gnx7

iTrader: (28)

I'll vote for FD RX-7 as well.....

285/30/18's fit with custom rims and coilovers, they are phenominal road race cars, lightweight, very stiff chassis, you can get carbon fiber doors for $800 a pair, CF rear hatch for $300, and make the car very light. With custom front end and rear flares you can stuff 335/18's all the way around.... Plus they are sexy as hell IMO. I'm gathering parts to build one now.

The C4 is nice as well. I've seen them go for $2K with tired motors..... 315/17's fit all the way around with ZR1 rims or other custom ones.... Probably wider... they have a flexy chassis but with a cage that could be cured tremendously. Infinite gearing available out back is a big plus in addition to many companies offering upgraded brakes.

A 240Z with IMSA body kit would be great.... but the suspension is pretty old
technology... however it does work well.

-Mark

STEW01Z

iTrader: (1)

Datsun 240z or 260z

frank_camaro

280z seems to be the fastest not too light car, and realatively cheap.
280z/ls1 can beat 2003 viper srt/10 and 2002 corvette z06 on a 1/4mile but what kind of money are we talking about to upgrade handling to those cars level(if its posible)

jeromio

Huh? Do you know what you're talking about? The 1st gen RX7 is no where near the chassis of any Porsche or Corvette. It has a simple strut setup in front and a 5 link live axle in back. Rear discs were only an option on the high-end models and only for the last 2 years of production. As to weight distribution, again, you're just wrong. That car was built around the 12b rotary - anything other motor is going to straddle the front axle line. Plus, I'm 6' and I had to pop the sunroof on mine to drive it, rain or shine. It was a fun car but I certainly wouldn't bother swapping a motor into it.

Last gen RX7 is a truly great platform and the swap has been done many times. Personally, I would love to own one with an LS1. Hell, that Hinson guy will sell you one turn-key.

Datsun 240 (or 280) can be had cheaper, if you can find one that's not rusted. You'd have to spend some time and/or money to get it to the level of an FD in terms of braking/handling. And of course the interior is bound to be crap (esp. in comparison to the FD) - which of course doesn't matter much if it's to be a racer.

944 has not been brought up yet. I've seen pics of a LT1 944 - I don't recall whether the stock transaxle was used.

rxtasyy

has anyone ever concidered a ls1 in a 1st gen rx7 just a thought i mean smaller lighter i have a 82 rx7 with a widebody mariah kit with no motor or tranny and am concidering my options i would love a ls1 and 6spd talk about a gocart on steroids i never drove a stock 1st gen so i cant speak about handeling but on mine it has 345/40/17s in rear and 275/30/17s in front on welds 17x12 rear 17x10 front when i first got it it was an ex autocrosser had 12a turbo and it handles better then anything ive driven before and ive had some track time in a couple nsx's fd rx7 rx8 zo6 even a porche gt4 i think the gt4 was the closest in handeling but be it better on the track it wouldnt be on street

Gen3Benz

iTrader: (4)

944's are front engine RWD cars. Couldn't you use the 4l60e/t56?

badjuju342

iTrader: (3)

a Fiero GT with an LS1 ? that's gonna be quite a beast! you go dude! i guess you probably have heard of www.v8archie.com ?

jeromio

FR, yes, but these cars used a transaxle in the rear. And not like the C5 - this one puts most of the bulk of the transmission behind the axle centerline. So, C5 drivetrain ain't gonna fit either.

There may be enough room in the tunnel for a transmission, but I kinda doubt it. Plus, adding in a differential and new shafts etc. would add to the complexity.

I found the site with the LT1 swap:
http://www.easyfoto.com/gallery/view...571&uid=129677
He used the stock transaxle. I doubt the LS1 would be any m ore difficult than this one. Great car.

Gen3Benz

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, alot easier to run the rear mounted porche trans.
944's look bad ***, inside and out. Would be fun to ditch the 2.5 for an LS1

LS1swap

Yes it is allot of fun to drive. I have heard of archie, but when I completed mine two years ago he didn't have a kit for the ls1.

