[justin81 with t-tops]

ok, i have been bad mouthin my Z for the past few weeks and gearing up to build my Nova. Well i took the t-tops off and went crusing on the back roads(at about 75mph) and thought about my Nova, it would never be able to take a corner like my Z(which i like doin) it would get horrible gas mileage, not have A/C nor t-tops, the interior in it feels to much like a "boat" for any kind of preformance driving. Then i thought of a 2seater, turbo Z with a 5speed, i think it would cost a little bit more but i think i would like to have a 13.9 or faster daily driven ZX with A/C, the one i'm looking at has t-tops which i love. but it needs A LOT of TLC, however i have a totaled 82 that has a good A/C system that i could use, i can't find a turbo Z anywhere around but am thinking about the one out of the junkyard($650) if they give me the piping to go with it. so then i would have a shitty looking 15sec car with A/C(in therory) as apposed to a 14sec car that looked decent with no A/C.
how much(motor wise) dose it take to run 13.9 or faster? paint/body/interior is not a problem, i can do all the work myself on the motor(with guided help in some areas). I'm really thinkin about goin back to the Z

 

[ZZZZZ]

Do the V8 in your Z...

best of both worlds. Sure you've heard this before...but if you've got the engine, tranny and body, why go through all the hassle of a turbo swap? I have a JTR manual and it seems to be a pretty straight forward deal. Lots of people here have done it, so you have tons of people to ask for advice.

 

[Cody 82ZXT]

Re: Do the V8 in your Z...

Justin,


To have a 13.9 sec ZX is not really that hard. All it take is a strong motor and some simple mods.

Intercooler
More fuel--several different ways to do
New fuel pump
Boost controller
3" Exhaust
Traction--proubly the hardest part
Drag Radials would help
Learn how to drive it!!


Cody 82 ZXT

 

[justin81 with t-tops]

i don't have the body...

i don't have a Z body, and the transmission i have is an old Powerglide so i would need a 3.36 rear end to make it streetable, also i've heard that V8 Z's aren't really all that fast compared to the amount of money and time it takes, however i have kind of forgotten about the V8 Z swap(i tried to put one in my 81 ZX but dad didnt want me to) now that i have money but the motor i have is claimed be someone else(my brother-in-law) so i would like to know how hard it is to take the motor back out(i have another V8 but it needs a rebuild) i think i can get a 76 280Z pretty cheap but then i have to find a tranny. but u are right about the best of both worlds(if i can still have A/C).

 

[blake]

Re: Do the V8 in your Z...

hey cody how are you getting more fuel to your zx? i have a basically stock zxt and i looking for a intercooler and after i intercool it i wanted to up the boost but i know that means more fuel are injectors the only way? because i know they cost you an arm and a leg. also what kind of fuel pump are you running?

 

[Matt 78Z]

Re: i don't have the body...

Wachu talkin bout Willis? I thought you had a ZX? Put a V8 in there it is just as easy as a Z and you can keep the T tops and with some work A/C. And don't let some "V8's are only for American crap" person tell you a V8 Z or ZX isn't fast enough to equal the work. Yeah maybe if you go find some smog equipment choked 70's farm truck and simply drop the motor in the Z it probably will run like crap. You have a nova, I'm into hot rods of all types, don't tell me you've never seen a nova bust out some fast times in the 1/4, why would the same engine in a lighter more aerodynamic car be slower? Simple laws of physics it won't be. Your ZX will run as strong as the motor you put in it. For the record, I've done (fabbed mounts, installed, wired, adjusted driveline angles, etc) 2 V8 conversions both into Z's and I've completed one turbo conversion. The V8 was actually easier, by the time I had a trust worthy turbo, intercooler, bent piping, good injectors, downpipe and exhaust I had more in it than the V8 swap and less power.

Matt