igerstein

Hi! I've been searching the forums and internet for information on this for the past twenty minutes and I cant find anything particularly helpful, so please dont flame me! I was just wonderning what you can and can't do to a stock z32 NA engine. Someone told me recently that new cars have so much computer stuff involved that you cant really change much, but I suspect he was wrong. Anyone know if there are defined things that you can and cannot do without screwing up your car somehow? Thanks...

I'd think the tradeoff would be driving a 1990+ 300zx- you get the amenities, but deep down you still have a Z. I might end up having to do that, for safety.

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/car/281529796.html anyone seen this? looks cool...

Awesome, just wanted another opinion (or three)

Salt lake city/park city Utah. Am I going to regret getting a Z here? (rust issues, etc) Thanks

I guess I'm looing for around 200-250 hp, nothing amazing, just enough to beat my friends stock '83 944 in a race, haha. Car is a daily driver, will be doing a 30 mile canyon drive to and from salt lake city every day, there and back, so it needs to be reliable. I know you're just trying to help, I appreciate it. edit: forgot to add: i have 8-9k to spend on a car AND mods, so I sort of have to find a certain balance. (though over time I will get more money to spend on the car, of course) edit 2: sorry, forgot to say. I would prefer to learn to do it myself. It seems better that way...

okay, I guess it's time to hit the library. Thanks for being straightforward

Actually, I have been reading the forums, for the past hour or so. Believe it or not, I even made use of the search function!!! Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my original post: I really don't know that much about cars, little enough that reading a book probably won't be a life changing event for me. Don't get me wrong, I plan on doing lots of reading, but I dont think it will turn me into a super-mechanic. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but there must be some sort of way that the average joe can put some time into his engine. I jsut haven't been able to find much beyond what seems way out of my league (installing a supercharger, for instance). I don't want to get spoonfed, I just haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. Thanks!

Hey guys, I was just wondering what type of mods you can do to a l28. Can you put a turbo on it? What other things can you do to it? Will mods decrease the life of the engine? If so, by how much? How much maintenance would be required with these type of things? Sorry if the questions are stupid, I dont know all that much about cars and Zs (YET!) thanks!

I both want to and plan on learning to (regardless of whether I get a V8) maintin my own car. I just doubt I have the expertise atm to install the engine myself. I guess I could try...

update: here is a reply I got from an email I sent to the DMV: YAY quick question: if someone wants to sell me a car that they say is "converted to fit a V8" and they have all the JTR parts to go along with it, along with a 305 engine,w hat kind of time commitment am I looking at to do it myself? Is it something I could do with no previous experience (though probably with the help of my father, a former VW mechanic)? Or should i just stick with just trying to find one that has already had the swap done?

I REALLY hope you're right. I live in summit county. That would make things a bit simpler.

thanks for the pointers. I don't know enough about cars to be able to tell if stuff like that has been done, but my dad used to be a mechanic. Does anyone know how smogging a V8 would affect performance?

not in utah I dont believe

I did take a look at it... There was only one picture and little information. I would need to repaint it, not a fan of it's current state, haha. As well, at least one set of disc brakes is relatively important to me. I live in a place with very tempermental weather, so improved brakes matter. Improved suspension is nice as well. Thats why I was looking at the one i posted. If you have any suggestions I'd be open to them. Can anyone answer my questions from 2 posts ago? Thanks!

I have nowhere near enough time or skill to do a V8 swap myself, I'm looking for a car with one that has already been done. Sooo... what would I have to do to make one with a V8 pass smog? How much is it going to kill performance? Would the car I posted above pass smog? thanks

I really want a V8 conv, but to be honest with you guys this is going to be my first car and my dad has decided that they're probably "too much car" for me. SOOO... I found this one in california. http://www.Cardomain.com/ride/2180306 It had a turbo from a ZX and a bunch of other mods. i kind of prefer the more classic look, but I still really like this car. I was wondering, almost all of these cars are smog-exempt in CA, but in Utah where I live the cutoff is 1967, not whatever it is in CA. If I buy a car in ca that is smog exempt there am I going to have to do anything to it to make it pass emissions here? duffy- I love the snow. The other day a friend and I went out and did some sweet drifting in his porsche 944. Fun stuff. Made me want my datsun even more. one more question- about how much monthly or yearly should i be expecting maintenance-wise on a Z? Thanks!

Hey all, A few months ago on autotrader I randomly entered "datsun" as the make, and I saw my first one. Then I saw the 240, 260, and 280z's and I was and still am hooked. I am planning on buying a Z sometime around march, wondering what everyones opinion was. I was planning originally with going with a stock 280, but then I saw the V8 conversions people had been doing and that looked really interesting. I plan on finding one to test drive soon, but that might be a chore as I live in the Salt Lake City, UT area and there don't seem to be many around here (not on craigslist, at least). Could anyone tell me how these cars handle? Especially with the conversions, how do they feel? As well, what is a fair price for a car in fair to good condition with a V8 swap? Thanks so much!