Guest Anonymous Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 Folks, I have been lurking here reading posts for a couple days now, and I think I really want to make a V8 Z car. I used to own a '76 280 and then a 71 240, and love the look of these cars. I don't have a lot of money to spend. I am wondering if it is worth while to put a stock V8 (350) in the Z, and just dress it up with some nice bolt on items. Will I still get better performance than I would out of the straight six? My idea is that first I'll get the car and make sure everything is working and looking good. Then I'll find a 350, and make sure it is looking and working good. Then do the swap. I figure as I have money down the road I can add performance components to the engine. What do you guys think about this? Thanks for any advice. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 The short answer is, YES. Even a low performance 250 hp 350 V8 will be a kick in the pants. The car is so light, it will respond to th torque of this low performance 5.7Liter very well. Add a cam, intake, carb, for little money and wake it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 Pete, thanks for the reply. It's nice to get this info from such an expert in this area! I just think it would be soooo cool to have a V8 powered Z car. I will probably start with a stock 305 or 350 V8, and add performance over time. I'm not looking to race it, I just want to surprise a few folks at the ol' traffic light, and have some fun driving the country roads around here. Plus I need to keep this as simple as possible, because I have never done this type of work. I will be relying on my father in-law quite a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Mike Brady: Folks, I have been lurking here reading posts for a couple days now, and I think I really want to make a V8 Z car. I used to own a '76 280 and then a 71 240, and love the look of these cars. I don't have a lot of money to spend. I am wondering if it is worth while to put a stock V8 (350) in the Z, and just dress it up with some nice bolt on items. Will I still get better performance than I would out of the straight six? My idea is that first I'll get the car and make sure everything is working and looking good. Then I'll find a 350, and make sure it is looking and working good. Then do the swap. I figure as I have money down the road I can add performance components to the engine. What do you guys think about this? Thanks for any advice. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 Mike, I've pretty much done what you are talking about. I have a stock 350 crate motor (goodwrench 350 about 250 or so HP) with a T56 6sp behind it. The transmission was probably more than I needed but I wanted the 6sp and plan more power later. But its worth it IMHO. The torque is about double and then some from a stock Z motor and its really strong down low and in the mid range. The only performance parts I have on it are the block hugger headers (which probably don't add as much or any HP compared to full length headers) and a Weiand Stealth high rise with a holley 600 vacuum sec. carb and a reworked stock HEI dist. Thats about it. It pulls right off idle and revs strong to about 5k rpms when it politely points out to me that it has done all its going to do. I don't have performance data as I've been working on the suspension and a few other things, seat of the pants though is its pretty darn quick. I havn't taken it out looking for trouble yet but don't think I'll have to many problems with at least any of your factory performance cars and may even surprise a few warmed over ones. You would'nt regret doing it IMHO. Good luck with it, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Mike Brady: Folks, I have been lurking here reading posts for a couple days now, and I think I really want to make a V8 Z car. I used to own a '76 280 and then a 71 240, and love the look of these cars. I don't have a lot of money to spend. I am wondering if it is worth while to put a stock V8 (350) in the Z, and just dress it up with some nice bolt on items. Will I still get better performance than I would out of the straight six? My idea is that first I'll get the car and make sure everything is working and looking good. Then I'll find a 350, and make sure it is looking and working good. Then do the swap. I figure as I have money down the road I can add performance components to the engine. What do you guys think about this? Thanks for any advice. Mike Hey Mike! You got the right idea,if you are going to find a small block, look for one that will give you more BANG for the buck and be easier to muscle up, maybe a LT-1, a rollerized late model 305[Monte Carlo].Just do it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 opps... [ July 30, 2001: Message edited by: Ray ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 If you are going the cheep route get a late 80's camaro with a roller 305 and a 5 speed and swap them into the Z... I have seen several of these combo's real cheep ... remember even the RS Camaros had roller cams and the 5 speeds are WC T5's....you should be able to find a wrecked car for cheep.... if you get the later 80's cars they all had serpintine belts....If you are real creative use the FI if not just throw a intake, a Qjet on top and change the dist. and go.... or better yet and probibly cheeper carb 305 and 200r4 out of a 80's Montecarlo or 350 and 700r4 out of a chev PU and then change the cam intake and etc...Good luck...lots of options...the cheeper the better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 30, 2001 Share Posted July 30, 2001 Ray, not to be a pest, but what would be considered a good price for a late 80's 350 and tranny? Talking stock stuff here, like from a wrecked Camaro or Trans Am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 31, 2001 Share Posted July 31, 2001 The GM salvage yards near me sell T5 trannys for $650-$750, and the TPI motors for $1500 or so. Here's a bit of advice from someone who is in the middle of a conversion: get a motor and tranny that you know works. You will be money ahead--if you have to trouble shoot after the swap, it'll be much more painful. Simple and cheap is the way to go...unless you have gobs of cash. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted July 31, 2001 Share Posted July 31, 2001 Depends on what you want... the 5sp trans here go for 400 to 700$ complete 700r4 autos a little less.. the motors 300-1000$ depending on if you want the injection or not. The wrecking yards are real proud of TPI, but if you can get a 305 out of a carb (pre 87) camaro or a TBI they are alot cheeper... they are the same basic motor, the TBI's even have the same roller cam as the TPI's... Now I agree with buying a complete setup that you are sure runs good.... If you want to go the cheep route look for a 87-92 camaro rs with a TBI 305 and a auto or 5sp... they are all over the place and are real cheep wrecked...get one that runs and you can drive that way you can check out the drivetrain before you swap it.....if you have to have a 350 look for a 88 thru 95 pickup... the real difference is a flat tappet camshaft and compression ratio. The truck motors work real good with a carb in place of the injection due to the 8 to 1 compression ratio...put a little bit of a cam in it and they run good..... Go to a few tow away auctions or insurace auctions and take a look. Down here if it doesn't have a TPI on it it goes real cheep...a couple of hundred bucks and you can get a good 305 and 700r4...up where you are there should be alot of rust buckets with good drivetrain that you can buy cheep and drive a little to make sure the motor and trans are good then do the swap.....this is also a better way because you get all the little stuff that you may need and you get to sell what you don't need. just look for a small block car with an overdrive trans.... beware of pre 87 700r4 auto's.. they only have a 7 vane front pump and are prone to have problems... One of my best tricks is go to the wrecking yard that don't get any traffic the ones out in the middle of no where that arn't on a hotline. Most of these have stuff that isn't picked over and isn't going anywhere.... take notes and offer some lowball price for what you want. The owner will refuse... wait a month and go back 90% of the time it will still be there....then offer the same amount again...