RivJunkie646871 Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 First off, I'd like to thank you guys in advance for any tech help on my venture. This is my first post. If it is in the wrong place, it's fine if it is moved by a moderator. I'm not new to cars or Z cars. I'm new to what I'm planning to do with my 83zx though. About 9yrs. ago it had a fuel leak that lead to an under hood fire. I was driving it at the time but managed to get it out. It was one of my daily drivers, and I just loved it. I was nicer than any of the Z cars I've had. Anyway it's been sitting around collecting dust and rust ever since. Just bought a brand new hood for it, and will start on the frame floor issues soon I hope. I remember that some of the electrical stuff still worked, but I think it's just the EFI harness that got toasted. So I will probably have to rewire the thing somehow. Anyway, here's the specs/plan: The car is an '83 N/A (was) L28 5spd,(engine and trans junked yrs ago) T-top, digital dash, power everything, cruise control car,with A/C. The donor is a '92 Chevy s-10 Blazer 2dr. 4.3 TBI 5spd. Runs fine. I need to know how to wire the thing up, so the gauges will work and the motor will run. I'm not sure about fuel pressure from the cars pump for the 4.3. Do I need to keep the truck pump, trans x-member, driveshaft? I'm not sure about the power steering and ability to have cruise and A/C still. I'm only planning on using this car once in a while. I don't want a turbo or supercharger. Just something reliable. I'm especially NOT interested in doing a SBC swap. If i was, I'd just use one of my big block Buick setups instead, and twist the car all up! I'm notoriously cheap and am trying to use what I have on hand for the most part. My other cars need love too, but I miss my Z. I'm sure I left things out, but that's what I got for now. D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Oops! I meant 4.3 5 spd in the title! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted December 10, 2008 Administrators Share Posted December 10, 2008 …Anyway, here's the specs/plan: The car is an '83 N/A (was) L28 5spd,(engine and trans junked yrs ago) T-top, digital dash, power everything, cruise control car,with A/C. The donor is a '92 Chevy s-10 Blazer 2dr. 4.3 TBI 5spd. Runs fine. D. Welcome to HybridZ. This is an excellent project. Been discussed a few times, not sure any have been started yet. Looking forward to reading your build as you progress. Very cool… …I'm especially NOT interested in doing a SBC swap. If i was, I'd just use one of my big block Buick setups instead, and twist the car all up! … D. Twist up the car… Now a big block Buick would be VERY cool. If you decide to do this swap, be sure to document. I don’t think has been done yet, though it should be done! From the experience of the of the other extreme radical Z cars here on this forum, you wont have issues with the big block Buick twisting the car, unless the driver makes an unexpected off course excursion wrapping it around a pole, tree, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted December 10, 2008 Administrators Share Posted December 10, 2008 Oops! I meant 4.3 5 spd in the title! Fixed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Hey Paul thanks for fixing that "oops" for me. I had a friend who put a 327 and auto in a 77 years ago. Body got real bad real fast. Mine having t's is probably not as strong. Of course, once the floors are done, it'll be way stronger. I do have extra Buick and Cadillac setups sitting around, but like the fact of keeping a stick in the Z without more hassle, and expense. I did entertain the idea of a '65 445 Wildcat in it once, but decided to use it in my '57 Chevy pickup. Now the truck is for sale less Buick parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daeron Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 :burnout: I like this idea, big block V6 I have a buddy who put one into a ~91 camaro planning to TT it some day. Right now (last I knew) it was all wired up using the stock truck gear, and it ran.. but that as about it, no interior etc on the car. Staying tuned..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted December 20, 2008 Author Share Posted December 20, 2008 I'm sure that it was a GM to GM swap made it somewhat easier. Gm to Datsun might prove a bit more tricky. I don't have the ability to put the two cars side by side right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 Just found out the truck is a '91. If it matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 Well, the weather in PA is getting better, and I'm hoping to get started soon. So, any info I can get would be much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Scott Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I think 93 started the balance shaft version. up to 92 very similar to the sbc with two internal cylinders removed. Different rods is about it. jtr will place the enigne and trans forward, but no big deal if weight bias and cost is of little concern. Also make it really easy to access every nut and bolt! I can give no input of the efi, but should be no big issue. You can always run a carb, aftermarket mainfold, and aftermarket distributor if needed. Mallory unilight makes one for the V6, but V8 is cheaper with the V6 shutter. Blazer 5 speed might have really low 1st. Every other early sbc trans will bolt up. Electric fuel pumps easy to hook up. When you are ready to upgrade, a lot of sbc parts, and aftermarket bolt up. Have fun, you'll need to do some fabbing, like all, but its a great swap engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Well, I was looking the car over a little closer the other day. More rust than I thought. It's still do-able though. The fire really cooked more of the wiring than I had remembered. Looks as though I need to get one of those universal 18 or more circuit harnesses. Not sure yet. I will need the underhood stuff out of the Blazer, and it's ECU. One other thing is the Datsun to GM throttle linkage thing to work out. I'd like to keep cruise, A/C etc. in the car. I've been doing my "search homework" and have seen some ideas, but they're mostly for the earlier cars. I do plan on picking up one of those from a friend who redid the floors etc. Just no driveline. My plan for that is a '65 Buick 445 Wildcat with a ST400 a/t with a manual switch pitch converter. That'll make some fun holeshots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Now it looks as though I will be installing a Chevy I-6 250 cid. 4.1l with the 5 spd. Gonna run 2 2bbls I think. The 4.3 is shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daeron Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 what is this Chevy I6 out of? I am not very familiar with American I6 motors..... because it seems like American companies shy away from ever using them, and American car guys ignore the ones that have been used in the past. Other than the modern 5/6 cylinders used in the colorado pickups, the Jeep 4.0 motors, and the 300CI ford motor, I've hardly ever seen one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted July 10, 2009 Author Share Posted July 10, 2009 It was a crate motor for a '66 Nova Wagon. Less than 10k miles on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimsin Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I saw in a hot rod mag about 10 years ago, a guy had a 69 Camero with the straight 6 in it. He bored it and stroked it to make it a 302. It was sweet looking. Has anyone put a Buick grand national 3.8 turbo in a Z yet. Thats a good motor and would woor well with a 700R4 or 200R4 tranny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Scott Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I saw in a hot rod mag about 10 years ago, a guy had a 69 Camero with the straight 6 in it. He bored it and stroked it to make it a 302. It was sweet looking. Has anyone put a Buick grand national 3.8 turbo in a Z yet. Thats a good motor and would woor well with a 700R4 or 200R4 tranny Yikes! Try searching member Scottie-GNZ starting about 9 years ago. The straight 6 might of be kind of retro cool with the multiple carbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daeron Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Yikes! Try searching member Scottie-GNZ starting about 9 years ago. I simply freaking love inline six cylinder engines. Alfas, Ferraris, BMWs, Nissans, Jeep, the Ford truck motor, my buddy had some 240cid (?) in an old dodge pickup, whatever.. they just *feel* right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivJunkie646871 Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 I have a Ford truck with the 300-6 in it. Nice power and torque. My dad has a 56 Chevy shortbed with a Chevy 292-6 A/T that puts out 425 hp. You'd never know it was a 6cyl! So I figure the stock 4.1 L inline would give more than adequate power, and be reliable and cheap to fix if need be. It's going to be a little tricky to get the A/C, P/S and cruise to work. Plus all my under hood wiring is toast in the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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