Just wondering whitch one would be better in a 78' 280z. What would be the cost, does the V8 need a chevy tranny and axel? What is the hp put out by both? By putting the V8 in the the car lose its Datsunness? And any other thoughts on the subjet.

 

Does anyone have one of the above mentioed engine swops done to a similar car? If so what are your thoughts on it what is good about it? what is bad? cost? up-keep cost? I'm just looking for a little help on decission making. Just a little imput would be helpful. Because I know but two things about Z-cars: Jack and Squat' and Jack just left town.

 

Go to www.hybridz.org .......All your questions can be answered there!

 

A quality V8 swap is going to cost a bit of dough IMO, you will need a cage etc, and even STILL a body can be twisted under the power.

Price vs price no way a V8 swap can beat a ZXT swap, I got my ZXT car for $150 with only 70k miles on the clock. A V8 swap can and has been done for around $1000, bare minimals and doing all the work themselves.

I second HybridZ, that is thee place to go for swap info.

 

For good info on this swap, go to http://www.jagsthatrun.com. They also sell books and kits for doing the conversion.

 

It basically all depends on how fast you want to go. Both are options that are well documented and don't require very much fabrication..........unless you want to make the car seriously fast. How much are you looking to spend? If a lot, then the V8 is probably the easiest route to large quantities of horsepower. The L28T is certainly capable as well, but is also more intricate, complicated and demanding. To run high horsepower with the L28T requires many upgrades that turn out to be fairly expensive. However, the L28T is the easiest of the two to install and run-initially, plus it allows you to use existing Datsun drivetrain parts. The V8 limits you usually to an automatic transmission unless you're willing to pay a lot of money for an aftermarket tranny or T56 6-speed from a newer GM F-body. The usual 5-speeds found behind GM smallblocks are T-5's and are fairly weak for even a mild engine. I've also heard that the L28T is a little easier on the drivetrain because it usually doesn't make as much torque initially as a similar horsepower V8. How mechanically inclined are you? Both of these transplants require a good bit of upkeep and require a good understanding of what is needed to be successfull. Let us know what you think!

 

I'm a college student and was looking at spending about 7K total. Figured:
78 280z (good condition 5 spd.)= 2.5K
83 280zxt 5 spd. (try to find one damaged in the back)=1K
3.5K into inter cooler, intake, exhaust, and general restoration.

My feelings on the V8 swap are:
1) it is way expensive
2) it might some how take away the datsun "soul" of the car and replace it with that of the America mucle car. THe car than is American mucle with the Exoskeleton of a Datsun.
3)The roumor that the V8 changes the cars weight distribution and messes with the handeling are holding me back as well.

I also don't know much about cars and proformance. I'm learning a lot from friends and this page. I'm helping a buddy of mine with a 76 280z. not road worthy yet but is close. I like just learning about tuning the cars and their capabilities.

I think right now i might wait and just get a cheap import and save like mad to get my dream car in the future. once I'm in the real world making big bucks and not paying for school.

Thanks for the advise and I always glad to hear what others think about the swap 280zxt VS. V8 chevy

Z-fan 4-life
Jay

 

Hello there, you have alot of concerns that need answering so I'll try to help as much as I can. I've owned two 240Zs, the former a highly-modded L6 and the current Z having a 327/T5 5 speed.

Many have been done for less than $7k. A good way to save some money is buying a project that is mostly finished. I got my Z for $4K, had it shipped for $400, and all it really needed was a rearend to get it roadworthy. Lots has been done since, but you can get a long way ahead time-wise if you can take a couple months lurking on ebay and Hybrid Z, they come up quite regularly. I've seen many finished cars that are very nice for $7K or less in both turbo and V8 if you have all the cash ready. A V8 can get expensive in the "while I'm at it" syndrome, but if you stay to a budget you can do it pretty cheap. A turbo swap is without a doubt the easiest way to go if you're going to do it yourself, but doing the V8 has been documented so well and all the necessary parts can be bought.

I was a little skiddish too, I loved my old Z because of how that a hot L6 made that car move. I was afraid a V8 might not be able to rev like an L series motor. This is definitely not true, get a ride in one if you get a chance. My 327 is rev-happy and with 400hp it gets to 6,000 pretty quick. Someone earlier said a T5 is a weak tranny, I disagree. Remember that a Z weighs a lot less than a camaro, so stress is less. The T5 doesn't like abuse, so as long as you treat it right it'll treat you right.

Believe it or not, the L6 is a pig weight-wise. A small block chevy V8 with aluminum heads, manifold, water pump, headers, gear-reduction starter, and relocating the battery in the rear will put you at something like 30-50 extra pounds up front, nothing you'd ever notice. A ford V8 (289, 302) actually weighs 40 pounds less than an L6 motor.

Sure I'm biased, but really you're going to be happy either way you go. The turbo swap is nice because it's easy and keeps it datsun, the V8 swap is nice because V8s offer cheap power and tons of mods. Go to hybrid Z - there are message boards for V8s and turbo swaps, using the search function will also help you to find lots of info.

Good luck!

 

Hi,
I have been running a V8 for more then 6 years and I got about $9000 into so far. The car has been through three engines, stock 350 out of chev truck burned up, mild that I built went back in the truck and third one I bought a crate engine ZZ4.
I have put my car on the local scales and came up with 1250 front and 1250 back, without driver.
The car handles great and loves corners.
My first swap cost about $1500, $600 for the car,engine and trany $400, driveline $100, conversion book $35, fan $150, rad $200 and misc stuff. I used the conversion book to build the engine mounts, all info is there. JTR book.

Just sharing
Adam of Washington

 

yeh, i was thinkin that with the right help from a few welder/ body person friends I could get a 350 into the car for prolly close to 1500