My name is Brandon Miller and I was pretty much born into the obsession with cars. Growing up in the ’80s raised by a single dad with a love of Datsun and Porsche exposed me to some really cool stuff from the get go.
One of the most vivid childhood memories were of the Datsun 510 shells that lay in our backyard and the many days spent pretending to drive them. There were also 240Zs, 911s and 912s in the driveway at times, but what I always loved the most was my dad’s ’87 Maxima SE and the ’87 Pathfinder. I know the others were and still are much cooler and more desirable.
As I got my license in the mid-1990s, I just had to have an ’87 Maxima SE as my first car. Followed by a ’92 Maxima SE. Those cars received mild upgrades like wheels, springs and stereos. Over the last 20 years, there have been many cars I’ve been lucky enough to modify more heavily with some amazing friends. The first was in 2001 with an S14.
I picked up a junkyard 1995 240SX in base trim with an automatic transmission in addition to a large hole in the valve cover. I then found a complete Nissan Silvia front clip, and with the help of one of my oldest friends learned the basics, and ultimately did some pretty significant work on the car. Doing it all ourselves not only provided a great sense of accomplishment and confidence, but also saved a ton of money.
What I learned from creating that car led to one project after another. There’s been a BMW E39 Touring with an LSX 427/T56 swap…
A BMW E38 M7 with an ESS supercharged M5 S62 swap…
Followed by a very minor but equally impactful update to an incredible R30 Nissan Skyline which was sold last year.
Other highlights include a ’72 Datsun 510, turbo BMW E34 M50 525i, Volvo P2 V70R, Nissan D21 pickup, Mercedes-Benz W211 E55 Weistec, BMW E39 M5, another BMW E38 740i, and then my current third-gen Toyota Tacoma and S212 E63 Mercedes-Benz AMG wagon projects, which also act as daily drivers.
Although it all started with Nissan, the bulk of the time in the last 10 to 15 years was spent on German cars. Then, three years ago, Nissan lured me back in.
My dad has always wanted me to get a Z. He currently has five immaculate and well-modded 240Zs as well as a Z32 300ZX. He even owns a mint Acura NSX. I never wanted a 240Z or a Z32 for some reason, and none of the other generations did anything for me. Especially not the 280Z/ZXs nor Z31 300s. Then one day, out of nowhere, the Z31 just started to grow on me.
The ’80s had always been so influential to me, and perhaps that nostalgia once I hit my mid-to-late 30s helped me appreciate them more. It was just a minor thought at first, but I started to think about Z31s more and more by the day until I couldn’t stop imagining building one.
It’s hard to recall what moment it was exactly, but I do remember one day posting on Instagram with a stock Z31 photo and captioned it something like “Thinking this will be next”. Since then, I have a habit of posting something like that on a whim and then the actual car will be posted within a few months. It happened with the Z31, R31, R30, and then with the E63 AMG.
After the post, the daily search commenced. In studying the Z31 online, I came to the conclusion that I only wanted an ’86 due to the ’87 to ’89 fenders, but with the older 240Z-inspired tail lights. An analogue dash and black cloth interior was also a requirement. I was open to anything else so long as the interior was clean and there was little to no rust.
If there is one lesson I’ve learned in building project cars it’s to always start with the best base you can. The little parts add up far more than the savings made by purchasing something in rough shape.
Picking back up on AutoTempest, which is my personal go-to site for daily searching cars across the country, there was a Z that had been on the usual sites a few months prior and caught my eye the most. The car looked great and the mileage and color was right, but the asking price was too high. I continued looking daily for another few months, then one morning the just-mentioned Z31’s price dropped by $2K. I bought it within the hour.
There was a crystal clear vision in my head for a Z31 and it was based on the original Nissan S30 Z432 powered by the almighty Nissan S20 engine. The example that inspired me the most was the Z432 R which were often painted 920 Safari Gold with gunmetal wheels. 920 Safari Gold is also the color of my favorite 240Z in my dad’s collection, and the car with the most important back story for him and I. The 4-3-2 is in reference to that S20 engine shared with the original Skyline GT-R; the moniker represents the four valves per cylinder, triple carbs and twin cams.
