Except that's a speedway car. Guys, he could mean he wants it for tarmac rallying. Besides, the old 240Z was used in off-road rallys quite a bit back in the day, and it did quite well.
I have a rear welded roll bar to suit a 2 seater. Made to CAMS regs. If you are interested PM me. I don't think I can be bothered putting it into my zed as the mounting plates aren't thick enough to keep QLD Transport happy (but are thick enough for CAMS). I don't see what's so weird about it. there are plenty of Datto and Skyline rally cars. They used to rally mini's. The Stratos was only made as a rally car, and that is way more hardcore sports car than the Zed.
Short wheelbase - low centre of gravity - good standard power - and the ability to give it a "haircut" to reduce a lot of weight - rear wheel drive - and price. Barry
Yes, tarmac stages are a big part of rallying these days, but also the gravel stages are a lot better as well which means less clearence is required therefore a lower centre of gravity. Barry
Actually I have a set of Border vented front guards that I will probably never use, you can have a lookee see if you come for a squiz at the roll cage.
Rallying it would really depend on which, dirt or bitumen, it will need to go on a very strict diet. Targa roof not good, to much flex in the body, probaly a slick top would be better . for serious rallying, think about seam welding when putting it on a diet. need to increase clearance for dirt. - some competetive sections can be very rocky or have a high centre as not all roads are smooth. independant rear is good power good. I take it that you have not done any before so why don't you try a couple of touring stages, to get the feel of what is required. Apart from that they are a hell of a lot of fun on the dirt
Actually, I have been involved in rallying for 30 years, and ran 240 Z's when they were the thing to have. I still have to get a car (a non turbo Z32) and I appreciate your suggestions. A forum like this is a great way to find out all the likely problems. Rear wheel steering could be one, but I rekon I should be able to bypass that. Barry
No rear wheel steering on a non-turbo. Comments above on "slicktop" vs "targa-top" is perhaps valid, but be aware all slick tops are Japanese grey import short wheelbase 2 seaters; all Aus-spec vehicles will be targa top lwb 2+2's. Don't know if that affects your preferences. Ignore the nay-sayers - if Porsche can take a 959 on the Paris-Dakar, Lancia can win rallys with a Stratos, and the 240Z strutted its stuff both in Oz and events like the East African Safari, then why shouldn't someone try it with a Z32? My first motorsport was all done in the 70's with much lower power cars, on dirt or gravel. Dirt 'khanas, autocross type stuff - it's good fun!
I have been around the sport about 40 years. My first rally car was a 1966 Cortina GT Mark 1 running Cosworth motor bits, since then have owned / driven / built / prepared a number of cars. I would be concerned about a T-top because of body flex (try jacking on corner of your Z and you will see what I mean. Thats why I was thinking of the slick top, but it really depends on what part of the sport you want to become involved in. Dirt, tarmac and in which group, classic or open. At the moment a mate is looking at the "classics" namely a Datsun 1600, well thats what it will start life as, a family friend in currently building another Dato ( body is completed ready for painting, So I think you need to work out where you wish to compete FranZ mentioned the White's in Tasmania, if it's who I think it is, they ran a 300 in the Targa Tasmania for about two years, then moved to the Skyline R34 GTR for obvious reasons (4wd). Give John at UAS in Sydney a ring he was trying to sell their car some years ago mind you ! He might have a contact number.
Good stuff, It looks like an import hard top will be the way to go. Thats why I got onto this forum, to find out what is what re Z's these days. I just got a CAMS roll bar from one of the members to suit a 2 seater Thanks for the info. Barry
I don't have defined plans on what I will run in, I will pick the events that suit the vehicle when I get it sorted. Have you been running in QLD, we might know each other. I have been in NDSCC since we started many moons ago in, of all things a VW Country Buggy then a P76 followed by all sorts of things. Ah well back to looking for a car, I'm starting to get a bit excited, the missus had better watch out tonight! Barry Hayward
