RE: Datsun 240Z V8: You Know You Want To

RE: Datsun 240Z V8: You Know You Want To

Thursday 10th April 2014

Datsun 240Z V8: You Know You Want To

The original Japanese muscle car, now with a little more muscle



Engine swaps always make for controversial cars, hence this 240Z being a YKYWT car rather than the lovingly restored original Zee featured as a Spotted in 2012. Cars like the MR2 V8 Harris wrote about, dropping LS7s into TVRs and the various V8 MX-5 conversions are always risky; what stands to be gained in hilarious performance gains, noise and reliability could be outweighed by tarnishing the originality and creating something where the engine overly dominates.

Out with the old, in with the... also quite old
Out with the old, in with the... also quite old
Good engine transplants enhance the already desirable characteristics of the standard car and maybe add something new. VTECs dropped into Mk1 Elises seem like a good example. The worst are those that result in ruining the rest of the car for the sake of an engine.

So then, this V8 240Z. Taking the engine from a Chimaera seems like a wise move. Sure, it probably isn't as revvy as the straight-six but it apparently weighs the same as the old lump so there's no significant weight penalty. Perhaps it makes the Zee more muscle car than sports car now, but who can say they're not a little curious about how it drives?

Moreover, this car isn't a garage queen; it gets used, it has scratches so there would be no issue with the next owner continuing to do so. Reading the swap description, it's clearly been thought out with tweaks to the cooling, a new propshaft and an uprated gearbox. This wasn't just a case of dropping a V8 in and seeing what happens, or it seems that way.

Best have a tyre supplier ready
Best have a tyre supplier ready
As well as this, the other tweaks to the 240Z should allow that extra performance to be properly utilised. There's an RS200 limited-slip diff in there somehow, brakes from a 280ZX, Tokico adjustable dampers and custom strut braces. A bit of a mongrel then, but rather appealing nonetheless.

It's not one for the purists then. But for those wanting classic style with usable (and plentiful) modern performance, there is surely a lot to be said for this 240Z.

 



DATSUN 240Z V8
Price:
£8,000
Why you should: Looks great, should go rather well too
Why you shouldn't: Not exactly original, or immaculate

See the original advert here.

Author
Discussion

nm121

Original Poster:

437 posts

139 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
This is one of those impulse purchases I would happily pull the trigger on. If I had 8k sitting spare. Which I don't.

Nice one on the PH Forum with an M3 motor in it - nice build thread too.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Motor Trend also pitted a reworked 240 against a heavily modified 370Z and the old car put up a good fight.
http://wot.motortrend.com/old-vs-new-nissan-projec...

Would love one one day - whether original or not.

(edited to add links)

Edited by nm121 on Thursday 10th April 11:21


Edited by nm121 on Thursday 10th April 11:22

Alfa159Ti

827 posts

156 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Love these cars. However, forgive my possible ignorance, but aren't the TVR engines of that vintage notoriously unreliable and do they not require rebuilds as almost par for the course?

bozzy101

506 posts

138 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Cheap!

Zumbruk

7,848 posts

259 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Alfa159Ti said:
Love these cars. However, forgive my possible ignorance, but aren't the TVR engines of that vintage notoriously unreliable and do they not require rebuilds as almost par for the course?
No. This is a Rover V8 and is no more or less reliable than any other RV8.

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Very nice. Beautiful looking and with a cracking soundtrack to boot!!

Price seems very reasonable to me.

Fastchas

2,640 posts

120 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
[quote=nm121]This is one of those impulse purchases I would happily pull the trigger on. If I had 8k sitting spare. Which I don't.


That was my first thought.
I'm getting an equity pay out from the sale of my house very soon. Now, should I invest it back into my next house or spunk the lot on something like this...?

Fyrey

2 posts

136 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all

Monsterlime

1,205 posts

165 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Love it. Always liked the 240Z, and I must say I am sorely tempted. Would be a nice complement to my Chimaera!

MrGeoff

645 posts

171 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
If I had 8k knocking about I'd buy it, like others have said it's an impulse purchase but it would be fun. It would sound great as well. However I fear I'd plough about 8k back in to to it to get it up to standard, the interior would have to be original and it would have to go back to a factory colour, the ink blue is a bit 70s medallion.

iloveboost

1,531 posts

161 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Love cars like this with retro details and good styling but restored with a more reliable and powerful powertrain. There was a guy in Canada I think who resto-modded one of those old Alfa Romeo Spiders some people will hate it but I like it. Just googled it and here's a short video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJcSGPAFkG0

hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Looks like a fantastic way to blow £8k!

stephen300o

15,464 posts

227 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
What a horrible engine to use, the six pot was lovely.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
I'd rather buy a TVR wedge, to be honest.

PZR

627 posts

184 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
PistonHeads said:
There's an RS200 limited-slip diff in there somehow...
It's a 'long-nose' R200 diff ( '200' = 200mm crownwheel ), made by Fuji Heavy Industries, and standard equipment in many Nissans from late '73-onwards.

Nothing to do with Ford Group B homologation specials...

samoht

5,633 posts

145 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
MrGeoff said:
I fear I'd plough about 8k back in to to it to get it up to standard, the interior would have to be original and it would have to go back to a factory colour, the ink blue is a bit 70s medallion.
The colour feels like a tribute to Wangan Midnight to me
(pic from wikia).


RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
stephen300o said:
What a horrible engine to use, the six pot was lovely.
As nice as the straight six is, so is the Rover V8. I normally feel uncomfortable about engine swaps, but I'd have to drive this one to see...

LordVader

54 posts

139 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Oh yes please smile
Needs a satin black wrap though.

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
LordVader said:
Needs a satin black wrap though.
Umm, this isn't Barryboys, you know...

LordVader

54 posts

139 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
Umm, this isn't Barryboys, you know...
Ah I forgot to say it also needs orange wheels to go with the wrap smile

davegreg

1,099 posts

188 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Nice - but could do with another exhaust on the other side in my opinion. smile