3uz-fe

IbanezDan51

Well-Known Forum User
Should have stuck an LS1 in Johny...Sump from a Gen 4 Camaro gets those engines right back against the firewall and you can mount it using stock 350 mounts on some adapters to the existing 240Z engine supports. Wiring is easy too and it uses a single fuel line with no return (no mess!). They aren't cheap to buy usually though...

Dan
 

johnymd

Club Member
Dint really want to go the American route. Not for any particular reason but wanted something a little different. I looked at the LS mounts and cant see how you can mount a v8 so far back and still have the mounts line up. The mount points are generally in the middle of the block and the front crossmember would be in front of the engine with the block against the firewall. Anyway, I've got what I've got so it will fit one way or another. It's all a little bit of guess work at the moment until I try it in the car which should be soon.
 

IbanezDan51

Well-Known Forum User
The mounts I machined up myself extended further forward of the engine, the front of the engine sat bang in line with the front crossmember pretty much and the rear of the engine was about 2 inches off the bulkhead. Fit was really nice...but my old shell was a RHD and made the fitting of manifolds a real pain, clearance was so tight around the starter motor and steering shaft.

You will get it in and it will be a lot more interesting than the run of the mill ls swaps everyone does!

Dan
 

johnymd

Club Member
Looks like the 280z is going to be delayed by a week so still no car to test fit the engine. A few bits arrived so I did have one thing I could get on with. The oil filter/cooler relocation plate which is a custom piece to allow me to remove this whole assembly and give me room for the engine mount. Once this was fitted it gave me a better idea of where to sit the engine in relation to the cross member and it looks like it will work by removing a section of the sump. The RHS engine mount will then just clear the back of the alternator and the LHS will now have nothing in its way. Next job will be to cut a section out of the sump as in the picture I posted earlier. This will set the engine 30mm from the firewall.
 

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johnymd

Club Member
Bought a set off second hand BC coilovers recently and the 280z is the car they are destined for. They are off a 200sx and I hear they are pretty easy to convert so I jumped in. Spoke to BC and they put me onto a UK company with regard to adaptor sleeves. Emailed them yesterday and the correct sleeves arrived this morning.

Still waiting on the car though!!
 

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johnymd

Club Member
Picked the car up today and took it for a drive, on private land of course. Started clearing out the **** that had been left in the car. Very pleased with the condition as its all solid. The only rust is what you see on top and that's just surface rust. Usual cracked dash and consul. Broken door handles and no keys for the locks. Engine fired up straight away and no smoke or odd noises. I'll replace the locks and handle tomorrow then get it MOT'd.
 

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Wyn

Club Member
wtf do them yanks do to their seats :D
Every one you see is split n hanging

Is it all them burgers or what ?

Shell looks good mind, an early 280z too
 

johnymd

Club Member
I know Wyn, they are all just soooo far gone. I think it is just down to the dry heat. The Viinyl drys out, goes very brittle and just falls to bits. My theory is, buy the car with the worse dash and interior and it will have the best original rust free shell.

She'll is very good and early but it's confusing see the mix of 240 and 280 bits. Door window frame with extra seal but 240 locks for example.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Been working on the 280z again today. Although I'm itching to test fit the 3uz, the car needs to remain mobile for a bit so I'll probably MOT it with this engine. I also have a few urgent jobs that needed doing. Like most of the cars I've imported, both door handles got broken by the port people forceing them plus no key for the door locks. I've run out of spare handles so as a temporary fix, I've swapped over the 2 handles so they now work ok. I made use of the new door locks I recently bought and would you believe it, the new key operates the tailgate lock!! When through all the electrics as well and everything is fine. So tomorrow I just need to check the the rack and suspension bushes and swap out the usual track rod ends and ball joints plus bleed the brakes and I'll be ready for MOT this week.
 

racer

Club Member
What's the short term plan with the paint John?
The bits that are still covered look pretty good.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Good question Matt and one which I don't know the answer to. The paint is ok on the lower half of the car but been badly effected by the sun all over the top sections. I removed most of the black striping yesterday and started cleaning up the roof with a da. I sent off a couple of emails yesterday to soda blasters so may get all the bony paint removed and just have the outside painted. I'm trying to not make it a full resto project as I have enough of them already but I need to do something about the rusty areas.
 

racer

Club Member
Good question Matt and one which I don't know the answer to. The paint is ok on the lower half of the car but been badly effected by the sun all over the top sections. I removed most of the black striping yesterday and started cleaning up the roof with a da. I sent off a couple of emails yesterday to soda blasters so may get all the bony paint removed and just have the outside painted. I'm trying to not make it a full resto project as I have enough of them already but I need to do something about the rusty areas.

Outside paint job sounds like a plan.

What colour is it exactly? Looks like Lilac to me, I like it.
 

johnymd

Club Member
It is a lilac type colour. Just the outside has been painted. The interior, engine bay, door shuts, petrol flap inner, inside Bonnett, etc are all still in their original blue colour. It would be sensible to just pant the exterior bits blue but I quite fancy white.
 

racer

Club Member
I Saw the car today and, what a cracking shell it is.
Apart from the surface areas in the pics that you can see, there is no rust anyway. Another superb buy John.

Get that exhaust leek sorted though mate, my heads still buzzing from the fumes :p
 
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