Spraguepsycho1

If you need to sell the good running Camaro for $1000 just to do a swap, why not just swap the V8 5 speed combo from that into the ZX and sell the Camaro shell to a junk yard?

Not sure what the specs are on that Crower cam you're running. With the extra lift of the 1.7 rockers, you're probably running a little stronger than I plan on this one running, so I guess high 12's to low 13's should be fairly easy to hit with my planned combo. Thanks

Yeah it's recirculating ball, I figure if I shift it to the pass side a little bit, and go with block hugger type headers I should be able to make it fit, if not I know of a few good exhaust shops, or a custom metal fab shop that should be able to make something up for a decent price. Heck I might even be able to just drop it in temporarily with a pair of stock cast iron exhaust manifolds. Those seem to fit fairly close to the block, and shouldn't hurt the power too much at the mild performance level I'm looking for.

Mainly because I'm a whole lot more familiar with small block Fords, already have the engine and transmission (the donor car was free), and the fact that if he blows it up it's cheaper to rebuild. There's also not very many Z's or ZX's in the local wrecking yards around here, and no turbo ZX's at all to pull the needed parts from, and I don't like fleabay.

He's 18, The stock engine runs fine so he is getting used to driving it already, and I'm going to wait a year or so to do the swap. Like I said he has to prove to me that he can be responsible before I'm going to give him more power. His car has power steering, power mirrors, and power windows, and it's an automatic. Not looking to give him major power with the swap, no more than around 300hp, but might actually come in lower at first until he gets used to the extra power and handling of the V8. Originally I planned on putting the engine and transmission into my '82ZX but decided I'd rather spend money fixing up my '65 Mustang instead, so the engine and trans are just sitting here. The stock '86 5.0 from the T-bird was only rated at 150hp, so going to all the trouble of a swap just to add 15hp over the '79 ZX's factory 135hp rating wouldn't be worth it in my opinion lol. If it ends up being too much for him to handle on the street, I have a fullsize Bronco that he'll be driving in the winter anyways, which I could let him have to drive full time, then just limit him to the track with the Z for a while.

I noticed there's a few Ford V8 swaps finished on here. Has anybody made it to the track yet to see how they run? I'm planning on swapping in a '86 5.0 and AOD from a Tbird into my sons '79 280ZX after he proves he can drive responsibly for a year without getting a ticket with the stock drivetrain. I plan on changing the pistons (stock flat top pistons had no valve reliefs), and possibly the heads if I can find some good ones at an affordable price, along with a fairly mild camshaft, and ditching the junk speed density efi for a 4bbl carb and either a stand alone electronic distributor, or a old points one (have a few laying around). I'm estimating it will be around 300-330hp at the crank when it's done, and hoping to get it to run high 12's or low 13's. This is my sons first car, so I want it to run good for him, but still be streetable/controllable lol. So what's everybody else getting performance wise with their Ford swaps?

If insurance cost wasn't an issue, I'd suggest a stock '90-'92 Mistubishi Eclipse GSX or Eagle Talon TSI awd. AWD just in case you need to drive somewhere in the winter and the truck isn't available at the moment, and not too ungodly fast as long as everything under the hood is still stock. Get some miles under your belt, then start modding for some real fun.

Sounds like just about the same time the cooling system would normally warm up and start pressurizing.

White smoke is usually water. If it only smokes white when starting it in the morning for a little while then goes away it's usually just condensation that built up in the exhaust as it cooled drawing in colder damp air. If it keeps smoking white after everything's warmed up, it's usually a blown head gasket.

Just out of curiosity, how much does a set of custom struts and springs like that run, and did you get a set for all 4 corners or just the front? Seems nearly impossible to find much for the rears on the ZX as far as off the shelf stuff goes. I wanted to go adjustable all the way around on my '82 but can't find nuttin.

I have a '79 coupe that I gave to my son, a '80 2+2 parts car, and a '82 T-top 5 speed coupe that I got as a trade for parts off the 2+2. I'm supposed to be getting a free '72 240 within the next few weeks. I haven't seen it yet, but suposedly it was in fairly decent shape the last time the person that's giving it to me drove it. Once I get it here and can see what kind of condition it's really in, I'll decide what I'm going to do with it. Not sure yet if it's going to be a restoration project, or if it's going to become a modified hybrid/beater.

Lots of good info, thanks for the input guys. The only mod I'm planning for the suspension is a set of rear shocks and struts off a j/y 2+2. Since they are a little bit stiffer, they help keep the rear from squatting so bad off the line which helps the launch a bit. I figure I should be able to get those for maybe $50 tops at the U-Pull-It yard. I will keep my eye out for the turbo parts, but they don't seem to be very common in my area.

