Gollum

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Something I just remembered: This might hold absolutely NO weight with people's opinions, but it's worth noting, that on an episode of Best Motoring they compared a S2000 and a 350Z on several levels, main one being a road corse. In the end the 350Z won dispite being heavier. We know the S2000 is good in the handling arena, so the only explaination would be driver or engine. The nissan VG series could be a viable option for you. Probly wouldn't cost much more if at all than a F20C, makes quite a bit more power stock, and has much more proven NA expandability (though it's still not amazing). One of those with just a little bit of work should be able to realistically make 300+ hp, with a nice soft torque curve. Could the same be said for the F20C? I doubt it's much heavier than the F20C as well, plus it's a shorter motor. Austin (240 Hoke) here is currently doing the swap. Not sure if anyone else has done it.

I'm sorry if I ever seemed to say that the powerband on the F20C or even F22C was "unusable" or "unstreetable". That's not the case, and that's not what I really care about. I could even imagine giving up a ton of streetability for the sake of the raceworthy powerband. My POINT, was that the F20C is a low torque motor. Sure you can gain more torque with gearing, but guess what? You just made your powerband smaller. At the end of the day it's about how broad your torque peak is, that's what makes an engine able to pull strong through a corner's exit. A racing team will always confirm that more torque is always better. Why do you think rally cars are almost ALWAYS turbo or supercharged? Because they get way more torque with the air restrictions, and that torque is very meaningful in their line of racing. I'm sure the car will be fun, no doubt. And I've even talked about this swap on this board, because I think it IS a neat idea. But if you're 100% nonbiased and not a fanboy of any company, then if your goals are simply low weight with decent HP then there are other motor options. That's all.

Well I just found out that a member here has been selling manuals for LS1->Z31 conversion. If you can fit the LS1 in there, the 302 should fit just fine. The manual might be worth checking out, but if you're confident in your ability I'd just jump right in. $40 for a manual that might not help you out at all might not be worth it. You're not going for a fully street functional swap so that should elimiate alot of the headache. Good luck, and post info here about the swap if you can!

Do you plan on installing a cage to ANY group spec? (scca, nhra, etc) If so I think that 2000 pounds is a joke. Even the race prepped S30 cars aren't close to that, and you're not gonna save enough weight on the engine to make THAT big of a difference. That being said, even a 2300 pound vehicle is nothing to scoff at. But I'm not sure I'd go with the F20C or F22C myself. Realistically because of it's major lack of torque it's not going to have a ton of usable power, and is going to be EXTREMELY liniar. I'd try to find something with a few more cubes that was still low weight. Weight placement is just as important as weight itself, within reason. And I think gaining a little weight, while lowering weight in a V6 or V8 motor will give you nearly identical results in the long run in the handling department. The F20C is NOT a cheap motor. If you CAN source one for cheap, I'm sure it'd be a GREAT swap that few here would dare bash and would be respected. But for similar money you might be able to source an aluminium LS motor that probably won't weight much more in the long run, have a lower center of gravity, way more stock HP, more potential power, just as reliable (if not more reliable in race conditions), and it's an easier (or more covered at least) swap. And I'm not even a chevy fan. I just think life will be easier for you going with a lower hp per/cubic inch motor giving you a broader power range.

Hmmm, I'd have to look into it to be sure, but I'm pretty sure the Z31 engine bay is WIDER than the S30 and S130 engine bay that people have fit windsor motors into (even 4.6 mod motors). The S30 and S130 were designed for an inline motor, and are long and narrow, wereas the Z31 was a 60 degree V6 that's pretty wide and short. I'd imagine length would be the main issue, but if you're ripping most of the car apart you should be able to get the engine right up against the firewall making front clearence easy. Engine height might be an issue, I'm not sure. Hopefully the pan fits in nicely, then you just have to worry about the hood.

