DavyZ

The "large tools" they mention in the JTR book probably include an engine hoist, right? Well, you can rent them locally (usually) from a general equipment rental place. This can get very expensive if you take more than a few days to actually lower the engine in place--so, you can buy one at Harbor Freight Tools for about $200, or at Kragen for a bit more. Or you can look in the newspaper to see if there are any for sale. Or you can try to find one you can rent from someone. You may also need an engine stand to keep and engine mounted on, while you are waiting and prepping the chassis for the engine swap. I have one I'll give you for free, if you are willing to come and pick it up. Email me if interested. Davy

You poser you!!!!!!! Davy

Welcome to the forum, Jon! Pretty good story; I knew there were guys lurking about (and still are) gathering info and so on. Glad you found a car that has already been converted. As you know, many times that is half the battle won--the other half is getting the car set up the way YOU want it! Good luck with your purchase and I hope you get what you want! Just don't make this post your last! Davy

The SBC is so much easier to deal with in a swap IMO. Nothing wrong at all with a BBC, but it will add considerable cost to the conversion. With 400 to 500 hp easily available in a SBC, why would there be such an urge to go for a BBC in such a small/light car? No worries, but a performance SBC is plenty for a little car like the Z IMO. I guess if you have to have it ALL, then BBC is the way to go... Davy

Heh, that was pretty good! Congrats on your new project! I feels better to do "things" to a car that needs lots of TLC than to cut up a perfectly sano 240Z. Then again, anyone can modify a car, but it takes a real man to cut one up! Davy

I think Terry has his solidly mounted?? At least that what I thought anyway. Lone, you could produce that, but would it be really advantageous for the street? IMO it's just a bit too harsh. Maybe I'm just a softie or something (or I'm getting too accustomed to the Q45) but I would think urethane bushings and mounts would do nicely. Davy

I think the hood mods look pretty darn good! The trick would be to make it look that way in real life. I just picked up a junkyard airdam to fool around with and hone my fiberglassing skills... Davy

Nathan, you can use the 2+2 springs according to JTR, but the info is in relation to moving the spring perch up by 2.5" and then cutting 280ZX 2+2 springs for a stiffer setup, but with a much wider tire. Here is the skinny: "To gain wheel clearance (backspacing) on the rear strut, the Datsun spring perch can be raised 2.5" so that it will clear a 26" diameter tire. This will allow a rim with a backspacing of 5.5" 245/50-16 tires on 16x8" rims will fit the rear wheelwells with no fender modifications! 280ZX 2+2 rear springs can be used, with 3-1/4 coils cut, to maintain the stock ride height. The spring rate will be about 200 lbs per inch after the springs is cut." IMO, there may be a problem with how high the springs will jack your car up in the back if you leave them alone without bothering to cut them at all, even if you don't do the spring perch modification. How much to cut them? Don't know! Hopefully someone else may know. I did have 280Z (not 2+2) springs on my 260Z (early body) that made the ride a bit stiffer, or so it seemed. They worked at stock ride height fine. Just food for thought. Davy

Thanks for the FAST reply, Terry, and for the heads-up! Davy

Gracias, Danno! Davy

Are you trying to buy the stuff wholesale? Try tracing the source of the stuff and buying from them--you'll probably need a lot of it anyway for "experimenting." Big Daddy Roth used plaster to make his bucks out of. This worked really well, but the drawback is the overall weight and the mess in cleaning it up. However, where there is a will, there is a way! Good luck Maybe Terry O can elaborate on where he bought his stuff from and how much it cost. Have you tried using the Net to find a supplier? Davy

Fairlady 327 broke the solid front mount and did not have a solid rear mount---this jives completely with what Terry just mentioned. If parts are flexing, something will give--either the mount or the case. Better to have both mounted with similar materials. BTW, Fairlady 327 is nixing the solid mount--too harsh, too much noise, etc. Len, am I right about that? That's what I remember anyway... Davy

