ok im getting a free datsun 82 280zx, and ive been adicted to the 7 since I was a little kid In fact I saw ferraris and lambos but honestly none of it was as apealing to me as a 7. Now I'm working my way through college and medical school so I dont have a very large budget but this opertunity landed in my lap,

I realize the 280 has a strut front setup so I need to find a way around this wether idealy if I can manage to use the 280 running gear or if I have to still find double a arms but I want to see if I can make this whole project preferably under $5000 USD I know I can do it for 10k theres a american company making locosts but the frame and body alone cost 8k and after the added engine and runing gear the build price elevates to about 16k

if i can do this with the z then im going that route but on the other hand my daily driver is a 90 mazda miata (no im not willing to use it as a doner) and i can get it turboed and fast as i need to go for just about 1k

so i was seeing what the experts and other informed people would suggest my plan of action be

does the 280 has a straight 6 engine? i think it was to 300 that went v6.

if so you would have to strech the chassis to get the engine in and that would have all sorts of implications on handling etc. the v6 engine may well fit but weight is the problem.

7's are light and increasing the weight would be counter productive. that is why a lot of people are fitting hi po bike engines.

the miata would be by far the better option for the donor.

ditch:

(Yes - straight six)

that engine is heavy, heavy, heavy. As noted above its also quite long (and tall). The transmission is also quite heavy. Not very not many useful bits on it unfortunately. I'd suggest flipping the Z for cash (or parting out on eBay) and getting an older rwd Corolla or crashed Miata. Lots of folks are also used Chevy S10 trucks as well.

Here is a list of North American parts suppliers

[Edited on 2006/2/6 by Arthur Dent]