I'm new to this site so please forgive my earlier post to the ForSale forum.

I have a 1981 280 ZX that I've been told can easily accept a chevy 350 engine. I've attached a picture.
I'm wondering what it's gonna cost me. I won't be able to do the work myself because I don't have the time, the tools, or the place. Woe is me.
Does anyone know of someone in the Bay Area who does this sort of work?
Otherwise, I'll have to sell my pretty little car and I really don't want to do that because I like it too much!
Thanks for your input.
judojim
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stricktly Z is in San Jose. I know that's not really close, but maybe they'll do custom work like that. It looks like most of their work is on 1990+ Z-cars. At least send them an email to see if they'll do it.
www.stricktlyz.com

 

350 swaps into a ZX can be done, but it's not as easy as it looks.

http://www.jagsthatrun.com/

General description of the conversion into an early Z:
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html

Parts availability for ZX's:
https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Datsun-ZX_Order.html

In California, you have to be conscious of the smog requirements for any car model after 1975.

1976 and newer cars must comply with CA's smog requirements. It can be done. I have a link around here for a guy that did it in his black 81 2+2, but in the meantime, here's another link from JTR about the same topic.

The good news is, JTR is in Livermore and is aware of the CA smog restrictions too:

http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Che..._V-8_Smog.html

Enjoy!
LWW

 

When I visited StrictlyZ, they seemed more like a sales business more than a mechanic garage. However, ZcarGarage(.com) is literally around the corner from them. That place is a Z mechanics specialist. Too bad that Z Doctor out towards Richmond retired.

 

Yes, Strictly Z is really Strictly 90+ Z(X).

They don't do any Pre 1990 Z work that I know of.

I was by the old Z Doctor's garage a couple weeks ago and he's still got a bunch of cars out back, but the building is definitely vacant and up for lease.

I've spoken to Rob at Z Car Garage on a couple of occasions and he seems like a pretty good guy. I've got an appointment for my Z in a couple of weeks so we'll see how it goes. He's definitely enthusiastic about his work. He's got a crazy green SR20DET modded 510 in the garage that looks like it would eat chevy's for breakfast!

LWW

 

Aw man, the Z doctor retired? Weak. Well, do you know if any of his cars out back are up for grabs? Im looking to get a 1975 or older z.

 

You looking to do something under the CA emissions radar?

 

yea, after 2 visits to the state ref i dont want to be hassled anymore. which brings up a question.CHP told me that 1975 and older vehicles are "exempt" from smog meaning that they dont have to get smog tests, but they still have to have smog equipment and if stopped could be sent to a ref and fined for equipment that isnt DOT leagle. was this a**hole just giving me a hard time?

 

Nope, that is the law but is seldom enforced. If you're a rekless driver, they may check under the hood to see what you got.
If you've done a V8 or turbo swap they might get mad and send you off to be fined. I heard it has happened to V8 guys.

This is actually the law in Washington too. Even though the law is 25 years old or older (1980!) are exempt, you do have to keep the original engine and smog equipment... supposivly. But nobody does. My Datsun truck is running Weber carb and no smog equipment, no cat. that is supposivly illegal.

 

What were you getting sent to the referee for?

 

side pipes, decible violation, no smog equipment and my intake and muffler were not DOT approved

 

Replace the side pipes with a nice mandrel bent 2.5" exhaust. They won't be able to touch you with the decible violation. Did he claim probable cause to look under your hood for the smog equipment that he couldn't recognize even if it were marked as such?

I had a 'Senior' CHP trooper cite my wife for an illegally modified exhaust system as a result of the 'loud' sound it made.

What he didn't realize is that there are specific requirements within the CA Vehicle Code about how the decible level is to be tested in order to charge for a violation. There's nothing subjective about it. It's very strict and requires decible testing equipment that NO officer carries with them in their patrol vehicle.

This guy had probably been writing tickets to ricers for years and they just paid the fine assuming the trooper knew what he was doing. Unfortunately for him, I know my way around WestLaw.

The CA Vehcile Code is so thick that even a 20 year CHP vet can't know it all. They generally know the most enforced statutes but even then, the damn thing is so convoluted, they don't know all the 'loop holes'!

Citation dismissed.

Learn to use the system or it'll use you!

 

no, but then with my luck and the attitude of just about every cop/chp i would have been arrested for some outa the blue b.s. and he would have had the car towed and and it woulda cost me more money. his initial " reason" for pulling me over was because he thought my front windows had been tinted, which they were not. he then said my car was too loud and proceeded to make an example of how loud my car can be by starting his and revving. ( i was trying not to laugh, but he saw me and then asked me to pop my hood ) he thought the car was carburated, pointed out that there was no CA numbers on my intake, and then checked the underside only to find no kind of smog equipment and a glasspack.

 

Damn! What a dick. But it's nice to know he would have let me off with my triple Mikunis!