Datsun 280Z -77 - Build thread

[peter_s]

So here is my idea. The bottom mounting plate is complete.

This is the bottom side:

The top side has holes in it sort of opposite the hex bolt holes. That will make the glue form a "blob" in the hole that will lock the glue in place even if the adhesion against the plastic is poor. I only need good adhesion against the transmission tunnel.

Together:

Then I need to mount the fuel pump better, and put another filter before the pump. My earls metal mesh filter gets clogged.
So I will put another filter before the tank. And what should you do without vice grips? I can thankfully report no fuel leaked out after I disconnected some lines...

And maybe more importantly, a proper gear knob! A Vintage piece from Japan:

 

[Bazzateer]

I like your knob................................if you know what I mean!

 

[peter_s]

I like your knob................................if you know what I mean!

 

[peter_s]

Time to prove the concept!

Find a suitable spot and the tunnel. Scared to death about removing the carpet and seeing what lurks beneath... Not too bad though!

Then apply far in excess of what you need. Also, don't bother about cleaning the substrate at all!

Then apply some more MS polymer adhesive. The idea is to fill the holes so the plate is locked in place.

I'll let it dry over the weekend and see if it holds up. This adhesive can be used for sealing bitumen roofing so I hope it will adhere to the sound deadening on the tunnel. We'll see...

 

[peter_s]

The back plate is really secure. The adhesive worked!

I'm printing a new "lid"/mounting bracket though, it was too tight in some places.

 

[Ian Patmore]

Cheers Ian, thanks for the wonderful comments, much appreciated

No problems Peter, you are doing a good job. Eiji's engine is fab.

Yes, talking about the Les Collins unit. The Aussies think a little outside the box, my next engine will be built in Australia, and again, pushing the boundaries.

I cast my mind back a good few years, and see how the UK (I know you are in Sweden) was very constricted and has finally opened up to other L series engine builds/parts/ideas from different shores over the last few years. Good to see a few like yourself Peter have a wider view, as I did years ago.

 

[peter_s]

No problems Peter, you are doing a good job. Eiji's engine is fab.

Yes, talking about the Les Collins unit. The Aussies think a little outside the box, my next engine will be built in Australia, and again, pushing the boundaries.

I cast my mind back a good few years, and see how the UK (I know you are in Sweden) was very constricted and has finally opened up to other L series engine builds/parts/ideas from different shores over the last few years. Good to see a few like yourself Peter have a wider view, as I did years ago.

Thank Ian, appreciate that. I don't have any previous experience with Datsuns, but I know what I like in an engine.
To me Eiji was an easy choice, I really like his philosophies about engine building. He was very clear on how to achieve things, and the engines deliver what he says they will.

And another thing on that that I feel is forgotten so many time, and that Eiji stressed A LOT as well, the engine is just a part of the complete package. It needs to be supported with intake/fuel and exhaust. He was very keen on making my setup work, so I took his advice as much as I could. And I did end up with very working setup. I have to give credit to my local shop here as well, he took certain things further regarding the installation. I feel I have a pretty safe setup now with all the extra safety features wiris into the ECU, like oil pressure signals etc. I have some fueling issues right now due to rust in the tank, and there is no way it will knock now, I can hear how much timing it pulls when the WBO reads a lean mix.

The Collins builds are very cool, I like what they are doing as well. I like that he claims the lack of valve train noise on his builds in general. Mine isn't too bad, but the L series isn't the most quiet engine in this regard.

The thing I wonder about the long stroke builds (even though the 3.5 must use large pistons too) is how much the character changes... I know it's minimal, but I considered a 3.1 build with an LD crank, but I personally don't want a longer stroke. The power loss for me is worth the oversquared nature, for what I will use my car for. What's your take on this?

 

[peter_s]

This turned out great!

Time to clean up some wiring:

Painless box, relays for fuel pump and fan, and extra fuse box is mounted where the ignition module was placed. I think it turned out pretty clean, especially considering all the stuff that needed to be crammed in there.

Time for new carpets!



Next plan is to mount a tablet where the radio unit was. I will need to make a cover or something for it though. I'm not a fan of new looking tech in my car, but I feel the necessity here. The ECU sends data via bluetooth, so it's a simple way to get all the necessary gauges like oil temp, pressure, WBO etc. I will 3d print a holder that will slot it in place and a bracket to the old radio mounting bracket behind. That's the idea anyway:

I wonder why these were disconnected: ;D

Bonus pics:

 

[peter_s]

Tablet mount is coming along. Here is the general idea. A lot of prototyping now. I might print the whole model as one unit later, PETG is almost impossible to bond together.

