labrat

There's really no need to buy a conversion kit for the mounts, they are super simple to make. Just use the motor mounts for a 69 chevy truck, and put about 2~3 inches of spacers between the motor mount and the motor (I used (3) 1" aluminum plates on drivers side and 2 1/2" on passenger side). They will then bolt directly up to the frame horns on the crossmember, putting an HEI distributor about 3/4" from the firewall. My first trans crossmember was just a piece of 3/8" X 3" flat stock 36" long with bolt holes drilled through it with the bolts running through the frame rails, and a spacer to get the tranny high enough in the tunnel. I'm going to put some bends in my next one, though, (similar to the jtr crossmember, which won't fit in a ZX) so that my exhaust will clear better and to give me more ground clearance. I would also recommend sticking a chunk of tire or maybe urethane end link bushings on the bolts between the crossmember and frame rails, those vibrations will rattle your teeth! The trickiest part about the entire swap is the drivers side header. There is maybe 2 1/2" clearance between the exhaust port on the head and the power steering gearbox, so header or manifold selection is limited. You will also have to go with an electric fan, as this setup puts the mechanical fan about 2" through the hood. Do the plumbing and wiring, then you're all set. It's a really simple swap, not difficult at all if you're handy with a wrench. It's all the little things that will really screw you up, but those usuall aren't in the book, anyway. Bill

The thing that got me is, he popped his hood, and it still looked like a stock honda. Honda valve cover, 4 cyl engine, nothing special except blue autozone wire looms over everything including his prop rod. everything looked absolutely stock. The only difference I could tell (and i don't really know hondas) is the idle. It rocked the car like a lumpy smallblock at idle. Smoothed right out at 2k, though... Bill

How about just a page of Grumpy's links? They're like gold, but i can never find the one I read last week when I need it today... Bill

Naw, they weren't anything cool. Just 16 used rockers, two valve covers, plus all the hardware and stuff (pushrods, retaining bolts, rocker balls). And no, my cam isn't anything crazy, using stock vortec heads, only .465 lift and 272 advertised duration. Daily driving torque monster cam... I didn't think it was too bad a deal, as the rockers are like $6.00 a piece new. Plus it was a quick, easy, and cheap solution to a problem that's been bugging me for a while. Bill

Well, I was going to try to reuse the rockers off of my stock chevy heads, but I broke down and bought a full set w/valve covers from the boneyard for 35 bux. hope they are all in good shape, there is 1/2 inch of crap crusted to the inside of the valve covers. looks like the oil was never changed on this motor...

I gotta say I got two favorites for driving music.. 1.)Lenny Kravitz- Are you gonna go my way (the original driving expeditiously song) 2.)Ministry- Jesus built my hotrod and just to throw in a honorable mention cuz it goes with my new hybridZ video so well (almost done guys!) 3.)Pantera- Cowboys from Hell Bill " Jesus built my car. It's a love affair, mostly Jesus, and my hotrod."

I went to the import drag shows a couple of weeks ago with my friend, and got my eyes opened up for me. He has a 97 civic that he's swapped an 99 j-spec prelude motor into. WOW! 225 HP in that little civic got 115 in 3rd gear at almost 9K, still pulling hard, and it got there quick! I used to make fun off all the honda guys, but this is one mean civic! Not that I would do it, he paid over 600 bux for 1 motor mount. He has over 5K in the swap including getting the motor imported. Clean car though, without all the typical ricer graphics and mods. This guy would sneak up behind you on the highway, and give a hybridZ a real run for the money... Bill

Just to chime in on the other side of the fence, my stepdad has a 6.2L diesel in an 83 4X4 blazer, and it has close to 400K on the odometer without a rebuild. I know, he's owned it since 87 and put 350K on it himself. Changed the oil every 2500 miles, and it purrs. He's worn out water pumps, transmissions, rear ends, 4wd hubs, etc. but the motor is pristine. The glow plug relay stuck on about 40k ago and melted the glowplugs off so that they dropped down into the cylinders. we pulled the heads and removed the pieces, and there was no ring groove at the top! Out of curiosity, we pulled the pan and plastigaged the mains. 1.5 thousandths clearance. at 360,000 miles. wow. and 18-24 mpg. Bill

Whats the deal with self aligning rocker arms for the newer sbc heads? What makes them self aligning? I have both an old set of heads and a set of vortecs sitting right in front of me, and the studs look exactly the same. The only differnce I can see is the shape of the pushrod guide hole on the vortecs is round instead of a slot. Is this what makes them require the self aligning type rocker? What would happen if I reused my old skool stamped rockers? Just curious... Bill

Naw, that's ok, I'm hitchin a ride with my buddy who's in the car show portion. He has a 95 civic (yeah, i know, a honda) with a 97 j-spec prelude motor in it. Damn, that is one CLEAN conversion. Very well done, for a honda. My other friend that's going with us just got a vinyl plotter, so he's trying to sell some custom vinyl graphics to the rice crowd out there. We'll see how things go. BTW, anyone want any stickers? I'm serious, this thing can print anything you want in adhesive-backed vinyl. Connects to a pc like printer. It's bad! Bill

Damn, that thing is wild! Need to throw some 31X10.50's on it to fill up the wheel wells a little, but it would definitely look unique at a hillclimb...

