Hi everyone.
Welcome to the start of what is certainly an overly ambitious project for someone with my limited skills, experience, and talent.
I’m going to try to put a screamin’ naturally aspirated V8 into my mom’s old 280Z.
Not gonna lie, I feel moderately bad for hacking up such a sweet car.
My mom bought this car in 1978 after her big block Impala was stolen, stripped, and burned. She drove it A LOT for 10 years, a bit for the next 10, then 0 miles for the last 10. The 0 from the last 10 is because my brother and I decided to try to fix the leaky head during Christmas break in 2008. We got as far as removing the timing belt, then had to go back to school.
It sat, disabled, for the 10 years.
Sorry, Mom.
For many years, my brother and I dreamt up big plans for this car, but neither of us had the space or money to do it. I caught a big break when my good friend, Nik, offered to let me store and work on the car in his super nice shop that he built on his property.
With that secured, I shipped the car down from my parent’s place in California to Nik’s in Houston.
Journey complete. Sort of. It didn’t run and was really hard to get off the trailer.
Shipping cars makes me nervous, but all good here.
With great difficulty, we pushed it into the driveway while we figured out the best way to get into the shop.
Made it.
And finally in.
I’m excited to get started, but Nik and I agree that some work on the shop organization will go a long way, so we’ll probably spend some time on that before I start on the 280.
Thanks for reading!
damen
Next Datsun Post: Making Space
All the Datsun Posts: 600HP V8 Datsun 280Z
Even for a non-competitive track day, I need new brakes. Nik has some to try, but will they fit?
The mini-harness doesn’t seem to plug in to the wideband sensors. I guess I need an adapter or something?
I’ve been dreading the task of figuring out how the drive-by-wire throttle body works on the VK56, but it’s gotta be done…
I try to install a new ECU, load up the COBB tune, and then install the wideband UEGO sensor…
After working through some mental blocks, I was able to start on the custom wiring harness that will get the VK56 V8 running on the stand…
Finishing the dissection of the OEM V8 harness, then tying up some odds and ends around the engine…
Getting the car side of the gauge wiring sorted, then plugging the gauges in to see if they work…
Moving right along, re-installing the dash, troubleshooting some check-engine lights, and sorting out gauge wiring.
Making some custom mounts to get the Nissan VK56DE V8 on a stand meant for a small-block Chevy…
I plugged the dash in to see if there were any codes. There was 1. I tracked it down to WAIT WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!
I was dreading it, but ultimately got the steering issue fixed. Extra time and extra help meant i got the harness bar in, too!
A big step! I picked up the engine that will get those 600HP’s! Eventually. I think. I hope.
I think I finally tracked down an engine to pickup, but it didn’t work out quite as planned…
Not a hugely progressive update here, but necessary disassembly work to get the engine out at some point…
Brakes = Solved.