z_cars_rule Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Hello everyone. This is just me saying hello to this section of the forum. I already have a 280ZX with RB20DET that i did myself. Now I have just made payment on a 350 SBC to go into my freshly painted 260Z 2+2 daily driver. I have already done alot of searching, and I usually find what i am looking for, but there will no doubt be one or 2 things that I may have to ask. Right now I am unsure of the gearbox that i am going to use. It will barely see the high-way, 80% street driven. And my ulitimate goal is 300rwhp. Most likely to go with a TH350, but also considering the 700-4R. I will have to search more. And one quick thing to anyone who has bothered to read this far: I am not sure what size stall converter to get. I am not going to race it at all, maybe just once to see what it can do. So i am thinking somewhere around a 2500 stall? I guess I will be able to figure it out better once I have decided on a trans and cam. Thanks for all your future help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
389Z Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Welcome to the V-8 section. I have a TH350 with 350 SBC. I drove just like you are planning for two years before rebuilding to 383 stroker conversion which will be done the weekend. I also have a low stall torque converter which suits me fine for streeting, but I have had and driven higher stall speed converters on other vehicles and found them to be a pain for daily driver applications. The TH350 tranny will also kill you mpg-wise on the highway as you probably already know and I often wished for an overdrive when I had to drive far, but it sounds like you are not worried about that. I'll let others weigh in on the virtues of your other choices, but I am happy with my setup for what it is worth. I added a shift kit and liked the added performance. Lastly, if you are swapping motors and tranny's it may be worthwhile to add an R-200 differential to your project. Mine has the stronger R-200 and many here can attest that this will be your weakest link with the added hp and torque. Best of luck on your project, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forces Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I am using a TH350, and as soon as I blow it up (being that it is a used lock-up converter tranny I am sure I WILL grenade it), I am definetly going for a 700r4. I'm reving the piss out of my motor at 65 MPH. Given I have ~3.90's and short tires, for now anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z_cars_rule Posted February 15, 2007 Author Share Posted February 15, 2007 Thanks for your experiences. Yeah MPG at speed not really an issue for me. I would be lucky to see the highway once every month or 2. And for my one big trip a year (2000 miles) i would just swap the diff. I am already planning on doing an r200 swap, but i want to see how the 180 goes first. I plan on running a 3.70 diff and 235/55/16s on the rear, or something there abouts. should give me okay gearing, if not, i have a spare 3.56 R200 at home too. So could you tell me what the best thing to get a 700r4 out of is? I guess i better get searching. Thanks once again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I'd check late 80s Suburbans and trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z_cars_rule Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 well i am happy, today i found out that my motor is on the boat and on it way over to me. I have pretty much decided on a th350 for my gearbox, i have been noting my speed in the car over the last month and only once did i drive over 50 mph, and that was because i was late for work. this is of course not taking into account my spirited driving in the hills i am going to upgrade suspension and brakes before i swap in the sbc, so that will also give me time to get a better intake, cam and carb. If i can get this car to run a 13sec 1/4 and not be too loud then i will be very happy and content until my next crazy Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1noel Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I see that you have a "1978 260Z". Is that correct? 260's were not sold in the states after 1974. Just curious. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z_cars_rule Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 yeah mate, in Oz they never released a 280Z, only 240 and 260Z, it was 260Z right up until 78, when they introduced the 280ZX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Looks like youll have a nice car. Could we get some pictures of the 2+2? Where are you getting the motor from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Poly Zmanaustin Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 yeah mate, in Oz they never released a 280Z, only 240 and 260Z, it was 260Z right up until 78, when they introduced the 280ZX. Interesting. Maybe the smog regulations didn't effect the 260Z in Oz. Now I am curious...did it come stock with the SU carbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z_cars_rule Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 yeah came with the SU carbs. Oz actually got a completly different set of block/head combos to the US from what i have seen. no special heads or anything like that, but take for example my 3 bone stock never touch S130s, all came with the L28e obviously, but with an F54/N42 combo with dished pistons, all factory. My 260Z should by rights be called a 280Z, because it came with the L28, and this motor i am unsure of the block/head history, but it currently runs F54 w/dished pistons (stock) with a P90 head (unsure, looks like it would be stock, and nothing in the history of the car says anything about a head change). dont have any pics as of yet, have to wash the car first. this weekend i shall be getting some shots of both my cars and will chuck them in my album. mopar69 - I actually am getting the motor from the states, a couple mates and myself have organised a whole shipping container of parts/motors/gearboxes/cars to come over. This was the cheapest way of finding a good running sbc for me. ppl over here want too much for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Poly Zmanaustin Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Thanks for the info. Outside the US always gets the best cars:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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