z cars, small blocks, 5 speeds, etc.

[hoggrvy&chitlns]

greetings all, after a long absence from wrenching, i have a hankering to embark on a new project, i was a 510 fanatic in my younger years, had 4 of them, in the days when a 2-door 510 was just a matter of checking the want-ads, driving em to death seemed perfectly acceptable, anyways later i bought a 73 240 that i basically left stock aside from dome-top SUs early bumpers and a 280 5speed, this was my daily driver for over 5years, then everything went at once, rear-end started clunking, transmission started howling, engine smoking.... been sitting in my garage collecting dust (but not rust) for the past 12yrs. The plan had always been a healthy L28 (triple DCOEs ???) but something always seemed to push that to the back burner. Fast Forward ... after always having considered V8 conversions a form of sacrilege, the idea of a mellow V8 rumble over a screaming inline6 sounds appealing. I am looking for advice and opinions, looked over the chevy crate motors, the ZZ4, 355hp 405 ft lbs, complete with aluminum heads, aluminum intake, HEI dist,4-bolt, premium internals, etc. at $3700 seems a bargain... will this be too much? id use the stoutest 280zx rear (no ford or jag conversions plz) Most of the conversions i've seen are automatics, i would have a real hard time driving a sports car with an automatic, but the idea of carving up sheet-metal doesnt appeal either, what exactly is involved in squeezing one in? Is the Doug Nash 5speed still a popular trans? Anyone manage that? My heads spinning as i type... btw this is a clean mostly original car, pristine interior, but still a 73, and not of much interest to collectors in my experience, so, in my mind a good candidate for a conversion such as this, waiting to hear from any and all

[ZmeFly]

been there done that. had the V8 Z. it was good it was nice. sounded good handled well had good power, i had a aoutmatic.

youw ould need low gears for the rear to run a 5 speed or you will be burning out clutches and or tires.

i like the V8 it was fun and fast but just wasnt a Z. it was tainted .

i am by far a purist. after having my V8 for sometime i got my 72 and worked wiht what i had. P30 block and a E88 head. 79 5 speed.

well i worked that motor to keep up respectively with 5.0 ltr V8's. loved it very much and honest it was more fun then the V8

this is just my opinion. Now this turn around im going turbo, BW T-5, 3 inch exhuast, RR FPR, FMIC, bigger fuel pump, injectors, BOV, upping the boost to about 15 psi and keeping those nasty lil V8's at bay.

if you wanna feel some nice good raw power drive a 3.0 straight six turbo @ 23#'s of boost.

thats fun

turbo is for me if youve never done it try it see how you like it.

[Datzun76]

Why is everyone so anti V8? I want to convert mine to a V8 as well so I will be watching this post for suggestions on the best choices or suggestions to get started.

[carguyinok]

I am doing A 73 240 with A chevy 350 tpi & looking @ going with the 700R4 auto. If I go with the stick then the choice would be the Richmond 6 speed.

I think going with that crate ZZ4 would be A good choice at one hell of A good price for what you get. The only other thing on that set-up would be. How are you thinking of feeding it? Carburetion or injection? For me it was hands down injection (got lucky and getting back my 88 350tpi from the vette I sold).

On the rearend. I know you dont want too hear it but I have been looking into the the jag irs. and scarab used ford t-bird rears. Another stong rearend setup is the IRS from the 70s corvettes. There not "real" hard too mount under A Z. Then its easy for getting rearend gears that will meet your needs.

I have seen so much about how the other Nissan rearends will take this power. But where you could see some big problems is pumping 355hp @ 405 ft lbs of torque through the nissan half shafts. Back in the day that was no big deal getting new shafts and other parts for Nissan. But with the years GOOD parts are getting fewer and fewer. This is why I am looking into other rearend set-ups. sooner or later you will twist bend or snap somthing with that kind of power.

The other thing I am doing is getting things in place for making the frame work up front stronger. Same in the rear. I have even put thought into doing A whole subframe. but @ this point thats just A thought.

I ordered A 8 point cage from jegs and am still waiting for it too show (this week I hope) but that will just sit in the box till the rearend and frame stuff are in place.

I know this is on the side of overkill for the tpi set-up. But I plan on just having some fun with it while I do up A real small block with some big HP. Then it will just be A matter of A motor & trani swap. :devious:

[ZmeFly]

i had one and loved it. but it just wasnt for me. it didnt have the fun factor that the six does for me.

[Ivan]

I personally like the V8 idea and would have preferred a V8 in my 240 except for the extra weight and extra setup requirements like suspension, breaks, gearbox, drive shaft, diff, chassis strength. Plus no one would insure me.

With a straight 6 conversion you don't 'need' to do these and the weight generally stays the same.