Well, it's definitely gonna drive a LOT better than a Firebird - thank god. But yes, it's going to feel old, for the simple reason that it is old - it was designed nearly 45 years ago! However, I think the biggest difference you'll notice is that it's a lot more raw. Manual steering, thinner metal, less sound deadening will result in a lot more feedback in the driver's seat. This is an upside for me - I think my E30 is too refined. But if you want an E30 in a Z's skin, I'd recommend a 280z. My parents have a '78 280z, and I have a '71 240z. The 240z is light and nimble, drives like an oversized gokart, but it's much louder inside (for a number of reasons - my car is modified), and when you close the doors, you don't get a nice solid 'thunk' like on an E30. It's more of a hollow, rattly tin can sound. However, if you close the doors on the 280z, you get the same, solid sounding 'thunk' that you get with the E30. It's fairly quiet inside (it's also bone stock, unlike my 240z), and it's something that would be much more tolerable as a daily driver. IMO, it's comparable to my E30.
It's a bit heavier though. The doors sound more solid because they are more solid due to safety standards. The chassis is stiffer, and I'm fairly certain that it has more sound deadening. A late 280z ('77-78 ) weighs around 2700-2800 as I recall. But you can drop 100lbs pretty easily just by shaving or converting to 240z style bumpers, another 50 by removing the AC, etc.
If a late 280z is a little too refined for you, look into an early (75-76) 280z. They're still more refined than the 240z with most of the chassis improvements that make them stiffer, but also a bit lighter than the late 280z. An early 280z with lighter bumpers, and an F20c would probably come in around 2500lbs, which would make for a pretty fun weekend car/autocrosser.
Hope this helps.
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yes, its like a Japanese Muscle Car. Im sure if you replaced EVERYTHING and stiffened up the chassis it wouldnt feel that bad, but the ones I have driven were only refreshed, not restored and they feel old.Leave a comment:
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Do they really feel that old to drive? Dang. I should test one out. My e30 doesn't feel like i'm driving a really old machine, though everything is up to date. Oldest car I've driven was a 69 Firebird, and that felt old to drive. Hope it's nothing like that hahaLeave a comment:
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Ive had a couple '72 240Zs... they feel very very old when you drive them, even compared to an e30. also they feel small as waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles when driving on the freeway next to all the new bloated boats on the road. parts are rarer, expensive, and its getting harder and harder to find examples without really bad chassis rot.Leave a comment:
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RB26 is a very viable and popular swap as well, not to mention keeping it Nissan.
I did the dash repair on my zetto and it turned out really nice until my dad knocked the dash off the table it was drying on smashing some of the face up..... Needless to say I just bought a full cap which actually looks acceptable.Leave a comment:
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Yeah, the Z is a great platform for engine swaps. Look up VQ and LS1 swaps too - in both cases, the engine is almost behind the strut towers.
Dunno if you found this on google, but this dude on Hybridz is the only person I know of that's done an f20c swap. He could probably tell you whatever you need to know.
Haha, how did I know. Mine is actually from Arizona too... but I don't think it's been there since like 1990, by the condition of it :-(.
Lemme know how that dash comes out. Mine only has a small crack, but I may try to fix it.Leave a comment:
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heh, yes it came from Arizona but spent most of its life in California. Still has some holes in the floors, old (poor quality) floor patches, and all of the rubber in the car was bad. started out as an automatic with air conditioning, now it's a 5 sp with no a/c.
Going to try and recondition the dash a la this tutorial
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Guys, I'm usually not an engine swap guys, but since you guys kept bringing up the size of the engine bay......
a F20C powered 240Z needs to be in my life. There's one photo I found on google and the engine is light years behind the front subframe....insane!Leave a comment:
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Is yours a CA car? Looks too solid to be an east coast car, haha.
This is mine, but I'm looking for a west coast car to replace it. Need to sell the E30 first though.
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My friends 240Z with a Rebello 2.9L L28. Its a torque monster everywhere and still runs all the smog stuff, and a stock cam with SUs. We have plans of pulling the smog stuff, and installing a nice set of ceramic coated headers later this year. As is, it scoots right along and sounds fantastic.
Its perfectly straight, no rust, and he is the second owner. The interior is pretty good as well.
WillLeave a comment:
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Dads:
Uncles:
Mine:
Mine is a work in progress. Has an L28 that was supposedly "built" by P.O. Need to wire elec ignition, needs floor patches, etc. Maybe I'll have it out some day, M5 needs a rear wheel and a water pump first thoughLeave a comment:
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