small block 350:
 

Ok i have looked and searched for treads about swaping a small block 350 into a zx and i cant find any and wanted to know if the kits out there will work for the engine that i want to put in. (http://www.crateenginedepot.com/stor...0-P944C53.aspx) and i have also looked into msa kits an they say that i have to use a "shorty" turbo 350 tany????(because i have a 2+2) i have also looked a hybridzs.org and still no zx 2+2's. Any help or suggestion would really help!

So i take it that no one can help me with what i would need to to put a small block 350 in a 2+2? Please if there is anyone out there that can help that would be GRRReat!

I am sure you could use the MSA kit....I belive the 2+2's are like 9 inches longer than the coupe's. The motor mounts should be identical to the coupe's, I would get a 700R4 and custom fab a tranny mount if nessesary...now I can see having to get a custom driveshaft, other than that I don't see why they would say you have to use a short tail Turbo 350 tranny...ask them if the problem is the driveshaft length...if so just get a custom one made. We all know the small block fits as well as the TH350 and 700R4's it might just be a matter of some minor custom fabbing.

I have a budy who didn't have to do much fab for his 2 76 z. he put a 302 in one, and a 350 in the other.

go to www.jtr.com they have a book and kit that you can adapt to the ZX. Their prices are better than msa and better quality. txone is right about the tranny and engine. It is possible, you'll have to get some custom headers for it because the drivers side gets inthe way of the steering box.

Your motor choice will work. If you have any fabricating skills, the kits available are a very expensive but un-needed expense. I fabricated all of my mounts before any kits were available for the ZX. For motor mounts, I fabricated spacers to fit the mount bolt pattern on the block (2.75" thick on driver side and 1.875" on passenger side) and used 67 to 72 Chevy truck V8 motor mounts. I elongated the holes on the Datsun mounting perches and bolted the motor to the crossmember. For the trans. mount, I fabricated brackets to drop the Datsun crossmember 3". This matched up to the 700R4 trans. mount. Using a short tailshaft TH350 will require a completely different trans. crossmember. Since you have a 2+2, you will have to get a custom driveshaft, whether you go with a kit or not. I used a Camaro driveshaft and had a local Driveline shop shorten it. I then used a Neapco adapter to connect the chevy u-joint to the Datsun differential. Do a search on hybridz.org for the correct Neapco adapter part number.
The only other concern is the type of steering you have. If you have the recirculating ball steering (like I do) no available headers will fit the driver side. You need to get a Chevy manifold, casting number 374646 for the driver side. This has a notch that clears the steering box. If you have rack and pinnion, JTR's headers will fit.
Also, like Skittle said, get the JTR manual. It is for the s-30 but much applies to the s-130 as well.
Hope this helps.

Here are pictures of my mounts:
Driver side mount:
http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/spds...otor_mount.jpg

Passenger side mount:
http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/spds...otor_mount.jpg

Trans. mount:
http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/spdsk8r/trans_mount.jpg

Driver side exhaust manufold, casting number 374646:
http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/spds...manifold_2.jpg

Ohhh Very Pretty

Man I bet that thing really koocks witht hat v8 in there dosn't it?

Take a look at Dave Greimann's website. He sold his 2+2 several years ago but has kept his site up for reference purposes.

http://home.earthlink.net/~dvgreimann/index.html

John

Ahhh! Dave did some beautiful work on that car. Too bad he sold it.

Remember that you are swapping the engine because swaping always nets tears.