UGH, I think it might be too dang $$, anyone?
Discussion
Well, I just got a good job, tho it doesn't pay well enough.. heh. I was hopping to be able to save up and start an Ultima GTR build in a couple years...
But.. I wipped out a spread sheet and went though the prices etc... looks like it's gonna come to $55-$60k (US) Those dang American Speed engines seem pretty dang $$, but I guess they are turn key, etc. come with a bunch of stuff you'd have to get extra...
Anyway, what I'm wondering... is..
1. did I miss calculate by some miracle? hehe
2. How much should I save before starting? I'm thinking it will take me a good 1.5-2 years possibly to finnish, I like to take my time. 8*)
Just curious if you guys knew of anyways to make this seem a little more possible... I'd like to know if I should let myself dream or not hehe 8*)
Otherwise I might just fix up my 300ZX a bit more.. 8*)
Thanks, great site, awsome cars... whish there was more info out there 8*)
But.. I wipped out a spread sheet and went though the prices etc... looks like it's gonna come to $55-$60k (US) Those dang American Speed engines seem pretty dang $$, but I guess they are turn key, etc. come with a bunch of stuff you'd have to get extra...
Anyway, what I'm wondering... is..
1. did I miss calculate by some miracle? hehe
2. How much should I save before starting? I'm thinking it will take me a good 1.5-2 years possibly to finnish, I like to take my time. 8*)
Just curious if you guys knew of anyways to make this seem a little more possible... I'd like to know if I should let myself dream or not hehe 8*)
Otherwise I might just fix up my 300ZX a bit more.. 8*)
Thanks, great site, awsome cars... whish there was more info out there 8*)
Gluge,
Your cost estimate seems pretty accurate. Since you are in the U.S I suggest saving enough so you can order all the large / heavy pieces in your first order. The factory offers free shipping on your first order. Free is a little miss leading has you are still going to pay import duty, cargo handling fees, and transport from the port to your house. The boat ride from the UK is free anyway, which I am sure is expensive also. My first order came in around 32K(us) and I feel I got all the major pieces. Complete list on my website www.markkoch.net
If you don't like amerispeed prices, there are hundreds of sbc builders in the US. A couple of builders including myself are going the LS1 route.
There are lots of ways to cut costs. Just remember you are building a super car, if you cut to many corners you may not be happy with the finished product.
mark
Your cost estimate seems pretty accurate. Since you are in the U.S I suggest saving enough so you can order all the large / heavy pieces in your first order. The factory offers free shipping on your first order. Free is a little miss leading has you are still going to pay import duty, cargo handling fees, and transport from the port to your house. The boat ride from the UK is free anyway, which I am sure is expensive also. My first order came in around 32K(us) and I feel I got all the major pieces. Complete list on my website www.markkoch.net
If you don't like amerispeed prices, there are hundreds of sbc builders in the US. A couple of builders including myself are going the LS1 route.
There are lots of ways to cut costs. Just remember you are building a super car, if you cut to many corners you may not be happy with the finished product.
mark
My first order was about $36000, the later I got the AP Brakes for another $4000. The car is so light you don't really need a lot of HP to still have insane acceleration. If you're trying to save money, buy a new 350 hp GM crate engine for $3000 to start with. Later on you could sell that engine and install something with more HP. Cutting costs any other way will cheapen the end product and be difficult to change later.
Jeff www.worksstand.com/jeffs.htm
Jeff www.worksstand.com/jeffs.htm
WOW, thanks for some reason I assumed this form was gonna take weeks to get any responces 8*)
I am very thrilled to get some so quickly... Since you guys seem so open to replying to little ol' me who is dreaming / trying to save for an ultima.. perhaps you'd induldge me in a couple of rather uninformed chatter...?
I was wondering... currently I have a 1990 300ZX Twin Turbo (3.0 V6) that makes 340 hpr or so.. (no cats) I LOVE the feeling of the turbos and high rpm hpr delivering.. and was wondering how these small block chevys and LSI engines in an ultima might compare to that... honnestly my Z is the fastest car I've been in.. it does weight 3300lbs or so.. too...
Also.. what are the characteristics of the LS1 compared to a NA small block chevy?
I've never really experenced a small block and from my ill-informed sterio type I always thought of them as rather slow revers.. and would kinda like something more a long the lines of the turbo 300zx...
Sorry for so many questions and speculations, etc. but I'd like to know if I should save for an ultima or think about putting a little more money into the Z... which I rather consider a super-car at least in 1990 hehe 8*) and I've got 2 friends building theirs up to the 600-700 hpr range currently, only egging me on, hehe... but Having a 1966 Saab 96 special 2-stroke that makes 60 hpr and feels dang peppy, I'd like to think I know the value of 'light' which the 300ZX is not 8*( I also dearly dearly dearly appreciate a simple easy to work on car... which the 300ZX is not.. and the Ultima looks a pleasure to work on... 8*)
having restored my saab...
My dad is a big car guy, and I'm kinda hopping now that I have a job close to him, and he is retired a Ultima GTR could be a really really awsome project for the both of us... (I'll see if I can get him to go in on it too maybe hehe)
Anyway, thanks a ton!
I am very thrilled to get some so quickly... Since you guys seem so open to replying to little ol' me who is dreaming / trying to save for an ultima.. perhaps you'd induldge me in a couple of rather uninformed chatter...?
I was wondering... currently I have a 1990 300ZX Twin Turbo (3.0 V6) that makes 340 hpr or so.. (no cats) I LOVE the feeling of the turbos and high rpm hpr delivering.. and was wondering how these small block chevys and LSI engines in an ultima might compare to that... honnestly my Z is the fastest car I've been in.. it does weight 3300lbs or so.. too...
Also.. what are the characteristics of the LS1 compared to a NA small block chevy?