Ok, so the car DID turn over, hasn't started yet. What was the mystery causing me to blow fusible links? DUN dun DUUUNNNNN!!!!! .... . . I had the distributor ground connected to one of the condesor leads. I'd pulled the AC out and somehow just hooked it up to that connector since it was a bullet connector and there wasn't any other bullet connectors near by. So right now the distributor is just grounding to a random point (gonna replace the hole wire eventually and connect it to a bolt), and the condensor wires are just hanging there now. Some of the wires were loose in the link box so I've got dash lights again (they weren't working before), but the car doesn't want to turn over. I'd had the battery from my CRX in the car and it had turned over a few times and then just stopped and I'd get the repetitive clicks as though the battery was dead (i think). Put it back in the CRX, started that car just fine. So I hooked the leads up to a battery charger/engine starter, and it still won't turn over, just clicks. Is it possible I somehow fried my starter? I checked all my fuses and they all check out fine. The links looked fine, but I havn't multimetered them yet, that'll be the one thing I still do today before wrapping up. Overall I'm happy still. I had 2 free days off work for new years and I actually got something done dispite the cold weather. Yay.

I'd hold off on the AFM replacement. Odds are it's fine, just needs to be cleaned up/rebuilt. Easier to do that yourself before trying to find a replacement, though I come across them EVERY time I'm at picknpull if ya need one.

For those that don't know. Nintendo is giving people FREE wii remote covers that are soft silicone. The upper portion is particularly fat and this is more to protect things the remote might hit vs. keeping the actual remote safe. Keep those TV's and other valuables safe! Keep the strap on!

'Bout bloody time. So what all was wrong?

Steering racks are on opposite sides of the x-member. You'd have to figure out how to convert the entire rack. Good luck with that.

That's it. Got a dubbed or subtitle version gathering dust on your hard drive by chance?

The only english dialog is the narrorator, the subtitles aren't poorly done. There's a video of tshucia or however you spell his name driving a S30 race car that I can't find subtitled anywhere. The video has been floating around youtube for a while but it's pretty pointless without his commontary.

Generally looks follow performance around here, not the other way round. If my car went 0-60 under 5 seconds, handled like a bee, and got 30mpg I wouldn't care what it looked like. Most people on this board have that kinda mindset about Z cars. Sure they CAN look really nice, but that's not particularly why they're bought, it's an upside.

Ok, I'm sorry to drag you guys into this, but my current life situation might have me buying a car in the near future and I needed advice. The info: Planning to get married within 2 years (nothing official, but things are looking up) CA changed their smog testing. They now fill your tank with nitrogen to check for pressure regulation to see if you have vapor leaks (majority of cars fail thus far) Been playing more and more guitar around the bay area dispite now having a regular 40+h/week job. So cargo space is important. Cheaper the better, but reliable would be nice. Should be able to spend around 6-10k without dying. Comfort for the commute would be nice. I have about a 30 min commute each way, against traffic flow so it's pretty tolerable even with a heavy clutch. Odds are if my 280ZX doesn't pass the new evap test when I get the turbo swap done I'm just gonna sell it. I'm sick and tired of these CA @#$%heads changing these laws forcing older cars off the roads. The new test make sense in some ways, but very little sense in the grand scheme of things. They should improve regulations on fuel systems, not force cars to meet unattainable standards. If my 280ZX gets sold, I'm gonna need something ASAP, and idealy I'm thinking like an early 240Z for dirt cheap (less than 1.5k if I can) and use it as a commuter till I can get something newer and nicer. Thus far I was thinking about a SVT Focus. There's actually a supercharged on on craigslist for 7k in great shape. Good cargo space, not hideous, decent power to weight, good mpg, etc. Other things in that realm are kinda what I'm going for. 20+minimum mpg (otherwise I'll get a real sports car...) 4 seats would be nice, cargo space is important, price is important, overal feel of the car is important. Any input would be appreciated. As far as the sports car goes... I want to do a GRM $200X challange either in 08 or 09, not sure if I buy a 240Z that it would be the platorm, or if my 280ZX DOES pass smog maybe it can be the platform. Who knows. At any rate my long term future at my company will have an impact on what route I go with for a 'fun' car, be it a Z, or a FFR GTM....

