Shop cars often almost always take a back seat to customer cars in the automotive performance world, and after buying this 1978 Datsun 280z in 2013, Stephen Eades found it difficult to dedicate the time to it after opening his shop, Rock Solid Motorsports, in 2015. He eventually did build and race, but working on customer cars convinced him that he needed to take it to a higher level, and after a prolonged build time, the car’s second iteration finally made its debut this past week.

From the get go, the 280z known as Du Hast was LS-swapped and backed with a T56 six-speed transmission. Eades is good friends with Jonathan Atkins, who has piloted his Grubbworm Camaro to numerous stick-shift records and event wins.

“We went through several engines, and in 2018, I got burned out,” Eades recalled of the car’s early days. It was frustrating. The car was decently fast and we won Street Car Takeover in Atlanta in 2017, but we had a rookie knowledge of car setup then.”

Eades was inspired by Radial vs. the World class car builds that came in and out of his shop to go through his car and rebuild it from the ground up.

“Our knowledge has increased over the years, especially managing a stick-shift car, so we tore it down to the shell again in 2018.”

The Datsun received new replacement body panels made from fiberglass —,as if the little import wasn’t already light as it is — and Jimmy Grooms at Dark City Customs took care of the rust repair that also lightened the car, but structurally wasn’t helping. Then, the coupe was vinyl wrapped, as Eades knows that race cars get abused, and the wrap is perhaps a little more durable, and easier to replace.

Powering Du hast 2.0 is a tall-deck, LSR block packing 401 cubic inches. It’s topped with Mast Motorsports 295cc LS3 cylinder heads and a Plazmaman LS3 billet intake. Fueling comes by way of FuelTech injectors to flow the M1 alcohol, and a FuelTech FT600 handles engine management. Boost, and there’s plenty of it, is provided by a Bullseye NLX 104mm turbocharger, and the wastegates and blow-off valves are from Turbosmart.

Eades installed is AFCO Terminator struts up front, and JRi Sportsman coilovers in the four-link rear suspension, which holds a Hammer Concepts Ford 9-inch rearend. Eades also added TBM disc brakes at all four corners, and between the engine and the rearend you’ll find the all-important Tick Performance Outlaw/Race T56 manual transmission, which is coupled with an Advanced Clutch unit.

“We do all of the work on the Grubbworm Camaro, so we have his clutch knowledge, but have to learn to apply it to this car, as there is a big difference in weight,” Eades told us.

“It got to the point that the build was taking so long that the excitement came and went, so we forced it out,” Eades said of getting the rebuild over the finish line. They debuted at Street Car Takeover Charlotte last year still somewhat unfinished, and later put it on FuelTech’s dyno, but broke the transmission and weren’t able to finish tuning it. Eades also noted that they needed to change some other stuff, as well, and the delay continued.

With the repairs/changes made, Eades put it on the TKM Performance hub dyno, where they dialed in a base tuneup, checked two step and launch, and ran it through first gear before heading to the first track outing.

“We finally made it to the track with this thing,” Eades wrote in a social media post. “After nearly five years out of the seat, it was time for me to shake off the nerves.” After a few runs and adjustments, Eades was able to get a solid hit in the books.

“We knew with a brand new car we would have to work through a lot of things right off the bat, and being at a private rental would give us quiet time to do so. We’re fortunate to be able to bum a little clutch knowledge from JA Competition Grubbworm Racing. We went 5.22 after running through first and part of second, and then lifting at 330 feet and coasting,” Eades explained. “It’s real promising. We built the car to be able to run with everyone else around 1,200 to 1,300 horsepower without having to try to blow up the engine to get to the front. So far it seems to be in line with what our plan is.”

Next up is another track outing during which Eades plans to leave the power level as-is and make some full passes.

“I’ll make as many track visits as it takes for me to get comfortable in the car,” he told us. “We always go to the Street Car Takeover in Charlotte, and might possibly go to LS Fest for the Gearbangers class, then maybe FL2k down the road. I want to thank God for safety during our first track outing. I want to thank my team and my wife Lauren for supporting me with whatever I decide to do. It’s definitely a team effort with a car at this level trying to get it figured out. Also thank you to all of the manufacturers, sponsors, friends involved with this build up to this point.”