Why build a Hybrid Z ?

[zedhead260]

Hi I would love to come along to a meet with my chevy Z32 but have i have not wanted to upset the guys at the shows so far. This is a real road car full trim tax and test and very quick. When is the next meet.
Gavin

Don't worry, we like mad cars. One of the best things about The Z Club is that there are as many modified ones as there are stock ones. There's always a few purists about, but they tend to go camping rather than places like Santa Pod

 

[ZHead]

Nice one Gavin Welcome !! Luke Borg was talking about doing a SBC conversion in a SWB Z32, am sure he would love to see your car, for that matter so would I

 

[gav sbc]

I have sent luke photos of the build up about 6 months ago. I have only just in the last 2 days checked this site out (great so far, im supprised there are so many people who like the idea of the great look of the Z with the power the modded small block has to offer)

 

[gav sbc]

Hi Gavin,

Where are you based? Would love to have a look at your car!

Most of the show/meetings details are on the calendar on the home page, if you click on any underlined date it'll take you to a page to explain what and where the event is.

All the best

Steve

Hi zeeman i looked at the calender but i cant really find anything for begin sept. I am in doncaster so im looking for somthing within 100 miles

 

[SeanDezart]

Still find it amusing to hear of people talking about going and scaring modern cars at tracks and drag strips ! Never heard of any V8 Zs doing anything trackwise, even the legendary names that were quoted at the beginning of this thread !
Zs with in-line sixes competed at all levels in all copetitions (rallyes, circuits, hill-climbs, endurance races....) with power, balance and reliability but predominantly because they were competitive against cars in the same class !

What are 400bhp V8 Zs going up against on circuits ?
I'm back Zhead and I want to see racing V8s

 

[JEZ 280ZX]

Hi,
Lets keep this thread on topic please!...Other posts have been moved to the admin section by me.
Cheerz,
JEZ

 

[ZHead]

Don't worry Sean you will ......... hopefully from behind. Please drop some of the negativity, this is a club, we are all enthusiasts, it dampens spirits to have a constant flow of negativity.

If the V8s win, great ! If they don't, great ! What matters is that we all have a memorable and enjoyable time.

 

[Russ]

I think the point is, with all the hype lately about the v8s and hybridz, none of us have ever seen one in action, and therefor at the moment it's just hype. Well apart from the half a million videos I have from the states

I think we're both (Sean and I) looking forward to seeing one driven in anger, thats all.

 

[zeeman1972]

With the way some of these projects are shaping up round here lately, I can't see it will be very long before we see a fair few of these cars about.

gav sbc seems to be dying to give you all a demonstation if only there was an event??

Unfortunately Doncaster is a bit of a way for me at the moment. I'm trying to put as much time into getting all of the bits sourced for my new shell as possible. However I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how well Gavins car perfoms against stock versions!

What any of these cars will do on the circuit or at the strip? Well, I'm certainly looking forward to finding out

Is it really 'hype'? Or just a lot of passionate people talking about their cars?

I find it disappointing that a lot of people in this country have a doubt first until physically proven wrong? If somebody says they are going to do something or build something that'll be X fast why not go with it, rather than sitting by like a load of doubting Thomas’s. People join clubs for support not 'I'll believe it when I see it' attitudes. What's the point in that???

Come on guy's a little more support would be great! 'jackstand racing' is the only way some of us can continue to battle with that 10,000th little niggling job that’s going to eat an entire weekend and still not be quite right!!

Cheers

Steve

 

[zedhead260]

gav sbc seems to be dying to give you all a demonstation if only there was an event??

I've invited him to come to Santa Pod on the 21st August and get something in the next magazine about his car.

If somebody says they are going to do something or build something that'll be X fast why not go with it

It gets a bit like Z Car Top Trumps on here, my car's got Nismo this and Nismo that, it'll go this fast and has this much power.... blah blah blah.

We all know that if you go sticking a dirty great V8 in (pretty much) any car it'll go like shit off a chrome shovel - I don't doubt it, but would still very much like to see it.

And I'm not just accusing the V8 "crowd" of this, there's a couple of L series boyz with the same bar-room bullshit.

 

[zedhead260]

PS - I also know that projects do take longer than one usually thinks. I was hoping my car would be on the road for next season..................nope

 

[SeanDezart]

Not my intention to be negative - sorry if it comes across as so !

Russ and Rob summed it up and of all the V8 engined Zs I've seen, they've ever been stored in their garages or run up drag-strips and I'm impatient to see these cars driven in 'anger' on circuits and on open roads (over here perhaps ???) !

I too am guilty of the 'mine will do this and that blah, blah' and I can't wait !

 

[ZHead]

Next year will be a blistering summer ! All of these cars will be done and on the road - what a breath of new life and blood all round ?? V8 Chevys, TVR, there's a Ford, the Supra, some really trick L Series cars ...... oh yes next year will be fun

 

[zedhead260]

Never heard of any V8 Zs doing anything trackwise

1980 IMSA allowed the use of any engine from the same manufacturer. Bob Sharp dropped the 4.2 President V8 in a 280ZX and turbo-charged it to 700bhp to whoop Porsches. It ran at 208mph at Daytona but failed to show its full potential due to engine problems. Then IMSA changed the rules and everything went sports-prototype.

(source - Essential Datsun Z by Colin Shipway)

 

[zedhead260]

Next year will be a blistering summer ! All of these cars will be done and on the road - what a breath of new life and blood all round ?? V8 Chevys, TVR, there's a Ford, the Supra, some really trick L Series cars ...... oh yes next year will be fun

Yes it will. Are we all going drag racing ??? It's cheap, good fun, low risk and I'm sure we can get some friendly competition going.


Bloody hell I'd better pull my finger out !!!!

 

[ZHead]

Drag racing definitely - I would totally trust the car to go track racing but as I have never done I am a wee bit squeamish about damaging it after such a long build........ will have to do it though otherwise we will never hear the last of it

With the hybrid thing kicking off bigger and bigger and DJ's awesome L Series engines, Skiddell's terrific throttle bodies and the stuff in the pipeline on numerous cars the whole Z scene is actually quite vibrant at the moment. How impressive is that for cars ranging from 10 to 35 years old ??

 

[SeanDezart]

Rob, you quote me out of text - I was and am referring to the UK club scene and yes, Zhead, some of these V8s had better take to the track or just some fast road crusing over here where it can still be done OR you defintely won't hear the last of it

I just need a little more PATIENCE.....:-(

 

[zedhead260]

Never heard of any V8 Zs doing anything trackwise, even the legendary names that were quoted at the beginning of this thread !

Ah yes, I see. Sorry.

None of these guy's did any circuit racing (that I know of), or do you mean at track day events ?

I think lack of V8 powered Z's in competition is purely down to what rules were / are allowed. The IMSA thing was the only one I could find.

 

[SeanDezart]

I mean just simple club circuit days as per Goodwood when it was affordable !

Circuits are still affordable over here if a group of 40 cars can be found (50 quid for the day) !

 

[Russ]

Next year will be a blistering summer ! All of these cars will be done and on the road - what a breath of new life and blood all round ?? V8 Chevys, TVR, there's a Ford, the Supra, some really trick L Series cars ...... oh yes next year will be fun

Absolutely.

I am looking forward to Japfest next year (get your backside in gears guy) where the site of all the Zs gets more people interested in them and our club.