How much did everyone spend on their V8 Conversion?

[Guest Philanthr0py]

Hey guys, I've always wanted a Z since i was in high school, and now I have a 77 280z that i got for free. However, i plan to use that one for parts and i plan to buy a 70-73 model so I can be smog exempt when I do the V8 conversion. I just wanted to know how much everyone spent on their Z's and how much money will I approximately need in order to do JUST the conversion (getting the engine and tranny in). Can you guys also tell me how much work it'll take and what kind of tools i'll need?

[Guest Anonymous]

adding machine is still working overtime: 5+13+34+26+86+54+22+53+71+76+32+18+83+66+94+99+47+66+32+98+30+27+66+54+96+73+25+46+65+95+4576+59+86+53+65+94 you can do the math and creativity helps.

[DavyZ]

Ummm, about $3000+ and counting (not finished yet)...

 

Davy

[Guest Anonymous]

Stopped at $9000 Australian full rebiuld of engine and t400 trans. although complete car rebiuld ie bare metal, derust, new doorskins, bumper rebiuld and chrome, all interior panel rebiulds, new bonnet ( i think you call it hood ) R200 diff, lead fill, panel manufacture & paint and we are up to $22,000 Australian. But eveyone is busting my door down to see the finished product in 5 weeks time. Even Aust Street Machine Mag wants to do a cover shoot! Will end uop at $25,000 and broke can you lend me some cash for petrol ?

 

Bob & Anne Burgess

[Guest Philanthr0py]

what's the ratio between austrailian and american dollars?

I live in Northern California, but i grew up in SoCal, There aren't as many tuners up north as there is down south. I wish I was building this car in SoCal... It would be so much easier for me... probaly cheaper too... I think i'll only have around $3000 to spend for now. How far do you guys think 3 grand will take me?

[Mudge]

Probably the best idea is to grab the JTR book, and see whats needed.

[randy 77zt]

do your best estimate and mutiply by 2.my turbo conversion cost about $1500.but i got a parts 81zxt with a good engine for $200.

[KraZeeZX]

So far, $3400, but I haven't even started! That was just for my engine and tranny. I'm also going to be buying a T56 tranny (if anyone knows where I can get one for a good price, let me know!) to replace the 4L60E. So add about another $1000 to that. Then the price of a new radiator, some new gauges, the custom exhaust I'll have to have made, and oh... did I mention I'm planning on adding a turbo too?

 

It'll be pricey, but damn will it be worth it!!!

 

Christmas is almost here!!!! I cant wait!!!!!!

[Tim240z]

Mudge,

I bought it from a bodyshop (hole in the wall kinda place) that had bought it from an insurance auction.

The car was running (although parked in so I couldn't drive it) and I took the engine out myself (with help from another member here). He originally wanted $2000, but after offering to pull it myself, I got him down. I got the driveshaft, more wiring harness than I could ever need, and misc. nuts and bolts.

I have fired it up recently, and apart from the MAF causing trouble (runs fine without it installed, but stalls after a couple of seconds of startup with it), it seems to be in good shape...no smoke (confirmed before I bought it) and no oil leaks. Looks to have a fairly new waterpump and MSD 8.8mm plug wires.

 

Tim

[madmanadam]

$9000 and still going

 

$600 Car

$3500 ZZ4 Crate motor

$500 wheels/tires

$200 R200/parts car

$150 Th350

$1000 Suspension

$100 Toy Front brakes

$600 Digital guages

$400 First paint job

$200 Brake and Gas lines

$1000 misc. stuff, seats, material for interior

$2000 Tools Mig welder, drill press, grinder, hand tools

And the list goes on

Still enjoying every penny I put in the car.

Oh ya, a plasma cutter ($900) to make future changes easier.

 

Got to love them toys

 

-Adam

[utvolman99]

b

[Guest Big Phil]

My ride still isn't finished but here is a part list with prices. I figure I will have invested $10,000 before I finish. You can do a V8 conversion for alot less but I wanted the good stuff.

