quick update...mostly researching and picking up a few things but getting close to actually starting work.
Picked up a Q45 LSD rear diff with a 3.70 gear. Infinity...supposed to hold up to 450hp or so, with the light weight of the car it should be a good unit.
I wanted to use Porsche corners but would mean going with a strut front...arrghh! Looked into 911 stuff but the rear is too complicated... and still strut front.
So looks like later Toyota Supra/SC300 spindles and hubs. Picked one up to look over. There are aftermarket upper control arms available so that is plus. This is a conventional upper and lower control arm set up so I can easily use aftermarket coil overs. I will likely have to use wheel adapters (will avoid this if at all possible)...I have minimal hope that I can have the hubs redrilled to the 130mm Porsche pattern.
Will source some used calipers from a 911...street or race.
Also I think I have changed my mind about the aftermarket fiberglass widebody kit...can't justify the $$. Thinking on just pulling the quarters and fenders out and pulling the rockers out to blend. This may involve raising the rockers up a few inches into the door and removing a few inches out of the bottom of the doors. Going to use lexan and side window sliders...doors will be gutted. Could still use fiberglass front fenders. Anyway, having some renderings done to see how this could all come together.
Moving my business into a different shop and waiting to get things organized and will move the z there to start stripping it down.
In the scheme of being creative with the $$ I picked up 4) 12' cross beams used on industrial pallet racks that will work great for a inexpensive chassis jig. They are about 4"x6" boxed with a notch that will work great for adjustable cross beams....more to come as I start building it. $80 for all 4 and they are straight. May not be good for a lot of use but will be good for what I am doing....much better than building it on the shop floor!

Can't wait to see the progress.

Boring update again but got the Z situated in my new shop and started tearing it down. Have a rendering being done!! Scheming and dreaming and the ideas are starting to gel...!
Researching power plants and leaning strongly towards a 350Z engine and 6 speed. They make an aftermarket ITB setup that is way cool. 100 lbs less than an LS engine and stock about 300hp. They make some pretty crazy horsepower with this engine so room to grow!

[IMG]http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

have a look over on dpcars.net, or palatov motorsport denis is selling some amazing suspension setups that could be used on a tube frame build, all the calculations and clever stuff are done already, you'd just have to build it in

Those guys build some cool stuff!
Here is a little more exciting update. Ripped off the right front suspension just to stick a tire/wheel in its proposed place...mostly for motivation!
I have to get the chassis jig done and finish gutting the Z and then the fun should begin! Can't wait after getting a glimpse of a tire/wheel mock up on the front.
We are going to pull the fenders and quarters out maybe 3" per side (will be determined once things get set on the jig with suspension).
Will raise the wheelwells approximately 4".
Going to flatten out the sides of the front fender and rear quarter kinda like shown in the side shot....bringing the rockers out and blending to the rear.[IMG]http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/30...600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

Wheel looks killer on there.

Cool project! There is a local 510 that is heavily modified.
He is running a Subaru diff, Pathfinder based engine and a later model 280zx trans.
I only mention it because he did it on the budget too and said the mods were really straight forward. I thought maybe this might help somehow in your drivetrain plans.
Keep the pics & updates coming!

I will try to look that 510 up...thanks!
After a bunch more research I ordered a front and rear drivers side upright from a 350Z as that looks like the way to go and the parts are reasonable.

[IMG]http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

Got a start on the chassis jig yesterday and pretty darn pleased with it so far. I have four bolt adjusters on the legs. I wanted to do minimal welding on the two beams so built the supports this way. I have to do a couple cross supports but I may just bolt some angle iron on each end where there already holes...to save welding and risking deforming the beams.
Have to do leg braces yet also...
I like the notches in the beams...a 2x4 fits in perfectly for quick cross supports. Also will see if I can pick up some 1-1/2" tubing I can tack in place.
I left the supports a little long and set them both at the centerline of the wheelbase...figure that might come in handy for placing the jigs for the uprights.

Vq35de
 

Picked up a 2003 350Z longblock with 53k miles on it. Waiting on 350Z front and rear uprights and some tubular control arms from Ebay.
[IMG]http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

I'm gonna have a hard time not wanting an ITB setup when the time comes!!
[IMG]http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/47...425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG]