350 Z31 (dial up beware)

[wingman]

hey, new face around here. I've been lurking for a while gathering info on swapping a 350 chevy into my Z31. I'm doing a near full car build, with the engine coming last, but I'm about halfway there as-is so there shouldn't be too much more of a wait, I want to have it all finished by summer.

 

I've hyperlinked everything I could to a picture of what I've got or getting. Some are just links to the merchant. If you want to see the actual progress on parts and comparisons of new vs. old, they will be in my next post.

 

Anyway, here's what the plans are:

 

1988 Maroon z31 Turbo

 

Engine/Exhaust:

Engine Budget - $5000

Paid - $2750

 

Chevy 350

revving to 6500

Al heads (brand undecided)

Eagle forged crank

Eagle H-beam rods

SRP lightweight pistons

Hydraulic cam (brand undecided)

roller rockers (brand undecided)

lightweight flywheel (brand undecided)

NOS cheater system (100 shot, most likely)

dual mandrel bent 2.5" exhaust

dual flowmaster hushpower II mullers

dual Pacesetter Monza exhaust tips

100 Amp alternator

 

exhaust will go into an X pipe immediately after the headers, I don't believe the hushpowers are true glasspacks, but hopefully the X will still do it's magic behind them. I've got to hammer out the frame on the passenger side, chop the spare tire well, and center the gas tank to fit everything in, but I'll make it happen.

 

the engine itself is still being built, I'm still deciding on ignition and a carb, I'm almost set on the MSD 6AL box with a timing retard module for the nitrous. haven't thought much about the carb though, I'm much more familiar with fuel injection so it's a step into the unknown for me. Target horsepower and torque is 425-450 before the nitrous, and from there I have no clue as to what to expect.

 

Driveline/Brakes/Suspension:

 

Toyota R154 Transmission

Advance Adapters SBC to AX15 bellhousing

Clutch Master's 6 puck Stage 4 clutch (GM compatable, splined for R154)

custom driveshaft

Neapco/Spicer rear differential flange

300+ lb/in race springs, 1.5" drop up front, 1" drop in back

Tokico Illumina shocks

MSA master bushing kit

350Z track edition slotted front rotors

Z32 4 piston front calipers

Z32 2 piston rear calipers

coated SS brake lines

EBC Greenstuff Pads

Brembo Slotted rear rotors

FR500 mustang replica wheels, 17x9 +24 all around

Riken Raptor ZX 255/40/17 up front

MT street radial 275/40/17 in rear

Moroso Wheel studs

 

All the calipers are being rebuilt from the ground up, and powdercoated. And even with those tires I understand that I'll still have hellacious traction problems...haha

 

Interior:

 

JVC head unit

sony Xplod speakers on all 4 corners

dual 10" subs/amps, brands undecided

MSA roll bar

4 point harnesses

Corbeau A4 racing seats

 

 

Stuff that needs to be custom made for the conversion:

 

P/S pump bracket (using nissan one)

P/S lines

driveshaft

engine/tranny mounts

caliper adapters[/b]

 

I MAY also repaint the car in the original maroon color. I have access to a paint booth an all the necessary equipment, so labor costs won't be an issue. Anybody have the paint code for it by chance?

[wingman]

here's what I've accomplished so far:

 

the brakes are the second most expensive part of the build, next to the cost of the engine. with Z32 30mm front calipers, fully rebuilt and re-powdercoated, 350Z track edition rotors, and brembo rear rotors on top of a full rear caliper rebuild, they're costing me a LOT of money compared to the suspension.

 

here's what the calipers looked like when I got them:

 

 

pretty icky huh? Well here's what they looked like with a few afternoons of tedious paint stipping, oh and there's some wheel studs there too:

 

 

now throw $200 of parts, $90 of pads, and $100 of powdercoating at them:

 

 

nice and shiny...just gotta hope they hold fluid.

 

 

but where would those nice calipers be without a 12.75" brake rotor to hold onto? The center of the 350Z rotor is the same ID as the Z31, so I figured with some brackets I'd be in business. Here's a few comparisons:

 

front to rear:

 

 

350Z front vs. Z31 front:

 

 

mounted on hub, no caliper:

 

 

I'll probably buy the Z32 bracket kit from conceptzperformance, since it should be bolt on...maybe .17" off on the lateral side, but I can shim it.

 

 

 

the stereo was the one thing I really cheaped out on for the build, but only to get me through until the car was finished. I've got a cheap amp under the passenger seat for the rear speakers and another cheap amp and sub in the hatch.

 

 

 

expect more updates soon. I'm ordering parts as fast as I can get the money for it!

[wingman]

wahoo progess! and quite a bit at that.

 

the old engine is out of the car and will soon be on the market (W series VG-30 ET, not that any of you want a Z motor)

 

tranny is out and will be on the market (FS5R30A!) as well.

 

quite an adventure too...it started out like this:

 

 

and looked like this about lunchtime:

 

 

so this is what happens when you don't take your exhaust off in 19 years...

 

 

an undercar view without the front section of the exhaust:

 

 

and once the driveline and middle exhaust section are removed:

 

 

and just like I did last time I pulled a motor, I forgot the shifter....

 

 

problem solved:

 

 

...this isn't good. I didn't know the Z31 was an electronic speedo, you can see the connection for it here....guess I have to get a GPS speedo and hardwire it in.

 

 

anyway, now were in business....here she is coming out:

 

 

and the fruit of 8 hours of work hit the floor:

 

 

and a shot of the bay...I need to practice my drain pan positioning skills....or just remember to drain the coolant from the engine next time:

 

 

 

I'll be trying to get some of the suspension bushings put in tomorrow and over the weekend...fun little bastards those are going to be.