my mom has finally decided to let me have her 83 datsun 280zx turbo. its in decent shape and still runs really good but its been sitting at her house for about 2 years. im thinking about putting the engine and tranny from my 85 into it. its a 355, 550-600hp, th350 4000 stall. runs high 6s in the 1/8. the body has always been rough, there is no interior other than a plastic seat, 6 point roll bar, and sheet alum. dash. should i go for it?

 

do it you only live once

 

Isn't this a little like asking the Coke delivery man which Pepsi product you should buy?

 

but i will have one less thirdgen. i already joined hybridZ and i don't like it. if having a hybridZ makes me a D1ck like those guys im not sure if i want one. i need opinions.

 

I realize I've totally sold out to the ilk, but if I were to do a 280Z swap, I'd go with an LSx.

(And don't think I haven't considered it. Actually LS1/300Z, but you get my drift.)

 

I have a 280Z I'm thinking about dropping a 350 into, I say go for it, just don't become an ******* like most converted 280Z owners. Mine will be to sell to get an LSx for my Camaro though. Heh.

 

the main reason i wanted to do it is because of the drag races we have at atlanta motor speedway. we have a class called "domestic" which is just a NA V8 with street radial tires. its "arm drop" drags so the fastest car in the class wins. its always dominated by one person/car. usually a low 7 sec 1/8 mile will do the job. since my gutted camaro should weigh about the same as the fully equipped 280ZX and the camaro runs high 6s i think i should be able to pull the required low 7 with a small traction issue. and i've seen BMWs in that class so i dont think the datsun will be a problem there. another cool thing is i've never seen another V8 Z out there only a V8 RX7 but he runs in the class above me.

 

Street Radial tires = MT ET Street radial

Put a set of those on the Camaro and run it in that "domestic" class

 

http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/...0_rulebook.pdf here is a link to the whole (4 page) rulebook. if that tire may be considered a drag radial they wont allow it. another class specifies no E.T street tires but my class doesn't but i could ask on the first race night. here are the rules for my class
DOMESTIC (DM) – American made cars with stock suspension in stock location, stock interior, no cutting of the body, fender wells or floor pan. No nitrous allowed. HARD TREADED RADIAL tires only. No drag radials, soft compound, bias ply or special tires.
these rules say no nitrous but it doesn't say anything about forced induction. they should really think more about this stuff