454 powered 300zx

[shannonferguson2000]

After alot of research and reading forums for hours and hours and hours, and wanting a twin turbo z soooooo bad, ive decided to go a different way. Last year my dad and i built a big block 454 with all the bells and whistles and got too busy to finish the prep on the 56' chevy truck it was intended for. So after sitting in plastic for 11 months,(and looking at the gigantic, huge, wide engine bay of the z32) we decided the best home for the 454 would be my 93' 300zx 2+2. I guess if you go by litres this will be a 740z. Im going to test fit the engine tomorrow to begin fabricating mounts and will take detailed pictures of the whole process, including motor mount fabrication.(ive never been one to keep secrets if it saves the other guy weeks of bulls@*t)

[car nut]

Hmmmmm. I'll be interested in seeing if a BBC will fit... Headers will be a real b**** to get in there. Might as well go for it though! What transmission do you plan on using?

[Zwicked]

What are you planning to do for the front suspension so it will support the weight?Should go about equivalent to a 454 Camaro from the 1968 era with that built engine seeing as they weigh about the same, maybe slightly more on the Z end.

Will be an interesting Z to say the least. Post photos as you put this monster together!
Modified by Zwicked at 7:24 AM 3/23/2010

[thaixcore]

ooooh this is gonna be interesting

[z32partsmo]

I cant wait to see that beast placed in there. I have a built 454 in my garage too. I just might do the same if things turn out good for you.

[shannonferguson2000]

[IMG][/IMG]This is the shell in question.[IMG][/IMG]This is the engine bay stipped ,prepped and paintined, waiting for a twin turbo.[IMG][/IMG]The engine bay is huge, and everyone and their brother is telling me to sell my car and just buy a twin turbo.[IMG][/IMG]But then i just so happened to have a fully built 454 big block sitting in the shed for a year, soooooo, f*** it![IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]Removing the dash was not as fun as i thought it would be, it was a total nightmare![IMG][/IMG]My dads 1963 chrysler 300.[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]Mocking up the monster for motor mount fabrication.And she is sooo sexy, repaint the engine, electric water pump, roller rockers, im going to weld up low rise valve covers and start fabrication on my motor mount and tunnel in the morning. This better load right bc this is the third try.One long Tuesday!
Modified by shannonferguson2000 at 10:08 PM 3/23/2010

[z32partsmo]

wow you really stripped that thing. I have never seen a frnont dash completely removed on a z32 before

[shannonferguson2000]

And just a few more pics of rough mock up.[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]Im starting to see it!!!!!And for the record the 454 weighs 630lbs+/-And also for record the vg30dett weighs 618+/-

[NolimitZ32]

BEASTLYYYY!!!!, very nice man. and I laughed when I saw the Stang v6 wheels, same wheel my GFs v6 stang has haha

[shannonferguson2000]

well fabrication got slowed down a bit, after finishing the trans tunnel to accomodate the t350, my daily 300zx water pump went out. Busted knuckles and loving nissan engineers dedication to making sure anything possible was holding the water pump on, im back on track. After a 5 hour delay, i bolted up my new oil pan that clears the rack and pinion. i used a MILODON notched oil pan to move the engine forward out of the firewall. hopefully the radiator doesnt end up in the trunk. I will post pics tonight of progress.

[car nut]

How much clearance will you have up front? Might need to remove the hood latch to fit the radiator/fans. You gonna run a mechanical fan or electric?

This build is so great.

[shannonferguson2000]

Here is the up to tonight progress:Firewall/tunnel fabrication, Clearence check and engine repaint, I have designed my motor mounts and will fab them tomorrow after work, I also have to cut my oil pan back a little and figure out header design.[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]So far thats it , the air cleaner and valve cover were just for fun, im using my stock hood, i repeat, i will use my stock hood, as far as clearence to the rad core support it is going to be tight, electric fans sucking/blowing, serpentine belt, and electric water pump.Sorry the tunnel fab looks so rough, weld, hammer, grind, bondo, paint; it will be pretty when im done.As far as i know, this will be the first 454 powered Z32 ever, so it has to be perfect when its done.

[shannonferguson2000]

I almost forgot:[IMG][/IMG]" BORDER="0">

[car nut]

Looks good! I'll be real jealous if you can use the stock hood (I gotta cut mine for my VH).

