For those unfamiliar with JDM-based anime, Wangan Midnight tells the story of Akio Asakura, a high-school student that for all intents and purposes, appears to be under the spell of a “possessed” Datsun 240z. Spending all his time, money, and effort, Akio creates the most formidable car ever to grace the Wangan highway.
In a much similar origin story, Saul Valencia, owner of SOS Customz, walks us through in detail the same time, money, and effort the afforded his 1972 Datsun 240z. But unlike Akio on the Wangan, this 240z creates monster horsepower thanks to its 5.3L LS V8 engine. Merging an iconic engine with an even more legendary car. The perfect blend of American muscle and JDM styling.
Saul's Juiced 240z
Originally conceived in 2018, Saul has described his builds as challenges in making cars that are not normal. With the Z being his pride and joy, and inspired by the 350 V8 swaps of his youth, Saul saw from an early age what a JDM car, stuffed with a domestic engine, could achieve.
The LS engine receives a lot of unnecessary hate, especially when stuffed into a Japanese legend like the 240z. But the fact of the matter is that there isn’t a better engine in terms of reliability and capability, not only from the factory, but when built from scratch. Especially from the ingeniously engineered JDM engines, with questionable reliability. Looking at you, Mazda’s Wankel rotary engine.
LS Swap The World
Although Saul and his love for the LS engine is apparent, his attention to detail as it relates to the exterior and interior of the car is boundless. Fabricating the wide body kit from sheet metal, Saul was able to get the exact fitment he was looking for his big wheels, without have to replace body panels with plastic kits, or bolt on wide fenders like Akio’s Devil Z. While side-exit exhaust, and a custom diffuser allow for more complete balance of the unadulterated horsepower the LS creates.
Heading to the interior, the Z features a custom dash, Sparco race seats, and a standard transmission after realizing the automatic transmission wasn’t capable of handling the 600+ HP. With a color-matched roll-cage for added safety, Saul is well aware of the power this Z can create, leaving nothing up to luck when it comes to safely driving the Datsun.
Modified engine mounts allow the LS to maintain balance under the hood, while providing more stability for the massive turbo sticking out from its hood. Which Saul explains is not a matter of showing-off, but simply because there was no room under the hood with the humongous size of the LS.
This particular 240z is a prime example of how restomodded, classic cars, can not only add modern amenities, but modern-day reliability that the LS engine offers. Sure to keep Saul and his Orange Z on the road, and off the car lift.