S30 (240-280Z) Chevy V8 Swap FAQ

[pparaska]

Just a start - taken from jeremio's site:

 

"Typically the Chevy 350 block is used. This block can be

configured as a 305, 327, 383 and many other combinations (283,

302, etc) depending on the crank, rods and pistons used. Both the

Scarab and JTR conversions use this block. The last year of

production for this engine was in the 1999 Chevy and GMC trucks

and heavy SUVs. The last Car application was the 1997 FBody

(Camaro/Firebird) LT1.

 

Starting with the 1997 Corvette and the 1998 FBodies, followed by

the 2000 model Trucks, GM switched to a completely redesigned

"modular" engine family called the LS1. In Corvettes and Camaros,

the block casting is aluminum and in the trucks it is iron. All

of the engines, a 4.8, 5.3, 5.7 and 6.0 liter, have aluminum

heads and "composite" plastic intakes. Though the displacement

numbers are similar to the previous generation engines, the

mounting positions are different. Therefore the normal JTR (and

Scarab) mounting methods will not work with these engines. So

there is no "kit". It is also important to keep in mind that the

rear of these blocks are different as well, such that there is no

transmission interchange. There are distinct versions of the

automatic 4L60E and the manual T56 for these blocks that are not

interchangeable with the old style (LT1, for instance) engines,

and vice/versa."

 

Also, there is this stuff, from Zhome.com, but mostly compiled

by our own PaulR, some of it from old z-car mailing list traffic by me

and others from the early 90s:

 

http://zhome.com/rnt/v8.html

[fastzcars]

I just Thought that ther should be links to 2 of the places that can provide conversion kit's. Johns Cars makes a kit for the LS family of motor'shttp://www.brokenkitty.com/

 

And Jag's That Run (aka JTR) make's a kit for the first generation Small Block Chevy's (SBC). General V8 Z swap page: http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html

Datsun Z V8 conversion parts: https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Datsun_Order.html

Datsun Z V8 manual order page: https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/OrderingBooks.html

 

Ya, I know eveybody should know this, it's common knowlege, but I was thinking these links might just cut down on the newbie questions.

[Guest tony78_280z]

One can also buy the mounts from Motorsports, although I wouldn't recomend it.

[G-rib-73-240z]

One can also buy the mounts from Motorsports, although I wouldn't recomend it.

 

whys that, just wonderin.

 

like i mean are theybadly made or something like that?

[GrenadeZ]

I have a question that I feel like I know the answer to, but now that my hard drive wont open I cannot seem to find with search whether or not the sbc will mate to the datsun T5 out of a 1982 280zx NA.

 

I have the r200 and t5 5spd out of the 280 NA and Im thinking of buying a built 400 sb. ??

 

Everyone seems to use the chevy T5 which is harder to find, and I already have the Datto

[pparaska]

Some fact and some opinion follows:

Two issues here:

1) The stock Datsun T5 will not handle the torque of a "built" 400, most likely. Even the GM T5 will have trouble with that.

2) Mating the Datsun T5 to the SBC could be done, but it may actually be easier to find a GM T-5 out of an 80s Camaro or Firebird.

 

Either T5 may not be able to handle the torque of a "built" 400. I would suggest either a G-Force upgrade for the GM one, or go to a T56 or Tremec TKO 5spd. The G-Force upgrade will likely cost $2000 or more. I did that to the GM T-5 in my "built" 400 swapped 240Z. I love the trans, you do get used to the whine of the nearly straight cut G-Force gears . You could do the G-Force upgrade to the Datsun T-5 (see TimZ's posts on this) but then you'd have to adapt the Datsun bellhousing. It'd be easier and probably cheaper to go with the 153 tooth Sonic bellhousing made for GM tranny's, and just buy G-Force's complete T-5 with the new case.

[Freelancelance]

I just Thought that ther should be links to 2 of the places that can provide conversion kit's. Johns Cars makes a kit for the LS family of motor'shttp://www.brokenkitty.com/

 

And Jag's That Run (aka JTR) make's a kit for the first generation Small Block Chevy's (SBC). General V8 Z swap page: http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html

Datsun Z V8 conversion parts: https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Datsun_Order.html

Datsun Z V8 manual order page: https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/OrderingBooks.html

 

Ya, I know eveybody should know this, it's common knowlege, but I was thinking these links might just cut down on the newbie questions.

 

Thanks, I just sold my last project, a RestoMod 1969 RS Camaro... I am putting together a build list and this answered all my questions... So thanks!!