1977 Datsun 1jz swapped 280z - Diego Galibay

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1977 Datsun 1jz Swapped 280z

Diego Galibay

Instagram: @diego_1jz

Photographer: Sean Hart

Instagram: @shon.png

Written by: Sean Hart

Nowadays, you might find a show car with diffusers, spoilers, and other cosmetic pieces, but no power to back it up. With Diego's 1977 280z, that is far from the norm. If you take a look under the hood of his 280z, you'll see that it's swapped with a 1JZ equipped with a Borg Warner turbo that pushes 562 Wheel Horsepower with low boost.

Some might think all of that is overkill for a show car, but Diego's 280z has a lot more purpose than winning awards. Along with car shows, he wants to participate in quarter-mile drags and drive on various local tracks such as Sonoma and Thunderhill raceway. 

His purpose-built car takes inspiration from mangas such as Wangan Midnight, Initial D, and the various racing games he grew up playing, but video games can’t take all the credit. His love for cars started with his older brother Miguel and his MK3 Supra. Diego had always been mechanically inclined, but seeing his brother work on his Supra sparked something deep within him. Eventually, after tinkering around with parts, reading magazines, and learning how to work on cars, he would then eventually install parts for his brother and become his mechanic.

Previously, he had owned a 1988 Mitsubishi Starion aka Metalsonic. The car was rotting away in a vineyard and was in pretty rough shape, but Diego wasn’t someone to back down from a challenge. After swapping the engine, and many parts, and bringing the car up to his high standards, he would then compete in the Super Streets Odd Swap Challenge and would prove to be the most powerful in their dyno test and ran the event with no problems. After enjoying the car, he would later sell it and move on to the next project. This would then lay the foundation for the 77’ 280z that you see today.

In 2018, Diego stumbled upon his Datsun in Napa Valley, which was at the time owned by the Browns family. He bought it for $3500 in running condition, by today’s standards, an incredible deal! After stripping the car to a bare shell, the true condition of the car was revealed, and it was below his expectations.

Luckily, his close friend Michael was able to step in and make multiple repairs to areas with rust. Diego knew that he had a long road ahead of him, and he knew that it was going to be hard work, but that hadn’t stopped him before, and it didn’t stop him then.

From a car rusting away in someone's driveway to the masterpiece you see today, after 4 years of working on his project, Diego can finally say that it’s complete. I asked Diego what advice he might have for someone wanting to build a car of this calibre and he said “Do your research. You have to make sure you understand what your end goal is. It’s a lot more expensive if you do it in baby steps. If you want to do a full car build, you have to jump into it, have a clear vision, and start from the ground up.” 

If you enjoyed this car story why not read this ONE HERE

What do you think?

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SPEC LIST

Power

Horsepower and torque numbers: 562whp low boost

ENGINE BLOCK

• Block code: 1jzgte non vvti
• Engine mounts / brackets: Custom + SC300 solid mounts
• Crankshaft: Stock
• Pistons: Stock
• Compression ratio: Stock
• Connecting rods: Stock
• Radiator: Champion 4 Row Polished
• Other block modifications: ARP Studs

CYLINDER HEAD

• Camshaft(s): Brian Crower 272
• Valvetrain: Brian Crower HD Springs, Titanium Retainers and Billet Keepers
• Port work: N/A
• Other head modifications: Unnecessary coolant ports have been closed off

FUEL SYSTEM

• pump, filter: AEM 400 LPH with a Kenne Bell Boost-a-Pump
• Fuel rail: Dual Feed 14mm Custom Rail
• Injectors: ID1700 CC
• Other fuel modifications: 2 Liter Surge Tank Being Fed by a Walbro 255 IPH from factory fuel tank.
• E85 and Flex Fuel Sensor

INTAKE SYSTEM

• Turbocharger: Borg Warner Turbo 369sxe
• Supercharger: N/A
• Intake or ITBs: N/A
• Intake manifold: Perfect Tunning Intake Manifold
• Intercooler and piping: Treadstone Motorsports 1245
• Blow-off valve: Tial 50mm
• Other intake modifications: N/A

EXHAUST SYSTEM

• Header/s: Driftmotion T4 Exhaust Manifold
• Down-pipe: Kelly Built 3.5” Stainless Steel
• Muffler and exhaust system: Kelly Built Custom Made 3.5 Oval Exhaust
• Wastegate: Precision 46mm
• Other exhaust modifications: Vibrant material was used

DRIVETRAIN

• Transmission: Nissan CD009
• Shifter modifications: CBF Performance
• Clutch: South Bend 6 Puck HD
• Flywheel: Collins JZ to CD009
• Limited Slip: OEM Nissan Q45 Differential
• Other drivetrain modifications: Custom 1350 yoked drive shaft

SUSPENSION

• Coilovers: Bc racing coilovers front, TechnoToyTunning rear coilovers
• Shocks or struts: N/A
• Springs: Swift Springs
• Antiroll bars: TechnoToyTunning
• Bushings: Energy Suspension Bushing Kit Front and Rear
• Alignment kit: All adjustable control arms by TechnoToyTunning
• Chassis braces: N/A
• Roll bar or cage: Miles at Shortrodeo Custom 10-point DOM cage with removable door bars
• Other suspension changes: TechnoToy Short Nose R200 Kit
• Silvermine motorsports Billet 5lug hubs front
• OEM 300zx 5lug hubs rear

BRAKING SYSTEM

Discs: 

• Front are 06’ STI rotors
• Rear are 94’ 300ZX rotors

• Pads: Wilwood fronts, Project Mu rears

Callipers: 

• Front are Wilwood 6 pistons 
• Rear a re Power by Max 300ZX Calipers
• Other brake modifications: Wilwood Proportioning Valve

WHEELS AND TIRES

• Front Panasport g7 C5C 17x10.5 -32. 
• Rear Panasport g7
• C5C 17x11.5 -32

Tire brand and size: 

• Front tire nittos nt05 235/40r17 
• Rear tire nitto nt05r 315/35r17

EXTERIOR

• Paint and bodywork: Michael A. Nevarez
• Body kit/aero pieces: 
• Industrial Garage rear carbon fiber flares, 
• Retrospec front carbon fiber flares,
• Carbon fiber Victory spoiler
• Mirrors: Skillard gt3 Apr carbon fiber mirrors

ELECTRONICS

• Engine management: AEM V2 Standalone
• Data logger: N/A
• Gauges: Speed hut speedometer, tachometer and fuel level gauges, Aem wideband x failsafe,
• Autometer water temp, boost and oil pressure gauges

INTERIOR

• Seats:Eparco Evo 2 driver seat
• Safety equipment: Racequip 5point racing harness
• Steering wheel: Renown steering wheel Boss hub
• Pedals, shift knobs, etc: carbon fiber shift knob

Please leave your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page

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