Guest Anonymous Posted February 14, 2001 Share Posted February 14, 2001 Im going to make my own motor mounts but I might as well look at the MSA ones for some reason MSA does not want to send me a cat "I've asked one to many times I guess" and I can't find my older ones SBC with TH350 in a 81ZX all you ZX guys how did you do your cars? Thanks Jeff 280ZXT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhaag Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 MSA used my car as the prototype for making their ZX V8 conversion kit. I've never seen the mounts they now have for sale so I can't swear that they are the same but logic would suggest they're the same. I tried to take some decent photos (with a borrowed camera) of my mounts but all I got were some very marginal photos that probably wouldn't be very helpful. If you have some specific questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them. John Haag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 Hey, I ordered mine from MSA for about $220 I believe... They took app. 5 months to get here, but they bolt right in. I have a 1980 280zx with the steering box. The kit comes with the 2 mounts, crossmember and the tranny mount, and new stock datsun engine mounts. The tranny mount is for a 700R4. I did some fabricating of my own, b/c I used a TH350 tranny. I'm impressed with the engine placement, as it is lower than I expected and not far from the firewall. I've seen a Scarab conversion, and its better placement than that... The engine mounts are basically two plates with a bar in b/t, one plate bolts to engine, the other to the stock engine mounts. The bars are different lengths to compensate for the steering box, I believe, but doesn't really affect engine placement. The engine looks nice in my car, and its running. Unfortunately I haven't driven it yet because I can't afford college tuition and exhaust at the same time. Its loud and shakes my house, So will be difficult to get on the street. Plus, I haven't managed to hook up the power steering pump yet, but I haven't messed with it much either... I hope this helps, ask any questions you like and we'll try to answer. ~Brian PS. John, I don't think we have the same mounts. I talked to the manager Sal and he said the mounts have been redesigned. Apparently someone different is making the mounts for them now, and thats also why it took so long for me to get mine. [This message has been edited by Head (edited February 14, 2001).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 how much work did you have to do to make the TH350 fit right? my mech made his own mounts for his 76Z LT1 engine and TH350 but I know the ZX is not the same when you ordered the mounts how long did they say it would be? did they give you a heads up on 5 months or did they pull a thank you parts should be there soon I can get my hands on most any kind of tool so making them should not be hard "I used to work for a race car company hehehe 100Ks of bucks into tools" also can use a lift and some other goodies why don't you run some pipe to some mufflers and out the side right in front of the rear wheels? just use some exhaust clamps to hold it together it would kill me to look at the car sitting there powersteering pump? I wondered about that can you use the nissan one? or do you need to put a chevy one on it? thanks for all the info I have a 350 and I just got a TH350 to go with it now all I need to do is get my mech to make some room at the shop and from the way he was talking Im not sure how long it will take ohwell some day... Jeff 280ZXT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 I have no knowledge on V8s in 280ZXs but if you do use the GM Saginaw pump for power steering, there are a few outfits that sell a regulating dealio that will reduce the pressure. I got one for my truck as it has the Saginaw pump (on a Ford 429) but is connected to a Mustang Rack - waaaay over boosted. You take the fitting off the output of the pump, remove a little part, replace it with this aftermarket part and wallah - power steering that doesn't feel like mush. I got mine from RBs, mail order out of Cali. They have ads in all the street rod and street truck magazines. ------------------ 240Z.jeromio.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 To get the TH350 in, I didn't use the crossmember that they sent. We went to our local Ace hardware store and bought some pretty strong steel bars. It was more or less like a steel yardstick I guess... We cut it and bent it into a "U" shape, and bolted the sides of the U into the tranny well, through the side of the floorboard but under the carpet, using 2 heavy duty bolts. On the bottom of the U we bolted the tranny mount that came with the package, and obviously the tranny went through the middle of the U. I hope my terminology isn't too technical for you let me know if I can clear anything up concerning this... I mailed off my order for the mounts on a Friday, and that Monday they called me and told me that they had to get someone to make the mounts, which would take *2 weeks*. I was like, yeah thats fine. 3 weeks later, I called back to tell them I didn't get my mounts. Again, they said, "2 more weeks". This pattern kept on until several months later and many phone calls. It ended up being somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 weeks. I think I was given the runaround too and I finally started making demands. I would have had the car driveable a long time ago... It does suck having the car just sitting there lacking exhaust, considering a v8z car is a dream I've had for years. I've thought about what you said about the exhaust clamps, but I'm just going to wait a few more weeks when I get some $$ to have one installed. We're using a chevy power steering pump. We need to make a bracket or find one to mount it. I'm sure you could use a Datsun PS pump but it may be more difficult to mount. Man I can't wait to get it running though. The engine has app. 300 HP. Who has an idea what my 1/4 ET should be? I have a 3.73 rear end. My goal is 400 hp. ~Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 Hello there. I have a running zx right now, and I didn't buy any of my parts from anyone. You can use the stock zx powersteering pump,and it works fine. Just have to modify the zx bracket a little and it can actually bolt right up to the chevy water pump. I am using the stock zx alternator, right now as well. I might have to get a bigger one, not sure haven't had time to test it with all my new goodies I have gotten. The engine mounts I used where simply some old chevy (78 truck) mounts and welded them to my zx mounts. It puts the engine as low as it could go and as far back as it could go, so I presume it's a decent placement. I haven't see any other zx's, so I dont' know how the placement is. I also just used the stock zx tranny member and welded a little t together and it fits in perfect place. It hooks up hard, and it rolls fast. I'm in the process of getting my t56 now, then it will be very fun. I know how it can be though working in school, and putting a v8zx together, kinda hard. If you need any info or anything, just ask. I can probably help you out. sean ellobo97@hotmail.com ------------------ "I feel the need, the need for speed!!" "Don't hate the player, hate the game!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 being young and not having that much money sucks Im 17 and have 2 cars to keep up about to put lower springs on my honda with new rims/tires $$$$ Im also going to start doing the body work on my ZX as soon as the time goes up 1 hour so I have some daylight after work to cut my car up "rust" my engine is ford blue "don't know why he painted it that color" looks good tho! I would like to paint my Z midnight blue my carpet is blue doors are gray and seats are black so it should look good I would also like to get yet another keyboard since I need one for the road "anyone got a PSR520 for sale?" just picture what its like to have so much money that you don't know what to do with it I guess thats when you buy a mclaren f1 Jeff 280ZXT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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