Guest zx-boy Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 i just bought my first zx. it is a 1982 280 zx, with the stock L-28. i got it for $700 from a local impound yard. it runs and has little body damage. but the interior is almost a total wreck . so far it has out-ran an over-raced 94 intergra, and 2 V-6 mustangs owned by very snotty rich kids. so i have already won back the cost of the car. here is my problem. the tranny is starting to go out. and i cought a little "while i'm at it syndrome". so i decided to put a chevy V-8 in my baby. but i don't know which one. which would be easier an L-t1 or an old skool 350? has anyone ever put an L-88 in an 280zx? and is there a chevy manual trans. that will bolt in with little mod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 If you browse the forum that you posted in, you will find answers to these questions. There is not a kit for the ZX's, but the Jags That Run book can be helpful. Typically a fuel injected engine is regarded as more of a complicated swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grenade300 Posted November 12, 2003 Share Posted November 12, 2003 There are a few guys on this site who have done a V-8 swap on a ZX, There is a web site called http://www.JagsThatRun.com You can get a book from there on how to do a V-8 swap on a 240Z which has a lot of similarities to the ZX, but there are some differences to be aware of. I you use the "search" function on this site you will find a lot of information. Do all the research that you can so that you can decide what you want to do before you do it. It would definitly consider an "old scool" V-8 swap easier. I thing your best shot as far as an easy tranny choise would be a T-5, and if you want to go real hard core power then look at the T-5 tranny sold at http://www.gforcetransmissions.com : they can handle about 600 ft lbs of torque. I reccomend a T-5 because they are small in size, easy to find clutches, bellhousings and parts for and will probibly save you a lot of trouble in the long run as opposed to a T-56(just my opinion). I you look in the "memberlist", you will se that many people have websites about their Z-car. Some of these people tell in detail about how they did their swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Having done the LT1 swap in my 1980 280ZX I would say the LT1 was "made" for the 280ZX. Have a look at my site and you will see what I mean. There are very few clearance issues with the motor...no problem with the air cleaner since its not mounted on top of the engine, enough room for a CSI water pump/26x19 Griffin Radiator/and a Taurus electric fan! Yeah its a snug fit but its worth it! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zx-boy Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 thanks for the help, but i think i'd rather go with an LS-1. every thing i hear about them is good news and it might be easier to find where i live. and if not it's only about 30 min. to the vagas junk yards . after some research i've decided that my r-180 diff needs to be replaced. do you think the r-230 would run well? or should i talk my neighbor in to selling me the rear end off his totaled C-4 vette? i don't have a lot of welding experance, but i do have access to all the equpment needed. and alot of my friends are very experanced mechanacs. so i don't have many worries about being able to anything short of making this thing fly. and if i had enough time we might be able to do that too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee Smith Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 It is a fact that when the 280ZXT came out in 1981, it was the quickest production car except for the Porsche 930/911 Turbo and a few other exotics. It blew the doors off everthing Detroit had to offer, as well as the other Japanese companies. This was in the era of the smogged down Corvettes and Trans Ams. Nissan was smart enough to beat the smog laws with fuel injection and to bump the power with a turbo thrown into the mix. Last year I had a 78 5-spd that was running RIGHT & a 83 T AT. The 78 na was almost as quick as the 83 T, to 85. The 78 seemed to have a higher top end at 1/2 mile. 115 in 4th, no more in 5th at 1 mile. The 78 only had 86K, 180# on all cyl. The 83 160K, 155# on all cyl. The above is why you have a fun car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grenade300 Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 ZX-Boy, You do not have an R-180 diff, you have the stronger R-200 diff. I have never heard of anybody complaning about the streingth of the R-200 and we have some pretty fast Z-cars on this forum running Datsun diffs. There shouldn't be a need for the R-230 or C4 rear end. By the way, if you want to get an LSD then go to those Vegas junk yards and look for an '87-'89 300ZX Turbo. They have a 3.70 clutch pack LSD R-200 that is a "pluck and chuck" swap for the R-200 you have. Don't get a diff from an '88 white SE 300ZXT. They have a Viscous LSD and require mods to put under a 280. And while you're at the junkyard look for some '81-'83 280ZXT halfshafts to replace yours. They are stronger. After that you should have a pretty strong rear end. Happy Hunting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 ZX-Boy' date=' You do not have an R-180 diff, you have the stronger R-200 diff.[/quote'] Well he might if he has a automatic tranny. I had a R180 in my 80' ZX which had a 3 speed auto. The R200 out of the 280ZXT is a direct bolt in and should be strong enough up to about 450-500HP. If you plan on more than that then you should go with the R230. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee Smith Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 The 82 & 83 2+2 have the same half shafts & clutch-pp as the T's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grenade300 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 80LT1, Thanx for the correction, you learn something new everyday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigWhyteDude Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 wow granade300 this is compleatly off topic but your avitar is really scary man thats just wronge..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zx-boy Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 according to the Haynes manual i have an r-180. on page 172 it says that all the 82, non turbo, 5 speeds came with it. unless the book is wrong. later today i'll jack it up and take a real close look. what is the way to tell the difference between the two from the outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Well I dont know how to tell if you dont have one of each side by side but http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/R200.html on my website you can see a pic of both(pics arent that great but maybe its enough for you to tell the difference) Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zx-boy Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 wow this might be easier than i thought. there is a running LT1 on e-bay for $300. that's right only $300. came out of an ex-intercepter. and i know a good new home for it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grenade300 Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 BigWhyteDude, Thanks for the complement on the avitar, I found it on http://www.ebaumsworld.com ZX-Boy, That's a pretty good price for the LT1, does it have the tranny with it? How many miles are on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zx-boy Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 they are selling it as a whole car. it has an auto tranny with it but the guy didn't say which one. and i might not get it because it has almost 200k miles on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SeanyD300zxT Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 depending on what the price ends at it might be worth it to have all the little extras that go along with swapping the motor...at least with a complete car you could be sure you're not missing any sensors or wiring.....or reincarnate it and make another blues brothers movie 'cop motor with cop suspension' A little freshen up might not hurt anything either....so is mileage that much an issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zx-boy Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 mileage is not that big of an issue, but i get the feeling that if i get an engine that has to be re-built. then i might not have the time to get to it. it is almost worth the extra money to get one in better condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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