Guest Anonymous Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 i am obsessed with v8 z's and i want to get one but i dont know if i should do this myself of take it to a shop. i dont near the amount of tools that i will need and not much experience with V8s so i am just wondering what to do and if i take it to a shop how will long should i expect to wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sb400z Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 A shop will most likely overcharge since its a custom job. And if you don't have the tools or knowledge, doing it yourself might make you frustrated to the point of quitting. You might want to do what I did, which is buy a car that somebody has already converted. This will let you spend your time and money on suspension, body, interior, go fast parts, etc. Any way you go, you'll find everything you need, and then some, on these boards. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 i am obsessed with v8 z's and i want to get one but i dont know if i should do this myself of take it to a shop. i dont near the amount of tools that i will need and not much experience with V8s so i am just wondering what to do and if i take it to a shop how will long should i expect to wait Get the manual from http://www.jagsthatrun.com, then make up your mind. Buying a converted car is a good idea, but does have one big flaw: Building it yourself teaches you a lot about the car's mechanical makeup, which, in your position would be very beneficial. But if you are not very mechanically inclined, or lack the resources, you may want to approach those deficiencies first. Building a V8 Z, or any car for that matter, is a great learning experience, as long as you don't get in a hurry, or you will get fed-up and abandon the project. If you have a BIG cheque book, then have someone do it for you, but you will learn nothing, and probably not have it done the way YOU want it. Food for thought! Buy the manual for sure! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 But if you are not very mechanically inclined, or lack the resources, you may want to approach those deficiencies first. Tim i am pretty mechanically inclined, just V8s are new to me but i am getting into them what is an estimate on what i am looking to spend of a project like this (including the price of the large specialty tools) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sb400z Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 the price of beer alone will run you a couple grand, and the gifts to keep your wife happy while you spend all your savings will be another thing to think about... As for tools, try to find a really good friend that will lend you their time and tools and space in their shop/garage to you. I needed a daily driver so i bought one that was done, drive it everyday, and am slowly changing everything on the car, so in a sense, I am learning almost as much as building my own from scratch. Either way you look at it, you will end up with a unique, fun car and probably make a lot of friends in the process. This board will not hesitate to help you either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 what is an estimate on what i am looking to spend of a project like this (including the price of the large specialty tools) Now theres a loaded question! It all depends on what you want from you V8Z/ZX. I am building a 280ZX V8 that had NO rust what so ever. I am using a 1993 LT1 computer controlled engine. You dont have to go this far but just to put things in perspective...When I am done with my car I will have spent hundreds of hours(in the last 6 months) and about $14,000 on my car. Now I am a perfectionist so I either bought everything new or almost new. I want my car to be perfect(in my eyes) when I am done. I also "over did" so things but that's just me. You should read the "sticky" at the top of the Chevy Forum about starting a V8 conversion. It contains lots of info for beginners with your kinds of questions. Also I know a while back there was a thread on how much everyone has spent on their conversions, just use the search function and look for "money spent" It should give you a good idea. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denny411 Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 I personally like the satisfaction of building it myself. I feel this way about most everything, even non-car related stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silicone boy Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 I did buy a converted one, but I'm rebuilding everything on it again in a no holds barred upgrade. I am learning so much in the process, it's just incredible. I've built a motor, taken apart the whole drivetrain and suspension, learned to work with braided high pressure hose and fittings, learned how to weld, and I'm even trying to wire up a hairy fuel injection harness. Am I mechanically inclined? No, I'm a surgeon by day and not too bright of one at that (on the other hand, I guess working on cars is not too different from working on people). I guess my point is, go for it and learn a ton while you are at it. The education you will give yourself is priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 When it comes to buying tools, remember: Tool purchases are capital investments, and should never be figured into the vehicle budget. Always buy the best quality you can afford, and for certain tools, buy the best quality you can't afford. You'll have them forever, and if you are a true car nut, you'll do another project, and another, and another, plus you'll need to maintain the current project, so the tools, amortized over your lifetime (and your kids' lifetimes - if you buy good tools), are extremely cheap!!!! Food for thought. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Your Car is Slow Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 Ebay is a wonderful place for tools. Especially craftsman....even if it breaks...simply walk into any sears and get it replaced no questions asked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denny411 Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 Anyone that knows me or has seen my garage, knows that I am a TOOLAHOLIC. I buy tools that I don`t even need, Just for someday I might.... Check your local paper and the classified papers that you can pick up in gass stations. There are plenty of people out there in bad situations willing to unload quality tools for cheap. Also, look for tool auctions.Plenty of people retire,go bankrupt or get divorced and have to liquidate their auto shops. I once bought nearly 10,000 worth of tools and parts at one sale for around 1400 Most were Snap-on or Mac. I sold off the parts and recovered most of what I spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 Interesting. My LS1 / T56 converson in my 77Z is going to run around $14,000 and I'm having a shop do it all except for the miscellaneous Z parts. With that I get a 12 month/12,000 mile guarantee. I break it - he fixes it. Becasue I have been there every inch of the way I have a real good feel for the quality and content of both the mechanical and electrical side of the installation. The downside is that it has taken 10 months and I know the next guy will get it in half the time for less money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72zcar Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 nice z really nice. Myself,,,having little to no eztra money started with a 72 z roller that I had for a while stored in garage. Buy a 64 chevelle four door that had a 91 goodwrench crate and th-350 tranny running good for 1100 $... pull nuh and sell roller for 500 so now i have my mojo for 600 bucks. Now coilovers, bars above and below, tires, brakes, b&m rachet, shift kit, msd,and a bunch of other stuff like edelbrock intake, 600 edelbrock carb, wires, batterey relocate, paint myself, and other stuff i cant remember right now so now i got how much in it... 3-4,000 Good enough for me and it hauls ass... just got it legaly on the road tuesday Have been working on it once a week for 22 months on sunday only. so about 98-90 weeks maybe. 90 days but some weeks we worked on other zs... so i figure about 45-50 days max to do the swap. Or 1.5 months I want to thank everyone for helping. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying I'm done..it never ends Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two40 Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 Dragspeed, it all comes down to how much money you have and how much time you can spare. I think the wise thing to do would be what sb400z said, buy someones blood sweat and tears and spend all the money you saved on customising your car the way you like it. You'll come out on top everytime if you select the correct modified car. But I'm a bit biased as I've done this on a couple of occasions and both times I saved lots (and I mean lots) of money while getting the enjoyment of driving the car now and not two to three years down the track. Whatever you do, goodluck and have a ball. You might want to do what I did, which is buy a car that somebody has already converted. This will let you spend your time and money on suspension, body, interior, go fast parts, etc. Any way you go, you'll find everything you need, and then some, on these boards. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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