sstallings

Chiropractor, I've been away from my home PC for a few weeks, so my reply is a bit late. You're absolutely right about paint being $5000, not 500, except that I should have told you more about myself. I shoot my own cars with PPG base coat/clear coat, airbrush work, and do my own pinstriping, so all I need is materials (about $500) and a booth to rent (which is getting much harder to find in Southern Calif. anymore - damned EPA rules) since I have my own equipment. I actually ended up doing neither the carberated LM1 nor the LT1 since I found a '90 Trans Am 350 TPI and T5 last week and grabbed it for $2700. Now my son's '77 280Z has a V8 waiting to get cleaned up and go in, and I can cut my teeth on this project while I look for an LS1 + T56 to put in my '72 240Z as a second project. After blasting around last weekend in the Tran Am, I can't wait to put that engine in a car that is 700-800 lb. lighter and handles better. Thanks for the post. Steve (sstallings) P.S. I'll be keeping records and taking pictures so I can post a realistic budget and parts list in a few months.

Guys, I've taken the plunge. Last Thursday a '90 350 TPI + world class T5 followed me home. Now that my wife is over fuming about my tenth vehicle, and has resigned herself to the idea, I'm ready to start the swap into my son's '77 280Z. I've ordered the Helm GM manual and Diamond Pubs Nissan reprint manual, and every artticle, book and HybridZ post I can find on the topic. If any of you have specific information on my '77 280Z and '90 TPI 350 combo, especially witing issues to be aware of, now is the time to speak up. Over the next month I'll be cleaning, painting and prepping the engine & trans in preparation for the install. I'll also end up with a very clean T-Top Trans AM with a posi and rear disc brakes if any of you know anyone looking for Firebird parts. Paint and upholstery are shot, but there's no rust and no evidence of any previous body work. Thanks, Steve

Great documentation and pictures. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. It gives me more confidence to see an LS1 conversion finished and running. The fuel cell and complete duals is a nice touch. The only thing I would do differently (and you may want to add at some point later), is to visit the website at www.tanksinc.com and check out their very cool in-tank high volume fuel pump kits. I just bought one and installed it in a custom stanless tank for my other hotrod project, and it works great. Steve

Okay, I just checked with the HybridZ site adminstrator and found out I can send any file size if it's zipped. I should have thought of that. For those of you who want the full Excel file, it's attached here. The bottom line is that unless I really screwed up the numbers, the low tech swap and the LT1 swap are within about $500, so unless wiring is a huge concern to someone, I'm liking the LT1 for a number of reasons, including: Newer lower mileage sources, more base power, more potential power upgrades, etc. Thanks for being patient with my experimenting with upload options on this site. Steve 280Z V8.zip

This is getting annoying, but I think I figured out how to get it sent in a readable format. (Last attempt) Equipment for '77-79 carb ML1 Z28 Cost 170-200 Net HP, 270 lbft torque JTR mounts & bracket $325.00 Camaro Radiator $225.00 Fan Shroud & electric fan '90 Taurus $49.00 Tilton 75-750U .75" bore clutch master $50.00 1988-92 WC T5 transmission 0.63 OD (w/ all clutch & flywheel parts) $1,000.00 T5 speedo gear $49.00 reconditioned driveshaft $100.00 Driveshaft shorten & balance $80.00 Chrysler fuel pump safety switch $30.00 79 LM1 350 V8 Jegs bottom end kit $200.00 Edelbrock 1476 EGR adapter $20.00 3 angle valve job on existing heads $250.00 Edelbrock 3701 alum intake $157.00 Edelbrock 8811 alum water pump $150.00 Edelbrock 8850 head bolts $20.00 Edelbrock 2102 camshaft $110.00 miscellaneous smog equipment $300.00 miscellaneous hardware $100.00 electric fuel pump for carb $145.00 rams horn exhaust manifolds $100.00 exhaust system modifications $300.00 timing chain $67.00 Total Driveline Upgrades $3,827.00 Toyota 4X4 truck disc brake upgrade $300.00 Datsun 510 rear drums $100.00 Proportioning valve (Wilwood) $42.00 Motorsports SCCA Roll bar $270.00 Total Safety Upgrades $712.00 AC kit from Motorsports $700.00 Paint $500.00 Interior $500.00 Total Cosmetic Upgrades $1,700.00 Total Mechanical & Cosmetic ******************************************************************************************** Equipment for 95 LT1 Z28 EFI Cost 275 Net HP, 305 lbft torque JTR mounts & bracket $325.00 Stealth Camaro Radiator $225.00 Fan Shroud & electric fan '90 Taurus (salvage) $49.00 Tilton 75-750U .75" bore clutch master cyl. $50.00 Driveshaft shorten & balance $80.00 95 LT1 & T56 0.5 OD engine/trans (70K miles) $3,000.00 Bowers AC mount $289.00 AutoMeter Electronic Speedo ATM-3989 $194.00 AutoMeter Electronic Tach ATM-3990 $138.00 Autometer elec. speedo sender (ATM-5291/2) ?? miscellaneous hardware $100.00 exhaust system modifications $300.00 timing chain (Cloyes) $249.00 Total Driveline Upgrades $4,750.00 Toyota 4X4 truck disc brake upgrade $300.00 Datsun 510 rear drums $100.00 Proportioning valve (Wilwood) $42.00 Motorsports SCCA Roll bar $270.00 Total Safety Upgrades $712.00 Camaro AC components (condenser, dryer) $300.00 Paint $500.00 Interior $500.00 Total Cosmetic Upgrades $1,300.00 Total Mechanical & Cosmetic $6,762.00 $6,239.00

