I'm an old memeber on this board and wanted to come herte for some advice, its not third gen related but I thought yall might hellp me any ways! ok I have a slight delema! I have always been into the z cars, I have never owned a hybid z just 300zx(z32). Recently I was think about building a 280zxt powered LT1 with a 4l60e or a t56! The car that already have is a Complete 87 buick Grand National parts car and I also have a nice non turbo Regal rolling chassis! I was gonna put the two cars together, and have another nice turbo buick! The times I was hoping to run were in the mid to low elevens which would be no problem with the scary fast buicks. As everyone know the buicks are kinda pricey so i am starting to second guess! Now the Z car on the other hand has to be a 280zx Turbo. The Z car will prolly handle better, has 4 wheel disc brakes, t-tops, aero dynamics, has the option of a manual tranny and is considerably lighter. Also the lt1 would make good power and should be quite formidable. I'm not such which one would be cheaper to build? Also does anyone know any times estimated that I should expect a mildly build lt1 with a 4l60e in a 81-83 280zxturbo to produce. Any non bias in put would be greatly appreciated. 1. Which ever one I choose I want the car to be a daily driver in the summer. 2.be very reliable 3. ok on gas 4. decently quick 5. comfortable 6. a good all around performcer.

I'd do the turbo buick simply because there aren't many cars on the road that are anywhere near as cool.

Also...it's a shame this will wind up getting locked for being "non thirdgen related" gayest rule ever in a street racing forum

well maybe they could just put it where it should be insteaad of closing it. I really could use memebers input, since I will be starting the build in a week or so!

A buddy of mine just did an LT1/M6 into a 280Z last year. Turned out to be a fairly straight forward swap and runs great. Runs mid 11's. Nothing too radical. Really brings a crowd when he parks.

+1 for the Turbo Buick...

Turbo buicks rock, nuf said.

3 for the Grand National and 1 for the 280zx turbo w lt1! Hopefully more people will chime in and give their input!

Now if I go with the turbo buick do you guys think I should build a 4.1 turbo motor or just stick with the 3.8 block and do bolt ons?

If I go with the lt1 powered 280zx, I will do basic bolt ons and a 100 shot of nitrous!

i say the 280zx not alot have lt1's and mabe ablot on and then the nitrous

a company called "www.jagsthatrun.com" sells complete swap kits to put lsx, ltx, tpi and other gen 1 sbc in older datsuns and jaguars. I just can't decide between the two cars! I'm trying to work out the price and speed equation in my head....

both cars should be quite fast, with very little work, I thought the datsun would get the slight edge because of its light weight(2700lbs@ 400rwhp should make a rocket) but its and pretty old car so it might need more than I'm considering!

The buick on the other hand can make 400whp no problem, it is a little heavier but at 400hp it would produce makes tons and I mean tons of torque like around 550tq!

If building the Buick, depends on how much boost you want to run. I ran mine at 23psi all day long(pump gas and alky injection) with no problems what so ever. Easily low-mid 11's at 120+mph in the TTA.

If you want to build it stronger, then maybe block made by TA. Haven't been on the buick boards as often anymore so I really don't know if those had problems or not.

FWIW, when my TTA was still running all the stock stuff it ran 12.1@111. I dynoed it the next day and it was 318/455 to the wheels. It was running on the ragged edge though. Then the mods came and I went 10mph faster. Never had it dynoed after that though but it was a much, much safer tune because of all the mods.

I would say the LT1 280z would be a more streetable mid-11 second car than a 3.8TURBO Regal, but I love Regals so there I love to see them!

A little biased here being a GN owner but mine runs 11.3 @ 121 and I drive to the track, change fuel and make the runs. 100% streetable or highway-able. Just need higher octane fuel to run the big boost...if 93 octane drop the boost to 18 psi and no problem. Add alky and big boost with 93 octane.

My point is high 10-low 11 turbo Buicks are very very streetable.

Bob

GN all the way. My friend is running high 11s on a GN built by connley racing out of Houston. He has a slightly bigger cam, ported heads, and a slightly bigger turbo.He runs 11.9s with 8psi.He hasn't even turned the boost up yet but were thinking mid-low 10s with 18+psi. The car is a monster, it destroys new LS2 vettes and will run very close with a new Z06 with only 8psi.

Another vote for the GN, but I may be a bit biased.

Or put the GN drivetrain in the 280zx...that would be cool.

hell man if I swap a gn drivetrain into anything it would have to be a 240z(super light)...but honestly that would be alot of fab work. I don't know if I wanna under go that much work, ya know? I might be forced to lean towards the buick, simply because i can't find a 280zx car around PA!

I hear ya, just throwing out some ideas. I know how easy it is for a project to snowball into something big. You cant go wrong with a turbo Buick.

yeah the buick is an excellent back up to have!

Turbo Buick all the way!

damn i miss my old GN, that turbo shriek is sooo addicting! when i come up with the income to purchase another car, im definately getting another TR

My favorite is when they just finish up, then take off from out of the burn out box, then immediately slow down by the tree before they run. As they slow down, you hear their very distinctive BOV. Feel the goosebumps rise....

GNs dont have BOVs (at least from the factory, very few GN guys actually retrofit those)... what youre hearing is turbo sneeze

^ You are correct, it is definitely turbo sneeze that I'm referring to (excellent depiction). As for the factory, very few Grand Nationals are still stock here at Raceway Park, and blow off valves are definitely being utilized by some of the runners....

I dunno guys I guess I will see what happens! I found a pretty nice 280zx non turbo for sale for $500, the v8 swap kit is like $600 and I found a vette lt1 for $1K

Turbo Buick hands down all the way. If you do the Buick you have a crowd pleaser, and a wicked peice of American muscle; if you do the Z you have a mixed up hybid car that will get a little attention but that fades pretty quick. I'm not much for swapping American motors into foreign cars (though I've seen it done a few times), but I'm all about a the turbo Buicks, so are most of the folks at the drag strip.

true I have always been a buick man myself! The Z would be crazy fast tho!