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SHO V6 in a 240Z?


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Is this a good idea in a 240z? I know it has been done before so anyone have any advice?I know the swap has been done in other RWD hot rods and stuff. I did some searching on this forum and didnt find a lot of opinions about it. The engines only have about 220hp but they take well to forced induction and nitrous. Plus they are very lightweight. Also they are cheap as dirt. So what do you Z experts think? Good idea or not so much?

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Guest TeamNissan

I personaly like it and have considered it myself, there are actualy a few ways to get it to a rwd format. Very pretty, very revy, very efficient but almost no aftermarket support. W/e they will make befor stock internals go is all your going to make unless you spend ALOT on getting things made.

 

I remember seeing a guy who tt'd his a while back.

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Ya its so tempting lol esp at what a sho goes for. Even for a commuter car or something I just couldnt do it. I love yamaha motors and remember I was so excited about the entire project when the shop came out but still... a taurus?

I really with the v8 show wasnt so problematic or I would be using that for my z.

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Ive owned several SHO's and have had a lot of expereince with the engine. Its a great engine and it looks great especially if you polish the intake manifold. However im afraid that 220hp or even 250hp with a little modification would not be enough for a Z car. Really the only way to get much more hp out of that engine is to go forced induction, which would kind of destroy the plans for a low budget build.

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I got somewhat started installing a SHO in my Z. Do a search for the whole story. This engine is real tall. I figured that I would need to cut the pan around an 1-1/2 to get ground clearance. The water goes in the bellhousing end of the engine. I do have a couple of pictures of the engine on a bench and the intake sitting on top of my engine. Send me a PM with your email address and I will send you the pics and the wiring spread sheet that I put together.

 

There was a real good website about installing one in a Healey, do a search.

 

Here is my input several years ago.

 

I have just returned the SHO motor to the wrecking yard that I bought if from. After 4 months of waiting, 3 wrong bell housings and no transmission, I have given up on this project. I did receive a full refund on the motor and parts.

What Went Right. 1. When I bought the parts, everything from one source, I gave them a full list of everything I needed, including year and model. I kept a copy of this for my reference. 2. I learned a lot about the engine and wiring harness. The SHO is very tall. To install properly the pan depth needs to be shortened about 1-1/2†at least to get around 3†of ground clearance. To install correctly the firewall need to be notched to clear the water outlet and the rear of the air plentum. This will move the motor back enough so the harmonic balancer will not be sitting directly on top of the steering rack. 3. With the right books and patience the wiring harness is not as bad as it looks. 4. When I confronted them that the transmission is a 1994 T5 shown on my list I received my money back even with my modifications to the wiring harness.

What Went Wrong. 1. I didn’t wait until all of the parts were in one pile. I accepted them in a piecemeal order. The motor one day the drive shaft, bell housing another. 2. I really should have gotten better dimensions of the engine. Take pictures of a motor out of a car from all directions and take them with you and get ever dimension that you might need marked on the photo.

If I had to do it again I would have the wrecking yard initial my list of needed parts. I would have done more research on the dimensions and weight on this motor. I am still planning on some type of conversion for my 260Z convertible but will do more research next time.

Lessons Learned

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I started an S-30 SHO swap back in ’04, then mothballed the project, then engine was sold, etc etc etc, (typical ran out of everything story). The SHO swaps have been done and there is a member by the name of SHO-Z on this forum, (apparently he has found this thread), that is very well versed in the SHO power plant and is a wealth of info, (thank you SHO-Z for all your time and insight during that time) Any how, got so far as the initial engine test fitting and it was looking quite promising. I was REALLY liking the idea of having the throttle body in the cowl using the “cowl” as my cold air intake, not too mention the driver and passenger would get to hear that symphony of intake snakes trumpeting from under the dash. For those not wanting that sweet induction noise flooding the interior, swapping the intake manifold around is also an option.

 

Any how, here are few shots of the test fit before the project was scrapped.

