z-REX Posted September 15, 2003 Share Posted September 15, 2003 so i'm at the point where i have to decide. i used the search and couldn't find the specific debate.... and since there are enough people who have done either swap lurking around the site, well, here goes.... ford sb or chevy sb? user-friendliness, reliability, etc, i'm a foreign car snob by nature who is venturing into unchartered waters here. help a brother out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustAFantaZ Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 so i'm at the point where i have to decide. i used the search and couldn't find the specific debate.... and since there are enough people who have done either swap lurking around the site, well, here goes.... ford sb or chevy sb? user-friendliness, reliability, etc, i'm a foreign car snob by nature who is venturing into unchartered waters here. help a brother out!!!I don't know of any Ford engine kits available for the swap like Chevy has JTR. Therefore, I would recommend the Chevy swap because of more support and generally more inexpensive parts vs. the Ford. Hope it works for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 An from the devil's advocate: the Ford can be a good bit lighter on the front end and a little more compact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ted-Z Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Plus the location of the distributor on the Ford, negates the need to move the hood latch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Plus the location of the distributor on the Ford, negates the need to move the hood latch. Three words.....Ell Tee Wun Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Here's 3 more words for ya.....Ell Ess Wun! LOL Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z-REX Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 two more.........hood pins i've looked into the weight diffs and there's alwatys alsil's xmember, but either way there's going to be fabrication.... but i gather it to be less with a chevy engine? being new to american engines this might come off as a retarded question but, which engine would be cheaper as far as a. the swap in general and b. aftermarket parts? sorry for all the q's but i swear i'll have a big fat hybridz sticker on my car as soon as i feel it would do you geniuses justice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonzer12 Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Personally I like the ford 302 over the say a chevy 350 but if you just wanna v8z then do the chevy, its easier, and its been done a hundred times. If you don't have your heart set on a ford then just take the path of least resistance, personally I like to just get projects rolling along and am not a big fan of R&D. My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dp351zcar Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 A ford 5.0 can be as easy to build a bow tie and a whole lot lighter. If you do choose a ford or a mopar you will have the satisfaction of doing something diffrent and not following the crowd. A 351 is a good motor also and lighter than a chev. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z-REX Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 what i really want is a blown e46 m3 engine...... but more than anything i just want it running by spring!!!! my daily is a 94 saab 9000turbo but when my wife takes that i get stuck with an 88 corsica see where i'm comin'from? besides on the east coast you don't see alot of v8z's anyway... so who made the engine doesn't make a diff as far as cookiecutterism, there aren't alot of either over here and i never seen one in ny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 I would recommend forming a connection with the engine type rather than just selecting one because it is a V8. If you are an exhaust guy find out which exhaust sound you like more. Read up on some specs and dyno graphs and see which power output caters to your needs. Look up accessories that you might want to add and compare prices. There isnt an easy, hands-down answer to that question. Neither engine is really going to last longer than the other, it's how you take care of it. Picking an engine is kinda like picking a girl, you gotta find out what characteristics appeal to you and find what fits your desires! (Although, I dont think I would ever buy a French engine ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z-REX Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 do you know how long it took to pick the right girl???? great...10 engines that'll cheat on me with other drivers before i get one that won't. ah hell. what you said makes sense, though. i'll have to check out some of the setups the local hot-rodders have done and then figure out what'll work for me. i don't need something that'll run 11's, but i want the optimal combo of a fast driving street car that'll rock on occasional track days. but with the majority of my driving favoring low-end power like it does, i want enough torque to keep me smiling from ear to ear without replacing tires every other week. so... the quest continues. any other opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Bob, I am putting a LT1 /T56 in my 73 Z. It is not on the road yet, but I also have a 94 Z28 (same drivetrain and model year as the 240Z). The flexibility of the engine is fantastic. I can drive around all day like an old granny and the car just rolls along smoothly. BUT...if I get on it, that thing will light up the tires through second gear. In the heavy @ss Z28 I get about 22 MPG if driving 'right', but I usually get about 17 or 18 mpg because I am 'on it' more often than not. In the much lighter 240Z, I'm sure it will get even better MPG, and will be even fiercer when 'getting on it'! Just food for thought.... LS1 would be nice, but does mean a lot more work to install. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z-REX Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 tim... what years did the lt1 come in? i'm definitely going with a t56 but i'm still undecided on the engine, although i'm kind of leaning toward a chevy. either way, i am doing a carbed buildup so if i come up with a good earlier block it won't much matter because the fi will do me no good anyway. with the involvement of engine, suspension, brakes, body, my theory is i have enough to deal with without having to deal with wiring everything. besides, my brother knows sbc's like the back of his hand and i think him and i can get a carb engine to run just as hard and reliable as an fi, if not a reasonable facsimile. thanks everybody.... i'm getting everything i wanted out of this post. all hail hybrid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 1993 to 1997. 1993 is speed density. 1994 and up is MAF. 1996 up is OBDII I think I have all the years correct.... If you do a search for "LT1', you will find a wealth of info on this site. