Rear end

[animal]

im planning to put in a 350 or 400 chevt small block into my future s30.....i want AT LEAST 450 rwhp....i know the stock rear end will not handle this...can i bolt in a ford 9" or something similar....remember, im a newbie so dont go bashin please.......

[LanceM]

Your question would probably be best answered at

http://hybridz.org/nuke/

They deal in engine conversions in Z's.

[meandmyz]

Well, I'll bite.

You seem to have a pretty big goal and a pretty fast Z in mind! Good luck with it! Keep in mind, the Z is a small, lightweight car, and 450hp is nothing to sneeze at even in the heavier firebirds, camaros, and other american muscle the V8 engines commonly swapped from!

It'll take a lot more than a strong rear/trans to handle all that power. You're looking at fabbing up

1. rollcage

2. frame rails

3. upgraded brake system

4. upgraded suspension system per JTR or coilovers with a heavier rate up front to offset the weight and something stiff out back but not to stiff you dont want to ride on a 2x4...

5. Misc., other things to even get the car on the road, trust me its not as easy as pie.

That said, to answer your question about your rear end, there are numerous things you can do.

450hp in a V8 usually means upwards of 475ftlbs TQ, which basically throws out the R180/200 assemblies.

If you want to keep it simple, get a R230 out of a 91-93 Q45 and call it a day, this is an awesome diff, has a good rear gear, beefy axles, CVs, and clutch type LSD! all this in a STOCK package! pretty awesome huh?

If you want to go radical, you can swap in a C4 vette rear end, 3.07 R&P, clutch type LSD, disc brakes, all aluminum save the rotors, you'll save about 80lbs in the rear but its custom and you better know how to TIG/Heliarc & fab or it'll be a pretty penny!

Those are the two options you can do shy of backhalving the whole car, once you do taht a number of things can be done, Dana 60, Ford 9"/8.8", 4linked, 3linked and so on and so forth.

Good luck!

[ZmeFly]

A V8 Z is by no means front heavy. This is a misconception, rumor, whatever you wish to call it started by purists.

The full back position closest to the firewall gives an very good front and rear weight ratio.

Unless you only plan to drag the car I wouldnt go with a Ford 9 inch. There is the R230 conversion from the Z32 300Zx that is stronger then the Ford 9 inch and will also help keep the independent suspension.

You can find the information on the conversion at www.hybridZ.org

Just use theyre search feature.

As meandmyZ stated though you will have to upgrade to a better brake system and you will need to stiffen the chassis via roll cage and some front structual work.

Stronger springs and larger tires will also be another thing to look at unless you want to be spinning your tires off all day long.

If you have the money most things are easily done, the more you can do yourself the better.

I would take a look at the hybridZ site and also www.jagsthatrun.com site, so you can get bette aquanted with what you will be getting yourself into so you will be better prepared when you start you convesion.

[meandmyz]

Zmefly:

I told him to get stiffer front springs since he was looking at a drag setup, that way there wont be as much rear weight shift.