Wedge Engine 2.8i or 2.9?

Wedge Engine 2.8i or 2.9?

Author
Discussion

DamianS3

1,803 posts

183 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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Awesome engine that nissan unit too wide for an s chassis though frown

Is the wedge chassis wider.?

Damian S3

RCK974X

2,521 posts

150 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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pasogrande said:
I've always fancied the Nissan 3.7 litre engine as fitted to many of their vehicles. It would probably need the gearbox too. I have never taken measurements, or checked gear ratios. I just thought that it does well in the 370Z, so should be spectacular in a Wedge.

But I know I will never get around to doing it!!!

Wilf.
I think gearbox availability is a problem for this engine. One of the problems is that most of the modern engines are now transverse, so it's a challenge to find a box to go RWD without special adaptors and lots of dosh...

That's before we get to whether the engine is too wide, especially for early wedge frames.

But there's a lot of stuff around to look at (and measure....)


440Interceptor

636 posts

148 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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I thought the trailing arm suspension was the limiting factor with increasing power in a 280i. How much will it take? If you want a lot more power aren't you better off buying a 350/390?

RCK974X

2,521 posts

150 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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Yeah, true. Assuming you can find one - not easy here in NZ....

I thought the earlier 350 still had the trailing arms too.

If I did go for an engine like that, I reckon that the trailing arm bushes would need mods. I wondered why TVR didn't put a bush into the arm itself, and then all they needed was a plain 'U' shaped bracket and a long bolt ?? There could still be space for packers for tow-in alignment etc.

I would be looking at something like that, or a way to support the 'floating' end of the curent arm/bolt setup at least.

440Interceptor

636 posts

148 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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I thought the earliest 350s still had training arm but could be wrong. My other car is faster than the 280 will ever be so I'm not that fussed with more power. That said, a lighter 6cyl lump with a nice short throw gearbox would be attractive.

Couple of 350s on Carsales.com.au at the moment btw. Cheers, Toby

pasogrande

375 posts

258 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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Andy,

The 3.7l engine, and the 3.5l before, have been fitted to front and rear wheel drive cars. With 333 bhp and 353 ft lb torque in the 370Z and a manual gearbox it sounded ideal. But now I am confused Is the V-6 transverse or normal?

http://www.moibibiki.com/gallery/model-599/nissan-...

Wilf.

RCK974X

2,521 posts

150 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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pasogrande said:
Andy,

The 3.7l engine, and the 3.5l before, have been fitted to front and rear wheel drive cars. With 333 bhp and 353 ft lb torque in the 370Z and a manual gearbox it sounded ideal. But now I am confused Is the V-6 transverse or normal?

http://www.moibibiki.com/gallery/model-599/nissan-...

Wilf.
What's 'normal' ? did you mean rotating the other way ? I just meant how it was fitted.
The engine itself is probably the same for both options.

On the basis the 3.7 is a VQ series (DOHC, all ally), I though they were mostly FWD, and that RWD manual gearboxes are therefore rare (and expensive).

But looking at Wikipedia, I see the Skyline series cars were all RWD, whereas cars like the Maxima (3.0 and 3.5) are all FWD, so I'm possibly wrong on that one.....




Graham

16,368 posts

285 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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[quote=RCK974X]

If I did go for an engine like that, I reckon that the trailing arm bushes would need mods. I wondered why TVR didn't put a bush into the arm itself, and then all they needed was a plain 'U' shaped bracket and a long bolt ?? There could still be space for packers for tow-in alignment etc.
/quote]


Thats kind of what we did on the taz racers, the bolts used to snap all the time as they are only supported on one side. so the mounts modded to support the bolt on both sides. the arms modified by shortening and then adding a big rose joint

pasogrande

375 posts

258 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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Andy,

By normal I meant the crankshaft, etc., being front to back, not side to side.

Here the 370Z is a very common sports car and is RWD. Most other versions are FWD. The Skyline models are sold as Infinitis here.

Wilf.

RCK974X

2,521 posts

150 months

Monday 5th January 2015
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Ah...right.

Here in NZ it's the other way round - the 'Z' sports cars are rare, but the Maxima/Infiniti type saloons are common, and the majority of all cars are FWD.

The only common 'cheap' RWD donors are Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore. I think the Commodore is sold as a Chevy Lumina or SS in states. BMW is an option, but they are still pricey even as high mileage 'wrecks' !!

Edited by RCK974X on Monday 5th January 02:51