Guest Anonymous Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 Well, here we go.... I've been toying with the idea of putting a mopar in a 280z for a while now and have just made the final decision to...as Nike would say "Just do it". Here's why, I happen to like mopar and more importantly everyone has advised me not to do it. They say it's too difficult. I've just aquired a 77' 280z in fair to good condition, the frame and under side of the car are perfect. I purchased the car in boxes (got a good deal). I also have a 360cid with 518 automatic w/od. Seems like a good idea. No matter what anyone says, this is going to happen. I am open for any and all bits of advise from anyone who has done or is trying the mopar V8 conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperZ Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 Don't know anything about the swap, but you should do it for sure if others not knowing of it advise against. Those are potent motors, and will make the car fly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Thanks for the words of encouragement. Not only am I going to do this, I am going to try and put as much information as I can on my web site. Hopefully it will help to motivate others to the dark side, I mean to mopar. I’ll post the site when I get it up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I DARE YOU TO DO IT!!!! I think it is a great idea to mopar this car!!Personally I would prefer to see a 340 but run what you brung so 360 it. Custom the mounts wouldn't be hard I made my front engine plate in a weekend and it really does the job. It bolts between the waterpump and block , had the waterpump miolled down the thickness of the plate and the chev small block has two low down pairs of bolts on the block beside the balancer so those were also used(no milling there). It bolts to the frame rails and the trans mount from the datsun trans fit the 200r mount without mods. Mopar will probably be a little different but the outline should work for you?? Good luck and ask all the ????you want!! I will be follwing so keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Thanks Drewz…Here’s the plan for this month. By the end of the month I hope to get my web site up and have some initial pictures of what I am starting with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 19, 2002 Share Posted October 19, 2002 yo good luck and anyone that says you can't do it is a wimp if you have a spair block strip it down and use it to mock ( or mark ) it up jack up the rear to get it to sit at the angel your going run at but what do i know only dropped a stage 1 455 in a hornet and a GTO motor in a 83 A body with the A/C and have a 455 going in to a ZX soon spent 10 years hearing you CAN,T DO THAT now they just walk away saying something about drugs good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted October 20, 2002 Share Posted October 20, 2002 If you mock up a core be sure to have some essentials on it for clearance purposes. Like the oil pan, ex. manifolds if you aren't going headers etc. That is how I did my plate config. Oil sump location in relation to the rack assembly is an issue as well as steering column it ex. manifold/ header clearance. Good luck DOOD!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest umm Posted October 24, 2002 Share Posted October 24, 2002 All I've ever owned are Datsuns and Dodges. I can't wait to see what the kids will look like. I want to moparize my Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 Thanks guys.. If you would like to follow my progress, or the progress of another z car enthusiast that lives across the street from me (Sam), here is the site that I promised. www.songne.net Please remember that I am into cars, so be gentle with the criticism on the site. Really, all suggestions about the car or the site will be welcomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jens Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 Have you ever considered a chrysler 400. Bigger bore than a 440 and lower deckheight/weight. With a stroker crank it would be a monster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 I have considered a big block but after considering it against the small block, the choice was simple. In other words I am going with the easier conversion, at least for this back yard mechanic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted November 12, 2002 Share Posted November 12, 2002 I was amazed how tight that Barracuda's engine bay is! The inner fenders extend so far inboard, that even the stock (or stock-appearing) exhaust is a tight fit - and that does not look like a wide engine. How did people ever shove a 426 Hemi in there? If a Crysler big block can be made to fit into the Barracuda, for sure it will fit in the Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 12, 2002 Share Posted November 12, 2002 Michael, It’s not as tight in person as it looks in the pictures. Everything on the barracuda is stock, except for the carb and electronic ignition. Plymouth gained space in the engine bay by loosing the power steering for the big block and there were more mods for the hemi. I’m pretty convinced that I could get a big block in (my choice would be a 383cid) the z car relatively easy, only a little more headache than the small block. I choose the 360cid small block because I have one sitting around doing nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAW Posted November 23, 2002 Share Posted November 23, 2002 I have a question: If you mill the head on the 360 by .060" to increase the c.r., do you need to mill the intake manifold and/or substitute shorter pushrods? DAW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest empracing Posted November 23, 2002 Share Posted November 23, 2002 yes and yes to the milling angle mill the intake and get shorter rods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxgts-4 Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 First post . The 360 I built to use in wifes tow car but haven't run yet has cut down +.030 340 pistons +.070 for 360 ported J heads 2.02in 1.6ex by my calculations 11.5/1 comp designed for Lpgas single plane Edelbrock torquer manifold, standard 360 cast exhaust manifolds (bigger dia than 318) . Would be cheap conversion with 727 trans but think torque would require to much stengthening in280zx 2+2 convertable. Manual tremec conversion also too expensive. Thought I would use quad cam Lexus v8 as also cheap and better suited to R200 gearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dot Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 It should look something like this when your done. Cheers... :::Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GLHS895 Posted November 4, 2003 Share Posted November 4, 2003 so a mopar V8 has already been done in a Z? any detailed info on it? i'm a big mopar fan, and when i get a Z to do a V8 swap that would be the motor of choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted November 4, 2003 Share Posted November 4, 2003 The guy who started this thread sold his car in boxes and put the 360 in his Barracuda. So, not by him, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dot Posted November 5, 2003 Share Posted November 5, 2003 I have done this swap twice. Once with a 318 auto and then with a 340 dual quad four speed. However anytime I post anything on this swap it gets deleted. Cheers! Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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