Then comes the carpets:

 

[peter_s]

The prototype for the tablet holder is done.

I've cleaned up the model a lot and will print it as a whole piece now, minus the mounting brackets. They will get bolted on since PETG is impossible to bond together. The prototype is held together with super glue, and it isn't that strong.

Anyway, it turned out way better than I could hope for. It's quite hidden in the car actually.

Also get the carpets done and the Sparco in. Mounting that seat base bracket without sliders is probably the worst thing I've done, it's so tight that you can't move or twist your hands in any way you want.

I have ordered a set of checkered cocomats that I feel will suit the car perfectly!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

When I mounted my race seats direct onto the crossmembers I thought seriously about drilling holes inn the floor to access the rear bolts with a socket! It wasn't a pristine car like yours Peter.

 

[arcdef]

the tablet mount looks great, would you consider selling one as I would love to implement a tablet into mine.

Thanks, Ash

 

[peter_s]

When I mounted my race seats direct onto the crossmembers I thought seriously about drilling holes inn the floor to access the rear bolts with a socket! It wasn't a pristine car like yours Peter.

A tempting idea!! The worst feeling is when you feel "if a could only twist the hand it would have been solved straight away", but you cant

Pristine is a stretch, but it's in pretty good condition

 

[peter_s]

the tablet mount looks great, would you consider selling one as I would love to implement a tablet into mine.

Thanks, Ash

Thanks Ash.

Sure thing, just let me make sure it works first with the full print. And take the opportunity to get a Lenovo Tab M8 while you can. Changing the dimensions for another tablet now will be tricky because I suck at CAD....

 

[arcdef]

Awesome, they aren't very expensive as well! Might even try to rig up a reverse/dash cam set up to the tablet.

 

[peter_s]

Awesome, they aren't very expensive as well! Might even try to rig up a reverse/dash cam set up to the tablet.

I bought the smallest and cheapest I could find.

The important thing for me was bluetooth. You can choose another that has similar dimensions, but the holder is now custom made for the M8. It has a hole for the USB connector and a slot for the protruding camera lens on the backside so the tablet can slot in without any problems. But you can drill or cut easily in the plastic.

The tablet could easily be used as a controller for music and a nav if you want. I have the ROM for the M8 as well because you need to root it to be able to let it power on and go to sleep when you turn the ignition.

What year is your car?

 

[arcdef]

Perfect, no reason to get anything else if you've designed around the M8, can get them for around £100.

Mine is a 76 280z, the console it looks identical to yours. Not worried about cutting out the switches as I need to modify mine anyway due to a drivetrain swap and the gear selector moving back a few inches!

 

[peter_s]

Perfect, no reason to get anything else if you've designed around the M8, can get them for around £100.

Mine is a 76 280z, the console it looks identical to yours. Not worried about cutting out the switches as I need to modify mine anyway due to a drivetrain swap and the gear selector moving back a few inches!

Perfect!

Just note that this isn't a factory fit in any way. And I will need to print it with a bigger nozzle. The "steps" of the 3D-printer can be sanded down if you are bothered with it. I have all the switches still, it's only the radio and the lights for seatbelts and defroster that has been removed. I utilize the bracket for the radio to mount my rear brackets onto, so you will need to keep that one.

I would say this is an ok solution, but any tablet will look out of place in a car from the 70s. Now it isn't in your face, it's quite hidden.

I will try to make a lid later on so it can be fully concealed. But that's not a priority right now.

 

[Bazzateer]

The prototype for the tablet holder is done.

All this talk about putting a tablet in the console has had me cringing. But, that looks really good, Tesla could learn from you!

 

[peter_s]

All this talk about putting a tablet in the console has had me cringing. But, that looks really good, Tesla could learn from you!

Thanks!

Lets just say that this wasn't my ideal solution. I don't like digital dashes at all. But the more I thought about it the more I came to the conclusion that I could live with it, if I managed to hide it decently.

I thought about putting regular gauges at first, but then I thought about the hassle of wiring them all in, and I would maybe need more sensors to manage that. The app for the ECU is really good actually, it can show anything you want. So getting the data from the ECU without having to plug in the laptop to check if something is wrong will speed up troubleshooting. Imagine being at the track or out for a drive, you don't bring a computer with you then. The tablet can show all the necessary information to troubleshoot on the fly. I want to see oil temp, oil pressure, lambda and MAP. I think the app can do datalogging as well...

My first idea was to put to tablet in a drawer that I could pull out when driving, but the lack of space and mainly my lack of CAD knowledge prevented that. This turned out to be an ok compromise.