5.7LImport

Best car for the LS1 swap at an affordable price? Datsun Zcar hands down... not to mention, there is quite a bit of info out there on this swap and more coming out everyday over at HybridZ.org.

The vintage Z cars are known for excellent autocrossing capabilities and well... they look awesome with a little bit of body work and some nice wheels. VERY easy to work on too.. my buddy has a 350 w/ TPI in an old 280 and it's so simple to manage... FAST too! Mid-12's with minimal (almost no) mods whatsoever and skinny tires. All available for dirt cheap depending on the condition of the Z you find. Project Datsuns go for $500 if you want to build it from the ground up!

I like my '91 300zx NA... but we're talking about affordable swaps.

- Vann

Payne

iTrader: (3)

I have read that there is no way to fit a LS1 in a 944, as the intake will not clear or something without a hideous hood bulge.

Now a turboed Lt1... that would be a sick sick car....

I still vote for the 93-95 RX7, but I am just biased I guess. Hell, I can even change my plugs easier that you can in a camaro...

-Jason

jeromio

Would an LS1 be that much taller than an LT1? The one thing that would worry me is cost of chassis/suspension parts and upgrades.

However, I agree, Last gen RX7 would be a great candidate.

Choosing a Z is difficult: the swap is not that bad (big engine bay), but finding one in decent shape can be hard. They're over 30 yrs now old and had no rust proofing at all.

turbogarrett

iTrader: (8)

3rd gen rx7-1g+ on a skidpad with basic suspension upgrades, excellent braking, nice fit, good looks and no bumpsteer issues with hinson's tie rod ends. Only drawback imo is the lack of gear options for the rear end(3.90 or 4.10) although there is now a cradle available for the '03+ cobra irs swap.

55LS1

iTrader: (6)

1st Gen RX7, if I was going to build a car for all out performance, it would have to be the RX7, ULTRA-Light weight, tons of engine bay/tranny tunnel room. There are companies already offering everything from a narrowed bolt in 9" to bolt in LS1 motor and tranny mounts. You can pick one up with a blown motor (VERY PLENTIFUL) for $200 bucks!!! Imagine all that extra money for mods.. hmmmm....

77ZETA

First of all hello everyone!

I think any of the Datsun Z are good cars for an ls1 swap.
I have this in mind,Working on the whole car first.
Here are some pics so u ca look at a simple Z.
You can go to hybridz.org as someone mentioned to see way better than this one.
But i wanted to stay with the datsun Curves.

Oscar Will

I think my Fatman framed 1935 Ford is going to be hard to beat......except for aerodynamic drag (it has the same drag coefficient as a Baby Grand piano)

tannji

I have a 1971 Datsun 240 with the TPI 350 and a 700r....It is fast and nice, but I intend to go with the LS1/T-56 combo, after I rebuild a garage and do a little rotisserie resto on the Z.
My recommendation would be to try and wrangle a ride or even a test drive from someone who has done the conversion. The handling, nimbleness, and seat-of-your-pants feeling in a quick Z cant be easily duplicated in an F-body. Not knocking F-body owners in any way, just saying that I have been beaten by F-bodies, and driven a couple of them, and I missed my Z. I admit, I felt the need to add some HP, but was still happier with the overall experience. There are quite a few cars out there that would be improved by this conversion, but for overall looks and performance, as well as unmatchable "feel", my vote goes to the Z, with a close second to the FD RX7. I would be happy with either.

FASTONE

What about a Mitsibishi Eclipse or a Stealth,sporty looks and nice interior,should be cheap to find??They"re fwd so you"d have to install a rear axle,but it woul be killer!!!

mzoomora

iTrader: (36)

How about this one?
http://www.v8s10s.com/id2.html

I am a S10 V8 guy myself, so I am not impartial. Although, mine is not a LS1. May not be the best handling, but you can get a S10 below 3000 lbs pretty easy.