Guest Anonymous Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 Here are some preliminary pics of my BBC install in a 1983 280ZX. Motor plates are homemade, custom mid-plate. Moroso 8 quart pan. Passenger side Hooker Hedder (2 1/4 primary) fits with some minor tweaking, but will need custom drivers side constructed. Engine is a 509 with Merlin heads, .780 solid roller, 12.5 to 1 compression, BME rods, stock block and crank. Trans is a Turbo 400 with 8 inch 5000 stall. Note that all street stuff is still underhood and I am using the stock front clip.....wish me luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 Wow, is that thing going to be slow or what! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 Looking good! Nice job mounting the motor to the frame rail. This is purey a racing car right?!? Post more pics of the progress as it happens!!! Way cool. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 That's gonna be one Big Bad Dog..Hang on tight Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VETTETEK Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 looks great!!! We thought of going big block, but we werent certain of the increased weight and the car being able to handle (other than a staright line), but still looks awesome!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 This is a STREET CAR folks! Weight seems OK, but would be better with aluminum heads. In fact the car is the same ride height as with the turbo six. We are making a F/G hood (with required scoop) and will also shave off as much extraneous weight as possible from the front end. i have built a 1967 427 Nova, 73 BBC Vette, and a 1968 Impala that ran 10.30's street trim but this thing is by far the most fun to build and work on. It is simply amazing how much room there is under the hood (MUCH better than the Vette for example). Should see about 3000 street miles in 2003 and look for a tamed down combo the following winter for extended cruises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 looks good , brings back memmorys, youll LOVE the results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 that is nice, i promised myself if i ever do a v8 car again, its big block, or no block! lookin good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dp351zcar Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 Hey Street Legal are you in Vancouver Canada or washington? That car is going to be wicked. I see that it is going to have straight axle (9 inch?) in it. I think you might have traction problems and you might not want to drive it in the snow or ice. Would like to see it run at pacific raceways sometime. Good job. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danj Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 Are you running manual rack or power steering? The 83ZX does present some special clearance problems as we have found out with the installation of the sbc into my 83. Did you build your own headers from scratch for the driver side exhaust or make modifications from existing headers? We're converting from power to manual rack to gain some clearances. Have had some problems finding parts especially the cross member. Seems like there are more and more hybrid ZX projects being posted lately. Not as much information available for these, especially the 83 model. Keep us posted on your progress and how you solve any unusual problems along the way. Best of luck. DanH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 SWEET! What are you doing for a rear, tires, wheels, etc. to get that torque to the ground? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modern Motorsports Ltd Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 This is pure racing car right?!? Nope, this 280ZX will be street thumping as well down the asphalt and streetlights as a wknd cruiser and 1/4 miler;) .....sending the imports (and others!) whimpering home Quite a project 'street legals' completing and very well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Fuel ZX Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 You must live in Vancouver Canada cause there would be no way you could get that car street "legal" in washington. Nice job on putting the engine in the engine bay. Almost looks like it was meant to be in there. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shortyz Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 This guy may give shorty a run. LOL!! Nice install fer sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest m35514h Posted December 27, 2002 Share Posted December 27, 2002 Are you mounting that in the JTR position? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 27, 2002 Share Posted December 27, 2002 All I know is if you're racing that dude,I hope that you ahve some reinforcement to that chassis!That 509 will twist that damn thing like a kid stepping on a tin can.Better be careful! Izzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted December 29, 2002 Share Posted December 29, 2002 Street Legal, You’re making the big-block installation look easy! Looks beautiful! My ’78 used to have a big block – now it just has a big hole. I’d love to compare notes on all things BBC. Unfortunately, big block activity on this site is moderate at best. Brad Barkley started a site dedicated to Chevy big blocks, but sadly, that one isn’t much of a happening place, either. Perhaps the best venue is e-mail off-line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted December 29, 2002 Share Posted December 29, 2002 Michael, It would be great if you would post on this board and then wait for a reply. Also if the person you direct a question to does not answer right away, an email sent to them to notify that they have a topic of interest might get more discussion going. I don't think big blocks will ever get the amount of coverage small blocks do, but that does not diminish the swap's importance in the least. Furthermore, we always learn from your knowledge--a very good thing and much appreciated. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 29, 2002 Share Posted December 29, 2002 Sorry it took so long to post again, that Christmas thing and all...Yes, I live in Vancouver Canada and yes, I hear voices. In response to the post about clearance, it is very tight between the Morosso oil pan and the rack, and requires a 15 inch high crank centerline (from the pavement), this is a little high but should be fine for high eights. The engine is a far back as possible without firewall mods, and the front and mid plates allow plenty of room for thru-chassis headers. The passenger side accepts my Camaro Hooker tubes with simply re-routing the brake lines, the drivers side will be custom of course. The car is stock sheet metal from the seats forward, but employs a 10 point cage and back half from there back built by Pro Gas Engineering. A Morrison four link and coil overs suspend the 4.11 geared twelve bolt. Tires are MT ET Streets (12.5 X 30) on Welds. For some frame shots check out: http://streetlegalmonthly.tripod.com/ and go to the "Project Car" pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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