Alex Mira's father has always been an inspiration growing up. "Growing up he would always show me pictures of the 'cool' cars he had in the past and I remember his pictures of his Datsun being the car that particularly stood out to me," he remembers. Mira was just 15 years old when he purchased his car, "I saved up my birthday and Christmas money to purchase what I didn't think would soon become an obsession, an addiction!" While his father was on vacation in Arizona, Mira searched "Datsun" on Craigslist within his price range. "I found a 1977 Datsun 280Z listed for $3500 USD and my father was able to convince the owner to let the car go for $1400!"
Mira thanks his friends and father for their help at the beginning of the build, "we spent countless hours, and sleepless nights learning and teaching each other about late '70's fuel injection." The 280Z is 100% garage-built! At first, the build was on a tight budget as Mira was still in school and working weekends. As high school came to an end and full-time work began Mira was able to really dump money into his build. "I drove it stock for quite sometime, me being the rebellious teen, I had (and still have a heavy foot), to which original parts from '77 began breaking," mentions Mira. That is when the full build began!
Owner: Alex Mira
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Vehicle: 1977 Datsun 280Z
Horsepower: 200 whp
Club: N/A
SOCIAL
Facebook: Alex Mira
Instagram: @alexmira22
Photography by Alex Mira.
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
Block Bored from 2.8l to a 3.0l
Forged flat top high compression Ross racing pistons
Cylinder head shaved, port and polished
Stage 3 Shneider racing camshaft
Kameari reinforced timing chain and chain tensioner
Kameari cylinder head bolts
Cold air intake
Nissan 240sx large throat throttle body
Throttle body spacer
Intake inlet port matched to adapt to larger throttle body
Intake shaved and EGR and California emissions deleted
Turbo injectors
Crane cams ignition
Pallnet custom made aluminum fuel rail with fuel pressure gauge
Aeromotive adjustable fuel pressure regulator
3 Row polished aluminum radiator
EXHAUST
MSA 6-3-2 Racing headers
2.5-inch straight piped exhaust
Megan Racing carbon fiber burnt 4-inch tip
PERFORMANCE ELECTRONICS
Megasquirt 2 fuel and spark programmable system
DRIVETRAIN
Short throw clutch kit
Centerforce clutch
WHEELS & TIRES
Rota wheels - 16x8 (f/r)
Toyo Proxes tires - 225/45/16 (f/r)
CHASSIS & SUSPENSION
Reinforced frame rails
Eibach 1.25-inch lowering springs
Tokico Illumina adjustable stiffness struts
Poly Urethane bushings
Poly Urethane steering coupler
BRAKES:
Drilled/slotted rotors
Carbon metallic brake pads
EXTERIOR
370z Gun Metallic and 370z Midnight Blue paint
Custom painted engine bay with pearl metallic
MSA type 2 front air dam
Shaved rear bumper
Rear window louvers
Windows tinted Limo Black
LIGHTING
Dapper lighting carbon fiber hydrodipped headlight housings
L.E.D halos
6000k Hid Projectors
Blue interior lights and under dash glow
ZLEDS custom LED taillights
INTERIOR
Custom carbon fiber grey, black and blue vinyls on seats and door panels
New black floor carpet
Grant racing steering wheel
Black leather shift boot
Black leather E-Brake boot
AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA
Pioneer single-DIN head unit
6x9 JL audio 3-way speakers (2)
4-inch Alpine speakers (2)
Pioneer 10-inch shallow mount subwoofer
Pioneer 400w amplifier
Yellow top Optima Battery
COMPETITION RESULTS
1st in Class - World of Wheels
Rising Star Outstanding Engine - World of Wheels
1st Place Nissan - MADD Unrestricted Empire
Best in Show Nissan - Driven 2017
FAVORITE MODIFICATION
"The entire motor has been modified, while still keeping the stock block and head it came with. Not many Datsuns that remain with their stock motors are capable of pushing 200hp to the rear wheels. Therefore the motor is my favourite modification."
FUTURE MODIFICATIONS
"Possibly an LS motor somwhere down the line."
SHOPS/MECHANICS
4 Seasons Auto Body
Executive Customs
RM Autotech
Piston Ring Machine Shop
Extreme Performance
Speed Factor Racing
Motorsports Auto Z-Store
SHOUT-OUTS
"My friends have been a huge help in support, and the extra helping hands."