Thanks for all the info, this site is great! What I want to know now is, how much of a power hit will I take by running vac secondaries rather than a double pumper? I traded my 650 edelbrock for a 750 edelbrock (thanks TomahawkZ!)and I still have the 650 holley, both with vac secondaries. Which carb should I use? They're both in good shape. Or should I just sell em both and get a double pumper? Any input here is vastly appreciated, this things going back in the car in a week or two... Bill

I'm running into the same problem. Can't find a t5 around these parts, and four speeds put my revs too high. I think your only options are to either go with a tremec or t56, or change the ratio in your rear end to a 3.36 or something. I'm trying to find a 3.36 diff now, but not having any luck at that, either. Anyone know of a car that these definitely came out of? Most of the cars at the pick n pull are on the ground with no wheels, can't really turn anything to determine ratios.... thanks guys Bill

That's hilarious! My GF looked at me really weird like. She didn't get it either... Bill

Hey, is anyone from the dallas area going to the import drags at ennis this weekend? My buddy and I will be there racing his 72 240 with a 327 seeing if we can put some hurt on some ricers. Prolly get slammed by the big bux guys, but it should be fun. Look for the red 240 with a cowl induction hood and big fat drag tires. Should be a blast. If anyone's gonna be there, lemme know. We'll hook up and grab a beer or sumthin.. Bill

Last I heard, the ricers hang out at fuddruckers up here. Well, they're not all ricers, I guess. Couple of camaros and stangs in there. If you want to hook up with some street races, check www.texasracingscene.com. they have a forum for Austin racing. Sometimes they hit zilker park, and sometimes they hang at northcross mall. depends on the night, but they get together several nights a week. Bill

Directions please? I got nothin but a motorcycle for a couple of weeks yet, but I'd love to check out some Z's Bill

Yeah, I have the same problem, but a mechanical fan is not an option. On an 81 280ZX, the JTR mounting method does not apply, and i can't get the motor low enough. My mechanical fan would stick 3" through my hood! Gonna try a belly pan (I think they had one stock) to try to lower the air pressure in my engine compartment. That way the fan will move more air at speed. I'm kinda out of ideas too... Bill

DAMN! I ran that combo in DD2K, and it looks like about 500HP@5500 rpm and 535TQ@4000 rpm. If you can hook that beast (you didn't say exactly what car it's in, a Z?), it should get you at least close... Also, I second that, where are you in texas? I'm in north austin myself. I'd love to get a look at that thing running. my $.02 Bill

I just wanna hurt some feelings with mine. Camaro and mustang owners', that is...

I drove my 81 ZX for two years beore starting my swap, and 2 months afterward before pulling the engine again, rebuilding it, swapping heads for more power, complete new exhaust (manifolds to mufflers), and swapping my th350 for a t5. I have WAY too much of my life invested in this car. I will drive it till I total it ( my definition of totaled, not some insurance company's...), then pull the engine to put in something else. I literally have blood, sweat (a lot, i live in texas), and tears invested in this, not to mention way more money than i can really afford. But like I tell my girlfriend and the guys at work "everyone needs a hobby...". Besides, it keeps me out of trouble. At least until I have it on the road again... Bill

My 81 ZX did the same thing, till I replaced the fan clutch. Seems the bearings in it were locking up, and squealing bad. The temperature thing points this way, but check your idler pulleys too... Bill

I think the short style water pump was used for late 70's-mid 80's corvette almost exclusively. Fortunately for us, there is lots of room between the motor and radiator, so the long style works fine. The short style will work too, if you already have one, you just have to make sure your pulleys are aligned correctly... Bill

Without a modulator, a TH350 shifts like a dog, especially into 3rd. You think it's never gonna shift, and when it finally does, it feels very VERY mushy. Vacuum hose going to the modulator used to fall off on my el camino all the time. When i really had to abuse it to get it to shift, i knew it was time to replace the hose. FWIW, I would replace the modulator and find out how it shifts then. They are only about 10 bux or so. Trust me, they make a world of difference. Bill

Well, if this is your daily driver, i'd just find a junkyard I6 and swap them out in a weekend. If it's a toy, even if you don't have money, a chevy will go in there pretty easily with time. Most people here get all caught up in building a motor for extreme horsepower (myself included...). The engine swap itself isn't all that difficult. If you need an engine to just drive it around, a near stock V8 will scoot a Z down the road nicely. You will still CRUSH 90% of the street cars out there. The first V8 I put in my 81 280ZX would smoke just about anything going across an intersection, even with a 2" single exhaust. Couldn't have been more than 200 HP tops, but loads of low end grunt. You can do this with relatively few suspension mods, too. my $.02 Bill