280ZX Racer
07-29-2003, 09:52 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
280ZX Racer
alright, this is gonna sound stupid to some people I guess, but I really need some help. I was watching that supertunertv show on the Datsuns, where adam corrola built the racecar, and I decided that's what I wanted to do with my '79 280ZX. I think it would be cooler as a race car than as a daily driver. So the car is entirely down to bare metal now, and the engine is pulled. I've got the engine in the shop getting switched over to carbs, and I still plan on keeping it emissions legal and all. I want to be able to drive the car on the street, but also be able to enter it in SCCA events if I want to. I've found my wheel, and racing buckets, and shocks and springs, so now I'm deciding what to do about the interior. I am going to order the rollbar from victoria british (or motorsport, I can't remember which one), and fill in most of the dash with fiberglass, cause I'm taking out the AC and stuff and I want a cleaner look. I also wanted to get like the police issue bumpers for the front and back, to replace the chrome ones. So now here comes my question. What do I do with this newly rust proofed interior? I don't want carpet, but I know I shouldn't just leave bare metal everywhere should I? Should I put the trim pieces back in? I was thinking of that rhino lining spray on bedliner material throughout the floor and rear, just to kind of rustproof the car, but I guess POR would do the same thing. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can go about this, or has anyone built a racer and have pics? I know I sound like a noob, but it's because I have never done the racer thing before... Please help a newbie racer
07-30-2003, 06:44 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Waukesha, WI
Posts: 236
I guess I'll be brave and try to help out. Lots of issues/questions.
First, you mentioned SCCA racing. What class would you like to race in? Its been a while since I've looked at the IT rules, but I beleive you need to have all the interior panels in it. Also, you'll need to keep the stock bumpers. Plus the days of having a street/race car in IT are long gone. Its easy to say I just want to have fun, but as soon as you start racing it's how can I get further up the pack and before you know it, it's no longer a street car. A full cage is required as well. It sounds like you might be best suited for solo I autocrossing.
As for the bare metal, personally I like it either the same paint as the exterior, or trunk (speckle) painted. In my car I put bed liner on the floor as well.
I'm curious as to how your going to keep the car emissions legal? First when you change to carbs, there was another post on here recently about not passing with triples. Second, I beleive IT is the only class where you can run the stock tank, but all the emissions equipment including the vapor tank and charcoal canister must be removed.
With all this we're just skimming the surface!
First, you mentioned SCCA racing. What class would you like to race in? Its been a while since I've looked at the IT rules, but I beleive you need to have all the interior panels in it. Also, you'll need to keep the stock bumpers. Plus the days of having a street/race car in IT are long gone. Its easy to say I just want to have fun, but as soon as you start racing it's how can I get further up the pack and before you know it, it's no longer a street car. A full cage is required as well. It sounds like you might be best suited for solo I autocrossing.
As for the bare metal, personally I like it either the same paint as the exterior, or trunk (speckle) painted. In my car I put bed liner on the floor as well.
I'm curious as to how your going to keep the car emissions legal? First when you change to carbs, there was another post on here recently about not passing with triples. Second, I beleive IT is the only class where you can run the stock tank, but all the emissions equipment including the vapor tank and charcoal canister must be removed.
With all this we're just skimming the surface!
07-30-2003, 07:35 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for all of the help so far. I don't have to switch to carbs, I just want my engine bay to look a lot cleaner. It looks too damn cluttered now as it is. I don't have to worry about emissions because I live in alabama. And you're right, once I get serious into racing I probably won't care about keeping the car street legal. I should put all of the pannels back though? That's cool.. I can do that. What bedliner did you use? Thanks for all of the help so far, and please, keep it coming.
07-30-2003, 10:59 AM
#4
I'd suggest using POR-15 on the interior. It protects well and it looks nice when its done. You also should pick up an SCCA rule book for road racing and one for solo(autocross) racing and decide what class you want to build the car for. If you gut the interior you're looking at a faster and more expensive prepared class to begin racing in. If you are new to racing I'd suggest autocrossing to begin with. It will help get you involved in racing, get experience before you're door banging, and its easier on the budget to begin with. I did my first real track event not long ago and believe I'm gonna graduate from autocrossing soon to pursue that...man was it a blast!
07-31-2003, 01:59 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Waukesha, WI
Posts: 236
I agree with Gary, get a rule book and solo II autocrossing would be best to start with, maybe in BSP. I also agree a gutted interior puts you in a more expensive class but even BSP cars aren't cheap. With that said, I can't think of another class other than stock for the Z. The bed liner I used was some left over which I bought from JC Whitney a while ago.
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