Guys, The last one was almost readable. Unfortunately, I keep exceeding the file size limts of the site. So I just copied it into the body of this message. I hope you can read it now. Steve 1977 280Z V8 Conversion (Calif. Emission-Legal) Equipment for '77-79 carb ML1 Z28 Cost Equipment for 95 LT1 Z28 EFI Cost 170-200 Net HP, 270 lbft torque 275 Net HP, 305 lbft torque JTR mounts & bracket $325.00 JTR mounts & bracket $325.00 Camaro Radiator $225.00 Stealth Camaro Radiator $225.00 Fan Shroud & electric fan '90 Taurus $49.00 Fan Shroud & electric fan '90 Taurus (salvage) $49.00 Tilton 75-750U .75" bore clutch master $50.00 Tilton 75-750U .75" bore clutch master cyl. $50.00 1988-92 WC T5 transmission 0.63 OD (w/ all clutch & flywheel parts) $1,000.00 T5 speedo gear $49.00 reconditioned driveshaft $100.00 Driveshaft shorten & balance $80.00 Driveshaft shorten & balance $80.00 Chrysler fuel pump safety switch $30.00 79 LM1 350 V8 Jegs bottom end kit $200.00 95 LT1 & T56 0.5 OD engine/trans (70K miles) $3,000.00 Edelbrock 1476 EGR adapter $20.00 Bowers AC mount $289.00 3 angle valve job on existing heads $250.00 AutoMeter Electronic Speedo ATM-3989 $194.00 Edelbrock 3701 alum intake $157.00 AutoMeter Electronic Tach ATM-3990 $138.00 Edelbrock 8811 alum water pump $150.00 Autometer elec. speedo sender (ATM-5291/2) ?? Edelbrock 8850 head bolts $20.00 Edelbrock 2102 camshaft $110.00 miscellaneous smog equipment $300.00 miscellaneous hardware $100.00 miscellaneous hardware $100.00 electric fuel pump for carb $145.00 rams horn exhaust manifolds $100.00 exhaust system modifications $300.00 exhaust system modifications $300.00 timing chain $67.00 timing chain (Cloyes) $249.00 Total Driveline Upgrades $3,827.00 Total Driveline Upgrades $4,750.00 Toyota 4X4 truck disc brake upgrade $300.00 Toyota 4X4 truck disc brake upgrade $300.00 Datsun 510 rear drums $100.00 Datsun 510 rear drums $100.00 Proportioning valve (Wilwood) $42.00 Proportioning valve (Wilwood) $42.00 Motorsports SCCA Roll bar $270.00 Motorsports SCCA Roll bar $270.00 Total Safety Upgrades $712.00 Total Safety Upgrades $712.00 AC kit from Motorsports $700.00 Camaro AC components (condenser, dryer) $300.00 Paint $500.00 Paint $500.00 Interior $500.00 Interior $500.00 Total Cosmetic Upgrades $1,700.00 Total Cosmetic Upgrades $1,300.00 Total Mechanical & Cosmetic $6,239.00 Total Mechanical & Cosmetic $6,762.00

