SCCA Vintage Race Car Restoration: 240z Series 1 to Group EP Spec
Datsun 240Z (S30)29-page write-up
240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration
Read the full write-up at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
Photo: 240z SCCA vintage race car, restorationRebuilding a rusted 240Z to SCCA Group EP vintage race spec
A rusted Datsun 240Z series 1 vintage racer, last raced in 2002, is being rebuilt to SCCA Group EP specification by its owner-builder AydinZ71. The thread covers chassis rust repair, cage and firewall fabrication, suspension, brakes, ignition and fuel system work, bodywork and paint, culminating in first start-up and road use. The partial reading of the thread shows ongoing progress rather than a finished result.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Engine
- Nissan L24 inline six, OEM bore/stroke, N42 head reworked, target static compression 10:1
- Ignition
- EDIS-6 crank-fire ignition with MegaJolt controller
- Front suspension
- Ground Control coilovers with Ground Control bolt-in camber plates
- Rear brakes
- 280ZX 258mm OEM rotor with Dynapro lightweight calipers on custom brackets
- Clutch/Flywheel
- Exedy clutch with 10-lb forged steel flywheel
- Wheels
- 15x7 inch wheels
- Tyres
- 225/50R15
- Exhaust
- Custom 2-1 header with Burns Stainless collector, 3 inch 18-gauge 304 stainless tubing
- Cam (interim)
- 280 degree duration street-capable cam for initial startup
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Engine 1
- L24 cylinder head, N42 core
Ported, polished, deck-machined to reduce chamber volume for 10:1 static compression
In the shops
Cylinder Head Gasket, Sanwa (L24/L26 240Z/260Z) ↗
Z Car Depot· $21.99 USD
Cylinder Head Water Fitting - L-Series (L24/L26/L28) ↗
The Datsun Depot· $57.00 USD
Head Gasket – Nissan L24/L26/L28 Engine ↗
JDM Car Parts· $59.00 USD
Fuel & Ignition 2
- EDIS-6 crank-fire ignition system
Used with MegaJolt controller for timing control on the L24
- Burns Stainless 2-1 exhaust collector
Used in the custom header/exhaust build with stainless tubing
Gearbox & Drivetrain 2
- Exedy clutch
Fitted with the forged steel flywheel for the drivetrain rebuild
In the shops
Exedy Stage 2 Clutch Kit (4AGE) ↗
Techno Toy Tuning· $495.00 USD
Exedy OE Clutch Kit (2008-2011 Civic) ↗
JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $222.20 USD
Exedy OE Clutch Kit (2003-2007 Civic) ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $320.83 USD - 10-lb forged steel flywheel
Lightweight flywheel sourced for the clutch upgrade
Suspension & Steering 3
- Ground Control coilovers
Fitted at all four corners with bolt-in camber plates to maintain EP class legality
- Koni strut inserts
Shorter-than-OEM inserts used inside the sectioned struts, source of a fitment mistake that was corrected
In the shops
KONI Sport Adjustable Gas Strut - Rear ↗JDM Car Parts· $219.00 USD
KONI Sport Adjustable Gas Strut - Front ↗JDM Car Parts· $219.00 USD
Front Strut Insert ↗James Paddock Ltd· £38.50 GBP
- Tilton pedal assembly
Installed ahead of welding and stiffening the firewall mounting surface
In the shops
Tilton 600 Series Pedal Assembly 72-616 ↗West Wales Rally Spares· £823.61
Tilton 72-793 Throttle Linkage for 72-616 Pedal Assembly ↗
Tilton 600 Series Pedal Assembly 72-603 with Alloy Pedals ↗
Brakes 2
- Dynapro lightweight rear calipers
Mounted on custom brackets with a 280ZX OEM rotor for the rear disc conversion
In the shops
Wilwood Rear Flexline Kit for Dynapro Radial Caliper ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $91.19 USD
Brake Pads for Six Piston Dynapro Calipers ↗
Flyin' Miata· $125.00 USD
Brake Pads for Four Piston Dynapro Calipers ↗Flyin' Miata· $66.99 USD - 280ZX OEM 258mm rear rotor
Used as the rear disc in the brake conversion
In the shops
Datsun 510 Front 6-Piston Wilwood Brake Upgrade Kit (10" Rotor, 258mm) ↗
Silvermine Motors· $955.00 USD
Body & Trim 2
- Polycarbonate windshield
Cut and fitted with fabricated stainless flanges to correct a sizing shortfall
In the shops
Polycarbonate Racing Windshield/Hatch Glass ↗Z Car Depot· $591.50 USD - Shakotan Marugen fender flares
Fitted to the body during the bodywork stage
In the shops
ZG Style Fender Flares ↗JDM Car Parts· $369.99 USD
Star Road Fender Flare Set ↗JDM Car Parts· $649.00 USD
ZG Fender Flare Kit, Fiberglass (240Z/260Z/280Z) ↗Z-Services· €425.00 EUR
