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Chewievette

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Posts posted by Chewievette

  1. I've been considering buying their 280zx widebody kit for a while now. But the only way I'd do it is if I tell him exactly when I'm going to be picking it up. Then the only major problem (I hope) is fitment, I hear its slightly more than a pain.

     

    edit: I just noticed that you live in Toronto. Showcars is based somewhere near there so I guess delivery wouldn't be a problem for you either.

  2. I've been looking into rebuilding a 360 for another project of mine so I got curious... why dont I see more mopars in Z's? I cant figure why it'd be harder than a ford swap. I know there's kits for chevies so that would be easier but I was just curious. Thanks.

     

     

    edit: sorry, i forgot the golden rule! do you wanna smack me in the forehead or should I?

  3. Well I've got good news and I've got bad news... The good new is that someone does make a wide body kit for the ZX. the Bad news is that it's Showcars Bodykits (run a google) which has a nasty reputation for Horrible customer service and Terrible fit and finish of the kits. More bad news is that your on your own for the tail light panel and the dash. It sucks that us ZX guys aren't a bigger market for major aftermarket manufacturers, we get the short end of the stick with most things. But I will offer a side bonus, Search for Reaction Research and check out their automotive stuff, they have a few things for the ZX but not much. You might find something you like.

  4. Wow, I just read all that... Now that's scary! Anyways, I do understand about your point of weight distribution isn't everything. but from my experience its much easier to setup a nice manered well balanced car by getting the weight right first. and since it's really not that hard to do, I usually point that out first. But since it seems no one is acctually going to do this its a bit of a mute point. I'd be tempted to try it, if it wasn't for the fact that I already have three projects lined up and I dont need another.

  5. The largest problem with getting the weight distribution correct in a Z car is YOU!!! The driver location in a Z is specifically designed for THIS platform! If you go an put the engine in back your going to screw all that up! If you want a high performance mid engined car that handles well on a road coarse, BUY ONE!! Your going to have to pick between which form and function combo you like better. It takes some serious engineering to put a mid engine in a front engine car. The only way this will work with the driver position is one of two ways. A VERY heavy car, it'll take a LOT of ballast to counterweight the driver AND drivetrain! Or you can move the driver. You want a 'cab foreward' layout in a mid engined car, its the only way to get the driver far enough foreward. Now, if this was me... I would stick with the front engine you'll give yourself far less grief. With a properly setup front engine car you can match if not beat a mid engined car. In this case the only thing a mid engine car would have over you is weight, namely the lack of driveshaft. But I will temper my response with is, if you are truely committed to this project and have a ton of money that you'd like to get rid of, GO FOR IT!! I'd love to see the thing when you get it done!

  6. Please forgive me if I'm oversimplifying, but when you get it why dont you just line up the back edge of the scoop with the back edge of the hood? It will set the scoop further back but then it'll look a little more like a factory job, if that's what your going for. To me when the scoop if that far foreward it just doesn't look right.

  7. YES this is a Turbine powered car! I know there's a video of it floating around here somewhere. The engine used in this car is an Allison Turboshaft engine meaning the turbine turns a shaft, this is usually used in Helicopters to turn the rotors, but in this case it's used to turn the wheels. The way he says he had it setup is a little confusing because I dont know how you could throw a turbine on the front of a standard tranny, turbines usually Idle around 50,000rpm!! but now that I think of it, the engine has its own gearbox so that might solve most of it. but if I was you I'd get a tranny behind it quick, cruising the streets with only one gear wouldn't be all that fun. and DO NOT get this car because it'll make a good drag car, because it Wont! Turbines dont like throttle changes, they are even worse than diesels! So if you want to get beat off the line by semi tractors on a regular basis be my guest! and if your curious about how he's had the tranny setup for "the last 1500 miles" Look up Tuboshaft engines and pay close attention to the "Free Turbine" this is the torque converter part he's talking about, I suppose in theory it could work the same but I wouldn't try it. It just sounds like an expensive rebuild on a Very expensive engine, Turbine maintenance aint cheap, even if you know where to get parts! Also bear in mind that a turbine powered car while it Can run on diesel and regular gas, it wont perform for crap! so you need to fill up at the Local Airport with Jet A, Jet A-1, or Jet B. Last I checked it was around $3 per gallon!! Maybe that's why this guy is getting rid of it? Think through this carefully before diving in. well I started with two cents and ended up giving you a whole dollar! sorry for rambling so much.

  8. Gee, finding one of these engines is hard work!! When I started looking at this swap I had two that I was looking at but when I found out that shipping for them would be more than the engine itself, I started looking local. The closest one so far is a 3hr drive!! Now if only it'll warm up a bit I can hit up all the junk yards looking for one. but me knowing how I am, I'll probably end up just running around all day in the freezing weather because I'm too anxious to wait! I'm starting to think that rebuilding the motor is going to take as long as rebuilding the car ...which now that I think about it should work out perfectly. Interesting how that works isn't it? So the whole point of this post is to one, vent a bit, and I did so I feel better now... and Two because if you know where one of these engines is located ANYWHERE near West Michigan, PLEASE let me know, I'll chase any leads you can send my way! Thanks.

