i have a 81 280zx i was planning on turboing my z but figured a v8 swap would be cheaper and faster for the money i was wondering what all do i need exactly i know i need the conversion kit and motor but what else i want to get everything first so the swap wont take as long do i need a tranny or will my stock 5spd work and what about the rear end also what do i use for power steering any help would be appreciated i want to make shure i get everything also has anyone done a v8 swap in a 81 havent seen pics of one

 

The MSA catalog sells all the little nicknacks you need to complete the swap. As far as powersteering goes though, I'm not sure there. You will definitely need a tranny. Yours won't work. The kits that are sold are for automatics though. So if you value your manual as I do, then you might have to do some fabbing, not sure though. I'm sure you'll get more help here.

Good luck.

 

Good news, I found a site that has V8 conversions. And, drumroll please... they have what you need to swap in a 4,5, or 6 speed manual transmission as well as a couple different automatics. They're called Johns Cars Inc. based out of Dallas. Here's the link:

http://www.brokenkitty.com/zcar.htm

 

HybridZ

This is your helpsite... I have a 350 in my 79 ZX, with a 700R4 tranny, sure, having my 5 speed back would make my day, but the B&M Megashifter seems pretty fun

I don't have powersteering! once you're going, you don't miss it too much, its the parking lots that kill ya I am working on getting something set up for power steering, but it's not a huge issue to me right now.

 

You need a tranny that will mate up to the V8. The stock tranny will not without some serious modification.

Regardless of what tranny you use, you will need a custom drive shaft made to mate the tranny output shaft to the differential input shaft.

As has already been mentioned:

http://www.hybridz.org

but also:

http://www.jagsthatrun.com

Good luck.

P.S. 90% of all engine swap's are never completed... You'll be amazed by the number of 'little' things that need to be tweaked, bought or fabricated.

 

you can also save yourself the time and buy a z that has already gone through the conversion. Often times the seller doesn't even get all the money he puts into the car back and you don't have to do any dirty work.

I've been wanting to do a v8 swap myself, but I live at my parents house and there's no way I would get away with having my car taken apart, so many different parts and probably another donor car lying around.

So I'm probably just going to do a turbo setup or buy z that has it already done myself

 

Hmmm.... 280zx.....V8.....aluminum block and heads.....T56.....less $$$ than building a high performance L28.....Less weight than the L28ET....Smell what the J is cooking? I'm going that route with the ZX. I've debated on alot of different engine setups from the RB to the SR to the L28, even a BMW V12. But in the end you can't beat the bang for the buck of the SBC. I'll still have an L28 powered Z too, but ones got to be a Viper killer.

 

Oh, and no, I'm still not going to succumb to the dark side. I'm keeping my damn Fuel Injection on the 8. No carbureters for this hombre. One more thing when I'm finished with my engine swap, I will be willing to sell any custom parts I end up having to fabricate to anyone who wants to do a similar swap. But, as I'm not yet doing the swap(business is sucking up all my money currently), the engine could change once again. But what ever engine it ends up being, rest assured there will then be parts available for everyone who wants to do it too.

 

Hey J, I thought you where against V8's in Z's, what happened?

 

I discovered the beauty of the LS1 & LS2 motors. It still feels like I'm doing something wrong. My main concern was originally with the design and weight of the V8's. The LS1 is all aluminum, even the block, and actually weighs in at less than the L28et. The fact that its more compact lengthwise means better weight distribution. And the overall center of gravity with the V8 is lower than the I6. The fuel injection is very good on these engines too. Basically, go to HybridZ and read the mission statement at the beginning of any forum. I guess I was just being prejudice in only wanting Nissan power in my Z. I can see a little more clearly now. I figured if I go this route and then build up a turbo 280zx, I'll obtain a ying yang kinda balance and my conscience won't eat me up. That way I can promote my business with both of those cars. Two opposite ends of the spectrum.

All that and it's just the most logical power adder you can get for the Z car. You can get an entire LS1 with trans (6speed), ecu, basically everything but the driveshaft for the cost of an SR20det. You'll end up with the best driveability of any smaller engine, stock LS1 is putting down more HP than most heavily modded Z's, and without question more torque. And honestly, what sounds better than a properly tuned and muffled V8? It gets better gas mileage than an RB26dett, and the stock corvette ecu can retard timing to run off of 87 octane fuel at reduced power if need be!! I don't have a definitive answer, and I'm not abandoning the L28. I'm going to do both(not any time too soon). Hell, I'm even going to be building an SR powered Fairlady 2000 Roadster! Sorry for the long read, I just felt like rambling on. Oh and juggalo, I looked into Nissan V8's, but mucho dinero involved to make those happen, and Fords only aluminum block V8 would barely fit inside a freight train, I don't know how they crammed in the mustang. I'll be chewing up and spitting out vettes with a taste of their own medicine, no excuses. Gotta get that Z32 suspension grafted in before anything though ;D

 

Sounds like a good enough reason. I was just pullin your chain man, I will never stop loving V8's!

 

Hey it's cool I love V8's. I just had a problem with putting them in the wrong cars. Then I woke up one morning and realized there's no such thing as the wrong car for any engine. What will make you happy. And believe me, an LS1 in a stripped down, CF 280zx with a beefed up suspension would make anyone grin ear to ear, even after they've pissed themselves If it can move the vette, it'll sure as hell get my little old Z going. You can get these motors out of the new GTO's for $2-$5k(LS2 actually I think) with less than 20k miles!!! That's a brand new engine! And even less from a vette just a couple years old. And don't get me started on pricing and availibility for parts on these things Buy hey, the V8 swap is definitely not for everyone, so to each his own. A Z is a Z, even if it don't have the original engine. Look at like this, every time you put a non factory NISSAN part on your car, it becomes that much less of a NISSAN. How is the engine any different than those wheels, suspension mods, or even body kit? If you think about it, it's not.

Oh and juggalo, this was not directed at you, it's just a general statement. I'm rambling again, so I'm going to stop.

 

After I am done with my turbo swap I wanna compare reciepts and race you jabo All on the 101 it will be on..

 

Hey Jabo, does the hood latch area cause any complications with distributor fitment or access? I'm gonna do the LS1 so I won't really have to worry about it. But my brother wants to put a V8 in his 2+2, and he can't afford an LS1 so he's just putting an old 350 in it. I know the early Z's are said to need some modification, but what about the ZX. I was thinking about just converiting his hood to open from the front like the 300ZX, which will also help when he gets that MSA body kit like the one red got.

 

weird how some parents are..my dad emptied out our garage, cleaned out all hes tools from there...parked hes van in the wintertime outside at -50c weather just so my Z could have a nice warm home....


but like they mention best bet wouldbe to go to Hybridz.org and read up and ask questions there as many have done it..

 

Word of caution. USE THE SEARCH FIRST BEFORE YOU ASK ANY QUESTIONS ON HYBRIDZ. Or else face the wrath of that forum. Seriously though, when it comes to the SBC, it's probably already been answered so you should be able to find whatever you need to know by using their search feature. Then if you still don't find what you're looking for, ask.That forum is not nearly as laid back as this one. That's why I don't spend too much time over there. I prefer the mellow chat of this place to engineering wizards over there who jump down your throat for asking a question that has already been answered.

Don't get me wrong though, they're a bunch of nice guys over there and most are willing to help. Just don't get on there and ask if a sbc will fit in your ZX.