Knowing the S20 would be far out of my price range, the original plan was to do an L-series swap which would be fully built. Ironically, the price of building an L-series to the level I wanted was what turned me off it, leading to search for an RB20 from a JDM Z31 200ZR or possibly even an RB25.
I ended up visiting my long-time friends at Japanese Classics/Japan Parts Service who just so happened to have a naturally aspirated RB25 with long-tube headers, and my full vision just revealed itself in an instant. Using a naturally aspirated RB would be the perfect solution, and would better represent the original inspiration. The irony was me not knowing that building a naturally aspirated RB while trying to get the most power possible would prove to be more expensive than the L-series. However, in the end, it would look better, should sound almost as good as an F1 car or sport bike, rev like the latter, and also be easier to bolt in since the Z31 was available in Japan with an RB. Electronic ignition and crossflow, in theory, should be a better platform to make power. This power plant would also be a direct tie to the original 432 with an RB26 head having four valves per cylinder, triple throttle bodies and twin cams
Although this project started out as a budget build with a 12-month time frame, it’s just kept evolving into something more special. At each step, I’ve focused on attention to detail, which just makes the next step that much more important. It’s now become a three-plus-year build that is basically a full nut and bolt restomod. Time is no longer really even a consideration as it’s more important for me to have everything done right.
It’s hard to comprehend how far this project has come, how much longer it took than expected, but more importantly, how close it is now to being finished. It has also been truly amazing to make so many new friends in addition to the number of people who have been along for the ride on social media and shown their appreciation.
As mentioned, the goal for this car was to really make it look like a Z432-inspired Z31 restomod. Requirements were the 920 Safari Gold paint, gunmetal RS Watanabe wheels, an extremely low static height with ideal handling, naturally aspirated RB engine and gunmetal trim. It had to keep the bodywork pretty close to how the Z31 Shiro Special looked, and would also have to sport a minimal shaved engine bay. Luckily I found some talented digital artists on Instagram who helped me bring the vision to the screen as a template. Remarkably, the car is coming out exactly the same.
I must admit that although I used to do much of the work myself on my cars, the Z31 was mostly brought to fruition by some talented friends of mine as well as companies I have found to be the best in their fields.
I still do some of the work and will be putting the car back together, but the biggest appreciation should be directed towards my good friend I have known since age 15, Mike Poore, the body and paintwork of Paul ‘Seamus’ Rogers/Concept Color, the RB parts supplier Raw Brokerage, my machinist Mike Clemons, Freed Engineering, and countless other providers like Innovative Engines Engineering, Supertech Performance, Tomei, Nitto Performance Parts, Ross Performance, Haltech, CP-Carrillo, Feal Suspension, PartsShopMax, Platinum Racing Products, Radium Engineering, Racing Service Watanabe, Lonely Driver Company, Renown, TechnoToyTuning, Bride Japan, Brembo, Toyo Tires, Remade in the USA, HN Engineering, Wiring Specialties, Mako Motorsports, EFI Hardware, Japan Parts Service, plus anyone else I’ve forgotten to mention.
Thanks for tuning in and I’m looking forward to sharing more in Part 2…
Brandon Miller
Instagram: rvae38
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Very cool build! Love the colors.
been following this build online since the beginning on Bimmerforums, this car is so insane and I can't wait to see it finished.
A different kind of restomod
I like it!
I met Brandon at a Cars and Coffee a few years ago. Great guy, and fantastic cars! Happy to see him featured here.
Thank you!!
Awesome build. Thanks for sharing with us. I'm waiting impatiently for part 2.
So excited for this!
Bad ass! What a great story and looking forward to the finished product!
