1973 240Z RB26 Conversion Part 19 Upgrading the Brakes The brakes on my car are not that bad, a previous owner had discs fitted to the rear. However given that the RB26 motor is going to propel the 240 at an increased rate of knots, I want to be able to reel that velocity in quickly as required. Consequently I am attempting to find the right balance between fit for purpose and economics. As I bought a front cut for the project I inherited a front set of R32 GTR callipers and discs. The discs were knackered, drilled for 5 stud and also apparently not able to be fitted to the 240 setup.

The R32 GTR rotors 5 stud and 296mm diameter

The 240Z front rotors 4 stud, non vented and 271mm diameter

The 280Z rear rotors fitted to my car 4 stud, non vented and 269 mm diameter

The GTR disc vs the 240Z disc in height 55mm vs 50mm

The GTR disc left vs 240Z disc & hub

The Z31 rear disc & calliper which I got with my LSD

The GTR front 4 pot Sumitomo calliper

The 240Z front 2 pot Sumitomo calliper

The 280Z 2 pot rear calliper

The Power Boosters

The GTR Power booster

My car has previously been upgraded with the 260Z Power booster, which I will retain for the moment

The GTR Power booster which came with the half cut is too big to fit

Comparing Rotors of the 240Z with other alternatives I had originally hoped to use the complete GTR front brakes. I was advised that the Valiant rotor is similar to the 240Z offset. From researching the DBA (Disc Brakes Australia) site www.dba.com.au I have found the following: Front Rotors

CAR DBA No

DIAM ORIG HT

ORIG THICK

CENTRE HOLE

BOLT HOLE

WEIGHT BEST MATCH

COST

240Z 324 271 52 12.7 81 4 5.5kgs Valiant CL, CM 1976-81

203 282 56.5 25.4 78 5 7kgs 7

GTR R32 4926 296 54 32 68 5 9.0kgs GTR V Spec 4928 324 53.75 30 68 5 9.5kgs 300Z Z31 1/84-9/85

608 274 35.5 22 81 4 6kgs

300Z Z31 9/85-2/87

604 274 35.5 22 81 5 7kgs

300Z Z31 2/87 on

907 280 54 26 68 5 8.5kgs

300Z Z32 909 280 54 30 68 5 6.9kgs 350Z 954 296 49.2 24 68 5 7.6kgs 350Z Track 4600 324 49 30 68 5 R34 GTT 8/98 on

42304 310 53.75 30 68 5

BMW 320D E46, Z3 1999 on

979 286 51.6 22 79 5 7kgs 6

BMW 325 E46 2000on

966 300 52 22 79 5 6.7kgs 5

Ford Explorer 2000 on

864 305 56.5 26 82 5 8.6kgs 4

BMW 330i E46 2000on

2855 324 52 25 79 5 1 $

BMW M3 E36 1992-5

984 315 52.5 28 79 5 7.9kgs 3

BMW M3 E46 2001on

42850 324 52.5 28 79 5 8.8kgs 2

Toyota Hi Ace

767 285 46 28 84 5 8kgs

Holden Commordore

040 296 83 28 71.5 5 9kgs

Vt on 9/97 on Holden Commordore Vt on 9/97 on

046 328 83 28 71.5 5 7kgs

VT Clubsport 97 on

4048 330 83 32 71.5 5

VQ Statesman 92 on

019 330 82 28 Hub type 5 14

Rear Rotors

CAR DBA No

DIAM ORIG HT

ORIG THICK

CENTRE HOLE

BOLT HOLE

WEIGHT BEST MATCH

COST

280ZX 601 269 solid

69 10 68 4 5.5kg

300ZX Z31 1/84-9/85

605 290 solid

47 10 68 4 5kg

300ZX Z31 10/86 on

927 282 Vented

57.2 20 68 5

Merc 220 to 65

251 279 72 10 67 5 4

Statesman 92/93

026 279 67 10.5 70 5

Sigma 80-87

207 280 73 10.5 68 4 3

Infinity G50 93on

923 292 64 9 68 5

Volvo S70 97on

883 295 72.5 10 68 5 1

Volvo 240 74-93

381 281 73.5 9.6 68 5 2

BMW 730 77-79

972 300 68.5 12 75 5

977 300 68.1 10 75 5 676 280 68.1 10 75 5 BMW 728 82-86

674 284 68.1 10 75 5

Using Holden Discs & Callipers Through HybridZ I met a guy who lives in the same suburb as myself, about 2 mins drive away. He has 3 Z’s, one standard 240Z, a 260Z with a 3 litre Nissan SOHC out of a VL Holden Commodore, and a 240Z with a Ford 302CI V8. Paul was very generous with his time and advice on the Z’s. He has fitted Holden brakes to the front of his 302 V8 Z which work well. Lucky as Paul is intending to twin turbo charge the 302!

Another option for the 240Z. The Holden Commodore 330mm disc & calliper redrilled to 4 stud and fitted to Pauls Z.

What I Actually Ended Up Doing! Having done all this research, I went and saw Steve at Perth Brake Parts in WA, who suggested I use a Hopperstoppers kit, 9 Nevada Court, Hoppers Crossing, Victoria Australia 3029 Phone: (03) 9748 6950 Fax: (03) 97485965 www.hoppers.com.au) hopstop@hoppers.com.au which is engineered and certified for use on the 240Z. The kit I purchased included the following:

� 2 x 300mm rotors (AU Falcon XR8) � 2 x billet hubs , bearings, seals � 2 PBR callipers (AU Falcon XR8) � 2 sets hoses � 2 x calliper brackets � 2 x sets pads

Cost $1200 plus $100 for slotting of the rotors This kit requires the Master Cylinder up-rated to a 1 inch bore which is available from a Nissan Patrol. Steve supplied one of these for $178 Job done, so my dream of adapting the GTR brakes didn’t happen however if someone else wants to try, the info is all above.

New 300mm Falcon AU XR8 rotor from Brake Kit

New Falcon AU XR8 callipers

New Hopperstoppers Brake Kit

New hoses (to be replaced by stainless braided)

New 1 Inch Master Cylinder

New Calliper Adaptor brackets New Hubs

New bearings & seals. The seals supplied didn’t fit the hubs supplied!

The Hopperstoppers Kit Insitu While my car was at WA Suspensions with Rod building adjustable suspension for me, I got him to put in the new brake kit. This was not the straight forward process that Hopperstoppers had promised, as the calliper brackets, the seals and the callipers themselves, all had to be modified. Rod & his guys almost pulled their hair out attempting to fit them.

The calliper brackets had to be shimmed up with washers and then a solid spacer piece made. I later found out that Hopperstoppers do supply two billet spacers in the kit.

The seal is 2mm bigger than the machined hub

New 300mm rotors & callipers fitted to new adjustable struts, all bled and ready to go

Oops – the wheel won’t bolt up clearly! The calliper scrapes on the inner edge of the wheel in a band about 35mm wide.

The calliper following grinding down, now allows the wheel to fit without scraping. Look how close it still is though. Time will tell whetherf it clears under all driving conditions

Rod rang Hopperstoppers who ok’d filing of the cooling fins after wheel spacers didn’t help.

The new rotor and calliper almost completely fill the 15 inch mag wheel. Hopefully the brakes will be up to the task. First try out will be at Wanneroo Raceway in the VSCC Vintage Stampede 26-11-06.

How close is this!