Unknown007 wrote:ok i reread it so im guess a v8 swap would make the car way too hot?especailly while racing?well any sites then on a cheap 300zx engine?with mounts etc?and im guessing i have to buy motor mounts,cross member,sway bars, and push out the trans hole a little out to fit it and then cut back the shifter hole?if im correct?
Hi,
I don't want to disswade you but it seems like you are not too sure which way you want to go. In the course of one hour you went from V8 to Cheap 300ZX engine. So I as someone who has done 2 V8 swaps ( an Olds 215 into a 510 and a GM LS1 into a 240Z) I will offer my 2 cents worth.
You want to have a fast, cool 510. That is great. But what will it take to get you there? 510s are great handling cars but they start to loose their great handling when you add too much weight. Yes, with enough money and engineering, you can do a V8 swap that will still handle (ask Matt Guzetta with the Ford 5.0 V8 510) but for most guys that start a 510 V8 swap the car ends up being a cut up unfinished project car. There are not enough decent 510s out there anymore so please don't start cutting it up until you are quite certain that you can finish it.
What kind of shape is your car in now?
First things first figure out what your goals are.
You say you want "well i dont want to go turbo.i kind of want to go v8 lol but what ever cheap and gets me over 200 or 250 hp im good with."
I will ask you this. Have you ever driven a true 150 HP 510? If you haven't you will be surprised just how fast a 150 HP 510 is.
Sounds to me like you don't have alot of money to devote to this project.
200 - 250 HP in a 510 will not be cheap. You will need brake upgrades to stop that much power and suspension ugrades to get the power to the ground and keep the car handling well. Then you will need a cooling system upgrade and a fuel system upgrade and a rear diff upgade and on and on.
Do you want a high horsepower car for racing? Will it be roadracing, auto-x, dragstrip? Will this be a dedicated race car or will you need it as transportation too?
Is reliability important to you?
How much money and time do you have to devote to this project?
Any non L series engine swap will not be cheap. Most swaps will run a minimum of $2000 (I can hear the flaming starting) to do a clean reliable swap. Most will be double that or more. I know that many on this list will say that they did a swap for $500, $1000, etc. but doing a swap requires more then just bolting in a high HP motor and calling it good.
Once you have your goals sorted out, write them down. Read them and see if they are realistic. Then write out a PLAN. Break it down into sections and then write out a BUDGET. Assign an estimated cost to each section. Then double it. Now you can start to see how much your project will actually cost you.
We have seen too many decent 510s end up as parts cars do to lack of money and planning. It is easy to rip apart a car and be excited about a project. It is much harder to see it through and get it finished.
Let us know what your real goals are and how you plan to accomplish them.
If it isn't realistic to complete your dream 510 now, start doing things you can afford to do now. Upgrade the brakes and the suspension first and enjoy driving the car now. As you get more money, move on and start collecting the parts you need.
My V8 took me many years to finally get on the road. I did get the mechanicals finished but never got the body and paint done and ended up selling it in 2005. I had owned that car since 1987 and the V8 dream started in 1989. I finally drove that car in 2001. Life, work and family always got in the way.
Good luck to you. I sincerely hope that you get to build your dream 510. I hope we all do before we can't afford to buy the gas for them.