Ron, I'm pretty sure that Ross Corrigan has the correct adapters for your car. Now, these fit an Accord, not a Civic right? Do you know the distance between the holes, like 4-1/2" or close to that? That will help. AFAIK, the backspacing should be standard Honda, no biggie--I know Ross has adapters for that, but its the bolt pattern that I'm curious about--is it in fact different from the Civic, or is it the same? Davy

The vents to the rear look nice. I have to get used to the NACA(?)style vent in the front. The biggest concern I would have is the shape of it conflicting with the lines of the bulge on the hood. If the two don't "flow" nicely, it could come out looking awkward (hard to tell from the pic), which is a bummer once you have made the cuts. Hopefully some other guys will give their $0.02. This was photoshop or something right? Nice job! Davy

His 90 degree plenum elbow and throttle body look oh so clean. I reeeeeealy want one of those on a turbo (not super, although either is ok) setup in a Z. Thanks for the link, BLKMGK. Davy

quote: Originally posted by scca: i've tried the bat, piece of roolbar tubing before etc.. none of these will roll the lip up TOTALLY..I use a regular hammer. A rubber mallet would be too big and get difficult to negotiate - the ideal choice might be a soft blow sand filled hammer but I have never bought one as of yet... I sould have clarified, my rubber hammer is filled with lead shot, and is the best soft-dead blow hammer I have ever used. Funny thing is, I cannot remember where I purchased it Griots Garage I think? Davy

Very nice work! The rest of it should come out as nice, and you'll be proud! BTW, you have a very nice garage--cool epoxy paint on the floor. I'm thinking of doing the same thing! Davy

quote: Originally posted by Jumbo240z: What the heck is the exo-skeleton? Wha? Where did "exo-skeleton" enter the picture? Jon, did I miss something? That's the outside of an insect, if I recall. I suppose one could call the outside of a car an exo-skeleton, but that is entomology-speak. Davy

Jon, it says, "You have reached a restricted area." Sorry, Mon, no cannae see. Davy

Sean, let us know if they do alloy wheel widening or not. Davy

Ross, thanks for teaching me something new today! I never knew that! Gee, I have both too... Davy

That looks like a cool conversion. I wouln't mind having a converted 630 CS or 635 CSi. Be one heck of a ride! EFI of course... Davy

Very pricey--hey, maybe someday I'll do it! Maybe someday I may win the Lotto! It would be sweet to have that motor in a Z car... Davy

Gary, welcome to the forum! You have asked the most common questions which have been answered countless times before Not to worry! You have questions, we have answers...and then some. If you are pretty handy you can do the swap yourself. Here is a list of things you should do to prepare yourself: 1) Buy the JTR manual and read it several times. it will go into detail on what is required for such a swap and what you can expect. Even if you don't buy the conversion parts from them, the book is pure gold as far as info is concerned--highly recommended. It will save you time & dollars. 2) Use the search function on this forum. It is located at the top right corner of your screen You can do searches to find threads relating to the info you need. Highly recommended. 3) Cost is relative--you get what you pay for. A realistic budget is $5000-$10000 IMO. The cost of the car, cost of the engine, and cost of the tranny will be the most pricey things on your list. What you want determines the price. Likewise, what amount of $$$ you have determines what you can buy. A GM crate engine starts at about $1200 for a basic engine that you still have to add quite a few parts for. This ends up being more like $2000 minimum. Look at any Hot Rod or Car Craft Magazine for adds from places that sell crate motors, even ebay is a place to search. Take your time and do the research--it'll save you money and headaches. 4) Adding power steering can be done. The best example yet is Alsil's (Al Silvera) website for info--he posts often on in the Ford forum--his hyperlinks for his site are on his signature at the bottom of his posts. 5) Did I mention to use the search function? Welcome to the best place on earth for swapping tips for Z-cars! Enjoy the ride! Davy

Actually, Lone, the engine swap for the Beetle is a pretty cool one, especially if it is turbocharged! I have read of guys taking Subaru motors and swapping them into the old VW vans--since it is a boxer engine, there is no reason why they wouldn't work in an old Beetle. Kennedy engineering makes the tranny adapters for the swap....New Forum Time! Davy