What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

Yes. I have an old Z car and I am faced with a tough decision of what engine should be used.

I have considered everything from Viper motor, most Fuel injected V8s (I don't know shit about carbed stuff and it doesn't appeal to me), Inline 6s (2JZ, RB), GN V6, To our beloved 4G63, with that being said an EVO9 motor would also be fun with the crazy mivec thing.

Now when faced with this task, everyone's first question is what are your goals.
To be 100% honest I am not sure. I know that I want it to be able to do anything and be fun/scary as hell. I want it to destroy my DSM in every category possible, maybe other than comfort.

That being said money is another one. Viper setup downfall is the money of course, i see this same problem with the RB and 2JZ. Fords mod. motor doesn't fit (well it does but an inch all the way around isn't appealing)(i just got that when i read it).
So DSM motor, cheap power can be made and the fact that I would be looking at a weight of 2400lbs when done, would mean in theory I would have a car that could run 11.00 with my old setup.
Now since I would get to couple the 4G63 with a T56 I wouldn't really give 2 shits about how much power I am making to destroy a tranny. So 2.4 would be the motor and maybe a turbo of the 63 range I think would be nice and responsive.
A con to this as my old lady says, is you already have one of these. (No I don't its a stock 2.0L, 16G) But maybe she is right, no fun having 2 cars that are somewhat the same, I don't know
A pro is the weight and maybe the fact I could get the motor behind the front axle.

GM V8, in particular LSx series motors said to be touched by the hand of god himself. Well I don't know if I would do an LS block (aluminum ones) since they are spendy and the cast iron versions are stronger and cheaper.
But on a budget I would do the 6L truck motor with boost, downfall is the weight of the fucker. But upside I would hit my goal of 700whp and still have a fun car with the torque/response of V8/displacement.
There are a few making 800whp on stock bottom ends.

I figured I should ask you guys that know since I really don't know all that much and lots of you have experience with other cars and just power in general.

Thanks
Aaron
(oh yeah without a finicky tranny I can let people drive this thing a little more worry free :nod:)

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

my vote would be a vh45de with a single turbo

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

if any of you know chase and his gunmetal vh45de s13... that thing is a monster with a bone stock motor (I helped him build it the past 2 summers). and the sound is unreal - this engine was what nissan used as a basis for their le mans cars

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I know many people with turbo LSx's, and they are amazing. I'd say to the 6.0 iron block with a big ole single :)

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

LSx.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

Lexus SC400/Toyota 4.0L V8 + Turbo.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

Turbo LSX or 2jz

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

13B





















J/K
LQ and a T56

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

RB's are my favorite, ever since the first time I heard one of those at w.o.t. Rb25det's arent to spendy, but the aftermarket parts can be. Or an rb30de block, slap a rb25det head on it, and you got yourself a 3.0l, single turbo monster. My opinion may be swayed by the fact that I'd give my left nut for a r32 gtr.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

GM 4.3L vortec I6 out of the Trailblazer.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

The lightweight frame and suspension of the 240-280Z cars pretty much rules out any iron block v8. Beyond that, weight remains an issue. Even if you find a nice motor in your weight class, it may sit too high in the engine bay for the suspension and steering geometry to deal with. Pay attention to the CG as well as overall weight.

Don't laugh at this (too much), but there are loads of people taking old Dodge slant-6 motors and race-prepping them for small cars. The things have an unbelieveable amount of torque for their size and with a little forced air can really churn out the HPs.....

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?p=672563
Check this out. I think the LS1/LQ4 could work. They are saying the the center of the engine is 12" behind the front axle. Also the cast 6.0l only weighs 100lbs more that the aluminum LS1. If I remember right the LS1 with a M6 weighs 503lbs. A t-56 can't be much more heavy.

Also check out this one. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread...ght=ls1+weight

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

Or you could let me build you a really simple motor. I think it would look something like this.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1...ass_195404.htm

O yeah nitrous purge on the horn button. I think thats a IFS rear too.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

LQ4/L92 heads, twin 4088's, bucket under the drivers seat to fill with poop while driving :crapper:

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

you could do like darius240z did and throw a s/c'ed lt1 in it :)

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

D16y8.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

F20c

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

^I think one might be in the works.
Just seen one that made 700hp stock longblock.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

If there was a good deal on one, I'd go RB25 myself. Then just throw a 4088, or a 4202 on it, tune it, and call it a day.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