 

Here are two threads with the details of the initial test fit install and these threads also have links to other successful SHO swaps as well.. GREAT info in those links for anyone interested in SHO conversions..

 

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=94815

 

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=93468

 

 

 

TopLarge.jpg

 

Top1Medium.jpg

 

Roomfront1Large.jpg

 

FronttopMedium.jpg

 

BackpassLarge.jpg

 

DriverrearLarge.jpg

 

DriverfrontLarge.jpg

 

underhoodMedium.jpg

 

OilpanMedium.jpg

 

 

PassfenderMedium.jpg

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Guest TeamNissan

Ya it really done look gorgeous in there, I would have never guessed it wouldnt clear though, thats shocking to me.

 

I read the plenum can be reversed for rwd apps, did you ever get around to checking that?

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Yes, the intake manifold can be flipped end for end. Below are a couple of pics of the plenum flipped as installed in a Healey. From what I remember, there is some massaging, carving, grinding, that needs to be done for that to happen and that also raises the plenum a little bit as well, or something to that affect. Hybrid member SHO-Z is the man to talk to about flipping the intake plenum. Personally, I prefer the inlet at the rear of the engine for ease of induction plumbing, and of course I like to listen to the induction at WOT, so I was not planning to flip the intake around.

 

EngineInstalledMedium.jpg

 

finiahed2Medium.jpg

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Some more SHO tidbits...

 

All other Taurus cars are affectionately referred to as the SLO.

 

For those interested, here are some sources for performance SHO goodies and services..

 

 

The SHO-SHOP, (nationally renowned SHO tuners)

http://www.shoshop.com/

 

Performance Plus, (Late model Fords and SHO)http://www.performance-plus.com/sho/sho.htm

 

SHO-Bros Garage, (specialty SHO performance parts)

http://www.shobrosgarage.com/

 

SHO-NUT Performance, (specialty SHO performance parts)http://www.shonutperformance.com/

 

Ford Performance Specialists (custom SHO engine builds)

http://www.fordspecialists.com/partsandservices/shomotors.html

 

Cincinnati SHO, (specialty SHO parts shop)http://www.cincysho.com/Taurus_SHO/Ford_SHO_Catalog/performance.htm

 

NorthEast SHO

http://www.nesho.com/

 

 

 

Excellent source of SHO tech info..

SHO-times

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/index.php

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Hey thanks for all the replies guys and pics. The engine really does look great in there. I actually have a nice SHO right now that I have owned for a few years but I have always wanted a 240z so thats what got me thinking. The article about the Healy is a great source of information. The only 240z I have driven was one with the stock engine and everything and it definetely wasnt the fastest car ever. Plus if I dont feel there is enough power with the SHO engine there is always the bottle. So if I ever do make a 240z project ill be sure to post lots of pictures. One more question, does anyone know of any automatic transmissions that will bolt onto a SHO and work well in a Z?

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The bellhousing used is out of a ford mini van so here where I would look.

 

I would love for someone do get a SHO z running, but right now there are so many 3.0 V6 out there with all aluminum blocks and equal HP the options there.

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The VQ 3.0 out of a Maxima weighs alot less..I've heard a 350Z 6 speed will mount to it with a little modification.

 

quotes:

 

VQ30 Shortblock - 127lbs weighed by JClaw on his bathroom scale - including rotating assembly, no heads, no timing cover, and of course no intake manifold.

 

VQ30 long block - 246lbs weighed by ME at aluminum recycling facility. No intake manifold, obviously including rotating assembly, block, heads, timing equipment.

 

VQ30 long block (different one than above) 315lbs - lifted by my buddy and I onto bathroom scale at my buddy's house with no problems whatsoever.

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Guest TeamNissan

Ya but there is a bunch of engines that weigh less or put more power out but the sho is the one ont he table lol. If I was going to go v6 I would go with the v6t out of a grand national. How about a v6 out of a cts? :-)

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Guest TeamNissan

As in thats the engine we are talking about, there are alot of v6's that would be better then the sho in a z but he asked about the sho not the best. Know what I mean jonas?

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