Having finished the last big car project 2 years ago and swearing it was the last, there's a feeling there needs to be a new project.

Fell in love with the EVO 8 when working at Mitsu for 2 years and have built a few 1st gen Datsun 240Z's included a 327 Scarab, but the Z suspension and brakes are sort of whimpy and it's only 2WD.

How about a IMSA bodied 240Z with an EVO 8 chassis/drivetrain? The 240Z weighs under 2400 lbs and you could trim even more with lighter seats and plexi windows. Thinking the drivetrain weight is about the same, as the Z engine is a 2400cc iron block straight six.

The Evo wheelbase is about 12" longer than the Z but that could be easily modded with a shortened drive shaft. The Evo chassis would be cut just above the lower door sills and welded to the Z at that general area. Any rigidity issues could be solved with a full roll cage. The cut might have to be further up, either that or just use the outer body panels of the Z and most of the Evo chassis.

There may be clearance issues with the height of the motor. Thinking that the Evo motor could be rotated backwards with a trans adapter plate, either that or some hood bulges. Another problem might also be the height of the front struts.

Would probably be affordable also as it would start with a near or totaled Evo and the Z's can be had as beaters.

Thoughts ideas?

If you were going to hybridize a vehicle and used an Evo chassis drive train what coupe body would you use?

It's not that the Evo isn't desirable just as it is but just want a coupe and an extensive project.

 

I could never tell someone not to customize something the way that they see fit... because honestly, insanely creative ideas drive this industry to a point.

But...

Evo's aren't exactly a dime a dozen, and will likely end up having some collectivity. They aren't VW Beetles where you can afford to make them into kit cars, because they're all over the planet.

But I think it's an awful idea to rip up an otherwise useful Evo drivetrain and put a Nissan body on it. Especially since Nissan has so much to offer performance wise on their own.

To that end... if you're just looking for a cheap AWD platform, go and rip up a Subaru. Not only are there significantly more of them, so the price will be lower, they offer some very similar benefits, and you wouldn't be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

To more aptly answer your question. None. If I wanted a coupe, I would've bought a coupe. Maybe I'm different in that I didn't buy an Evo for it's performance, or it's looks, or it's rally pedigree, or it's tunability, or any of that nonsense.

I bought an Evo because I wanted an Evo?

 

Since you seem to want a pretty in depth project, why not something like a factory five car? That can be as crazy as you want it to and is still plenty different.

 

Anything can be done with a cutting torch, a welder, and enough time...

That being said, It's not going to be worth it. Even a totaled Evo gathers some cash. the way the engine/transmission/transfer case sit, you won't be able to rotate it back much, and even if you do, the design of the head would actually INCREASE the height of the cam cover till you pass 45 degrees back (think a rectangle being rotated on it's axis, the corner increases the height)

Also, with the design of the front end of the Z car, you would actually have a worse F/R weight distribution than the evo has.

I hate to **** on your idea... but it's a project with quite a bit of headaches, and not enough reward.

That being said... I am a fan of Datsuns, and still want to build a 510 sleeper to beat up on supras and vettes. LOL

 

thanks for the honest replies

looking at totaled Evo prices they are spendy and the Subi engine is lower profile. Is the WRX the one that competes with/near the Evo?

The last project was similar to a Factory Five deal. Building from near scratch is just too much work. And sure the Z's perform, I had a Scarab, but not AWD.

But.... adversity has always got me going. I would never cut up a good Evo but once one is totaled it's fair game.

Maybe the flat four, guess I need to drive one and see.

Okay let me put the question another way. Pretend I never mentioned using an Evo drivetrain. Let's say I'm going with a Subi. What affordable 2wd coupe would you like to see with AWD Evo class performance?

 

Not sure if you're serious?

And no, the STY is somewhat comparable to an Evo, not a wrx. Why wouldn't you buy an Evo that needs a lot of work for cheap and bring it back?

 

And a CNC mill. Yeah, I had a '69 510 coupe with a 240Z motor and 5spd/rear end, swapped the front susp also so it had r&p, dodge Coronet radiator, Z seats and gauges. Came in under $2000, now that car was fun.

A popular 510 swap was an all alum buick 218(?) V8.

 

The flat four is a much lower power plant, however..... The engine hangs off the front before the front axle, so it would be difficult to work with the Z chassis with a 4WD drivetrain.

Then again, it might be feasible with how long the nose is... I just wonder if the frame rails are wide enough in the chassis for the boxer engine, as the Z has very low frame rails.

If it were me... I would look as stuffing a RB25DET or RB26DETT in that chassis mated to a 5 or 6 speed rear wheel drive transmission. It would be a sleeper extraordinaire, and have amazing power potential, and be very unique

 

Just thinking for now with a little help from u guys, not even sure want another big proj. The last one took 8 years.

Quit doing restores a long time ago, just doesn't hold the interest of a scratch build or custom.

Want this to be a low to mid budget proj. The last one got out of hand $$$. Thinking keeping the engine near stock and gaining perf by losing weight.

 

Oh, and there is a car you might want to consider... I seriously am.

In all honesty, the way factory 5 designs their cars, it's ALOT like putting together a model car. In fact, they have a 2 day build school where the students (many who are complete newbs), put together a roadster from the parts to a complete car. There are many 48 hour documented builds by groups as small as 6 with both the roadster (a C0BRA style body), and their hot rods. Both handle like a slot car, and go like stink... the problem with those is that they look like every C0BRA or hot rod out there. The GTM is amazing, but go with that, doing it right, and your gonna start looking at some serious cash...

So... This is where their new car comes into play. I have been following it since Dave Smith posed a "what if..." question on the Factory 5 forums. It's called the 818 and it's friggin awesome!

Basically think of a lightweight go-cart, with the running gear and electronics of a WRX stuffed in the back. It's mid engine/rear wheel drive, and goes like stink!!!

Here's the gallery of the street version:

https://www.factoryfive.com/galleries/project-818/

 

It has to be AWD, every knew proj has to be something not done before and that's one of the few things I've not done.

Thinking it's going to be just the Z outer shell. So whatever chassis those motors come with clipped to the Z outer body panels.

 

Factory 5 does the best kit cars. But kit cars cost more than a swap. The roadster is nice, a closed wheel Ariel Atom, but this has to be a driver and this is the Pacific NW.

 

Chop an evo and shorten the wheel base to make a coupe. Please

 

That's a thought. Like chop the roof about 6" and lay the windshield down a few degrees. Try to fit a Lancer coupe door maybe. Tough to make it look good though, you have to channel it also. It would be a ton of body work when I want to lean more mechanical type stuff.

The STI 240Z route looks maybe possible, there are more of them around a Craigslist search certainly shows that. The front is going to be very tight though. Maybe have to go with a G-nose.

 

This sounds like one of those projects you start and have every intention on finishing, then run into some major issues....realize how long it will take...then abandon it all together.

Then again it would also be very cool to see completed. Is there a reason you don't want to use an RB26 and skyline parts to do this?? I'm not going to pretend that i know the geometry of putting that AWD platform in a 240, but RB26's have been put into many 240z.

Also, what’s your budget like?? Something like this would nickel and dime you to death, I would think.