I'm trying to decide on what motor swap to do into my 77 280z. Pretty much I'm open to anything and everything. I'm very tempted to do a 402 ls2 with a t56 6 psd, because I would only gain 30 pounds over my current 2.8L 6 cylinder and 4 spd.

2JZgte with 6 spd (GT4088R, custom manifold, custom intake, big intercooler)

RB26 with z32tt transmissiong (4088R, custom manifold, custom intake, big intercooler)

LS2 with t56 (402CI, headers, exhaust, heads)

From what I can tell, all of these engine/transmission combinations weigh about the same. The LS2 is naturally aspirated and would make ~500WHP. The RB26 and 2jz are sick motors but I'm worried about reliability on a road course for long durations. What are your guys feelings on this?

Regards,
Justin

 

My feeling is you are on the wrong board for this topic. There are Datsun boards, engine swap boards and even Z-car transplant boards.

Go to http://dimequarterly.tierranet.com/ and surf thru their links.
Also, try to find Gary Savage or Dave Lum on line. Both are in your area and are into big HP Datsun swaps. Gary is nearly finished with his V8 240Z and lives in Eugene. And there's a guy named Dustin in Eugene too who has a black V8 z-car that is wicked fast.

Also check out http://zcargarage.com/ but take your checkbook...

Thawley -- who was a Datsun guy before a Honda guy, but isn't any more

 

http://www.g-forcetransmission...v.asp

And use a B/H series engine. Maybe a K-series in the future. Woot.

 

go with the LS1/LS2 or even LS6 swap. cant go wrong with a bit of american muscle.

 

id go w/the ls2 for simpleness...

 

hi.

i drove an instructor friend's Scarab at Pocono North track a while ago. his is an early 240Z, which he now has a 383 full race motor in (steel rods, 13:1 pistons, highrise manifold with race carb, long tube headers, etc etc). i think the motor was around 650 hp at the flywheel. he has a Tremec 5 speed tranny and a heavy duty locker rear. has the usual race coilovers all around, plus some really big brakes and really wide 17" tires (275 front and 315 rear). he has a fuel cell installed plus of course a full welded cage.

that car flat BOOGIES on down the track. its about 2300 lbs ready to go, with driver. redline on that motor is 8500 rpm; and when it hits about 5500-6000 it flat out flies; i'm talking SCARY fast. 996 Twin Turbos get their doors blown clean off like they were stock 1978 911s. it has unbelievable pull down the straight. in the corners, i'd call it "fair". the brakes are "fair". basically, you drive it thru the turn to get to the next straight and then drop the hammer......

it is a wild ride! and really fun to drive, but at the same time it is scary to drive. you know you are taking your life in your hands, because this thing could seriously hurt or kill you if it gets out of hand. you are going 160-170 in NO TIME in this car.

my only suggestion would be to be sure that you are a very advanced driver before building and tracking a car like that.

be careful and have fun!

todd

PS it burns an incredible amount of C16 every rungroup. for a two day event, he brings 75 gallons of C16 in drums.

 

Ya know, my pet idea is to drop a Japanese drivetrain into a FFR chassis.
Think of a F20C drivetrain in a chassis weighing in @ 1950 lbs or 2000 lbs.
Pretty nice eh?

Still a RB26/25 drivetrain in a FFR ... super nice!

Riding in a V8 FFR , gobs of torque on demand went super fast.
Engine didnt seem refine (rough power delivery, noise, EFI reliability)

 

F20C = poopy engine, IMO. There are better choices out there than that torqueless wonder.

 

How about this setup...

http://www.grmotorsports.com/b...11869

 

I second the BMW V-12 with six speed transmission if you can find one.... and it really doesn't need the Ferrari look, but that one on GRM forums is NICE! Those are two neat and cool gals!

 

B18C5 in the trunk!

 

A looked into the BMW v12, but really they weigh a lot and you need to convert them over to drive sump to make them work as the factory oil pump is in the front of the sump. I doubt they make 500whp like the v8, but it sure would sound amazing.

Justin

 

An SR20 swap would be lighter than all of the swaps you listed and can still make good power reliably.

 

I agree this is in the wrong forum... I mean, what do you expect Honda people to say? An H22? A K20?

Keeping this thread Honda-related, dropping in an entire S2000 drivetrain would be pretty nice. You'd get a big kick in power... (what was the stock hp anyway) and most important, save a lot of weight over larger engines.

(If this was on another forum I'd say use a Skyline or SR20DET engine...)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nfn15037 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">An SR20 swap would be lighter than all of the swaps you listed and can still make good power reliably.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I definately agree with this comment. If you look at all the recent datsun tuners, a good amount of them (esp the track guys) have been going with a 4cyl combo to keep the majority of the engine weight behind the front shock towers (better for handling). Regaurdless of what I say youre probably going to want a relatively reliable car that makes pretty good power and parts are easy to find for...SR20 gets my vote.

 

american muscle

 

I would like to do a s2000 motor, but I'm worried about the transmission strength when its turbocharged.

Regards,
Justin

 

+1 vote for LS6

 

hybridZ.org is where you want to go to check out swaps in old Zs.

IMO, you can't go wrong with the LSx motor. its stout, compact, reliable, and makes great power naturally aspirated. And it would also have the widest, most linear power band over the other motors listed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Justin Olson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

RB26 with z32tt transmissiong (4088R, custom manifold, custom intake, big intercooler)
</TD></TR></TABLE>

DO IT

except you use the RB25 tranny.

Z + RB = sex. RB25 would be about half the cost of the 26, but the 26 is just so cool...

 

http://www.hybridz.org

I'd go with an SR20. The swap has been becoming more popular and there are more parts available now.

 

LSx engine. DO IT!

Coming from an SR owner.

 

F20C or F22C ftw!!!!!!!!!!!

or a SR20

or even better.....A ROTARY!!!!!

keep it light, expletive the V8

 

I'm willing to bet than an all aluminum v-8 weighs less than an iron straight-6.

 

The lsx v8 weighs less then the inline 6. You end up gaining about 30lbs total by upgrading to the ls2 and 6spd because the transmission weighs more then the 4spd.

The thing is, the RB26 with turbo and the full setup weighs over 100lbs more then the v8 setup. I'd rather get twice the displacement with less weight. Then a shot of nitrous and its game over.

I'd love to do the 6 cylinder tho just for the sound. MMMMMMM

Justin