Engine mounting?

[Guest Russ240z]

When I bought my 260z it was already set up for the 400sbc. The engine is solid mounted to the front of the block and ties in to the frame rails. It is set up for drag racing only so it wasn't a big deal. I have since took the 400 out and rebuilt it with plans to put it in to my 240z so I can drive it on the street.

 

I already have the scarab/hooker headers, large balancer, conventional starter, and mechanical fuel pump.

 

Here's my question,

 

What other engine mounting kits will allow me to use these parts? Buying new ones is expensive.

 

I know the JTR method is best, but I don't want to start over. I'm not trying to be cheap. I just want to budget my money properly. I will not be doing any road racing. Just weekend fun.

 

Thanks.

[Guest Luigi]

My engine is mounted w/a crossmember that is independent of the OE crossmember. Dude in TX named Alan Procter made it. I think he vanished to the woods.....

Trans-a-dapt (now TD products?) makes maybe 5 different crossmembers that could be used for mounting the SBC in a Z-car engine bay. They are also pretty cheap (like $60.00). I think that they provide measurements in their catalog.

Hope this helps

luigi

[labrat]

Other people who actually use the jtr mounting method may be able to add something here, but from what I understand, you won't be able to use any of the above. Maybe the headers, if they are block hugger style, but that's about it. the setback plates interfere with the mechanical fuel pump, and the starter just won't fit ( i don't think so, anyway). If you're not autocrossing this thing, just use the plate mount you have. Just my $.02

 

Bill

[Phantom]

Alan Proctor was a member of the Z Club of Texas. Pull up their website and look at their member email addresses. www.zcluboftexas.org

[Guest Russ240z]

The front motor mount from my 260 is rather crude. I plan on selling it with the drag car eventually. I'm interested in mounting kits that will let me use the parts I already have. Any links to the "other" solutions for engine mounting?

 

Thanks.

[jeromio]

There's JTR, which uses setback plates. Mike Knell sells a book with plans as well as the actual parts for the "kit" for around $500. The hit also includes a trans mount since you can't use the stocker (too far forward). The other benefit of JTR is that you can use a T5 or T56 manual as well as an automatic.

 

The "other" way of which you speak involves simply bolting the Chevy mounts to the Datsun towers. This is refered to as the "Scarab" style. There ain't no setback plates and the engine sits right over the crossmember, about 3 inches forward of where it sits in the JTR method and a manual shifter lever would end up being located under the dash.

 

John's Cars sells a very expensive "kit" for this scarab style mounting method. He's very adamant on his web page about the importance of not divulging the intellectual property tied up in his kit, and therefore there are no details. I think you give him $700 and he mails you 2 bolts

[Guest Anonymous]

I fabricated my own JTR set back plate mounts by copying the diagrams 100% on my copier and slapping them on the plate steel as templates. (Check to make sure the JTR edition diagrams you may have are dimensionally accurate to scale. It seems the cross member 1/2 inch spacers were not diagramed accurately but I used the OEM 2 bolt plate washer as a bolthole template. You will need a 7 1/4 inch or less harmonic balancer to fit.You can either make everything in mount adapters JTR offers or farm it out for fabrication a lot less. You can also buy all the other parts cheaper too ie JTR $50.00 + for an adapter flange that I got locally for $32.74 Cheap is not the answer for a few essential items done right.