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racin_Jason Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Hiya zbobo and welcome to the darkside! I want to try to give you the answers you are looking for. I was there 1.5 years ago and its all still fairly fresh in my memory banks. Here it goes~ Chevy engines are by far the most common choice for good reason. Some main points are: There are prefabbed kits for the SBC that are proven well engineered and reliable..SBC parts are the cheapest V8 parts sold, allowing more money towards other parts of the car..SBC come in a variety of displacements (both factory stock and aftermarket) and are easily designed to the users preferably powerband..SBC "issues" are far better covered here on HybridZ then other powerplants, so you are more likely to get any problems solved with a quick search (HELPFUL!). Now, SBC DO have their cons aswell. They are the heaviest of the small blocks...and the distributors placement limits how far you can set the engine back in the bay (better weight distribution), to name a couple. Now for your questions~ i've looked into the weight diffs and there's alwatys alsil's xmember, but either way there's going to be fabrication.... but i gather it to be less with a chevy engine? The JTR kit is pretty much a bolt together deal. You will have to remove the stock 240Z tranny mounts to fit the T56 you want, tho. You can choose to fab the mounts and spacers yourself using JTRs specs...or you can have them sent to your door ready to go. being new to american engines this might come off as a retarded question but, which engine would be cheaper as far as a. the swap in general and b. aftermarket parts? I will let the Ford guys chime in on "the swap" part since I do not know how much they spend for their cars. I do know that the entire JTR prefabbed kit is around $325 last i checked...and it will get cheaper if you fab somethngs yourself. Also, most people dont buy the whole kit since they dont need it all. Think junkyard, ebay etc. As for the aftermarket parts, Chevy will be the cheapest. Always has been. Tim was kind enough to answer the LT1 questions, so no need for an encore there. Torque is easy to make in any of these engines, really. Fortunately, torque is also cheaper to build then horsepower (within streetcar limits anyways). As with any engine, remember that torque is directly affected by displacement. So that 383 is gonna make more torque then the 350, given the same engine combo for both engines. Not that you would need any bigger then a 350, which I doubt you would. You can budget build a Chevy 350 to make over 400Lbs of torque fairly cheaply. I'll give an example build... junkyard/used 350 with even compression and minimal boring = $150-350 GMPP Vortec cast iron cylinder heads = $450 Performer intake (vortec style) = $180new or 90used ebay Holley vacuum secondary 4bbl carb = $150 ebay Comp Cams Extreme Energy 262 camshaft/lifters = $160 New rotor/cap/performance module for junkyard HEI dizzy = <$50 Shorty headers = <$200 I believe this budget combo would make something like 275-325HP and 350-400TQ (depending on engine condition, temperature etc). Anyone feel free to slap me into reality if I made a mistake here. A great place to learn about the different engines, prices, designs and proven combos is car mags! For Chevy...Chevy High Performance has some great info. Car Craft is my other source. They tell it how it is and show you the results to back it. Good place to start. Hopefully this helps in some way. I feel indebted to this website and its members for all the help I got and am still getting. It's a true pleasure to give a little back when I can. Best of Luck! Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedRacer Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 If don't use an HEI distributor the setback of the engine is not a problem. I use the really small Pro-Billet MSD (# 8570) http://www.msdignition.com and the problem I have is with the right hand head getting in the way of the heater hoses. I had to use 90 degree fittings to make it work. The head is closer to the firewall than the distributor. Why is it that everybody forgets to look at the bottom of the Ford engine. One reason why you see more Chevy engines in street rods (including Fords) is that the oil sump is in the front. All to often this interferes with the front crossmember and/or steering linkage. Yes, there is a "double hump" oil pan available but it still causes the engine in those cars (and the Z car) to sit much higher in the front than the Chevy. I can drop the pan of my engine without removing another piece from the car. The entire engine (except the harmonic balancer & pulley) sits behind the front crossmember. Nothing wrong with a Ford, and quite a few guys here have them in their Z car. But........... it depends on what you are looking for. The Chevy is easier and cheaper because there is a conversion manual for the Chevy http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html Chevy parts are cost less and Chevy has two different hydraulic clutch systems to choose from (Camaro or Corvette) unless you are going automatic. If you love the Ford small block and want a bit more of a challenge it has been made to work. If you want a real challenge, talk to Staledale - he's dropping a Jag V12 in his!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 If you have a friend/relative who’s savvy with a particular brand of engine, that is a tremendously important consideration regarding which brand to use for the swap! Keep in mind that figuring out the swap itself – the engine mounts, the exhaust routing, the transmission crossmember, the driveshaft, the throttle linkage, and so forth – is only half the battle. The other half is the care and feeding of your engine. In my case, I had some one help me with the swap. The swap-related issues have been sorted out, the car was driven on the road, but then it’s been sitting for years because I’m stuck with the engine rebuild. Hey, if I had a helpful neighbor who really knew flathead Packard V8’s, I’d do a Packard swap. The point is, your experience and familiarity with a particular engine brand is enormously more important than any intrinsic advantages that a particular engine brand or family might have. Go with what you know. There may be superior engine choices, but what matters is how well YOUR engine runs, not how well it runs in the magazines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z-REX Posted September 17, 2003 Author Share Posted September 17, 2003 michael....speedracer........jason......EVERYONE...... i can't say how much i appreciate the wealth of knowledge you guys have laid upon me. i'm finding myself leaning toward chevy and definitely plan on giving jtr a call as soon as some of my turbo parts sell. thanks to everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racin_Jason Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 my pleasure. You're welcome! Good luck! Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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