Guest jared240z Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 ok, i know u guys prob hear this a lot but im tired of scanning through the endless search results. i want to put a chevy small block v8 in my 1972 datsun 240z. ive never done an engine swap so tell me what im getting into and what the easiest way to do it would be. and what kit would be best to use. ive been reading the jtr website and it sounds pretty legit. and if i hunt around local salvage yards and places how much do u think is a reasonable price for a chevy small block v8? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 If you can't deal with doing a search and learning from the results, you will never complete a worthwhile V8 Z swap. jt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love-my-V8-280Z Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 That is the core question of this site. Been discussed way to much to be asked again. You will only get your answers buy reading the history. If you are serious you will only get a quality answer by reviewing the many different angles the question can be answered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COZY Z COLE Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 LOL.... These three posts sound like the dialogue you would hear between Hugh Hefner and a young man discussing using Playboy to help him get his first good lay.... LARRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 LOL.... These three posts sound like the dialogue you would hear between Hugh Hefner and a young man discussing using Playboy to help him get his first good lay.... LARRY :lmao: How much for a decent engine? Well, depends on what you want. I've got a 509" BBC 13:1's roller motor with 345cc merlin heads for $4500. Of course that'd probably put the z into the 8's, maybe too much for you right now. Or is it ever "Too much"???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Read the FAQs, get the JTR manual, then read and search. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?p=565472 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 posted by Cozy These three posts sound like the dialogue you would hear between Hugh Hefner and a young man discussing using Playboy to help him get his first good lay.... ...... You mean I can't get my first good lay by reading Playboy?????? Dammit. jt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rytherwr Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 AMEN Doc/Pete! and no, Doc, it's never "Too Much" ) Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-8 Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I think the saying is "figure out your budget, then double it." And that's what your going to be spending. But that's the best place to start, how fast are you willing to spend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 You'll find this out in the many many countless searches... Buy the BOOK from http://www.jagsthatrun.com and read it 10-15 times. Once you have memorized that, your next step is to get some patience, come back this site, and READ some more. It's that simple. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLSHLE Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Well said. It's just that "easy" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 The swap is easy if you know your way around cars, if you have the tools and a suitable environment to work, if you have the time to do the job, and if you stick to a reasonable plan. Otherwise the swap won't be easy. A '72 Z and a carbureted 350 V8 are about the easiest choice for a swap. In fact the biggest challenges may not be in the swap itself, but getting the engine to run right - the usual stuff in any hotrod project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstallings Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 You've got a lot to learn, but there's a lot of help if you approach it right. Take your time and get information from as many sources as possible. Figure out what power level you're after, carberated or EFI, auto trans or manual, and set a realistic budget. Then make sure you have other transportation while the Z is down for the swap for a few months. Next step after determining what you want, is to try to find that whole combination in a running vehicle, and buy it, drive it, and make sure it's solid before swapping it into the Z. Then if you have some problems downstream, you know there's light at the end of the tunnel, rather than chasing an unknown set of problems indefinitely. Also, with more power comes other considerations like upgraded brakes, springs, sway bars, maybe a rollbar and better belts/harness, wheels, tires, and the list goes on... The good news is you're not alone. I only found this forum a few months ago, and I have found many useful threads and a lot of people willing to help. I've been building Chevy powered muscle cars and street rods for years, and I'm now starting my first 280Z V8 conversion with my son. This one is for him, and to move us up the learning curve, so I can tackle an LS1 T56 conversion on my 240Z later. I did my research, bought the donor vehicle (a '90 Firebird 350 TPI and WC T5 5-speed in my case) now I'm reading everything I can about the electrical requirements from this forum, JTR, the GM Helm manual, and the Diamond Pubs Z manual before I turn the first wrench. When I know what I'm doing, I'll pull the engine/trans/wiring, and start the prep on them before I touch the Z. Only then will I take the Z out of service and prep it for the swap. I'm also hitting the salvage yards and parts stores for the bits and pieces recommended by the JTR books so I'll have everything ready at once. I've found solid answers to very obscure questions on this site, but it takes a bit of patience and a lot of reading to get there. I hope that helps you get started Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Steve, that's a great post! Would you mind if we used it in the FAQ section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstallings Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 No, I wouldn't mind. I'm happy to be able to give something back to the forum. Thanks, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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