Guys, The last one was almost readable. Unfortunately, I keep exceeding the file size limts of the site. So I just copied it into the body of this message. I hope you can read it now. Steve 1977 280Z V8 Conversion (Calif. Emission-Legal) Equipment for '77-79 carb ML1 Z28 Cost Equipment for 95 LT1 Z28 EFI Cost 170-200 Net HP, 270 lbft torque 275 Net HP, 305 lbft torque JTR mounts & bracket $325.00 JTR mounts & bracket $325.00 Camaro Radiator $225.00 Stealth Camaro Radiator $225.00 Fan Shroud & electric fan '90 Taurus $49.00 Fan Shroud & electric fan '90 Taurus (salvage) $49.00 Tilton 75-750U .75" bore clutch master $50.00 Tilton 75-750U .75" bore clutch master cyl. $50.00 1988-92 WC T5 transmission 0.63 OD (w/ all clutch & flywheel parts) $1,000.00 T5 speedo gear $49.00 reconditioned driveshaft $100.00 Driveshaft shorten & balance $80.00 Driveshaft shorten & balance $80.00 Chrysler fuel pump safety switch $30.00 79 LM1 350 V8 Jegs bottom end kit $200.00 95 LT1 & T56 0.5 OD engine/trans (70K miles) $3,000.00 Edelbrock 1476 EGR adapter $20.00 Bowers AC mount $289.00 3 angle valve job on existing heads $250.00 AutoMeter Electronic Speedo ATM-3989 $194.00 Edelbrock 3701 alum intake $157.00 AutoMeter Electronic Tach ATM-3990 $138.00 Edelbrock 8811 alum water pump $150.00 Autometer elec. speedo sender (ATM-5291/2) ?? Edelbrock 8850 head bolts $20.00 Edelbrock 2102 camshaft $110.00 miscellaneous smog equipment $300.00 miscellaneous hardware $100.00 miscellaneous hardware $100.00 electric fuel pump for carb $145.00 rams horn exhaust manifolds $100.00 exhaust system modifications $300.00 exhaust system modifications $300.00 timing chain $67.00 timing chain (Cloyes) $249.00 Total Driveline Upgrades $3,827.00 Total Driveline Upgrades $4,750.00 Toyota 4X4 truck disc brake upgrade $300.00 Toyota 4X4 truck disc brake upgrade $300.00 Datsun 510 rear drums $100.00 Datsun 510 rear drums $100.00 Proportioning valve (Wilwood) $42.00 Proportioning valve (Wilwood) $42.00 Motorsports SCCA Roll bar $270.00 Motorsports SCCA Roll bar $270.00 Total Safety Upgrades $712.00 Total Safety Upgrades $712.00 AC kit from Motorsports $700.00 Camaro AC components (condenser, dryer) $300.00 Paint $500.00 Paint $500.00 Interior $500.00 Interior $500.00 Total Cosmetic Upgrades $1,700.00 Total Cosmetic Upgrades $1,300.00 Total Mechanical & Cosmetic $6,239.00 Total Mechanical & Cosmetic $6,762.00

Guys, I know I attached it, but as a new member, I may not be using the site's tools correctly. I'll try again. Here goes... Steve (Apparently the site can't upload an Excel spreadsheet, so I turned it into a .jpg picture of the spreadsheet, so I hope you can read it.)

WARNING: If you don't want to know, don't open th attachment! Every book or resource I read tells me the Z V8 swap will cost me about double what I estimate, so I set out to test that theory. I figured I could do a low-buck carburated + T5 swap for about 2-Grand, and an LT1 + T56 swap for about 4-Grand. What really surprised me (see attached Excel spreadsheet), is that when all is said and done, the low-buck vs. LT1 swaps are only a few hundred bucks apart, not counting labor hours. (I've already been warned about the complexity differences.) Most of my costs came from JTR, Bowers, Jegs, Summit, etc. Anybody could dispute my numbers by using E-Bay, salvage yards, deals from builder buddies, as I will try to do as well, but the similarities of cost vs. the performance and technology differences really surprised me. At least I now have a realistic estimate to start with. Now I can try to beat it. Note: The only reason I started with the anemic '77 Camro LM1 is becasue I have one available. If you started with a Corvette L82 you could skip most of my Edelbrock parts, but your initial costs could be about the same as my upgrades. If anybody thinks my numbers are crap, that's okay. But if you think I missed some big cost items, please speak up. This cost data has convinced me to do the LT1. Thanks, Steve

