Jump to content
HybridZ

How much did everyone spend on their V8 Conversion?


Guest Philanthr0py

Recommended Posts

Up closer to 40k on parts at this point. I have not cut many corners on parts and components. Will update as car goes to a good shop to get things done. My goal is not economy. After I am done with the build, it should last and be pretty reliable. I accepted the car on the basis that I would get it up and keep it running for the long term. My second father gave it to me. Recently he was very happy that assembly on the car is getting going. He would not sell the car, so I have taken the responsibility to get it up and keep it going. It was the first car he purchased after he got married. Purchased it only about a year old used and kept it ever since (Model 1977.5 280Z). It is a very emotional and personal connection is the only reason why I would take and do such a large and expansive project. I have purchased almost everything new. Still need interior items, radiator, AC condenser, rims, tires, seats, and chassis wiring harness to have an essentially completely new car. Fully stripped and going to be reassembled. Hopefully a fun car to be enjoyed for years to come.

I thought I would but an idea of why some would redo a car instead of purchase a new one.

 

Jeff

Edited by jeff81
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 186
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

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?

 

Hey back, I have the same deal as you. I own a 71 & 72 240z's and want to v-8 one. I got a quote of $12,000 turnkey to put in an LS1 350 shortblock. That's in Dallas, Tx. As far as buying the 240....paid $1850 for the 71 in 1995 & just paid $2400 for the 72, but the 72 spent 35 years in a barn so little rust. The biggest thing on a v-8 conversion is if the engine metal has rust, don't but it. Not for a v-8 conversion.

I just talked to a man who doe's this and he said if there's rust, you need to pass it up.

 

I need lots of help here & money

 

Good luck, Donnie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

i spent 300 bucks on the car and then got tired of it.. even with dual webers that helped out alot i just needed to do the v8 conv.. it is running now and is a blast i think im about 5 to 6 grand without adding all the little things but if you buy and old used motor that runs you get it done cheeper. my $80 chevy 350 that i was going to re ring and put new bearings in ended up being a full rebuild plus new heads and so on..... so be ready for the unexpected..

post-4582-043290400 1292391886_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I already owned the car, '76 280Z, and found a LT-1/4L60-E from a '94 Roadmaster for $850. Decided to go for it. Ebayed a JTR kit and book for $100 minus speedo cable and flange. At this point it all seemed easy and cheap. I was wrong, well it wasn't a hard install so far but is expensive. Right now I have the engine in and mounted, most of the wiring together, radiator, and headers and I see I am still about $3.5k away from getting this thing together. As far as just getting it running probably $1k and so far spent about $2k. Not complaining, I like this and I will be happy when done.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
  • 1 month later...

Probably about 30k in mine and of course still not done. As a matter of fact was going to turbo it within the next month but now I am having problems keeping it cool. Any suggestions on a radiator for a large cid s30?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Mine was fairly cheap. I have a 77 280z and I made my engine mounts out of 2x2 square tubing and some 1/4 flat sheet metal I had laying around and also the made my own tranny mount out of 1x1 square tubing and bolts and stuff laying around the shop. Had to buy some grade 8 bolts and what not but I didn't buy any of that jtr crap. I didn't like how the motors fit and shoved so far out front in the engine bay. My distributor is only like a 1/4in from the fire wall and I had to remove my hood latch but I wanted hood pins anyways. So you figure for bolts and the tubing and flat sheet mteal for the engine mounts and tranny mounts cost less than 50 bucks and I had the driveline made for another 50 bucks and im running summit street rod or block hugger headers that were like 150 bucks or something and im running a stock radiator with a electric fan with shroud out of a volvo that fits from corner to corner on the radiator perfectly and it doesn't get hot at all. Takes 30 mins of idleing to get the thermostat to open just sitting there. But really if your looking at the cost of initial swap and your just talking about dropping the motor in and tranny in you can do it for under 250 bucks if you build the stuff yourself and not buy the stupid kit from jtr. Otherwise you can be nose heavy like everyone else out there and basically waste a ton of money on something that is soooo easy and cheap to make. Literally

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Right, and if one already had...

 

- a well-sorted S30 with no rust and the good suspension bits already installed

- the new engine, all dressed and complete

- the new transmission, mated to the new engine, with the correct clutch and hydraulics

- a shop with a lift, metal-working tools, pneumatics, and welding equipment

- shelves stocked with scrap metal in various grades and sizes

- cabinets with bolts, clamps, tubing and the like

- decades of experience

- a network of friends, suppliers and craftsmen in the automotive business

- a thorough plan for exactly what one wants to achieve, and how to achieve it

- business-savvy, knowing how to work the junkyards, E-bay, RacingJunk and Craigslist

 

Then the cost would actually be negative... because your to-be-installed parts are free, and you can sell the parts that are to be removed during the build!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mine was fairly cheap. I have a 77 280z and I made my engine mounts out of 2x2 square tubing and some 1/4 flat sheet metal I had laying around and also the made my own tranny mount out of 1x1 square tubing and bolts and stuff laying around the shop. Had to buy some grade 8 bolts and what not but I didn't buy any of that jtr crap. I didn't like how the motors fit and shoved so far out front in the engine bay. My distributor is only like a 1/4in from the fire wall and I had to remove my hood latch but I wanted hood pins anyways. So you figure for bolts and the tubing and flat sheet mteal for the engine mounts and tranny mounts cost less than 50 bucks and I had the driveline made for another 50 bucks and im running summit street rod or block hugger headers that were like 150 bucks or something and im running a stock radiator with a electric fan with shroud out of a volvo that fits from corner to corner on the radiator perfectly and it doesn't get hot at all. Takes 30 mins of idleing to get the thermostat to open just sitting there. But really if your looking at the cost of initial swap and your just talking about dropping the motor in and tranny in you can do it for under 250 bucks if you build the stuff yourself and not buy the stupid kit from jtr. Otherwise you can be nose heavy like everyone else out there and basically waste a ton of money on something that is soooo easy and cheap to make. Literally

Pictures??? The only way mt car will idle for "30 min" before the t-stat opens is if I forgot to put it in....lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...