350z ---> Datsun 240z drivetrain swap?

[Ghostsniper14]

I am currently working at a Nissan dealership and have a good discount on parts through the store. I have now driven several of the 350z's and 370z's around the alot and have really begun to develop a love for them, but I would love to have a classic Datsun 240z (since they are so cheap in my area). So would it be a plausible solotuion to buy a classic Z and fit the motor, trans, computer and rear drivetrain/suspension from a 350z/370z into a 240z? I would imagine that the motor in stock form would provide plenty of power to move the car, and it would help on gas mileage.

[d240zx2]

Oh, boy. You've really got a lot of work to do when you tackle that job. Check out HybridZ dot org and do a bit of searching for that particular swap. Those guys have pretty much done it all.

[pwd]

Anything's possible on a Jay Leno style budget. There's a reason 240Z's are cheap in your neck of the woods, and it's spelled R-U-S-T. A big part of your budget will be spent on bringing the sheet metal back to cherry before you can begin to think about adapting a drive-train, electrical system, etc. First thing to check is the wheelbase and front-rear track. If that doesn't match perfectly, forget it. I doubt if they do, which leaves you with a tremendous amount of customization to do narrowing, widening, etc. Hardly worth it.

If you like the 240Z, buy a 240Z, and appreciate it for what it is, then go buy a 370Z and get all that the 240Z could only hope to become. In the long run, you'll be money ahead with a better equity position in both cars as a bonus.

[psdenno]

A stock 240Z can go fast enough to get you in trouble quite nicely, so no real need to transplant a 370Z drivetrain. As for getting better gas mileage with the 350 or 370 motor, any financial benefit realized would have been more than spent in the conversion process.

Perhaps buying a cheap 240Z and a used 350Z would be a nice compromise and give you plenty of projects to tinker with.

Dennis

[ConchZ]

I have to say that if you put a ton of work into a 240, it will become your second car...a toy you only drive during nice weather, and even then not to certain parts of town. Mine gets to go from a locked garage to a secure parking lot at work, when I think it isn't going to rain or snow. For a special treat, I drive it to the grocery store. Once or twice a year it goes on a medium range cruise for a special event. I've put about one thousand miles per year on it. Every mile is pretty darn special, though.

Look on HybridZ. You'll realise how much reinforcement a 240 needs to safely accept significantly more horsepower. By the time you do that, and put the engine in, you're talking a lot of work and money. You will then need another car to drive during inclement weather or to certain areas. If you are worried about gas mileage, you don't have enough money to do your proposed project.

[LeonV]

Austin Hoke, among others, documented his VQ swap on hybridZ. Look up 240hoke.