Wheelman, While I like the idea of LT4 level performance, I think I need to keep my priorities straight: 1. Make it run and stop (Toyota calipers, 510 drums, proprtioning valve). 2. Pass CA smog referee inspection. 3. Enjoy it and get the cosmetics to match the new LT1 performance level. 4. Make it go faster. Of cource, if I didn't live in Los Angeles with a '77 Z, priority number 4 would be first. Once I pull this off (learning on my son's 280Z), I'd like to attempt an LSx swap into my non-smog '72 240Z. That should be a rocket. Thanks, Steve

Guys, Thank you for spending the time to answer my initial questions. I contacted Bowers, and will pursue that course for AC brackets. I'll narrow my engine and trans search to 1995 to get the best starting point of LT1 with MAF, OBD1, vented opti-spark, and a 0.5 OD ratio T56. I'm sure I'll have questions along the way, and eventually be contributing to answers as well. Working in the cramped cabin of a Z will not be that much different than my street rod project, but complying with CA smog requirements will be a new experience. Thanks for all of the tips so far. Steve

Guys, I'm a new member, but I'll try not to waste your time with questions I can find answers to elsewhere. A bit of background: I've done swaps before in a '34 Chevy streetrod and a '67 Camaro. I've wired cars, and I've set up my own aftermarket EFI using Accel/DFI 7 on a 540 cid stroked '70 Cadillac with my own fabricated intake manifold with Accel and Painless Performance wiring. I buy and READ a lot of books on every aspect of a project before I start, so that I can make informed decisions. I own a '72 240 Z that will go under the knife at a later date - it followed me home last year. My current project is with my son on his '77 280Z. We've had it for 7 years, with the stock 2.8L Bosch EFI, but living in Los Angeles, we are at the point where it will no longer pass the bi-annual smog inspection, so it's time for a V8 (we're not even considering rebuilding the L28). I have everything that JTR has written on the topic, as well as anything else I can find from Motorbooks and others on EFI. I'll be buying the Helms manual as soon as I know which model/engine to buy it for. I know the simplest swap would be a 77 L82, L48, or the anemic (170 BHP) LM1, carburated, with a T5, with the minimal smog equipment and wiring that it would require. In fact, I have a complete rebuildable LM1 engine that I picked up with the 240Z from a guy that never finished his swap. I'm just afraid that as soon as I finished it, I'd wish I'd gone the rest of the way and put in an EFI LT1, LT4, or LS1 and T56. What really has my attention is the '94-97 LT1 with a .50 over T56. I've found a couple of '94 candidates in the $3000-3200 range (complete) with under 70K miles, but I'm holding off until I know more. After searching your site for anything related, I have a few questions: 1. Will the AC compressor fit around the right front frame area usng the JTR engine/trans mounts? 2. If not, are there brackets to switch the AC with either the alternator or the smog pump to make it all fit? 3. In a couple of threads I've read about problems with the opti-spark (opt-crap) on the '94, with references to the vented '95 being the "preferered" LT1 year. Why? 4. I've read that the '77 280Z fuel pump will work with a TBI/TPI motor, but will it work with an LT1? 5. I've seen the T56 mods (and costs) to adapt a mechanical speedo cable. Has anyone just bought an aftermarket electronic speedo and re-used the 280Z gauge face (seems a lot easier and about the same cost)? 6. I'll need to pass Calif. smog inspections, so I'm interested in talking to anyone who's already been there and done that. I have met with a very competent CARB Referee, Gus Romo, who is also an Auto Technology instructor at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA. He seems like a very helpful resource for setting up the LT1 to pass, but he doesn't know 280Z swaps specifically. Does anybody have information to share? 7. I'd like to avoid as many pitfalls as possible, so if I've forgotten something really important regarding an LT1 swap, please educate me. Thanks. And, I've already seen a few threads I could contribute to, but I'll start off slow here until I know the site better. Steve Stallings