JP..

Thanks for the comments, I have been too busy to work on the AWD Z because I am doing up a 240z series 1,, maybe next week I will get the floors and rockers welded in.

Thanks bud, I will focus on relocating things to the back.

Like this one? That does make sense and would look cool, but then where would I put the spare tire? I guess the spare could go behind the engine like the old subarus, lol as much as I like the idea of a Pantera hatch I am leaning towards putting the rad behind the engine.

Thanks for the pics, I did think of flipping the intake around but I think it will hit the hood, the STI hood scoop for sure, see this pic, the rad could sit lower like this with fans on top, still room for the twin turbos on the sides and above the rad. Now if I could find a wide yet short rad it could go up front, but then no room for the turbo intercooler as someone mentioned.

there really is not much room in front of the rad support but ill take it into consideration. here is a pic with the hood on it, everything clears nicely.

The engine is sitting in the same position as it does on any subaru, so I dont think it will matter that it is forward, my only concern is the rear being too light. I had these cars in my yard so I am going with it. the rad location is on hold for now, just trying to get the metal work done, I keep getting bothered by people coming over and asking what the hell am I doing!

I plan to make it for both street and track so I can drive it on weekends to the track, I live like 20 minutes from the Calaboogie race trace. I have the rad sitting in there flat like and it looks cool, I think I will make a brace for the shock towers and incorperate it with brackets for the rad, just got back from the dump with some nice sheet metal for the floors, hopefully get all this welding behind me asap.

Ok the engine is in for test fit, it certainly is forward! Now if I do mount the radiator behind the motor flat pointing up or down with fans, what way would I want the air flow to go? I am thinking louvers on the hood. I could make it fit in front but very very tight.

I like the idea of having 2 rads, but let me get the motor in and take pics, ideally it should go where it belongs, in front of the motor, if the motor takes up too much room up front then ill consider options with you guys.

You can, just need a sawzall and mig and anything can be done.

Not sure but for now NA, later maybe a twin turbo since ill have lots of room for it behind the engine. I am still trying to figureout where to put the radiator!

I used a 99 Subaru Forester, lol I have 3 of them, well now 2 as I chopped up the red one, using the sheet metal from it too, lol Shifter is an easy fix, just have to lenthen the rod so the subie shifter reaches the Zs hole, add the little thingy thing from the subie shifter and it will be done, I do feel like I am cheating here, but its still allot of work, around 30 hours so far, plan to put in a 2.5 Franken motor.

Thanks, I will keep camber plates in mind, , worked on the engine compartment all day, here is what it looks like as of 4pm today. Lots more metal fab to go ( floors) but I am past the hard part. Also lots to do on inner fenders and reinforcing.

Yes welding it together, steering shaft clears fine, engine is forward of it. I need a shock tower that fits right or use the datsun with the subaru mounts. we have nice weather now so ill get some work done.

Have you actually measured a Subie boxer engine? They are wider than the Z engine bay, or at the very least as wide, and would require basically cutting out the existing frame anyway. Have I measured? of course I have, the subie engine compartment is 30 inches, the Z is 30 to 28 at front, I have made the Z all the same width as the subie now so the engine should drop in with no problems.

I hope to finish all the metal work over the weekend then test fit eng/trans.

Hey guys, I have been busy with other projects but put some time in the Subie Z project this week, here are some pics.

The way I plan to do it will keep the top part of the Zs engine compartment, the bottom is all I am swapping. This way the fenders will still bolt up no problems. ill post pics when its done thanks

well the engine bay is about 6 inches wider on the subie, tube frame would be nice but I realy dont want to spend tons of cash on this.

There are a couple reasons I think I need to use the subie rear end stuff, first of all the front end of the subie is about 10 inches wider then the datsun, secondly the front subie hubs have 5 bolts and disk brake, the subie rears also have 5 bolts and disks. I will be using the top part of the Z's tunnel but the lower part of the subies tunnel. I might even just trim off all floors and just use the subies sub frame rails and build the rest myself, stronger i think. I am thinking I will have lots of space behind the engine in the long Z compartment, lots of room for perhaps a twin turbo? Radiator will be tight up front as the motor is a little forward, thinking it could be relocated but not sure where, or maybe just build it in nice and tight up front.

I am pretty sure i will do it, I just took a good look at the frame rail, I will post pics for sure.

Hi All, I have been tinkering with a idea to make an AWD Z car from a 2000 subaru I parted out and a 72 z I have leftover from a restoration I am doing on another 1970 z. I have already chopped up the subaru, see pics. The idea is to cut out the floor area and weld in the subaru section that will allow me to drop in a subaru 2.5 with 5 speed trans. The rear end of the subie is very simular to the z car's. I would just bolt in the diff and modify the z's suspensions A arms to work with the hubs from the subie. see pics for better idea of what I am considering. My main concern is the weight being too far forward and the rear being too light. I think if I locate the battery and few other things to the rear of the car it might help. Another concern is what will the purists say, but then i think about it and say F$%& the purists this is a hot rod project.