Now this is a project car, not some automatic brand new VW golf or some stock 3 series on lame bags. More of this kinda stuff, less new douchebag whips
Man this is not helping my desire to buy a Z31 lol
Man I have been following you ever since SuperStreet did a post of your R30 and you replied to my comment. So happy to see how far the Z31 has come and can't wait for the folow-up to this article! One of my favourite builds on the internet now on one of my favourite automotive sites. Not gonna lie, this is awesome!
Thank you!
Great writeup B! It's gonna be hard to beat some of the other builds, but I know it's gonna be epic! Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Brian. Miss having you around at our local C&C but I see you are in good company often.
Lol so my comment about this being a real project and better than that lame ass stock slammed 3 series and paddy’s boring ass brand new VW... but there are scam comments about how you can make 10-12k completing whatever scam. Cool, good to know. What a joke of a site this has become
Looks like both your comments are present ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I think you will find that every site on the internet that has an open forum finds it difficult to nip spam in the bud. There are obviously people who have strong opinions and express them in a somewhat disrespectful manner, either intentionally or... there must be other reasons.
This is one of the reasons I like this site. People can express their opinions, often you will find that a fellow reader will post an insightful response (or even just a funny one) in reply. Everyone is different. The way it has always been.
Variety is the spice of life and SpeedHunters serves that up in spades.
I’ve heard of cars being built as tributes to one of its previous generations but nothing as wild as this
I’d like to see someone build an R35 based off of the nismo 400R
Thank you and me too!
Oh man, this is great!
Can't wait to see this thing finished!
What a fantastic build. That E39 touring though...
It was a blast to drive. I have some youtube videos of it at RVAE34 from when I created my YT account.
Brandon
The colour would be absolutely briliant when the car is seen under the sun.
With such position of the radiator, I am guessing a vented hood will be used?
Surprisingly enough that is the stock radiator position.
what suspension components were used?
S14 rear subframe, Parts shop max S14 arms and drop knuckles, Feal suspension one off coilovers and Techno Toy Tuning from arms, tie rods and BBK. Will give a full break down on the technical aspects of the drivetrain and suspension in an upcoming part 2 of this build.
Brandon
we all have that dream build we wish to pursue one day. it's admirable to see someone do theirs great article
Excellent taste in cars, gonna be a beauty when done!
Thank you!
So you are the guy that owns that E39 wagon with LS travesty.
In a very good way.
I can't tell you how many times i have gone back to look at that youtube video of it revving.
Anyhoos, nice build. Was never really a fan of this generation of Z, but wow, this one made me sit up.
Used to own. Built the turbo E34 and sold to build the LSx 427 E39. Sold that to build the ESS supercharged S62 E38 and then sold that to buy a Designo E55 AMG and an R30 Skyline. The Z31 started independant of those purchases/builds and sales though and will only be for sale if someone offers a near astronomical price.
Thank you! I miss the sound of that LSx as there is nothing like one with a nice cam.
I felt the same way about the Z31 until I didn't and now look at me..
Brandon
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Jumping in way too late after letting the ideas stew in the back of my mind for a few days--
At 43, I like to think I have my own idea of "what's cool for me." But you've rewritten my rules thrice now, and I'm so glad you're at it again :D. Thirtysomething me would draw up some angular, Porsche-Rennline-inspired interior bits to complement a fully-built VG33DE in an '84 model for maximum WTF factor-- and because the VG is prettier than the VQ that followed it. Now at 40-something, I've finally come to terms with how much easier it is to make a powerful motor pretty, than to do the very opposite. But I have all love for taking on the real challenge of an RB. Awesome Vintage Nissan Noise FTW.
Can't wait for updates!
Haha, thank you for the great complimentary words!
Originally, I was planning a bare interior with painted floors, no carpet/sound deadening and a rear half cage but instead decided to make it almost all stock albeit near perfect. With the only aftermarket components being a Renown steering wheel, Bride Stradia II gradient fabric seats with carbon/kevlar backs and a Haltech IC-7 display for the cluster to register the 12-13k redline. There will be no stereo/speakers yet the car will retain the factory head unit.
Many more details on the car to follow soon. Thanks for tuning in.
Brandon