Project Datsun 280ZX - E36 M3 Evo Engine Swap
Discussion
OK, so hers’s an interesting one 
This isn’t my car, it belongs to Mike who I co-own Project E36 with. He recently purchased a Datsun 280ZX to use for a bit of track fun. The idea was to tidy it up a little and add some decent suspension, brakes etc. It's already been modified for the track but some of the mods are rather rough to say the least. Overall it's a good looking solid car though.
We took the car down to Chris at CR M-tech who was going to do a few things on it and got talking about engines. Before we knew it, Mike agreed that an E36 3.2 Evo lump would fit in there quite nicely
Chris has done some nice stuff for us on Project E36 so Mike knew that the Datsun 280ZXM3 would be in good hands.
This is a summary of the conversion work that Chris has identified (for starters!). We did joke that it’ll be much less work just to stick some Datsun badges on an M3, but Chris likes a challenge.
3.2 evo engine.
New set of big end bearings, ARP rod bolts, oil & filter.
Lightweight chromo steel flywheel and paddle racing clutch.
5 speed manual M3 box.
Custom made prop.
Full stainless custom made exhaust from headers back.
Custom made engine mounts, probably using existing Z cradle but extending it back to use existing M3 alloy mounts.
M3 wiring harness with M3 gauge cluster.
Engine will need remapping not just for more BHP but to remove a little bit of software that limits revs. Increase engine idle to 900rpm to smooth it out, put top red line at 8k.
Big greedy intake.
M3 oil cooler and rad packs.
Sort out fuel lines, maybe need bigger fuel pump.
Adapt throttle linkage to fit M3 engine/
Adapt power steering
Work has already got underway and the good news so far seems to be that the Evo engine sits in the Datsun engine bay nice and “fits like a glove” (Chris’s words).
To be continued............
This isn’t my car, it belongs to Mike who I co-own Project E36 with. He recently purchased a Datsun 280ZX to use for a bit of track fun. The idea was to tidy it up a little and add some decent suspension, brakes etc. It's already been modified for the track but some of the mods are rather rough to say the least. Overall it's a good looking solid car though.We took the car down to Chris at CR M-tech who was going to do a few things on it and got talking about engines. Before we knew it, Mike agreed that an E36 3.2 Evo lump would fit in there quite nicely
Chris has done some nice stuff for us on Project E36 so Mike knew that the Datsun 280ZXM3 would be in good hands.This is a summary of the conversion work that Chris has identified (for starters!). We did joke that it’ll be much less work just to stick some Datsun badges on an M3, but Chris likes a challenge.
3.2 evo engine.
New set of big end bearings, ARP rod bolts, oil & filter.
Lightweight chromo steel flywheel and paddle racing clutch.
5 speed manual M3 box.
Custom made prop.
Full stainless custom made exhaust from headers back.
Custom made engine mounts, probably using existing Z cradle but extending it back to use existing M3 alloy mounts.
M3 wiring harness with M3 gauge cluster.
Engine will need remapping not just for more BHP but to remove a little bit of software that limits revs. Increase engine idle to 900rpm to smooth it out, put top red line at 8k.
Big greedy intake.
M3 oil cooler and rad packs.
Sort out fuel lines, maybe need bigger fuel pump.
Adapt throttle linkage to fit M3 engine/
Adapt power steering
Work has already got underway and the good news so far seems to be that the Evo engine sits in the Datsun engine bay nice and “fits like a glove” (Chris’s words).
To be continued............
Edited by benny.c on Wednesday 3rd August 15:12
d4cjr said:
Oh and yes mike after telling me you go on here every night after the wife had gone to bed and you just keep reading through the tread time and time again, are you shaw thats all your doing 
isnt it about time you posted something on here, you explain the whys and whereforths, plus your spelling is probably alot better than mine
Benny C takes the time to come on an take the P**S !
Give him a year or two, he only learned how to do e-mail this year isnt it about time you posted something on here, you explain the whys and whereforths, plus your spelling is probably alot better than mine
Benny C takes the time to come on an take the P**S !
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