What are the specs on that motor?

[NolimitZ32]

HAHA another orange engine in a Z nice. cant wait to see this thing running.

[Sgt]

INTENSE!

I hate mustangs with a passion, and accordingly hate those rims haha. It'll be cool too see this thing completed. Make sure you keep documenting your build, cuz I know I wana see it as does everyone else!

[shannonferguson2000]

The rims are just to push around, dont worry, i hate mustangs also, here are pictures of the engine mounted in place, leveled, and mounts tacked. This is the basically the final engine placement and where it will sit. This is bolted to the mounts and resting all the weight on the front end. The suspension is barley squatting(i might need to add some more weight up front), just so everyone knows, this engine may be lighter than the vg30dett. It seems that way, and check out the clearance, this is with the widest pulley i could find, im going to use vette pulleys so that will give me another 3 inches or so, these pics are with the transmission mounted. [IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]Getting the engine level was not fun, have an open mind about motor mount, also have an open mind about chopping your $300 oil pan to peices just to clear the steering rack, 7 1/2 quart becomes 7 ish quart with the blink of a metabo. If your not a master fabricator or in my case 2 union boilermakers and a pro fabber who knows more than most, it will be tough. I also had to order a Mallory Unilight distributor(its 3 inches shorter than standard for clearance). These pictures do not show all the "moth@#%ucker cut it back out, or the 4a.m. "i dont know?????" Tomorrow I will fabricate a pretty transmission mount and measure for the driveshaft, and dont forget finish the tunnel fab so it will be sexy sexy!

[zxFarside]

Thats gonna be beast!

[DTS300Z]

Damn Shannon you don't waist time do you. Looking good my friend. I guess I could post up my build thread here too lol... in a different thread of course.

[Zwicked]

Nice job! Any idea on making up headers yet?

The 454 bone factory stock weighs about 675 pounds, and the 300ZX non-turbo engine weighs about 550 just for info sake.

[shannonferguson2000]

I will have to take your word on the weights of the two engines. It seems like the 454 is lighter but its really a non-issue. The suspension has the same amount of travel with the vg30de in so it will work just fine. As for headers I am going to use Chevy Clipster Headers from Thermal Tech Coatings.com that were originally designed for a 454 in a Chevy II(Nova). Today I trashed the transmission mount i built the other day for something more thought out and better looking. The mock up was a bit tricky with the new mount but it looks waaay better and was easier to get everything in line and square. I have taken measurements to have the driveshaft built but im torn between a one and two piece shaft. Next I really need to finish the tunnel and all the body work that goes with it. Here are some updated pics:[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]More pics of all the new parts tomorrow.....

[Zwicked]

Being from a fabrication background myself, I must compliment you on your mad skills....very nice job! This should be a real torque monster when it's done and a total blast on the street....wheel spin on demand!

I'll keep watching your progress. I am thinking of going small block Ford due to front distributor in the 240 we own if that KA will ever die!

[NolimitZ32]

Updates, please I'm fiending!

[JDMZ32]

Interesting. *subscribe!*

[shannonferguson2000]

Sorry for the delay in updates, the fab work is grueling and super time consuming. Im almost done with the tunnel fab(finishing the body work). The engine mounts are welded out and in their permanent homes. Im having a little delay with my rear end because the 5 cars(J30 and 300zx) that had the rear end I needed were crushed at the junkyard! But here are some pics of the progress: [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] Now all I have to do is complete the 30 or so projects on my punch out list(I keep it in my pocket 24/7) and it will be time to destroy some tires, first ones being those hideous mustang wheels!

[NolimitZ32]

niiiiice

[HellHamer]

o man i cant wait untill that car is done and its not even mine lol

<-- me if i ever see that thing rollin up behind me

[cford1080]

Wow! This is fantastic. This post (and a few others) really makes me want to hurry up and buy myself a Z32...but I must refrain for the time being :-\

Subscribed!

[shannonferguson2000]

"your images may only be up to 640 pixels wide/high " makes me want to break things, especially after i changed the sizes ten times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ace2cool]

Greg says he's working on removing the size limit. As long as people refrain from posting longcat.