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Len, In the two previous conversions I've completed, I probably went a different route than most others. I removed the Datsun throttle pedal all together, drilled new mounting holes in the firewall, and mounted a throttle pedal from a late 70's Camaro. The pedal is in the same position as the original with same travel. I then just used a Chevy throttle cable. Simple and it works.

I can believe 3G's for reassembly. A few years ago a friend of mine picked up a Porsche 930 basket case from a doctor, cheap. Seems the doctor brought it into the local Porsche dealer cause the valve seals were getting a little worn, you know, a puff of smoke at start-up and a little smoke when getting on it. He took it in for an estimate. Well, later he got the estimate, $30,000 to fix it. The doctor decided he could live with a little smoke and said forget it. Well the dealer said it would cost $10,000 just to put the engine back together in the condition that it came into the shop. Hense, my friend bought it from the doctor with the engine in pieces. He fixed it himself with help from the local guru's. What an awsome car.

On the two previous conversions I've done, I took my chevy crossflow radiators from the donor car and brought them to the local radiator shop. I had them put a four row core of the dimensions I required. $160 a pop, and it has provisions for trans cooling. I have never had cooling problems with either car. Just another option available.

Yup, I remember our neighbor behind us, back 30 years ago. He owned the local neighborhood garage. I remember he was in his seventies back then. He drove an old '46 Chevy pickup. He had a 327 with a flat crank, at least I think it was, it fired two cylinders at a time, I remember that for sure. He also used cut off driveshafts for tailpipes. 3" exhaust before it was cool. There wasn't a Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, or Cuda in all of Grand Rapids that could touch that old truck, and remember, GR is the home of the Berger copo Camaro's as well as many others. All I know is no one dared run against "gramps K".

Perfect home for the up coming GM 572ci 720hp crate motor. Simple swap. Rick

Just read about new 572ci GM big block crate motor. Two versions will be available, a 12:1 compression version with 720hp, and a 9:1 comp. version with 620hp. Both have forged crank, rods, and pistons, as well as rectangle port aluminum heads. They will be sold in long block versions and complete, carb to oil pan, versions. I'm sure they will be quite pricey, but wouldn't it be cool to squeeze one into a "Z"?

Greimann, What kind of laser are you looking for? I work in research and developement for a laser manufacturer. My area of expertise is low powered(<30mW) lasers and optics. Rick

To put everything in perspective for you, the "Hulk is the first hybridz that I built in 1988. It was a very low budget project. A 1977 280Z with a 350/t350 from a 1977 Z-28. I had a total of $1200 invested in the car. This cars claim to fame is that it is Andrew Bayley's (sp) first hybridz, before the massive body rot of course. To complete this picture for you, this Z looked like a worn out old stock Jap sportscar, faded yellow paint with primer spots all over it. Now to the story. I was sitting at a traffic light on Chicago Drive in Jenison (Chicago Drive is a boulevard) when a 1970 455 Trans Am pulled up next to me. This thing was built, and the cam was so radical that it was shaking my car. The guy sat there revving his engine, and I thought "no way". Well, the light went green just as I said "what the heck". The Trans Am immediatly had two lengths on me as I wasn't ready. I ran up to 90mph and looked in my mirror, the Trans Am was about four length behind me. The Trans Am guy was so surprised that he followed me to where I was going. He had to know how he got beat, no destroyed by a primered old jap sportscar. He was a really cool guy, we swapped stories and showed each other our rides. He was very impressed that a stock 350 ran that well. Another convert to the hybridz phenomena.

I found this in our midwest auto-rv mag. "1984 Chevy Corvette. Roll over, clear title. $1600 OBO. R&D Motors, Wabash, IN. (260)569-0345." I'm not sure how to post a picture or I would have posted the picture add. It looks like the body is quite trashed but looks mechanically sound. It would make a great donor car for a Z.

Igor, My first conversion was a low budget project. I had a total of $1200 in it, though that was 1988 dollars. I started with a 77 Z with a bad motor, and a wrecked 77 Camaro Z-28. Everything for the conversion came from the Camaro; engine,trans.,radiator (re-cored to proper width 4core) accelerator pedal/cable, modified speedo cable, shortened driveshaft, etc. The JTR manual is a must. I made all the setback plates, spacers, trans. mount, etc. myself. Purchased parts were driveshaft yoke to differential flange, various fittings, 1/2" fuel line, electric fuel pump, block hugger headers, etc. It's possible, just be a scrounger, and look for deals.

OOOOH OOOOH OOOH ZWEEEEET!

Andy, Believe it, or not, that was the original interior in the car. I bought it from the original owner, a young lady. Ya, after sitting in my back yard for a few years, there wasn't much left of the body. I'll re-send the photos. Rick

Well, I'm new here, but not new to the "Z". I'm getting ready to do my third V-8Z conversion. My first on a ZX. My first Conversion was an extremely low buck install in 1988. A 77 Z with a 350/350 from a 77 Z-28. You may know it as Andrew Bayley's "Hulk". I had a total of $1200 in that car and drove it for four years before the cam went. It sat behind the garage for a few years, rusting away before I sold it. Some other time I will tell you about the one and only time I raced it. My second conversion was also a 77Z. This one had a 350/auto from a 77 Corvette. This one was for my brother, not mine. Now I'm ready to start my third conversion, a 79ZX,GL. I have a low milage 327 from a 67 Corvette (59k). The former owner is going to a BB. I'm adding a 700R. The ZX has a R200 with 3.70. I have been researching this swap and have tapped into the wealth of knowlege in this sight, Thanks Guys! Rick

The setback with the extra bend is on the drivers side. The spacing is 1.38" for the passenger side and 2.25" for the drivers side. I hope this helps. Rick