 

95 Chevy Camaro LT1 Motor, Trans, Harness and ECU $2500.00

JTR V8 Motor and Trans Kit with drive shaft flange $218.76

65-72 Chevy Truck Motor Mounts Part# 3990332 $75.00 a pair

77-82 Chevy Caprice Trans Mount Part# 475940 $35.00

94-96 Chevy Caprice 4LR60E Tailhousing Part# 24214689 $144.67

Hooker Block hugger headers Coated $199.00

Lokar Trans Dipstick (Firewall Mount) $77.95

Lokar Oil Dipstick $52.95

LT1 Throttle / Kickdown Cable Bracket Computer Controlled Transmission $54.95

Lokar Throttle Cable $42.95

Lokar Transmission Kickdown Cable $68.95

S&P LT1 IROC/Vette Alt and Air Bracket $570.00

S&P Coil Bracket $30.00

S&P Crank Spacer $65.00

S&P Rear Exit Fuel Rail $135.00

S&P Spark Plug wires and Separators $145.00

Sanden A/C Compressor $210.00

GM Alternator CS130 10 O’clock (89-92 Chevy Full Size) $140.00

Vintage Air Gen II Mini Climate Control System $800.00

Ed Hanson Exhaust with cat and mufflers $600.00

Lokar 8 inch Shifter $200.00

High Output Electric Fan Late 90’s Ford Two Speed Fan Purchase from Junkyard $20.00

Fan Thermostat for Electric FanTwo speed operation with 30 amp relay $60.00

Universal Wiring Kit $300.00

Computer ReprogrammingRemove EGR, AIR pump and Pass Key $300.00

Modified Wiring HarnessLengthen, Remove Emissions and Remove Extra Wiring $300.00

Griffin Aluminum Radiator (24 X 19) $189.00

Transmission Cooler $100.00

Perma Cool Remote Oil Filter Kit 35.00

Autometer Gauges (Speed, Tach, Fuel, Oil, Water) $454.00

Lokar LED Shift Indicator Kit

Inland Empire Driveline Aluminum Drive shaft $342.00

Toyota Brake Upgrade $400.00

Fuel Lines $125.00

Transmission Lines $50.00

Brake Lines (Front & Rear) $100.00

[MikeS]

ZZ4 CRATE ENGINE 3300.00

BUILT 700R4 1600.00

BODYWORK 2500.00

SHEETMETAL 500.00

PAINT & LABOR 2000.00

RUBBER SEALS 400.00

SUSPENSION 800.00

2-240Z,1-260Z,1-280Z = ONE GOOD CAR-1500.00

HEADERS 180.00

MINI STARTER 225.00

RADIATOR 185.00

OVERFLOW 50.00

LINCOLN FAN 45.00

R2OO 100.00

CV SHAFTS 80.00

WINSHEILD 175.00

MIRRORS 80.00

FUEL CELL 125.00

FUEL PUMP 85.00

FUEL FILTER 55.00

AN FITTINGS&LINES 175.00

TAIL LIGHTS 225.00

HEADLIGHTS 125.00

HELLA LIGHTS 95.00

 

MISC. PARTS SEATS,GASKETS,NUTS & BOLTS- 600.00

 

 

2-SS MUFFLERS 220.00

2.50 SS TUBING 200.00

2.50 SS 90s & 45s 200.00

------------

$ 15825.00

 

 

STILL NEED WHEELS,TIRES,ALTERNATOR AC COMPRESSOR,

VINTAGEAIR UNIT,BELT&BRACKETS,CARPET,BRAKES&LINES

CARB&FUEL LINE,, DRIVESHAFT, BATTERY,TRANS COOLER

 

ANOTHER $5000.00 WILL HAVE ME ON THE STREET.I HOPE TO BE DONE BY MAY 2003

 

MIKE

[Guest Thurem]

This question, I think is even worse than asking a chick how old she is!!!!

[80LS1T]

My coversion is in a 1980 280ZX.

 

Keep this in mind, I am only 20 years old right now. I have had the car since I was 17. I enherited it from my father when he passe away.