(ex if he wants 800 offer 200) always take cash and know what you are looking at( don't take there word for it, most of the time they dont know what it is out of...)... when I buy motors or trans I offer the core fee first which is usually 100 to 200 for trans and 100 to 300 for motors depending on what it is.... Now the core price is the most he will get from a core buyer for that motor or trans ( injection stuff wont be included for this price) ... Most yards have a buyer that comes by every so often....so the owner or counter man will know what he can sell it for if you offer him 50$ more he will usually sell it.... now this only works on stuff they can't sell easily... remember the more traffic a business gets and the better the location the more product he will move. So if you try this tactic on a high volume yard they will laugh at you because they will sell it in a week or two anyway... Be patient and take your time. Look alot and learn what is out there and the going price on stuff in your area.. Some times the best people to learn from are the ones that dont have what you want... They aren't going to sell you anyting so they are much more likely to talk....learn what the differences are year to year and model to model. This way when you do go to buy you know exactly what you want.... Good luck if you have any more questions we are always here....there are some other good scroungers here most of us are far enough away from you that we don't mind telling our secrets.....Later Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted July 31, 2001 Share Posted July 31, 2001 Just noticed dave's response.. Remember the prices vary alot depending on the area... example in Houson 4x4 parts are cheep because 90% of the trucks are 2 wheel drive... now up where you are the opposite may be true... so location makes a real difference when you are looking at 10 to 15 year old parts. Out west where Dave is a 20 year old car will look brand new and the ecomony is alot better so the prices will be higher... So look arround.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 1, 2001 Share Posted August 1, 2001 Prices out here (west coast) at the brand specific wrecking yards unfortunately are robbery. Some are better than others, but we do pay a premium from what I've seen on dismantled parts out here. Here in Sacto, they have a majority of the wreckers in a few block radius all brand specific, not many 'everything' around here. The pic and pulls are pretty much probably the same price wise as other places, but are quickly picked over (the car looks like road kill after a day or two at some of the more jumping places..). Nearly any camaro, firebird parts from the eighties out here also have a halfa gazillion miles on em at the wreckers if you can even get them. I truly think that if you really are looking at the cheapest route (out here anyway), find some gearhead looking to unload his garage or at a local Car show or meet. Granted you don't always know what's been done to the engine, but its a crap shoot at the junkyards too I mean if those people took care of they're cars half of them would'nt be there right? Just an opinion, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted August 1, 2001 Share Posted August 1, 2001 Having grown up in the San Fran bay area (Brentwood) I agree. I have been to GM Sports Salvage and gotten raped.... I am even shipping FI parts to a freind of mine in Stocton by Southwest Airlines because of the price difference.. That and Southwest will ship anything just bubble wrap it and they will put a sticker on it and ship it.. now you have to go to the airport and pick it up but if it is under 75lbs they will ship it cheep for air freight....like I said look arround...you may have to order it or get it shipped but you will also save alot.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 1, 2001 Share Posted August 1, 2001 Thanks for that tip on Southwest Ray, I may have to get my Bro in Phoenix send me some stuff, that might be a cheap alternative shipping. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 1, 2001 Share Posted August 1, 2001 Thanks again everyone. I will keep all of this in mind as I proceed. The first order of business is going to be selling my 1979 Yamaha XS 750 Special motorcycle. Anyone interested? Then I will have to find a decent 240 or 260. Then I plan on getting the car in good shape, fixing up the brakes and suspension, body and engine. I will probably have to to run it for a year with the original engine. Then once I know the car is solid and evrything else in in good shape, I will do the V8 swap. Man, that seems like such a long process! From what I've been reading, it will be worth every drop of sweat and blood! Thanks guys! I might end up being better off finding a cheap but running Camaro or Trans Am, and pulling the tranny and motor out of it. At least then I would have all of the little ancillary stuff, like tanks, hoses, connectors, whatever else there might be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie-GNZ Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 Mike, good luck in your project. My one comment is that despite expressing a need to do a low-budget project, you recognize the need to upgrade the brakes and suspension and even mentioned them first. You have gotten some great advice and I will chip in that my last V-8 was a mild, inexpensive 350 with a T5 and it held up fine in "normal" street driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 2, 2001 Share Posted August 2, 2001 Scottie, from what I have read, and from what I remember of the 2 z-cars I owned as a teenager, the brake upgrade is going to be pretty important. I also want this car to be safe, so that's why I will check over the suspension and make any replacements or upgrades that are needed. Since I will ahve to to this project in phases, I figure I can do a lot of these upgrades while still being able to drive the car around a little bit. Once I have everything in good shape using the stock engine, I will worry about the V8. I think this is the only way I can manage this project, both on a time basis and on a financial basis. Thanks for your adive and encouragement. Just how good did your Z run with a stock 350 and T5? Was it quite a bit quicker than a normal Z? I don't plan on doing any racing, but want it to be more fun than a stock Z. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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