LQ4 with spray. Done deal.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

^You are a big handling guy. You think that 100lbs weight increase is a big deal compared to the price and reliability?
Found out there is a guy making 700whp on a stock bottom end LS1.
Another guy making 600whp on a 5.3 (cheapest bet).
LQ9s holding 800+rwhp, I wouldn't have to build a bottom end and middle on price.
I wish I had $6k to put a blower on I want to do a KB or whipple I love that sound.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I sure wouldn't want to add 100 lbs to the front end of a car that wasn't needed as it will have a significant impact on steering feel and handling. Are you building this car for straight line performance, to dominate the twisties, or a combo of both? If the answer is a combo of both then its tough to argue with a forced induction 4-cylinder since they are lighter in weight but still make the power.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

^Yeah, thats what is killing me. I am going for a combo of both.
Cause if I did use a 4 cyl. It would reduce the weight.
But the car would be significantly rear heavy. Is that a big deal?
The aluminum V8 would be near a perfect 50/50

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I didn't realize those cars were so heavy in the rear. Whats the weight difference from a Honda 4-cylinder, a turbo 4G63, and an aluminum V8?

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

x2
single cam fury!!!!

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I will say it again.. 2jz. I think that would work out nice for both straight line and twisty's.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

Do you actually have any information, or a logical reason for that statment, or have you just seen F&F one too many times?

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

hello! it's 2jz-no shyt!

besides being one of the best designed engines in the world, capable of good numbers and good spool time, I also thought the 2jz was a bit on the lighter end..for being a 6-cyl.


I'm voting outta the norm..do an audi 4.2l v8 twin turbo setup, or a ferrari f430 motor? I know you are a baller big brown!

-A. Swift

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I have to look it up.

The stock L6 was cast iron and 2800lbs. The LSx weighs 30lbs more because of the transmission and it keeps the weight centered because it is not mounted further forward than a 4 cyl or an inline 6. Once driver is inserted the weight is even balanced left to right with a aluminum V8.

I am thinking aluminum V8 with bolt-ons and either spray or boost.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I was thinking about an Audi V8, apart from that whole money thing.
I am not in a hurry for this, so I don't care but it does need to achieve my goal of ultimate street car.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

sr20, easy enough to find. Make good power. Nissan heritage. And not too terribly expensive. Shouldn't throw the balance off too much either. Might be a bit boring, but it is pretty practical and fits your needs.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

ls2 w/spray and supporting mods to get it into the car and youll be around the 11.00 range

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

^I should be past 11s.
LS2 with boltons would be 11s.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

Exactly. However, I might not even put a turbo on it, just raise the compression a bit and get some cams made. It's got a laundry list of awesome parts right from the factory.

I've been thinking for a while of putting one in a DSM and making it RWD. Would need a decent tranny though.

- Forged steel crankshaft.
- Forged steel connecting rods.
- 6 Bolt main bearing caps with studs.
- Full-length main bearing girdle.
- Lightweight, floating pistons with molybdenum coating.
- Sodium-filled exhaust valves.
- Cross-flow cooling system.
- Hydraulic lash adjusters.
- Single-row silent timing chain.
- Coil-on-plug ignition system.
- Roller rocker arms for reduced friction.
- Variable Valve Timing.
- Redline of 6900 rpm.
- Compression ratio of 10.2 to 1.
- Bore of 93 mm and stroke of 82.7 mm.
- Dimensions: 890 mm(L) x 740 mm(W) x 725 mm(H)

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

I say 2JZGTE + massive single.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

THANK YOU! I'm glad someone else understands the badassery that is the vh45de. Plus since it's still a nissan motor the car might not reject the heart-transplant lol.

a z32 trans can be mated to it with relative ease (there are existing adaptor plates on the market). not that the z32 trans is the strongest tranny but it isn't terrible

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

But you can get a LS base LQ4/9 for like 500 bucks with a harness and computer.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

^True that.

Carl do you have any more infomation on it? Cost?
Apparently the motor is pretty wide it would be a tight squeeze.

Not doubted teh badassery of the VH, just the cost and size of me wallet.

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

There is a corvette parts place right up by us on 65, get a C5 drivetrain, use the LS1, have the driveshaft shortened and use the corvette rear mounted tranny :D

Re: What motor would you choose? To put in a Z car.
 

lots of good suggestions, and a few really stupid ones.

You need a v8. Personally, I would stay away from chevy products. If I were doing this, as of right now, I'd choose the 1uzfe or whatever the version of the 4.0 v8 is that's in the 99-03 (or thereabouts) lexus gs400. Even in that car, it feels nice and with 1400lbs less, it would really boogie.

Also, the most important part, they are already rwd.