     

    Btw: How's the car coming 240zoom? Any progress?

  9. I, for the life of me, can't see enough room behind the driver/passenger area in a 240Z (even a 2+2 280Z) for an engine, transmission, and driveshaft. You might be able to put the engine and transmisison where the passenger footwell and seat are.

    Engine and Transaxle VS Engine, Transmission, Clutch, Differential, and Driveshaft. A transaxle saves quite a bit of room. a 2+2 might have just enough room to do this kind of thing. Just remember that you'll be modifying just about everything in the car. Definately NOT a weekend project. If weight is your concern, Move the fuel tank and spare tire to the front and if possible move the battery even farther foreward. I'm sure it can be done, it'll just take more time and calculations than a regular swap. If you want to learn all you ever wanted to know and More about weight distribution, read up on Aircraft weight and balance, for aircraft this is critical. With the correct formulas and calculations you can still get a 50/50 distribution.

  10. I'm not even sure what your talking about and I work on aircraft. Are you talking about blind rivits? Basically beefed up pop rivits. Or are you talking about the "standard" rivits as mentioned earlier, air gun on one side, bucking bar on the other? These standard rivits(not the high strength kind) are weaker than sheet metal, usually aluminum in aircraft, and will break first. They are designed that way so you replace the rivit instead of the whole panel, this is especially important on aircraft because a new piece of metal from the manufacturer could cost a very pretty penny, not to mention the downtime needed to replace that panel! If you want to look them up, universal rivits are AN470 and countersunk rivits are AN426.

  11. http://www.lambolounge.com/Chassis/Engine/BMW-V12/BMW.asp

     

    Check out the last engine on this page, its has adapters to use chevy six distributors. Looks pretty sweet, I dont know how much room there will be for a setup like this, but still its most definately possible! It looks like all he used of the original distributors is the input shaft from the engine. Its really a pretty sweet setup. I like his intake too, looks awesome! Maybe this site can give you some ideas.

  12. Yeah, my idea for the six carbs is use the stock intake flanges and about 2in of the tubes then new flanges and mount the carbs to the stubs! Six Dual Cross Ram Carbs!! I'm getting anxious just thinking about it!

     

    Ah, I'll just get it then strip off everything I dont like! It'll run just fine!! ;)

    I'm sure I'll figure it out. It might take a while but with our combined efforts and lots of time tinkering it'll work.

     

    Distributors eh? ...like this?

    http://album.hybridz.org/data/502/8657bmwV12.jpg

    (Pic is from dot)

  13. Because Money is ALWAYS an issue. I simply cant afford a vette, not a C5 anyways! Plus I'd rather just put all my spare change into this V12 swap I'm working on. I was thinking this tranny because this 12 is a bit heavier than an sbc... I think. How much does a SBC weigh anyways? this BMW V12 is 520lbs.

  14. Well my main concern right now is getting the motor here. I'm buying from a guy in Oklahoma and Fedex is charging some outrageus amount so I'm trying to get a couple of buddys and get a road trip going. We'll see how that goes...

     

    I'm going to decide on the ignition and fuel management when I'm doing the rebuild, but I want to backdate the management and use as much mechanical control as I can. I'd really love to run six two barrel carbs on this sucker! Look sweet wouldn't it? It shouldn't be too hard, I dont really see why. But I'm thinking that I'll have to use some sort of electronic ignition because I'd rather not try and adapt a distibutor system! This things going to be a Major headache! ...I cant wait!! I just have to keep reminding myself ...V12 ZX, V12 ZX...

  15. I just started researching this motor last sunday so I cant imagine I'd be of much help. and from what I'm hearing this will be the most advanced engine I've ever worked on! I mean I've done work on turbines and large recips but this thing takes complex to a whole new level! I'd love to get my hands on the shop manual like you have, where did you get it and how much did it cost? So far I've been on a best guess basis and with an engine this complex, that's probably not a good thing.

     

    I was looking at transmissions today and trying to find something suitable, the one that strikes me as best right now is the T56 but I read that a lot of people dont like the shift feel and a couple of other gripes about it. But I do think it needs a six speed, I mean if your doing V12 that just screams european sports car and there just isn't any else for a sports car than a six speed. I'll probably end up with the T56 also, at least for starters.

     

    I'm sure we can dig up a flywheel that will work, its just trying to find the right one... Like I've been saying all along though, I cant know for sure until I get some parts to look at!

     

    If this deal works out, I'll be getting a 1989 750il engine. Unfortunately it needs a rebuild so I'm trying to find a rebuild kit. My local BMW guys aren't being too friendly about it, so I need to find another source. Do you know where I can find one? My next stop is my friend at the local rod shop, maybe BMW would be more willing to sell to a business?

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