I've never really experenced a small block and from my ill-informed sterio type I always thought of them as rather slow revers.. and would kinda like something more a long the lines of the turbo 300zx...
Sorry for so many questions and speculations, etc. but I'd like to know if I should save for an ultima or think about putting a little more money into the Z... which I rather consider a super-car at least in 1990 hehe 8*) and I've got 2 friends building theirs up to the 600-700 hpr range currently, only egging me on, hehe... but Having a 1966 Saab 96 special 2-stroke that makes 60 hpr and feels dang peppy, I'd like to think I know the value of 'light' which the 300ZX is not 8*( I also dearly dearly dearly appreciate a simple easy to work on car... which the 300ZX is not.. and the Ultima looks a pleasure to work on... 8*)
having restored my saab...
My dad is a big car guy, and I'm kinda hopping now that I have a job close to him, and he is retired a Ultima GTR could be a really really awsome project for the both of us... (I'll see if I can get him to go in on it too maybe hehe)
Anyway, thanks a ton!
Well I collected my American Speed engine on Monday and I am having second thoughts on where to locate it. Having just received my nineth point, I feel perhaps a diesel GTR may be more appropriate and the 383 could become the centre-piece in the lounge. I have to say that it looks the dogs-doodies and although it doesn't have the blower, it is only 50bhp down and no whining (I have enough of that at home!) Anyway, my thanks go to Gail for producing such a work of art!
The advantage of the ultima is its weight. Just for fun lets say you build and ultima and it weighs 2000lbs. Drop your 340hp Z engine in and it would have the same hp to weight ratio has a 561 hp 300zx. Think how much faster your z would be with another 221 hp.
A stock ls1 is going to rev slower and have a lower red line than your v6. But it will have more torque so revs aren't that important. A NA sbc can be made to rev high but it will cost allot. The ls1 is a great engine, all aluminum; fuel injected, and can handle all the horsepower you will ever need. Go to your local Chevy dealer and test-drive a camero or corvette to get an idea of how the engine feels. If you really like your z motor put one in the ulitma. I considered a supra engine for a while, before deciding I would go with a LS1. My ls1 makes 345hp stock and with the addition of a supercharger or turbo set up will easily make over 500+ rear wheel hp.
mark
A stock ls1 is going to rev slower and have a lower red line than your v6. But it will have more torque so revs aren't that important. A NA sbc can be made to rev high but it will cost allot. The ls1 is a great engine, all aluminum; fuel injected, and can handle all the horsepower you will ever need. Go to your local Chevy dealer and test-drive a camero or corvette to get an idea of how the engine feels. If you really like your z motor put one in the ulitma. I considered a supra engine for a while, before deciding I would go with a LS1. My ls1 makes 345hp stock and with the addition of a supercharger or turbo set up will easily make over 500+ rear wheel hp.
mark
Well how about that? I have a 300ZX TT as an everyday driver, and thanks to SE Nissan in Maldon, Essex (yup it's a plug as I have only good words to say for em') they have also been playing with the boost and output. My car now puts out about 370 ish bhp and the car is so addictive to drive now that I am constantly throwing more money at it than I ever intended. In this car this is enough power to light up the rears in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear in the dry, and it now accelerates as fast through 3rd, 4th, and 5th as it used to through 2nd, 3rd, and fourth!
I am sticking with the chevy small block in the Ultima but the thought of putting a well sorted 300ZX motor in the Ultima has crossed my mind a few times now as this motor spins up very quickly when on boost. The ZX IS a very heavy car but this mill in an Ultima I think would be well suited, particularly as it's an all alloy mill with all the toys, quad cam, vario valve, twin-turbo etc, and can be made to produce up to a reliable 600bhp. Also there are quite a few established tuning firms both in the states and here that specialise in just these cars now and produce an excellent range of mild to wild parts.
My new Ultima engine should be with me in about four weeks - and I just can't wait
I am sticking with the chevy small block in the Ultima but the thought of putting a well sorted 300ZX motor in the Ultima has crossed my mind a few times now as this motor spins up very quickly when on boost. The ZX IS a very heavy car but this mill in an Ultima I think would be well suited, particularly as it's an all alloy mill with all the toys, quad cam, vario valve, twin-turbo etc, and can be made to produce up to a reliable 600bhp. Also there are quite a few established tuning firms both in the states and here that specialise in just these cars now and produce an excellent range of mild to wild parts.
My new Ultima engine should be with me in about four weeks - and I just can't wait
Simon. your rice burner gives out same HP as my cossie and is heavier. I can assure you that the accelleration you are experiencing is abosolutelly nothing compared to what your Ultima will be.
The snap on off throttle response of my Ultima makes the cossie seem like diesel (all be it a very fast one).
I'm a firm believer in turbo motors and would love a couple of turbos on my Ultima, but I think even if you got an Ultima as fast down the strip with your rice burner engine, I very much doubt it would be as quick point to point with twisties involved.
I also bet you will agree once you have run your Ultima in
The snap on off throttle response of my Ultima makes the cossie seem like diesel (all be it a very fast one).
I'm a firm believer in turbo motors and would love a couple of turbos on my Ultima, but I think even if you got an Ultima as fast down the strip with your rice burner engine, I very much doubt it would be as quick point to point with twisties involved.
I also bet you will agree once you have run your Ultima in
Thats it then I'm ordering the 540 bhp Pro-Charger Kit, Bargin at $4500 not bad for a 195bhp Gain. V8 sounds better than any poxi 4 or 6 Bangers anyway, Even better with that Boral SS Tubi I brought back with me last trip 
Ps. did I say the Corvettes also going to be Painted Yellow, you just can't get enough of a Good Colour.
Ps. did I say the Corvettes also going to be Painted Yellow, you just can't get enough of a Good Colour.
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