Ford sells part #M-8501-D50, 1 1/2" shorter than the stock pump, and it's a direct fit on the 5.0 timing cover. They also sell part# M-8501-A50 for the older 289/302/351 which is a new timing cover with the D50 pump which makes the pump sit back 1 3/4" further back than the stock pumps on those engines. These are all listed in the Ford Power Parts catalog, might have to download the full catalog to find it, not sure if it's in their online html version or not. You might also need part# 8509-M which is the 3 piece pully kit, waterpump, crank, and alt pulley. Hope this heps.

yeah not worth the hassle of pulling it out for that little bit of weight, especially since this is my daily driver for now anyways.

Yes I can remove stuff to make it lighter. One of the previous owners removed the air conditioning condensor, but left the rest of the system in place, so that will all come out (should be at least 30-40lbs there) if I stick with the l28, if I swapped to the Ford Small block from what I've heard the 289/302 is about 40lbs lighter than the stock 6, and a C4 would most likely be quite a bit lighter than the stock 5 speed trans. Just out of curiosity, does anybody know how much the panel that holds the stock speakers behind the seats weighs?

They have the full rules on the local website, tires are considered a safety item, same as stock brakes, and suspension parts. We're allowed up to $250 for tires before they start deducting from our totals. Aftermarket springs and adjustable shocks would be deducted, but junk yard stockers probably wouldn't. New rubber bushings are not counted, but Poly bushings most likely would be. Same for stock brakes, no charge, but larger vented rotors and bigger aftermarket calipers would. I've got until June to finalize my gameplan and git-r-done, I may just hit the junkyard and find a 5.0 and either a C4 or AOD to shoehorn in to it lol. I know a whole lot more about the Ford Small block's than I could ever learn about the stock l28 anyways, and parts would be cheaper and easier to find. I could get decent hp with just a cam, intake, carb, homemade exhaust, and electronic ignition. The right combo should get me to the high 12-low 13 second range. If I can find a decent engine at the U-Pull-It yard here, I would guess the entire swap with mods would run me about $750 complete, and would take about 2-3 weeks so I still have plenty of time. (so much for the gas mileage test lol).

My sons 18, he might show up here eventually since he has the '79ZX. Seems right now he's content to let Dad do all the research lol.

My Uncle had a dark green 240Z back when I was about 6 or 7. I never got to ride in it, but thought it looked kinda cool. After I got my license (around '83), I remember when I used to hang out at the local cruise/street race hang out there was a guy that had a white 240Z with a 327sbc and a turbo 350 trans in it. A lot of people with Camaro's and Chevelle's used to brag about how they thought they could beat that little thing, but I don't remember any of them ever even comming close to giving him a good run. I bought my '79 280ZX for my son with plans to fix it up to be a nice first car, the seller offered me a good deal on the '80 2+2 parts car so I took it. I still didn't really have any intentions of buying one for myself, but when somebody offered to trade me about $150 worth of parts off the 2+2 for the running '82 5 speed/T-top coupe, I couldn't turn it down lol.

The Shelby Ultimate Aero took the title away from the V not too long ago. I know another car company(can't remember the name) is gunning for the Shelby already. They claim to be faster, but haven't made an official speed run yet. http://www.shelbysupercars.com/

Is it possible for something like the Block Hugger headers to work? http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2DG9063&N=700+301555+115&autoview=sku

The Owner and moderators of the local site are supposed to verify reciepts to get the cost totals, anything that really seems way off like a RB26DETT swap purchased for $500 complete or something exotic like that would be obvious. Most people that have bought engines from E-Bay have posted the E-bay link to verify they were bidding on it and what their winning bid was. Supposedly they are going to have a few of the guys girlfriends or other women judge the cars as far as ride comfort, and looks. The mileage will be tested by filling all the cars up until they can't take any more gas, then doing a group drive, then filling again. PErformance events wil recieve a official time slip, so other than the show and shine, and ride comfort part, the rest would be hard to cheat. This is just for fun anyways, and most of the people on the site have been friends for at least a couple of years, so there is some trust involved..

I'm sure glad Carrol Shelby didn't base the Cobra on that AC design lol

I know the stock rear shocks off the '80 2+2 bolt on with no problems on the '79 coupe.

lol I already bought the seat covers and steering wheel cover long before the idea of the Challenge came about. This is my daily driver in the summer, so yes I bought some seat covers to hide the worn out stock seats.

I think the Black GTR looks pretty sweet though, hides the funky grill area.