91 300zx Ls T56 Swap
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
91 300zx Ls T56 Swap
I started out buying a rust free mint bodied car from North Carolina, drove it for a year saved some money and then started the project. It's a 1991 Nissan 300zx 2 seater NA. I chose NA because they come with the 4:10 diff which I am hoping will work well with the T56. The car will also have a single 72mm turbo..
Started with having the car painted and doing suspension, wheels and brakes.
I have no intention of cutting my firewall and losing heat or my dash so the route I took was to modify the oil pan to push the engine about 3/4 in forward and almost an inch down from where it started. I also made a piece to sit over the rack to get the engine about an 1/8th of an inch clearance over the rack. I slightly dented the firewall for the T56 to fit properly but after the slightly modified pan and the dent in the firewall on the driver's side, the engine and T56 sit nicely with the shifter located just about an inch forward from the factory one.
After the pan was cut and welded I went on making the engine mounts from 1/4 steel.
It's nice having a tig, mig, and expensive plasma at your disposal. I have pictures of the trans mount and more progress that I will try to upload tomorrow.
Started with having the car painted and doing suspension, wheels and brakes.
I have no intention of cutting my firewall and losing heat or my dash so the route I took was to modify the oil pan to push the engine about 3/4 in forward and almost an inch down from where it started. I also made a piece to sit over the rack to get the engine about an 1/8th of an inch clearance over the rack. I slightly dented the firewall for the T56 to fit properly but after the slightly modified pan and the dent in the firewall on the driver's side, the engine and T56 sit nicely with the shifter located just about an inch forward from the factory one.
After the pan was cut and welded I went on making the engine mounts from 1/4 steel.
It's nice having a tig, mig, and expensive plasma at your disposal. I have pictures of the trans mount and more progress that I will try to upload tomorrow.
Last edited by Knapper411; 12-06-2012 at 09:40 PM. Reason: Forgot to mention the turbo.
#3
I'm running 4.10 currently, tires are 255/50/17's and the RPM's at ~60mph are around 1400rpm, 80mph is only around 1600rpm. I thought the 4.10's would be an issue, but they're not. I will say I don't use 1st gear for much other than driving through a parking lot though.
I have a ford 8.8 3.73 rear to go in it next year thought... but just mostly after the LSD than the change in ratio.
I have a ford 8.8 3.73 rear to go in it next year thought... but just mostly after the LSD than the change in ratio.
#4
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm running 4.10 currently, tires are 255/50/17's and the RPM's at ~60mph are around 1400rpm, 80mph is only around 1600rpm. I thought the 4.10's would be an issue, but they're not. I will say I don't use 1st gear for much other than driving through a parking lot though.
I have a ford 8.8 3.73 rear to go in it next year thought... but just mostly after the LSD than the change in ratio.
I have a ford 8.8 3.73 rear to go in it next year thought... but just mostly after the LSD than the change in ratio.
#6
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
I just finished up a LS1 / T56 swap in my 64 chevelle and I'm running 4.11 gears in a 9 inch rear end. The gears are awesome for the 6 speed. You will love it. I'm doing 70mph @ 1500rpm and near 80mph at 1600rpm on the freeway. You will use first through 5th around town and 6th when you hit the highway.
#7
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just finished up a LS1 / T56 swap in my 64 chevelle and I'm running 4.11 gears in a 9 inch rear end. The gears are awesome for the 6 speed. You will love it. I'm doing 70mph @ 1500rpm and near 80mph at 1600rpm on the freeway. You will use first through 5th around town and 6th when you hit the highway.
Trending Topics
#14
#15
#16
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just thought I would throw in some before and after photos of the engine bay, I checked my camera and couldn't find any progress pictures besides a picture of my welded oil pan. I will get some pictures of my tranny and engine mounts sometime this week.
#17
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While trying to modify my pan some more, I cracked it and had to remake one. So I started new, but I completed it over the vacation along with my oil pickup and crank splash shield.
Here are some pics of my motor mounts.
Tranny mount.
Oil pickup and splash shield.
Oil pan all powder coated and ready to go.
Here are some pics of my motor mounts.
Tranny mount.
Oil pickup and splash shield.
Oil pan all powder coated and ready to go.
#19
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quick update, the engine is at the machine shop for final assembly. I found a gto shifter plate and B and M shifter, however I have been considering finding a factory gto shifter because of where the tranny lines up. But I will see once I do install of the engine and tranny and see how this shifter works out.
#20
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Still waiting for the engine to come back from the machine shop. Had to tweak the oil pickup to make it perfectly level and closer to the bottom of the oil pan. While the engine was back, I had them remove the casting from the valley over the cam, also pinned the Ati damper because i'm using electromotive I can't afford to have the crank move.