Guest Anonymous Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 I'm looking at a 1972 240Z with a 355ci engine with a competition cam and a team G intake. The car is in great shape with four wheel disc brakes, a 92 300ZX rear end and coil-overs in the front. The specs on the cam: duration @.050, intake = 276, exhaust = 286. The car is characterized as "street pro" and needless to say, idles very rough, but the car is very fast and powerful. The Muncie 4-speed needs a re-build. It is a Scarab conversion. He might take $7500, wants $8500. My question is: The car with this cam has a borderline driveability factor; I want to drive this car as a fair weather commuter car on rural roads. Is this engine over-built for what I want? Thanks. Ambrose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 Ambrose, the engine has way too much cam IMO for "street" use. It is actually made for racing--either pro-street or drag. If you pop in a more streetable cam with less duration, say about 222 degrees @.050 inches. The price is a little steep for my taste, BUT it depends on what YOU want. The car may be beautiful and worth the money. To change it to JTR spec is not difficult or pricey, but who knows about the tranny? Just food for thought and my $.02 David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 I agree on all the points DavyZ made. The cam is too big for the street, and if it's JTR, that's easily remedied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 Ditto, @.050 225 degrees max for the street otherwise your low end power will be really weak. (this isn't a hard and fast rule larger displacements can handle a bit more) Depends one what your going to do with it, race it alot, sure sounds killer, but it won't be a enjoyable street experience with that cam. On the other hand, could always swap a milder cam in. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 if you want to use this for a work car it will need a t56 to get gas mileage and a new cam and probably carb jetting.i think the guy is fishing for money.i wouldnt offer over 5g because of the amount of work it will take to make it a daily driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 $5,000 sounds about right for a V8Z in reasonable condition. Remember, the tranny needs work, but a cam & lifters can easily be had for under $100-$200 (easy to install yourself too). Perhaps if you wave $5000 or so under his nose, he'll sit up and take notice. All the best, David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 27, 2001 Share Posted February 27, 2001 Thanks for all the replies. I drove the car and it is very fast but street drivability is the issue. The owner claims 11 to 1 compression and several friends have indicated he has built the engine up and it may not run right if I just put in a milder cam. With the issues of " detuning" the engine, remounting the engine JTR fashion and rebuilding the tranny it is overpriced. The body and underside is in great shape. I'll watch how fast he sells it and maybe offer him less. In the meantime anyone know of any Z V8 conversions for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Shasteen Posted February 27, 2001 Share Posted February 27, 2001 That cam is way too big; just to reiterate everyone else's thoughts. Usually when someone gives you their @ .050 duration figures...you can tach on another .050 to .065 thousanths of an inch to determine advertised duration. For streetability; you dont want anything more than a 280 advertised duration...& that's pushing the borderline. Regarding "Detuning"; just changing the cam might not cure things. Remember; its a total package that makes the car run right. If he has spent a lot of money to get the cyl.heads, intake & carb to flow w/the cam; you may have to detune the heads, intake & carb...possibly an expensive endevor. But, I agree; the 4spd trans is bad-use that as a leverage in haggling & wave $5000 under his nose...eh, wave $4500 under his nose as you can always go up-but you cant go down. Never know what you'll get when you wave hard cash in front of someone's face. If he doesnt bite on $4500; give him a week; wave the $4500 again; if he wavers then offer him $4700 as a final offer. If the car is still there next week....offer the $4700 again; ect, ect. If its a nice car & the rust is minimal or non-existent...that alone is worth a little extra. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted February 27, 2001 Share Posted February 27, 2001 Yes, 11:1 compression ratio would not be good for the street, period. You need octane boost just to drive the car, and that's after filling up with premium fuel! Just going to a milder cam won't do it in this case. I agree with Kevin on waving less then $5000 under his nose first, since you can always go up, but not down. This car sounds good, but it really is suited more to racing at the track than for driving on the street. However, all can be remedied... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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