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Hey all. So I have had my 1977 280z for around 7 years now. Drove it for a couple when I first bought it. Started having issues with the L-Jet system. Spent a while troubleshooting but the more I fixed the more I found items that needed fixing. Ended up moving into an apartment, then bought a house, sold the house, etc. barely worked on it for a few years. My now fiance and I bought a farm house with a big ole workshop (about 2500sqft, 3 bays, 1 dumptruck bay) and I got back into making my dream car just that. I decided now was the time to do it right. My Z had rotted floors, rotted frame rails, rotted fenders, rotted firewall. tons and tons of structural rot. Good thing I am a welding and metallurgical engineer and have plenty of fabrication equipment and experience (I hope). I cut out both floors, the firewall on the passenger side, fender well, and patched the "torque box" area of the frame in front of the firewall...one panel at a time. Most of these welds have been gas backed or flux shielded, or copper backed. Derek Macheski provided the floor support rails for my build (I think hes on here somewhere) as a partial trade for my motor. I am pairing my Z up with a Ford 5.0 small block V8. The donor vehicle was a 2001 mercury Mountaineer which means this is the highest performance factory 302W offered but also brings up some challenges; 1: The heads are GT40P heads which requires special or custom headers. The only headers currently manufactured that fit correctly are long tubes which will not fit the S30 engine bay. 2: The upper and lower intake are quite tall and require the engine be mounted somewhat lower in addition to possible hood clearance modification. 3: The engine is returnless and distributorless and I will be using the factory EFI harness and ECU, tuned with protune and probably a Moates QH chip. The current state of the build: I have completed most of the fabrication work, a few odds and ends that need to be finished but nothing major. I have the engine, transmission, and headers all in the vehicle and everything seems to fit. I am currently working on thinning the EFI harness of all unnecessary equipment using an old factory electrical schematic and some help from the folks over at the explorer forums.

Hey guys, been a loooong time since I was last on here. I am getting back into my engine swap project for my 77 280z. I sold the engine out of the z this year and picked up pieces for the swap. I am shooting for the following setup 302 EFI, W/C T5, unsure about rear differential I have a W/C T5 already but it has no bellhousing, supposedly low miles I have an 86 mustang GT 302 but I just obtained a free, running and driving 2001 Mercury Mountaineer with a 302 that I am told is the best factory 302 I can get, so I will likely be using that for the donor I do not have a rear differential for the swap, that seems to be the only other BIG item that I am missing. I have the solidwork prints from the Laine swap website and will likely be using those to fabricate my mounts. I will be updating with pictures soon. Is there anything else I will need for the swap that I cannot pull from the Mountaineer? I was hoping I could use it's ECU and electrical system in the Z. I would like to be producing over 200hp/325ft/lbs at the wheels with this setup. I was told that the cam in a mountaineer 302 is actually a truck cam and I could gain a decent HP boost (at the cost of a little torque) by swapping the cam out of my mustang GT 302. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Hey guys! This is going to be my thread for my 5.0 swap in my 1977 280z. A little history....I picked up a 77 280z from a guy in Texas. Its not a bad car for the price. I had this crazy idea to drop a 5.0 in it, since I've got a 1995 mustang GT as a DD. I bought a 1995 GTS with a full Cobra motor in it from an auction website and parted out the rest of the car. My dad had a bunch of Z's back in the day, and I wanted to build something he would enjoy as much as I would. Please if you like any of this, let me know! I would love to keep posting some pics and hopefully get some help and help out some other guys in the same boat. Now...lets get started

