PETEW Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 I want to buy a Z and put a V8 in it. I'm not sure if it will be a Ford 302 or Chevy 350. I like the fact that the Chevy is so well documented, but the 302 seems like it would be fun for drag racing and some Autocross. I see lots of people using theirs for drag raccing, does anyone autocross or road race thiers? Anyway, I am looking to find out which car would be the easiest and least expensive to modify. I want a standard, does the tunnel have to be modified for 5 speeds? I'm thinking the later Z cars would be easier due to the fact that they have the R200 rear and will have disk brakes all around. Let me know what you guys think. I'm trying at making a balanced car between handling and power, not an all out drag racer. I like road racing alot (on the track not the streets) so keep this in mind. Let me know what kind of money I will have to come up with for such a project. I don't expect to do it all at once. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 Well, can't help you on all counts, but this is what the Z collective told me when I asked a similar question: Get the best condition Z you can. The later ones weigh more, but that can be offset by changing the late bumpers to the earlier style. The later ones having a R200 is a non-issue for you, as you'll want a limited slip diff anyway. Oh yeah, get a 2+2, so there will be one more coupe for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 I think you should buy the JTR manual and read it over a number of times first, then make a decision on the motor. Any Z can be modified to run an autocross--then engine type is mutually exclusive. There are great books outlining modifications for Datsun suspensions and the V8 swaps (Chevy anyway) are documented as well. "Do some reading before proceeding." Cost is a factor of what kind of hardware you want, how fast you want it done, and what kind of power you want. I heard of conversions done for $1500 to $Sky. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 no matter what car it is, the cubes dont lie! you can beat bigger cubed cars that weigh more with a stock v8 (done it, did it again) but dont let that fool you into a false sense of security. the cost of a swap is completely relative to your personal skills, hookups, and verbal powers. the chevy swap is very well documented, and the parts are a little easier to come by, which makes it ideal for me in my situation, plus everyone i know in the auto biz can literally recite casting numbers for the hi-po small blocks and bbc backwards and forwards. the 302 motor is a great one, chevy or ford, but if it was so great in a chevy why doesnt the 2001 ss maro have one??? the ford 302 is pretty tough too, ive heard people getting 12's with that with bolt ons, i run a 327 chevy and love it....but the cubes man, the cubes... also. check your smog laws, here in california they are the strictest, and we can pretty much only legally and easily do the 240z , 1973 is the cutoff for smog exemption, which coincidentally coincides with the last year of 240 production. -280's are easier to swap and a little cheaper,280zx's have all wheel disk, an added bonus, and a more solid feel. -remember to do everything as cost effective as possible, its ok if the motor and trans are not in the best shape, the point is to get them in and functioning, then from that point on it becomes a matter of fixing a small v8 car, not a frankenstein monster..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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