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My Datuns Fairlady Z Restoration is DONE!!!


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unfortunately my OLD photo-hosting site is being stupid and now wants us to PAY additional money to share photos on 3rd party sites like LP, so i'm looking to migrate all the photos (including the full photos documenting the final parts of the build) into a new hosting site so i can post up everything.

 

but the Z is finished. after almost 3 years. LOL. the car came out to Long Beach, CA to debut at the JCCS (Japanese Classic Car Show) last weekend. here was an article done about the car. happy to say that we were chosen as the #1 standout car of the show.

 

LINK: DATSUN Z

 

 

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Turned out very clean, good job on not overdoing it. Motor specs? L28?

 

 

Yes, we opted to bump a LITTLE more power, while keeping the period-correct power-plant for the car. so we ditched the L24 and went with a fully rebuilt L28, and added the OER triple carbs. Running also mild performance cam. Then finished off with a set of Fujitsubo headers and exhaust.

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Well done. I see a lot of restored cars and they go crazy on modernising the interior and then it totally doesn't mesh with the style of the car. You done good!

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Very nice! Looks super clean. Lately I've been seeing more and more restored Z cars (not Fairlady - just other Z like 280Z). Congrats on the highly complimentary write up!

 

What is the story with the wheels? Period correct?

 

Wildwood big brakes?

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Well done. I see a lot of restored cars and they go crazy on modernising the interior and then it totally doesn't mesh with the style of the car. You done good!

 

 

once i have the FULL build document up (including more photos), i'll do my best to explain the decision and when/where we made decisions to modernize but also retaining period correct "themes"....

 

one quick example is the interior. if you notice on the transmission tunnel, there's a diamond quilted vinyl piece over the whole area. in the factory cars, it was an actual piece of heat embossed diamond pattern vinyl. obviously the vinyl was old, brittle, and discolored. we "modernized" it by doing a foam padded vinyl with the quilted stitch (much like LAMBO interiors), but in a way that still paid tribute to the ORIGINAL design language of the Z. that same theme was carried up into the headline (not photographed).

 

there's a LOT of MODERN wide body kits, and some are throwing big turbo'd motors, or fuel injected motors. it's great for power, and for reliability, but it takes so much away from the character of the car.

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Very nice! Looks super clean. Lately I've been seeing more and more restored Z cars (not Fairlady - just other Z like 280Z). Congrats on the highly complimentary write up!

 

What is the story with the wheels? Period correct?

 

Wildwood big brakes?

 

few of the areas where we had to make executive calls to update performance and safety. the car is more accurately a "restomod" project than a true restoration project. but that being said, again, we tried as best as we could to keep with period-correct items, or at least themes.

 

in the case of the big brakes, it was 100% a safety and update decision. car does have 225-235 HP now and we just wanted a little additional stopping power. as for the wheels, i'm a BIG VOLK RACING and TE37 fan. their TE37v's were a perfect modern/throw back wheel (with the step lip design, etc).

 

we actually tried to run a 15" watanabe wheel (which would probably be more period correct), but it wouldn't clear the big brakes. i would have to upsize to a 16" wheel to accommodate the BBK, and didn't want to do that.

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Man, its perfect. I had a '74 Datsun 260Z, as well as a "78 280Z. I loved the carbureted car so much better. Glad you kept with the Z motor and the carb setup. Always nice to have a little more robust motor though, so I get the upgrades. I would love to have one just like this. I just recently started following a bunch of Z car stuff on Instagram, I am getting the itch again.

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Man, its perfect. I had a '74 Datsun 260Z, as well as a "78 280Z. I loved the carbureted car so much better. Glad you kept with the Z motor and the carb setup. Always nice to have a little more robust motor though, so I get the upgrades. I would love to have one just like this. I just recently started following a bunch of Z car stuff on Instagram, I am getting the itch again.

 

feel free to give me a follow @danielksong for more build photos!

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awesome build. will probably follow your footsteps soon too with a 240z project.

 

do it sooner than later. the prices on Z's have gone up over the last 3-4 years since i've started this project. i may invest into buying 1-2 more just to keep for future projects.

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feel free to give me a follow @danielksong for more build photos!

 

Following. Thanks Daniel!

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Yes, we opted to bump a LITTLE more power, while keeping the period-correct power-plant for the car. so we ditched the L24 and went with a fully rebuilt L28, and added the OER triple carbs. Running also mild performance cam. Then finished off with a set of Fujitsubo headers and exhaust.

 

Perfect. Cant beat the sound of the big displacement carb'd inline 6 either. I had a 72 240Z about 5 years ago with an L24, lumpy cam, dual carbs and header/exhaust, sounded great and a very useable power band. Next to V12s, inline-6s have got to be some of the coolest sounding engines.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Fantastic Fairlady Z car Sir!

 

My 17 yr old gearhead son says "no way" does that guy have a JDM real deal Fairlady. I told him that I'm pretty sure it's the real deal and it is beautiful either way! Well done and not over done as others have stated. Would love to know more about the history if you care to offer, if not, no worries.

 

FWIW, Your car and others like it help to inspire my son to work hard and apply himself to reach greater heights

 

Frickin Awesome !!

 

 

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It's the real deal Fairlady Z and a superb looking one. But I think it's a legit North American car instead of a JDM one --- the steering wheel is on the left.

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Your car is beautiful.

 

I had a buddy with a similar car in HS (except, a lot crappier, weaker v8 lol). The most awesome, fun car I've ever been in. That thing was a blast. Really has an old school feel to it. Enjoy!

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Fantastic Fairlady Z car Sir!

 

 

FWIW, Your car and others like it help to inspire my son to work hard and apply himself to reach greater heights

 

Frickin Awesome !!

 

 

MEANS a lot! Happy to know that, even indirectly, we can help INSPIRE a new generation of high-achievers to pursue their dreams! Love that!

 

It's not a genuine JDM car. The give-away would be the steering wheel placement (LHD vs RHD). This is a USDM car but was restored as closely as possible to the same specs as a JDM counterpart. All 240z badging was replaced with Fairlady Z badging.

 

Now that being said... I may be close to sourcing a nice RHD Z to restore next!!!

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