250 GTO - the enemy within!

Aussie Mike · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 02:04 AM

From what I've seen the most immediate differences from the original GTO is the length of the bonnet and the rear hatch. The GTO is longer in the hood or appears to be. It may also be the GTO is a bit shorter in the doors. The GTO doesn't have a rear hatch, just a small rectangular boot lid but I did see someone did a great conversion on the rear Datsun hatch area to make it look the same.

Gotta love the shape of that back end.

Cheers

Aussie Mike · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 02:27 AM

Hi Peter,

Just looking at your pics again. Are you using the Commodore rear cover and it's one central rubber mount? I would be a little concerned about the strength of the whole thing if that were the case. The Commodore uses 4 bolt positions on top in conjunction with the one rear mount. Just using 2 at the front and one at the rear might put undue strain on that one rear mount. You might want to look at using a Falcon back cover with 2 mounts or check the later Nissan rear covers as some of them may have the same rear cover bolt pattern (Some of them use the same gear sets as the Commodore).

Cheers

suthol · #3 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 03:21 AM

Probably the easiest diff swap will be to the Hitachi R200 as used in the skyline, it is the same family as the R160 that the 240Z uses but hugely stronger and there are plenty of threads about swaps from the R160 up to the R200 for various Datsuns / Nissans.

For all those out there who love the NCOP the latest version ( VSB 14 v2 ) which has had input from all states and looks like being adopted by NSW sometime this year states that an engine swap other than an original OEM option deems the car to be an ICV, as does a change of track beyond a certain amount or a change in wheel base.

Regards
Dave King

PeterAllen · #4 (**permalink**) 07-06-2011, 10:23 PM

Guys - I could write the equivalent of War and Peace on the project - so far! I have had two articles published in the Australian "Custom Kit Car' over the last couple of years so some of you may be aware of it.

The mechanicals are more or less done and I'm just about to start on the bodywork. Mike, I have utilised the top mounts on the diff and if I have a photo I'll include it. [(edit) - attached. Still something of a work in progress]

Bodywise the 240Z is 100mm shorter in the wheelbase but the bigger issue is the waistline/firewall which is too high. I'm in the process of modifying fibreglass doors to give a more GTO height and profile.

My obsession is so bad I'm off to Pebble Beach next month for the Concours as there will be over 20 of the 36 GTOs ever made on display. I've never seen one in the flesh.

Donunder · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2011, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterAllen

My obsession is so bad I'm off to Pebble Beach next month for the Concours as there will be over 20 of the 36 GTOs ever made on display. I've never seen one in the flesh.

Now that is dedication. Pebble Beach is right up there on the drool-factor scale with the Goodwood Revival. Both are on my bucket list in positions One and Two.

I wonder if one of the well heeled GTO owners would be prepared to provide you with a set of those gorgeous Borranis for the right price?

PeterAllen · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2011, 04:16 AM

Don

I was planning the Goodwood Revival next year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 250 GTO, hoping there would be a few there, but then I discovered that Pebble Beach is celebrating the 50 anniversary 49 years after the car first made it's appearance - a bit like 'News of the World', never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. Anyway, Pebble Beach and Laguna Seca it is this year and I'll see what happens then.

I bought my Dayton (Borrani look-a-likes) a few years backs at $0.61 US exchange and I've been crying over the price ever since. I am very pleased with the wheel though and I've machined the knock-off caps to a Borrani profile and I'm having the Borrani logo engraved on them.

PeterAllen · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suthol

...For all those out there who love the NCOP the latest version ( VSB 14 v2 ) which has had input from all states and looks like being adopted by NSW sometime this year states that an engine swap other than an original OEM option deems the car to be an ICV, as does a change of track beyond a certain amount or a change in wheel base.

Regards
Dave King

Dave - I went through all those Nissan diff options but I settled on the Holden for parts supply reasons. There were issues with the Nissan CVs.

The RTA has been telling me they will adopt the NCOP "soon" for the past 5 years. Actually it's easier for me me under NCOP but it passes the present RTA standards anyway (eng capacity, etc). My engineer has classified it as a modified and not an ICV and has allocated me a certification number. He tells me all I have to do is meet the requirement of that date, i.e. last September. Can people comfirm that is the case?

I hope to have it finished in 18-24 months, but I said that 3 years ago!

Some general project photos for those interested.

suthol · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterAllen

Dave - I went through all those Nissan diff options but I settled on the Holden for parts supply reasons. There were issues with the Nissan CVs.

The RTA has been telling me they will adopt the NCOP "soon" for the past 5 years. Actually it's easier for me me under NCOP but it passes the present RTA standards anyway (eng capacity, etc). My engineer has classified it as a modified and not an ICV and has allocated me a certification number. He tells me all I have to do is meet the requirement of that date, i.e. last September. Can people comfirm that is the case?

I hope to have it finished in 18-24 months, but I said that 3 years ago!

Some general project photos for those interested.

No worries Pete, I have been told by someone on their side of the fence that it will be this year and to get my car in the system ASAP which I have done by way of blue slip and request for Vehicle Identification Form.

The fact that I have been driving on UVP since late 2009 doesn't back date me to that time.

Looking at the pics of the car out the front of the garage I have a pretty fair idea of where you are. Not far from some corner shops and a soccer / cricket field that fronts the river

PeterAllen · #9 (**permalink**) 07-08-2011, 03:14 AM

[quote=suthol;1138874]... Not far from some corner shops and a soccer / cricket field that fronts the river...QUOTE]

Dave - That could be 90% of homes in The Shire.

Here is something that I covered in a Custom Kitcar article but might be of interest here: The Ferrari speedo and tacho cost a small fortune so I got a couple of second-hand Smiths gauges from a Jag wrecker and simply removed the dials and scanned them on the computer. Using plain old MS Word I made up Veglia (Ferrari) faces and stuck them on thin metal dial plates to replace the Jag faces.

There is a chap in the US who installs LSx motors into old Jags and he sells interface modules that wire up to the Smiths gauges.

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