Guest 4.3L 280z Posted December 9, 2001 Share Posted December 9, 2001 What is the cheapest and best v8 conversion kit for the 280z? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 9, 2001 Share Posted December 9, 2001 get a donor car and jtr kit and the conversion book, lots of tools, lots of bolts, a hammer, a drill, and beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labrat Posted December 9, 2001 Share Posted December 9, 2001 Ditto on the bolt thing. I almost went broke buying grade 8 bolts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 i try to buy grade 8 replacements for every bolt i pull out, no matter how ridiculous, why not right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 This question really depends on who you ask. There is atleast one guy out there who LOVES his SCARAB conversion and will argue up and down that the JTR swap is not all it is cracked up to be. If you take his stance, then you can slap a V8 in without buying the JTR Kit. With this setup you can drop any V8 in with little fuss over transmission clearance, or header issues, or ground clearance. I did the JTR conversion and I'm VERY happy with it, but it depends on what you can afford, and what your driving style is. Mike Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 11, 2001 Share Posted December 11, 2001 cheapest, scarab baby, scarab, it basically consists of risers to the chevy mounts mounts from the stock mounts, tranny tunnel hammering, wiring, driveshaft and then: and boom shaka laka here comes the big blocka, 396 i get rubber in fifth punk yitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jvh22a Posted December 27, 2001 Share Posted December 27, 2001 hey all; i've been reading the post here for about 2 days now and wanted to know what is "scarab?" i'm REALLY new to all the gm/ford and the likes; but really want to learn. i ordered the jtr book tonight and just witing down tips from eveyone. looking to actually start on the swap less then a year. thanks jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted December 27, 2001 Share Posted December 27, 2001 Jimmy, The first V8 converted Z's made en masse were from a Company called Scarab. They sold kits and complete cars. Original Scarab cars have history and are very rare (read: expensive). Now we just refer to any Z car with the engine in same position as a Scarab. There is a write up on Zhome.com or the internet Z car club (I've forgotten where) on the history of the V8Z. Try to find it and read about it--very interesting reading. This was the easiest conversion to do, and many thought this was the best that was out there, but then JTR came along and built a better mouse trap IMO. The JTR conversion sets the motor back farther against the firewall (good), lower in the engine bay (good), and is backed up by a very good manual (good). Keep making notes and download all pertinent information to files on your computer or download to a printer and make notebooks. I have two big binders packed with notes--I'll read it all someday Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted December 27, 2001 Share Posted December 27, 2001 quote: Originally posted by DavyZ: Jimmy, The first V8 converted Z's made en masse were from a Company called Scarab. They sold kits and complete cars. Original Scarab cars have history and are very rare (read: expensive). Now we just refer to any Z car with the engine in same position as a Scarab. There is a write up on Zhome.com or the internet Z car club (I've forgotten where) on the history of the V8Z. Try to find it and read about it--very interesting reading. I found Paul Richer's (Paul R here on Hybridz.org) V8 Swap FAQ, and the History of the swap at: http://www.zhome.com/rnt/v8.html#HISTORY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted December 28, 2001 Share Posted December 28, 2001 Thank you, Pete--that was exactly the one I was thinking of. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted December 28, 2001 Share Posted December 28, 2001 Something else to consider, and I noticed this of a Scarab conversion resently when surfing ebay, is that depending on what tranny you use the shifter can come up through the spot were the fuse panel is due to the forward location of the motor. (Is that a run-on sentance?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 28, 2001 Share Posted December 28, 2001 What's all this talk about the shifter coming up through where the fuse panel is? Mines under the passenger side kick panel! And did you all see the V8Z on ebay that had the shifter about 4 inches to far? Wouldn't your hand smash into the dash board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 29, 2001 Share Posted December 29, 2001 making the shifter work is easy, and yes it comes out early, big deal, you might have to get a different shifter, not a big deal. i like scarab, ive been drivng and racing my car daily for two years and its good to me, i gave her the winter off go ahead and drop in the 8 already, use jtr or scarab, and then run whatever you want, the swap is the easiest part, when you actually do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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