Quick Reference Sheet of Ford Z Build ups, PM me to add more to the list, or to update erroneous info. Ford Modular Motor Swaps (4.6L, 5.4L): 1978 280z + SOHC/DOHC 4.6 (yellowoctupus on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/97812-460zgt-project-build/ DOHC 240z on Ratsun (abandoned?) http://community.ratsun.net/topic/54796-1974-260z-46dohc/ DOHC Lincoln 4.6 + 240z 'Vert (PnyPwr on HybridZ ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/47019-anyone-else-doing-a-46-4v-into-a-240/ 4.6 SOHC 280zx (RichRacing on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/96496-project-460zx/ 2001 Cobra + 280z (abandoned?)(4.6 Cobra Z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/121534-46-dohc-280z/ 4.6 Mark VIII / Cobra + 76 280z (Mitchnandy on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/user/2167-mitchnandy Mark VIII DOHC +240z Swap (Northeredave on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/100949-46l-ford-dohc-modular-motor-in-my-240z/ Greg's 240z + 2001 Cobra DOHC (abandoned?)(gls355 on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/113828-46-dohc-svt-in-a-240z-here-we-go/ Ford Windsor Engines (289, 302, 351w, etc) Brian Laine's well documented 302 Conversion http://www.lainefamily.com/240Z_V8_Conversion.htm Terry Oxandale's 5.0 (No pictures, lots of info) (BlueovalZ on HybridZ) http://www.zhome.com/rnt/FordPower/index.html Terry Oxandale's Pictures http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid={7DC317B0-8EDB-4B2E-A837-F708D07C9769}&inv=9C67398D46D99D9&userid={7DC317B0-8EDB-4B2E-A837-F708D07C9769}&inv=9C67398D46D99D9 Pete Papriska's 5.0 Writeup (pparaska on HybridZ) http://alteredz.com/ Dan's 74 5.0 Swap (74_5.0L_Z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/user/30-74-50l-z/ 351w Fits (gene_w on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/32159-alsils-mounts-with-a-351w/ Kris' 302 Swap http://datsun.getyours.com/default.htm Old 5.0 Swap, dead links, lots of info still.. (JoshB 240z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/20535-50l-install-with-pics/ Mark's 260z in Japan (74.5 347z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/user/266-745-347z/ Mark's Motor Mount Design (74.5 347z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/uploads/1336572473/gallery_266_1021_62705.jpg Greg Wheeler's 5.0 240z (gwheeler on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/71855-fs-1972-240z-with-ford-v8-in-portland-or/?do=findComment&comment=682087 Greg's 500z photobucket pictures (gwheeler on HybridZ) http://s237.photobucket.com/user/g_wheeler2001/library/Project%20500Z?sort=3&page=1 Steve Todkill's photobucket pics (unfinished?) (s3079893 on HybridZ) http://photobucket.com/albums/d34/s3079893/?sc=1 Mike '77 + 302 (dead link??)(Rival5 on HybridZ) http://206.169.90.30/mike/view_album.php?set_albumName=Z-Project Al Silveria's notes (Alsil on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/10559-so-all-i-gotta-do-is-fab-some-50-motor-mounts/?p=76947 Ali's 5.0 '77 (MY77Z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/51750-500z-progress-photos/ '70 240 + 302 (er34gtt2000jp on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/53314-had-to-post-our-sbf-project/ SBF Swap (stangracr on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/61369-new-pictures-sbf/ SBF Swap 2 (stangracr on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/62818-new-pictures/ Nick's 240 + 5.0 Cobra (TheNick on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/63662-new-project-240z-cobra/ Dart Block in a 240z (lilredz on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/62941-shes-runnintoo-bad-its-raining-for-2-weeks/ '77 + 302 (Capt_Zorro on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/29043-photos-of-my-77-z/ '78 + FI 5.0 *Sold* (JustChou on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/85022-78-280z-with-injected-ford-302-50-swap-norcal/ 75 302 +73 240z - Engine Mount info... (ukcats07 on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/91886-redesigned-my-cradlemount-setup-pics/ 302 Swap (Shemyazaz on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/108307-280z-302/ 76 +302 (NateDaGreat on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/112712-302-v8/?p=1057290 302 + 71 240z (ottoauto on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/90729-just-picked-up-my-first-v8-240z/ 240z + 68 302 (akaryrye on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/90018-just-bought-a-240z-w-a-ford-engine/ 260z + 5.0 FI (V8INtheZ on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/72463-started-my-2nd-v8-s30project-mongoose/?do=findComment&comment=688497 302 + 240z (josephg on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/88770-thinking-back-about-my-flywheel-install/?do=findComment&comment=843110 260z + 89 5.0 Megasquirt (Zhunter on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/121944-50-260z-startup/ 351w + 260z (Ga. Piddler on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/48582-351z/ 86 280zx + 351w (86350zx on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/120301-my-z8-build-lots-of-pics/ 240z + 87 5.0 FI (timothyblythe240z on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/121510-347-z/ '77 280z + 5.0 (Bubbadog127 on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/114763-50-cobra-280z/ Scott Holcombe's 5.0 75 280z (PalmettoZ on HybridZ) http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/98769-brian-lanes-302-kit/ '72 240z +5.0 HO (Rudypoochris on HybridZ) https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/52477-rudypoochris-ford-50l-ho-powered-72-240z/ The following are Missing Build Post Links, please email me if you have info, pictures, links etc... 387 Clevor No build post yet? ((LMoore56 on HybridZ)) 2.3L + ?? Build Post Missing ?? ((V8INtheZ on HybridZ)) Mike Gibson ((SCCA on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((The Woj on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((Hitman47 on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((Beau M on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((Roamer on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((WHP on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((Ferd/289 on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((Just Jim on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((Sven on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...((ecp48 on HybridZ)) Missing Build Post Link...'72 240Z 302/C4 ((Just Jim on HybridZ))

So I figured I'd start a build thread for my Z. I am most definitely a newbie, so any and all tips, comments, and criticisms are very welcome. Here's a list of the cars I've owned. 89 240sx 91 240sx 90 240sx 90 300zx TT 97 A4 2.8 quattro 68 mustang fastback 74 MG midget So as far as my car history, I've had quite a few of running projects (minus the fastback). That being said... None have scared me quite as much as the 280z. The reason is I'd like to do the LS1/T56 combo in it. I'm in Texas and there is a shop in Fort Worth ( Larry's Speed and Custom) that will put the engine and tranny in and set up the AC and power steering for $5K. I will have to source and purchase the engine myself. It starts to hit the wallet pretty hard, all at once. I was also thinking of a 302, then finding someone to do the welding/fab work for me. I don't have the equipment and I would be afraid of ruining this car. Anyway... Here are some photos. Gotta love the two sided Paint. It's really rust free and fun to drive as it sits. Now I just need to figure out which engine I'm gonna do. soon I will have some webisodes on youtube of the build/ownership of the Z. If nothing else, I should have fun. Cheers.

So, I bought a really rough non-turbo ZX for $1500 yesterday with the goal of putting my Explorers 302 in it. Both are running vehicles, but both need some love. The ZX is rust free but it's in pretty poor condition mechanically... The Explorer has been in my family since '98 or '99, and has 181,000 miles on it. Its all there, but I'm tired of it. I figure if I start with two running vehicles, I should have ALMOST everything I need. What I can't buy, I'll build.