Old school import?

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

So in a month or two I'll be picking up a '78 Datsun 280Z from my uncle. The car is in pretty rough shape, but I'm only paying a few hundred bucks for it so I'm ok with spending some time restoring it. Plans for the car include a near complete underside restoration, re-do any bad body work and a complete new paint job, suspension and brake upgrades, and a new engine.

The car has been stored since 1999 with the last registration expiring in 2000. It has been sitting in a pole barn on my uncle's farm under a cover, so the paint would be in nice condition if the last paint job wasn't a complete fuck up. There's paint runs and bad body work all over the place, so it's gonna be a big job.

Now, for the engine, I'm undecided as to the way I want to go. There's tons of info available on ford and chevy V8 swaps. If I go that way, I'll probably build a 331 SBF with fuel injection, or if I can find a great deal, maybe an LSX. My other thought is to build a 4g63 to around 350-400 whp. This car is going to be crazy light (probably around 2500 lbs) so I don't need a shit ton of power. 400 will probably be a little too crazy even.

I've got experience building 4g63s, so for my needs I think a 6 bolt with 2g pistons and 1g rods would suffice for my goals and be pretty cheap to build. For a turbo I could probably get away with an EVOIII 16g, or maybe a 50 trim. The only challenging things I'd run into going this rout is the routing for the water pipe, getting a transmission adapter and finding a front facing manifold.

I don't have a lot of experience with building a V8, but that doesn't really concern me too much.

So what are everyone's opinions? V8 or 4g63?

[turbotalon1g]

V8, for all the upkeep and bullshit with a 4 cyl. it wouldn't be worth it.

Find a longblock 5.3 and drive it all day in any climate without thinking and then spray it or boost it as you see fit.

2JZ would be tits then the car would sound and look like sex.

[19TsiAwd90]

^ 2jz swaps in the old z cars are always fun, look tits and sound amazing! if money is a concern i wouldnt recommend it thought. 4g63 parts are cheap, you know your way around them, thats a good option for you, otherwise you cant go wrong with the instant tq or a meaty v8!

[goodhart]

Chevy 5.3

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

I think I'll stay away from a 2jz. As badass as they are, I'd like to keep the engine as far back in the chassis as possible, ideally behind the strut towers (although having 2 2jz powered cars could be kinda cool lol). Hence the desire for a v8 or 4cyl. I also wanna try to keep weight to a minimum. A SBF with aluminim heads is about 30-35 pounds lighter than the stock L28, and I could get the whole engine mounted behind the strut towers.

I'm open to the idea of using a chevy motor, but it seems like everyone who does a motor swap uses one. I'd kinda like to keep this more original, and something not done a thousand times before.

[19TsiAwd90]

5.0 sound good boosted =)

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

Haha they do, but like I said, I don't need a shit ton of hp, so if I go V8, I'd probably build it to make the power I want N/A or at the most, with spray.

[19TsiAwd90]

^^ makes sence, i say build it all n/a and have spray for when you want more than 400hp

[turbotalon1g]

I think I'll stay away from a 2jz. As badass as they are, I'd like to keep the engine as far back in the chassis as possible, ideally behind the strut towers (although having 2 2jz powered cars could be kinda cool lol). Hence the desire for a v8 or 4cyl. I also wanna try to keep weight to a minimum. A SBF with aluminim heads is about 30-35 pounds lighter than the stock L28, and I could get the whole engine mounted behind the strut towers.

I'm open to the idea of using a chevy motor, but it seems like everyone who does a motor swap uses one. I'd kinda like to keep this more original, and something not done a thousand times before.

Then don't swap an old Z, everyone does it. Build the motor that is in there.
old school motors suck too.

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

In order to get the kind of power I want with the current motor, I'd have to rebuild it from the ground up since it hasn't turned over at all in 13 years, then build a complete turbo system for it and all that shit. It would be way easier and cheaper to build a V8 and throw it in.

Yes, a lot of people swap old Zs, but most of them do it with a chevy V8. I want to do it with something different.