desert dog

I would love to be close enough to be able to drive over and talk to John. I am so looking forward to this project, and I learn more about it every day.

According to the book I found, an LS1 weighs 430 pounds...

http://www.modern-motorsports.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_33&products_id=2

I agree. i have one of those little Craftsman 110V wire feeds. It is a good little spot welder, but that is about it...

Very good read. I was trying to get that point across on the 300zxclub forum but those guys were effectively ignoring me. Oh well, it is their cars not mine. Nothing like a crankshaft catastrophic failure to ruin your day.

No it would have been a twin turbo. I was looking to build a max effort LS1. The estimated total weight of the car was 4100 lbs. with a custom Dynatrac Dana 60 axle with 355-45-17 tires, a tricked TH400 and a gearsplitter OD unit. I was estimating 800 WHP at 18 psi. Gas prices effectively killed that project though.

All Gen III V-8's have the same bolt patterns for tranny fitment. In fact, according to GM, the blocks are essentially the same except for the LS1/LS2/LS6 being aluminum and the truck motors being cast iron. The issue you are going to run into though is the oil pan and intake manifold for a truck motor are very tall... I am researching putting an LR4 into a '73, and it appears in order to accomplish this I need to use the LS1 intake, oil pan, water pump, and front accessory pullies on the 4.8 truck long block I want to use. Mike

http://www.turbocalculator.com/how-to-read.html Turbonetics has the best explanation on how to read a compressor map... T04E-50 isn't that big... I was planning on running about 18 lbs on my project Chevelle. Here is another good description page: http://www.automotivearticles.com/Turbo_Selection.shtml

OOPS... Brain farts... Gotta keep an eye on us old guys... Check that... Make that TO4E-50's... Sorry 'bout that. Here is the map for it...

Dex III all the way... Type F has lesser lubricating properties.

I ordered the JTR Datsun conversion manual this weekend. I also found a Motorbooks repair manual for the 1st generation Z's on Amazon that I bought as well. I am excited about this car because I have built two cars in the past five years for my sons, and now the old man gets to build one for himself... I will have some 240Z parts for sale soon as well. I am going to part out the "parts car" that came with the car I bought. More questions will come up that I haven't found doing "search"... Mike

TD04-50's. I researched this mod for a Chevelle project. Yes, larger injectors. 42# ought to be big enough, ECM retune for the bigger injectors. I have a complete chart of turbo size vs. engine displacement at home. I can double check when I get home. Big power can be made with TD04-50's...

Your in Dallas and it is in Round Rock? Take a weekend and go look at it. It isn't that far... I have driven further than that just to look at a vehicle... My $.0000001671 (adjusted for inflation) Mike

Thanks for all the replies... Waddup 9kredline... The main reason I am looking at the LR4 instead of the LS1 is performance vs. fuel mileage. It also helps that the engine is 1/3 the price of an LS1. This car will be a daily driver so the engine will remain completely stock other than intake and exhaust. I guess what I need to go find out is if all the mounting points on an LR4 block and heads are the same as an LS1. I think I have a line on a '98 Camaro with a dead 5.7 in it to scarf all of the needed components out of.... If not, I need to find a tasteful hood scoop that does not ruin the fantastic lines of the 1st generation Z car. Hopefully, the OEM LR4 intake plenum can be beautified some as well in that case.

Looks like it is time to buy some literature. Thank you zgeezer. Mike

I have been lurking on this forum for awhile and have learned a lot about stuffing modern American iron into a 240, 260, and 280Z's. The question I have and could not locate by searching was if anyone hase used the Vortec Truck iron block V-8's as a swap engine. Everything I have read says they are of the same dimensions as an LS1 but are 75 lbs. heavier due to the iron block. I also do not know if the engine mounting is the same either. My project is leaning toward the LR4 4.8 liter V-8 for better gas milege. I mean the engine puts out 280+ HP which should be plenty for a daily driven car. The EPA ratings for this engine in a Silverado 1500 is 17/21. I figure it should get a least that much pushing around a 2500 lb. Z-car. I plan on leaving the engine basically stock except for possibly headers and a K&N cone filter. I have also read on this forum that the LS1 may actually be too light for optimum weight balance of the car. Has anyone here done the research to see if the truck motors are too tall for the engine compartment of the Z, or has anyone put one of these motors in a '70-'78?