If someone told you this relatively stock looking
260Z packs a transplant engine it’s likely you’ll think it runs a RB-series
straight-six – a single turbo RB20DET, RB25DET or maybe a twin-turbo RB26DETT.
Well, that’s what we thought too – and we got a shock when we first popped the
bonnet! Forget the ‘easy’ RB conversion, this Zed runs a turbocharged quad-cam
VG30 V6 (VG30DET)! And, yes, it is a very tight squeeze into the
designed-for-an-inline-six engine bay.
Vehicle owner, Brendan Kelly, gets a buzz out of
showing people something different when he lifts the lid, but credit for the
concept and execution goes to the previous owner and Brisbane’s Z Car Workshop.
Allan Stean for Z Car Workshop says he was initially a bit reluctant to
undertake such a project but, with plenty of time and effort invested, the car
now comes together beautifully. But it’s been a long road since the (incomplete)
import engine arrived at his door...
The quad-cam VG series V6 is a very wide beast and
there’s barely enough clearance in the Zed engine bay – there’s ample space in
front of the engine but side clearances are nightmare-ishly tight. The engine
was fitted and removed several times before Allan was happy with the location.
Fitment involved fabricating custom engine and gearbox mounts and countless
other hurdles with wiring and plumbing. The coolant radiator was upgraded to cope
with the high-output turbo engine and Allan took the time to install fully
functional air conditioning and power assisted steering (the latter was never
available as a factory fitment). The steering system comprises a Subaru rack with
modified inner tie rod ends to accept the Zed outer ends, modified crossmember
and a new steering shaft.