That's kinda what DOT said last I saw him post. There was a big discussion about this engine choice, how good or bad it is. He had really good input, and was very convincing that once you knew the beast well enough they are great motors and very cost effective.

If I remember correctly one of his main statements about his car is that he had very little invested and could have another jag V12 in there for next to nothing if he ever broke the one he had. Heavy heavy motor for sure. Definately has the wow factor though.

I'm too dirt poor to have a highly modified ZX, let alone S30. But if they ever lift the smog restrictions on these cars I'm going all out baby. In fact one day I might own a non-op race only ZX. I really do think they're that good of a platform that doesn't get enough credit. Though if I was looking to budget race I guess I should just get a factory five. Cheaper in the long run, and able to be registered as a presmog car.

2, one parts car. 2 are in my possession now. First one went to a wreaker.

The more i think about it I think I'm just gonna find a loving mopar fan for these guys getting rid of the truck with the motor. I'd rather have a smaller/lighter V8. I don't need 600hp, so why spend the weight on a big block mopar?

My sig is a wedding, yes. It's just me trying to show an unbiased view towards pretty much all engine swaps. It's why we're all here right? To put pretty much any motor in a Z and make it go fast. I was just on summit and even going by thier prices (usually not the greatest prices from my experience) I could do heads, intake, carb and cam for well under 2k, which should make for a lethal engine. The heads and intake should lighten the motor by a TON too. I bet it'd still weigh well over 500 pounds though.

Ok, so apparently a guy I know was gonna sell his dodge truck to the state, and I just found out it has a 440 in it. I told him NOT to sell it as I'm sure I could find him a buyer who would want that engine. The question is, if I can get it for next to nothing (he might even give it to me, he's a close friend) then should I venture out and do the swap? I'd need to get a 240Z, and keep the swap down to a minimal cost. Or should I just let it pass by and let a mopar fan buy it for the sake of the motor? I was kinda planning on doing a 5.0 swap due it it's light weight and cheap price tag around here. The 440 would definately not be light, but if I can get it for free....

That RPM in a 280ZX with a turbo tranny + diff would be around 170mph IF the tire size was stock (195/70/14) But I'd have to see it to believe it. If you look into the top speeds of other cars from the same era you'll realise that few cars were rated at the levels you're talking about. And if you reSEARCH top speed threads on this site you'll see that the S30 body has a HARD time reaching respectable top speeds (by todays standards). The S130 chassis is better, but not THAT much better than a S30. It still has some major flaws and will most likely be a VERY high drag body. I'd like to know more about this car that reaches 6500 rpm in top gear so easily too. I've been in modern cars all the way from 10-14 second cars in high speed environments and it takes SERIOUS power, regardless of aero design, to get a car to push hard past 100mph. If you want to see a good example of why aero is so important, look up that recent video of a stupid kid doing 219 in a lambo. That car has GREAT aerodynamics and once it reaches 170 it hits a brick wall and SLOWLY gets up to it's top speed. That's an exotic. We're talking about the ZX, which in my experience hits a wall around 120mph and slow climbs past that.

Man I really wanna come check this car out sometime. Sounds like a real monster. Think maybe you could make it out to the vacaville meet this thursday? Kinda long drive just for a dinner meet n' greet but I though I'd at least throw it out there for ya. Can't go if ya don't know about it right? http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=128244 There's the info.

EVERYONE LOOKING FOR A WII!!!!! I have inside information that nearly ALL targets WILL have Wiis in stock sunday morning, and they've been holding them nationwide for the last week. GO SUNDAY! Get there early and there should be some Wiis to be had. I'm not on wii alerts so i'm not sure if it's been posted with them, but I know for a fact they'll be there. I'm kinda considering getting one and ebaying it...