Photography & Words by Matt Chandler for Canibeat.com
Hello Interneters! My name’s Matt, and I’m a photographer in Mesa AZ. I recently took a trip out to Los Angeles and while I was there I met up with Quoc, the owner of this yellow Datsun 240Z.
I have a soft spot for classic cars, and Japanese classics are no exception. Quocs Z is a good blend of classic and modern, with plenty of high quality aftermarket components to liven things up a bit. Oh, and an RB25DET swap too. Even though this car isn’t brand new, or sporting all the trendy stuff that the forums would say you need, I was definitely impressed. I can truly appreciate this build; because every part is high quality stuff. No knock-offs, eBay parts, or Home Depot Lips here guys.
Starting with the (relatively) big 2.5L turbocharged RB25DET from an R33 Nissan Skyline, Quoc then added an intake manifold, Profec boost controller, and turbo timer from GReddy. Bolted to that intake manifold is a Nissan Q45 90mm throttle body, which pulls air through a huge 3″ front mount intercooler. To keep compressor surge under control, a GReddy Type RS blow off valve is employed. On the exhaust side of the block, you’ll see an HKS 6 to 1 turbo manifold, holding the OEM turbo which spits exhaust fumes through 2.5 inch piping, back to a Blitz NUR Spec muffler and sucks fresh air from the Apex’i Power intake.
To get this power down, Quoc is using another combination of proven aftermarket parts as well as OEM. A Nismo quick shifter helps Quoc find the right gear in short order, while the ACT Stage 2 Clutch and Fidanza flywheel both help get the RB’s power to the Powertrain Industries driveshaft, which feeds the R180 rear differential and it’s 4.11 gears. The custom Laycs Pacific axles get the power to the rear wheels.
Now, the suspension and brakes is where this car really gets interesting. As Quoc stated, “You’re doing things with a car that were never expected.” Back in 1971, nobody was making coilovers and big brake kits that every guy could afford. By the time those parts were affordable, nobody cared about a ’71 Datsun. So, what does an automotive enthusiast do? He gets creative. The suspension is pretty straight forward: Tokico Illumina 5 way adjustable shocks, Tokico 1″ lowering springs, TMC sway bars and camber kit and a full urethane bushing kit from Energy Suspension. Pretty run of the mill, but it gets the job done and it’s one of the better options for this car. But the brakes… The brakes are a testament to ingenuity. Starting with Powerslot rotors, Quoc then added front calipers from a Toyota 4×4 pickup and Nissan Maxima calipers out back! To up the pressure for these things, he bolted up a Datsun 280ZX master cylinder and swapped the 40 year old rubber hoses for some Earl’s Stainless brake lines. To keep things even, he added a Wilwood lever operated brake proportioning valve inside the cockpit. It’s great to see so much thought being put into brakes, especially on a car with an engine swap like this. Keeping this Z planted are some Yokohama AVS ES-100 at 225/50R15 which cover some OG SSR Longchamp wheels, in staggered offsets of course.
The interior is all business, with a slew of gauges from Auto Meter, a Nismo shift knob and a few choice Sparco pieces. A Sparco 4pt 3″ harness keeps Quoc secure inside his Sparco Roadster seat, while he navigates via a Sparco steering wheel. Just stunning.
Keep an eye out for Quocs Z in Southern California. If you’re in the East Valley and want your car shot for Canibeat, contact Matt via flickr.
August 24, 2010 at 4:04 pm
this is sick! So nice!
August 24, 2010 at 4:59 pm
What the……
Sick pics, bro! LOL
August 24, 2010 at 4:59 pm
awesome car! needs more lower.
August 24, 2010 at 5:48 pm
This is stunning!!!!
August 25, 2010 at 4:07 am
I totally need to hella flush my ride out a little more =( in the future kids!
August 25, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Thanks guys! And Quoc, I actually think your fitment is excellent. I mean, flushness would be cool but I’m not sure it would be “right” for your car. I might have a lead on some coilovers for you though, hit me up and we can discuss
Once again, thanks to everyone for the comments and thank you Quoc for meeting up with us and helping me with the rig. Thanks Canibeat for throwin’ this up here!
August 25, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Quocker….go to infinitwheels.com and get you somessr please….ur from westminster so rep correct….thanks mideng!
August 25, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Dang you pholife… I’m already rocking Longchamps.. whatchu talkin bout Willis?
I probably would like to drop it another .5″
August 25, 2010 at 11:56 pm
I think this quoc guy used to have a kouki s14 and worked at just tires in westminster. If not coincidence , cause he sold that s14 to buy a old z and was talking about yellow and an rb25. If this is him, good shit, if not good shit.
August 26, 2010 at 12:51 am
Nice pics Matt. I want to build me one of these old school Z’s someday.
August 26, 2010 at 11:11 pm
quocker….if u aint 8.5 up front and at least 9.5 rear…then go home and eat your cup of noodle so you can afford it…LOL…im serious please contact infinitwheels.com….PUT ON the wheels caps too for our lonchimps too and lower dat 4×4 please mideng!
August 27, 2010 at 1:45 am
Nope… never had a S14