lot of compliments.

At the time, there was a company named Scarab Engineering that was offering a 240Z "conversion" in which they did wide-body mods, improved suspension, upgraded diff and trans, and dropped in a 327, 350, or even a 383, among other improvements. Called it a "Scarab Z." They also sold DIY kits to facilitate your own build. Just so happened that my wife had a '67 Camaro RS with a 327. Alas, though, she wouldn't let me take the engine from it; go figure.

 

Is your engine painted a Nissan color? At first I thought it was Detroit Diesel green, then Chrysler or Pontiac -- and after comparing -- you win -- what is it?


You have a great project going there and so much better by not going with the easy LS crowd.

The 240Z and the Triumph GT 6 Mk 3 are in a tie for the best looking cars ever built (IMHO), wanted both,never had either.
The Datsun was a far superior car of course. The Triumph gave you a much better chance of walking home.

 

Sweet. I have a modded 87 300T in the garage. Been in the family since new. Still only 70k miles. Look forward to seeing your build competed.

 

Datsuns are the Best! Here is one I restored


and mine



and one more pic because Friday

I will be watching your build looks like you have a great project on your hands.

 

It’s actually a Pontiac color, easy to find on the self at most auto stores. Closest you can get to the original Datsun color without paying $30 per can. Used engine enamel primer and then the blue color. I have the original engine too, and it’s pretty close. Will look good with the valve covers painted wrinkle black.

I also got my Z1 Performance CSC delete installed. Will need to be adjusted on the car.





This gets rid of the major weak point of the JK41b, and makes it as good, if not better than, the venerated CD009. For the price I got this trans for it was a steal! This kit is really nicely made, and the instructions are well written.

 

Looking forward to seeing this one.

I had many Datsun Sedans (510s) and roadsters. I had a '67 Datsun 2000. Nissan Patrols were hard to find, so I ended up with an FJ40. '72 Datsun 510 was my daily driver for years in California, then Oregon, the in Texas. Original butterscotch paint (aka baby shit yellow).

I worked on Datsun's on the weekends to make extra money (wife stayed home). So I always had a ton of new old stock parts. Stashed away. Kids got older, remarried, no longer working on Datsun's but boxes of parts. Friend asked if I had a driveshaft. Found three of them. 1600, 2000, and a 510. I had replaced U joints, so they were ready to do (weekend swaps). It was little a little gold mine, as most of that stuff went for $$$ on eBay. I had two old meatball dealer signs. Plastic 24" across. They came out of Turner Datsun. A six-pack of beer at the time (1980).

For years, when I traveled, I used to stop in old Datsun dealers buying up parts. I always kept a canvas bag inside of my luggage to come back with more parts.

I still have the metal license plate frame from Beaverton Toyota. Too bad it doesn't fit!

 

Nice build!
I just watched that blue one on BAT go this past weekend for good money! I was drooling over that thing! Such cool cars.

 

Nice job!

I went to school with a set of twin girls, Wanda and Rhonda, they both drove brown 240Z's, both cars were so ugly but they didn't care.