Micro-touring? Bluebird build...

[datsunfreak]

Don't really have a catchy name for this project, but I do have a sweet Illustrator rendering...







When I got the car it was basically stock. Don't have any pics of it then, but this will give you an idea...







As soon as it got home I dropped the rear 2" and the front 3" and put on some better wheels. Very light 3pc Epsilons 16x7 and 16x7.5...





I have many big plans for it, and it should come together fairly quickly. Step one was ordering some 17x8 wheels for a more stylish look. And since I wanted something to show off the brakes better, I went with these...




I think they are a good combination of old school flavor in a new school size. Sort of akin to 18" Torq-Thrusts.

But anyone who knows me knows what a wheel-whore I am so if you hate those, just wait six months...


BIG brakes will be a must. I've already swapped from the tiny stock 9" solid rotors and wimpy calipers for some 10" vented rotors and beefier calipers from a 280ZX Turbo. Eventually I'll be running 11" rear rotors with 2-piston Wilwood calipers and 12" front rotors with Wilwood 4-pistons. A good friend of mine is using monster 13" rotors from a Corvette (over 1" thick!) so I may confer with him about how his was done and do mine the same. Again, it's a 2000 pound car, so going too big is really more just for show.


Current engine choice will be a CA18DET. For those not familiar with Nissan engine nomenclature this is a DOHC 1.8L turbocharged engine. Stock it makes 175hp. Mine should make 200+ whp right out of the box, with the potential for 250-275 with some tweaks (bigger turbo, injectors, MAF, etc.). In a 2000 pound car it should have a very good power-to-weight ratio. Even though I have a 4.11 LSD diff for the car, at 225+whp traction will be a bit "limited".

This engine has the benefit of being roughly the same size and weight of the stock engine so handling dynamics shouldn't be greatly effected. Here's what it looks like in a Datsun...




Outside mods will be fairly limited as I like the stock lines and trim. I will add a front chin spoiler with built-in brake-cooling ducts...




This is kind of the look I'm going for but in a more understated color. Will definitely run the smoked Hella headlights like he did, and the same grill (more room for an intercooler)...





I will add some more pics as I go along...

[datsunfreak]

Still can't decide on outside color yet. Inside is black now and will probably stay black. Outside with either be silver/charcoal with black or gunmetal center wheels, or it will be cream white with gold or black center wheels.

Example of combo 1...




Combo 2...






And yes, the "Hammer" is what made me fall in love with pro-touring cars in the first place...

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

Nice!

its crazy.. i go to Japan 2 times a year and i meet up with these old datsun club guys out there.. some BAD ASS cars ive seen.. one of them is this shop car called Common Snapper and its a white 73 Z flared and bad to the bone.. just from messing around with those guys for so long i almost picked up a 78 Celica with the smiley bumpers.. but it looked so much like my 2 67 camaros so i decided not to..

if i could i would build an old skyline..




or a celica like this..


you should check out these mags i get out there too..

Lightning Vintage Auto.

[datsunfreak]

if i could i would build an old skyline..

Me too, but the Bluebird was a little easier to find. Price is damn near the same though...

you should check out these mags i get out there too.. Lightning Vintage Auto.

Got every issue.

[datsunfreak]

And after looking at another thread, I REALLY want to do something like this...

[Restomod]

I wanna know where you even found a Blue forsale??????????????????????????????????????? I looked all over hell and couldnt hardly even find a normal 510 2dr!!!!!

[TonyL]

i had one of these bad boys when i was active duty. It was a JDM import, even had wheels like this one. GOD i loved that car. My ex wife killed it. Rearended a pickup truck. =(

1973 SR5 Corolla.


So I feel ya! Sweet project and cant wait to see it come together!

[srh3trinity]

Datsun produced some cars with nice lines. This thread has some very cool cars in it. This is my favorite Datsun. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2978513

[WS6]

I love these old Japanese cars. Very cool cars to me.

[protour_chevelle]

I want to do a twin turbo LS in one of those SOOO BAD.
Can never find one of those in canuck land!!

[showa]

My first new car was a 1973 Corolla w/1600cc Hemi....You guys are killing me with these cars.....

[datsunfreak]

I want to do a twin turbo LS in one of those SOOO BAD.

Man, you wanna talk about 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound bag...

A small block Ford with a T5 is a much better fit. You have to cut the hell out of the car to fit an LS in it. I love those engines, but not a fan of cutting into cars.

Especially when a well-built SR20DET can make nearly the same power.


Or better yet, start with a 240Z...

[datsunfreak]

I wanna know where you even found a Blue forsale???

Funny story that...

I shot this car for Super Street Magazine about 18 months ago and offhandedly told the owner "hey if you ever want to sell this give me a call". And then about a year later, he called.


If you're interested, you can see the Super Street feature here:

http://superstreet.automotive.com/10...sss/index.html

[TonyL]

I couldn't resist.

[datsunfreak]

Yeah, it totally wasn't low enough...

[andrewb70]

Hotness!

Andrew

[protour_chevelle]

Man, you wanna talk about 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound bag...

A small block Ford with a T5 is a much better fit. You have to cut the hell out of the car to fit an LS in it. I love those engines, but not a fan of cutting into cars.

Especially when a well-built SR20DET can make nearly the same power.


Or better yet, start with a 240Z...

Thats half the fun! I enjoy the Japanese engines, but I have a deadly picture in my head of how I would lay it all out hahah

[datsunfreak]

Thats half the fun! I enjoy the japanese engines, but I have a deadly picture in my head of how I would lay it all out hahah

Why not a turbo Ecotec? That would be really fun...

Or even a 4.3L V6. That's a decent fit.

[Twentyover]

OK, I've been kicking around doing the Capri again.



After seeing this,I went out and pulled the engine and wiring harness this evening, and will have the engine compartment stripped for refinishing tomorrow night. Probably put a ford 4.0 V6 or a 331 sbf in the place of the frightening factory 2.8L V6. Need to dress the wiring harness first...
Sorry, no more thread hijack


Those wheels Rota B's, Datsunfreak?

[datsunfreak]

Those wheels Rota B's, Datsunfreak?

Rota RB's, yes.

Only company that makes them in a 17"...

Well, at least the only one that makes a 17" that isn't $3K a set...