labrat

You think you 15 inch guys have problems, i have a set of beautiful 14" Enkeis and the tire selection I can get really sux. I ended up with 225/60/14's on back and 215/60/14's up front. There was only one pair of these tires in town, so my only choice (Had to have new tires TODAY!), was BFG daytona's on the back, and no name M&S tires on front! I plan on moving back ones up front and putting something meaty on the back, and scrapping present front ones...

If there is anyone out there who has done a sbc swap to a 280ZX, could you help me with some info on your mounts? More precisely, how high were your motor mount spacers and where were they placed in relation to the motor mount, on the block side or on the frame horn side? Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks for the info, Zya, i wanted someone's input who had actually used them before spending money on them. I guess I will go w/the spintech as well... Thanks! Bill

Yeah, i know it's hard on the ring and pinion, the only reason i'm so hard on it is because it all needs replaced anyway, got miles of backlash in there, much clunking. If I blow it up completely, i have an excuse to go out and get a LSD... Bill

Did I just overlook the auction for the springs? I could really use a set... Bill

Thanks for straightening me out on that one, ross, just with all the talk of companion flanges and hub flanges, it sounded like they were two different parts... I guess someone just needed to break it down for me. Anyone know what the necessary parts should run me at a salvage yard? I just don't wanna get burned. Thanks a million for all the assistance so far! Bill

Well, i busted both of them doing one leggers around wet corners then suddenly hitting dry pavement... BANG! flop flop flop.... anyway, so all i need are the stubs in the diff and the cv axles themselves? The wheel end will bolt right up to the flange? I checked the archives, and this is my understanding, but i want to make sure. I'll hit the salvage yard next weekend, i guess... Thanks for all the help! Bill

I have an 81 model 280ZX non turbo, and i'm having problems busting ujoints on the half shafts. I've busted two of the autozone "Heavy Duty" ones, and all that work is pissing me off. Anyone tried to put the 280 ZXT cv axles in this type of car? Any idea what i would need? Or am I blazing a new trail? There are many Z's at the local salvage yards, and this is definitely a required mod... Thanks!

You think yours is gonna be loud, then my 2 1/2 in dual straight pipes are gonna rattle windows... I think i'm just gonna use those as mufflers, nothing else but pipe. I'll see how it works, anyway. They are cheap enough. By the way, super280z, is the C.C. Corpus Christi or Copperas Cove? Just curious...

Hey, i was cruzing the net for a decent muffler that i could fit two of under a Z car, and i stumbled across these. Has anyone had any experience with these, and will they give me a headache on the open road? Thanks http://www.carchemistry.com/ccinserts.html They actually sound like a really good idea if they will actually muffle...

I know what you mean with the ujoints, i busted a brand new "heavy duty" ujoint today on my way to the parts store. And this was just with the 6 cyl. I definitely need the zxt cv axles for the smallblock...

I have a problem that someone here might be able to help me out with. I have a stock 1980 280zx GL with the automatic climate control system (vacuum controlled vents...). Anyhoo, I'm checking under the hood for vacuum leaks to fix the popping out the intake while it's cold, and i hear vacuum sucking through a little device on the manifold right behind the throttle body. Does anyone know what this is? i covered it with my finger and the idle dropped about 300 rpm. Is this a "leak" or is it supposed to vent vacuum? thnks for all the help in the past... Bill

Thanks blkmgk, but i couldn't find a listing in the new motorsports catalog for the th350 mount on the newer zx body. most people here who've done the zx swap (as far as i have been able to tell) have used a modified crossmember off of the donor car. If anyone has a better way, let me know please! Thanks, Bill

This truck has a very good running 350/TH350 combo in it now, i'm just straight swapping it out. I also have only 1 mile to and from work to drive it every day, so i can work on it at lunchtime and slow times, but i just really need a not-very-reliable just get it in there type of swap with more work to come later. Much more work. I am using the old crossmember from the truck for the tranny mount, just going to cut the ends off, line it up and weld it on the bottom of the car for now. I'm even going to salvage most of the dual straight pipe exhaust. Most of it's not even bent! The truck also has a hurst ratchet cable shifter in it, so that's taken care of (little tall, but i can cut it down some, i think). By the way, this is into an 81 280ZX with power steering (not rack n pinion) and a/c. The only thing standing in my way now will be motor mounts and a driveshaft, as i can see. (throttle linkage would be nice, too, i guess). I'm not worried about the small things like guages and speedo, just want it to go when i put it in D and hit the gas!

Does anyone out there have an estimate of the time it takes to do a very basic, no frills, just get it running v-8 swap? I can finish small stuff like speedo cables and such later, but i need this car as a daily driver, and i am buying my donor truck tonight (69 chevrolet). I just got a job at a garage as a mechanic, so i have instant access to any tools required, the JTR manual, and the other mechanic at the shop will help me one weekend, so do you think i could get everything required finished in two weekends plus after hours through the week? My boss won't let my car take up space for very long. Thanks for any input.

I think what mike c is trying to say is as long as the firing order is correct, you can just send that wire to number one, nextone to 8, etc.

Thanks for the info, mike. I am in Austin as well, on the east side around 183 and manor rd. Think i could come see it some time? Is the 305 running good or what? I'm lookin for cheap at this point more than anything else... I threw the main drive pulley on my 81 zx and now the crank is shot (and i refuse to put a 6 cylinder back in there) thanks for the responses! Bill

Well, i had to move, forcing me to sell my newly rebuilt 327, so now i'm on the prowl for a new motor. My boss at the garage i work at has a running 305 in an 84 blazer with a turbo 350 tranny, how much do you think i oughtta offer him for it? it's a running motor, with all the accessories and such, and i'm thinking of offering him 750 for the whole shootin match. Is that a good price? any feedback is appreciated... Bill

This is a tragedy, but times are tough... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=592455215

Yeah, those movies from Darius are part of what keeps me motivated in this seemingly never-ending project.... Catch ya later! ('less you got more ponies....)

I knew someone here would be interested. I certainly would have been had I not already bought one! Bill

Wish I had seen this before i blew 1800 on my running 81 280 ZX.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=586822991 It has a bad motor and everything! Bill

Turns out the bearings were for a 350, not a 327 after all. They were for a large journal crank, not my 327. So they are on order again. Sorry i'm flooding the board with all these posts, but pearls of wisdom dropped around here are much more valuable than my chevy smallblock rebuild book. I just don't have the experience, Thanks for the help, guys! Bill

Thanks kevin, I intend to do that. I just wanted to make sure the crank was okay to use again. Didn't think it would be a problem. Is there any way to put the pistons in the bores without scratching the cyl wall with the rods? Or is this a problem? I havne't gotten that far yet, the parts store ordered the wrong mains for me. The retaining boss is on the aft side of the bearing instead of the fore. They cross referenced to my donor car, but does anyone know what model/make car these bearing came out of? small journal with the boss on the front side of the bearing. Thanks! Bill Bill

it is just one exhaust valve that's recessed like that, and they are going to a machine shop, i just liked the idea of knowing what was up before i got there. But unfortunately, i am on a serious budget, and super hi performance is not a necessity, just reliability. Thanks for the input! You guys are great! Bill PS, they are the camel hump heads and quite old (1966)