Chase here. This is the build we’ve been working toward since we crossed the finish line at VIR in 2024.
This 1984 Nissan 300ZX Turbo came off Craigslist for $900. It didn’t run, but the body looked solid, so I put it on a trailer with no real plan. That was over a decade ago. It sat in the back of the shop collecting dust while other projects moved to the front of the line.
That changed after the VIR 24hr. Spending 24 hours on track in the E30 made it obvious — we wanted to build a car from the ground up, specifically for endurance racing. The Z had been waiting long enough.
This is how the car looked when we finally got serious about it — up on the lift, still wearing its original “Turbo” script on the rocker panel. Body and structure were solid. That’s exactly why I bought it in the first place.
Gutting It
The first order of business was weight. Seats, carpet, headliner, door panels, sound deadening — everything that wasn’t welded in came out. The steering wheel is still in for now so we can move the car around, but it’s not staying. The difference in feel is already dramatic.
That’s a completely bare floorpan and transmission tunnel. Every ounce we pull out now is free speed and better handling on track. No street-car fluff, no unnecessary weight, nothing that doesn’t serve the race car.
Where It Stands
The factory wiring harness is coming out next — all of it. After that, a full underbody inspection for rust before we go any further. We’re also starting the roll cage design to meet ChampCar rules.
The engine and transmission will come out for a complete refresh once we know what the structure looks like underneath. The goal is a car reliable enough to hammer through long ChampCar stints — not just fast, but consistent for 24 hours.
If you’ve built a Z31 for track or endurance use, I’d like to hear what you know — especially common rust spots and weight-saving tricks. Drop them in the comments. We’ll keep posting updates as we go deeper into the build.
— Chase