So anyone know if anyone has stuck a straight 8 in a 280zx yet? I know where I can get one (the straight 8 engine) for $150 in running condition.

 

Out Of What Kind Of Car???

 

I want to say from a Buick but I dont remember, I know it's a flat top. I'll ask him Monday (and also ask about this sweet centrifugal s/c and maybe if I can get them together for even a better deal since he's closing his shop in November).

I know for sure I'll have to move the radiator forward and maybe knock in the firewall some.

 

99% of the time its to tall....with a stock crossmember..

 

I wouldn't doubt it'd be too tall with the stock cross member. But half the fun is making something work, right?

 

but making an entire crossmember from scratch, then making a tranny crossmember, then having to modify the tranny tunnel to fit the bigger trans, then you have to make a custom drive shaft, then you still have to modify the hood, make custom engine mount, custom rad. support.....etc to much work for to little gain..

 

A straight 8? Yeah, old Buicks had them. BIG *** engines. Even if you do get it to fit, I think the motor would stick up too high to even see the road, and the tranny would come out of the middle of your dash!!

 

yeah plus there slow, you should use that motor as a well pump or cement pump. That'd work. They are torquy sob's though.

 

Now all i need is a well!

Plus they dont like high revs anyway

 

any american motor is going to be a low RPM motor, WAY to much stroke..

 

typical weekend tread, a 70 year old technology, not to mention weight, MPG, parts, etc etc..from sublime to ridiculos..yeah! why not an RX8 will be too easy

 

Hudson made one, too. And maybe Studebaker? Heavy and slow, but really cool. Make for great Godfather type rides. I know where you might get one for free: there's a junked Hudson with a straight 8 near Death Valley, in the next drainage west (Panamint Valley?) North of the Manson ranch, at Aguereberry Mine. Of course, it's been sitting there for at least 60 years, and it's missing the head, but hey...
Dave

 

I know... forget about dropping in a readily available and more reliable Chevy 350 with better weight distribution. Just put a crappy old 1940's technology engine in there. Heck, a KA24DE would have more power than that load of crap!

 

yeah if it was built it would be close, well with a ka motor. i've heard of 300+ horses for a straight 8.

 

yeah..if i ever get my s30.... wanted to swap an RB25 or 26..then looked into 2jz motors...and the motors with trans and ecu's are ridic especially since a bunch of them will need a rebuild, and parts.....ugh....so i think even though i want a straight 6 still in it...am considering the sr as a possiblity or mabye just an l28et....but the SR will be easier to mod and more mod friendly and its gonna be lighter....so im starting to see the upsides to it.....sigh....still though

 

Just drop in a V8.......................and tell people its a straight 6

I do like the SR idea though. Sure you're not going to have the low end grunt of one of the larger 6 cylinder motors. But I've seen a couple S30's with SR's (not personally, just vids ) and they haul with a few mods to the engine. You gotta figure that stock, an SR (any SR) makes more power then an L28ET, costs significantly less then an RB or 2JZ and a good deal of it's maintanence parts are available stateside due to earlier Sentras running a FWD SR20. And on top of that the SR-into-a-240SX craze has parts for those motors available at the click of a mouse. Sure some would say it's taking a step backwards what with losing two cylinders. But if it makes the car faster and retains the reliability then hell, why not? Oh and it's still Nissan

Then theres the twin turbo 13B out of the FD RX7...

I'd still rather go the V8 route rather then swapping anything other than an L series into a Z. Bang for the buck it's the way to go.

 

i odnt want v*...i still enjoy gass mileage...and they are heavier...and i donnt like how most of them sound...nad rotary is a great idea...but if you drive it liek you stole it you gotta replace the apex seal often and they like to blow gaskets of all sorts.....still a light small motor with high revs and great HP throw outs (193 hp per litter N/A)

 

if you had to choose between one of the motors you listed I'd choose the SR for the fact that you'll have the potential to enjoy your Z without having to sell both of your future kids in the Phillipines just to finance and maintain that endeavor Plus the SR has more real world support here in the states. There are more people who actually deal with them on a daily basis to give you factual information rather then the handful (if that) of RB owners here in the states.

 

Let's not go down this path. An LS1 with tranny is only about 80lbs heavier than the L28ET with tranny. You relocate the battery to the back and it's a wash.

The low rpm torque of the SBC is undeniable.

The RB is a $15k exercise and as mentioned, very little KNOWLEDGEABLE support in the states.

However, if I wasn't going to do an RB and I didn't want to do a V8, I'd just MegaSquirt my L28ET and pull 250 whp and 250+ torque out of it with virtually no mods and be done with it. L6 low end torque and stand alone ECU turbo fun and you can do it cheaper than an SR20DET swap...