Electrical 1
- PIAA motorcycle projector headlights
Chosen as lightweight headlight units after an extended search
In the shops
1987-1993 Mustang Projector Headlights, RH & LH ↗
John's Mustang· $376.95 USD
ANZO Projector Headlight Set with Halo (06-11 Civic) ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $435.00 USD1994-1998 Mustang Projector Headlight Bulb, Low Beam ↗John's Mustang· $7.95 USD
Other 1
- Accusump
Mounted with a remote actuator cable for engine oil control during racing
Photos
290 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
AydinZ71 · 2021-04-09T22:18:50Z 3this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2021-04-18T20:29:44Z 1this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
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AydinZ71 · 2022-08-06T19:23:56Z 4this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
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AydinZ71 · 2023-07-05T04:25:48Z 5this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-07-29T17:05:38Z 11this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-07-30T13:26:42Z 1this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-10-02T00:13:59Z 5this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
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AydinZ71 · 2023-10-29T17:42:18Z 7this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-11-03T01:14:01Z 1this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-12-01T01:26:04Z 2this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-12-03T22:26:47Z 1this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2023-12-23T05:40:05Z 5this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
AydinZ71 · 2024-02-08T21:50:56Z 9this post at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
How it was done
Starting condition
The car is a series 1 240Z that had raced SCCA vintage events until 2002 and sat afterward, with significant rust throughout the body and unibody structure, including a rusted frame stiffener and cowl area that needed cutting out.
Chassis and body repair
Extensive rust removal and fabrication followed, including rebuilding the cowl, firewall, inner fenders, and wheel wells, replacing a rusted frame stiffener with 316 stainless tube, re-welding the roll cage after confirming grinding old welds was SCCA-legal, and adding bracing for stiffness while tracking added weight.
Suspension and steering
Ground Control coilovers with camber plates were fitted to all corners, rear strut tubes were re-sectioned after a sizing mistake, an aluminum sway bar was fabricated with custom-bent arms and BMW E30 end links, and the steering column was relocated and dropped to clear the cage, later refinished after a grit issue.
Brakes
The owner researched S130/280ZX brake options extensively, eventually fitting an OEM 280ZX rear rotor on Dynapro lightweight calipers using custom brackets, while staying within EP class front rotor rules.
Engine and ignition
The L24 head was ported, polished and fitted with custom valves and springs, deck-machined for compression, and paired with an EDIS-6 crank-fire ignition run through a MegaJolt controller. A separate 3.1 litre L-series race engine build with Jenvey ITBs was also started in parallel for later use.
Bodywork and paint
A polycarbonate windshield was fabricated and fitted with stainless bezels, flares were sourced from Shakotan Marugen, and the body and interior were primed and painted in base-clear urethane with a two-tone black and body colour scheme, including door jambs and the engine bay.
Progress so far
By early 2024 the car had its first start-up since the restoration began, running a milder street cam while the build was finished, and shortly after was reported on the road awaiting minor fixes before a test and tune day. The thread's latest supplied post mentions preparing to break in the dedicated race engine.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at 240z SCCA vintage race car, restoration ↗
Worth knowing
- Follow written instructions from suppliers like Ground Control exactly rather than relying on intuition when sectioning struts
- Account for the shorter length of Koni inserts compared to OEM when modifying strut tubes
- Check SCCA rules directly with the sanctioning body before assuming a modification, such as grinding cage welds, is legal