 

Money Spent on the "Z"

 

Dash Board $371.00

Dash Cover---not in use now $90.00

High Pressure Fuel Regulator---for L28 $230.00

LT1 & T56 $2,650.00

Carpet Kit $235.00

Headers and Exhaust system---for L28 $320.00

Center Caps for Z Mags $35.00

Struts $300.00

Springs $195.00

Bushings $154.00

Front and Rear Sway bars $235.00

Windsheild Sticker $40.00

Center Console for shifter $70.00

Coin Box $4.50

Antenna $20.00

CD Player $160.00

Speakers $200.00

Radio Face Plate $19.00

Steering Wheel $116.00

Rear Louver $225.00

Side Louvers $120.00

Gas Cap $10.00

Radio Housing $40.00

Power Window Plates---black $21.00

Old 350 SBC Block ($120.00)

Rear Brake Calipers $225.00

Sunvisor Clips $4.00

Floor Mats 280ZX$65.00

Paints and Misc $100.00

New Fuel Injectors--6 for the L28 $220.00

Oxygen Sensor---L28 $65.00

Spark Plugs and Wires------L28 $50.00

Rear Wiper Knob $3.93

Dimmer Switch Knob $5.45

Seat Belt Recepticles----Black $20.25

94-95 Camaro EMC $99.00

Black Interior parts $160.00

Front Windshield Cowl $36.00

LT1/LT4 Video $35.00

Black Sunvisors $75.00

85 MPH Speedo ($25.00)

130 MPH speedometer upgrade $80.00

Black Door Eschuceons $22.00

Black Sunvisor Holders $12.00

LT1 HPC Coated Headers $203.96

Port and Polishing LT1 Heads and Intake $1200.00 Black Sunvisors ($90.00)

 

So this totals up to be somewhere in the neighbor hood of $8000. I am planning on finishing this up this winter! Hopefully anyway.

 

These are the thing I still have to do...

 

1. Rebuild bottom of LT1 engine---$800(dont have to pay for machining)

 

2. New clutch and resufacing flywheel---$400(samething now machining costs)

 

3. New LSD R200---$750 (yeah I'm going to give MSA $750 for a LSD!)

 

4. 3 or 4 core Griffin Radiator---$250-$350

 

5.Paint and body kit---$2500(dont have to pay for labor or paint booth time)

 

All Iknow is I'm glad that I know people who can give me good deals on machining and paint work!

[Mikelly]

I had the chasis, and all the cage/ suspension and other mods to the body and such from an insurance settlement on another Z. My motor Shipped was $3600. I had $1100 in the T56, $200 in the drive shaft, $530 in the clutch kit, $260 in the flywheel, Clutch plumbing was another $120, another $1500 in Carb, MSD Ignition, fuel pump and regulator, Starter, Alternator, and various other items...

 

However, the engine builder didn't do some things as claimed, used some parts I should have known not to substitute, and eventually the oil pickup tube box (It was braced) broke at the weld, causing the engine to cavetate.. I'm building a new one...

 

Mike

[Guest jwelch]

There is a tear in my Michelob Ultra (low carb.) Light Beer after answering this question.

 

I'm at 11K + and it is still in my garage. Man, I hate emissions with a passion.

 

Regards,

[Guest Anonymous]

Philanthropy. I posted first to your inquiry and was wondering if you totaled up my costs yet since I have already ran up more nickle and dime expenses on the ever running total. add in 99+47+24+54+49+88+32+55+49+82+55+47+85+66+52+77

[Guest SteveR]

Thus far, $250 for the car (z31), and $1000 for the engine AND tranny (305/T5). I'm off to a great start. And I expect to part out some of the stuff I don't need from the z31 as well.

 

I guess I've just been lucky so far, because I got the car from a guy who needed to get rid of it ASAP. And the engine and tranny just happened to show up at the salvage yard as I was looking for it.

[Guest Anonymous]

Re the question of what $25,000 is in american cash, well we are getting 56.76 cents to an Aussie dollar so i have spent $14,190 US SO FAR