Ok well some might remember i was in a flood last year that really did a number on my car. It was horrible so i drove the car after that......yes i got it to run even though the poor car was under 4 feet of water......so then it's been a while and nothing goes wrong with it then i hear a godamn poping noise coming from the engine turns out it was the heaader, a bolt broke off so now i got a loud horrible noise and not to forget exaughst resine on my fuel rail. So then after that problem occured the power steering hose ****ed up and since i had no job at the time i couldn't replace either one and my z was the only thing getting me around. Ok so now i'm fed up with the godamn car it's a 26 year old stock bone engine. So here's my predicament in an estimated 2 months i'll have 2 grand. easily since i aint got no money to spend on anything else i was thinking to put a VG30DETT engine or a small block v8 witch both are really simple since my brother is a welder so the custom engine mounts wont be so hard and i got 3 certified mechanics witch are my dads friends and are eager to help me. So this questions is no bullshit. So i would greatly appreciate feed back from any of you. thanks.
_Chuck_

 

haha that's quite comical. I like the no power steering thing... that's always fun.

As for the VG30DETT, I'm betting that swap would be a PITA. And I only know of it being done once. The V8 on the other hand, is pretty common, and there are a lot of good resources to help you out. It's all you though, man... V8 is probably more around your price range.

 

If you're into 4 hr spark plug changes, go for the VG30! Seriously though, when you put the twin turbo in the s130 chassis, it fits, but servicing anything thats not directly on top of that engine, is damn near impossible without dissasembling the freaking thing. Modifing the engine bay make matter better, but by no means good.

I had a friend do this mod, he got everything in, even fabbed his own mounts, and it wouldn't start. It was so much work to check anything on that engine, and he decided to try to change the plugs after the engine was already in. He pulled the engine and scrapped the whole project. He bought a Z32 shell and just put the engine in that. Threw a rod 4 months later too.

Sorry about the story, just trying to get my point across. If you don't mind all the inconviences, it would make for an awesome car. Ferrari beater if you ask me. But the V8 is cheaper, and it fits alot better. I don't like the cross breeding idea with the V8, but hey that's your call. You could always try an inline 6 swap like an RB($$$). Or even the SR20, I've seen that one done a few time, and it seems to work out really good. You can get an SR for less than $2k

 

the twin turbo is the same price as the v8 conversion i've looked into both the TT conversion wont be a PITA. like i said i got 3 certified mechanics and my brothers a welder any custom fabrication wont be a problem. Money is not really a problem here i got nothing else to spend it on so i'm going for broke =0). So any good convincing opinions would work. No offense intended towards the comments above. But i need something that will put my mind to rest cause right now i'm pulling towards the TT conversion. Any opinions are welcomed. And thanks again for even bothering to read this.
_Chuck_

 

2k would get you a very nice L28ET pushing about 300WHP plus you dont have to fabricate mount and driveshafts, and you remain about the same wirght.

 

If you got the means and the green, I say go for it. It will fit, and it will work. It has been done. If you modify the engine bay, you can put access areas to get to the engine from under the car and in the wheel wells. And make sure you get anything you don't need in that engine bay out of there. It's gonna be tight enough as it is.

The VG TT was on my list of mods at one point, as were many different engines (not the V8), but I think I've finally settled on something of my own. It's not gonna be a walk in the park, but I'll make it happen.

I wasn't trying to discourage you, I was just letting you know about an experience I had so you'd have a heads up. If being original were easy, nobody would be original. You know what I'm saying. Think about it, it makes sense.

Good luck and go for it if your leaning that way anyways.

 

thanks for all the replies ladies and gents i'm leaning 90% towards the TT conversion and in a few months tecnically 2 i'll be notifitying you about the changes under going the z. Thank you for your support and i'll keep updating on the corrent progress. You have been very helpfull.
_CHUCK_

 

Twin Turbos all the way..

 

Z with Z! F**K the V8! you'll be happier with the end result! F**K keepin' **** simple, the more complicated you make it, the more you can call it YOUR OWN!

 

Sure gets the point across, don't it.

 

Small Block Chevy.

No question it'll be easier, cost less and your dad's mechanic friends will understand it. They're easy to maintain and go fast parts are readily availble and cheap as hell.

If you try the Z32, you'll be hounded by countless hours of trying to get the wiring harness together correctly, replacing all the sensors that are bad or got broken in the removal or installation, trying to get the ECU working and you'll still have a 10+ year old engine that is expensive to keep running and your dad's friends will be virtually no help so you'll be on your own.

JTR now makes engine mounts for the 280ZX as well.

http://www.jagsthatrun.com

If I were in your shoes and had limited funds, I'd do the SBC.

http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/index.html

There is another black 2+2 ZX in California, but I can't seem to find the link to his website.