Hello everyone, I am looking for opinions on what I have dreamed up for this car. i just got a 1976 2002, I paid $750.00 for this car not running, just to save it from taken to a wreaking yard. I got the motor running, its got a 2 bbl downdraft webber, runs ok, but needs tlc. It has rust in the trunk, on the sides against the quarter pannel skin, and a foot ball size hole in the spare tire pan. The floorboards are pretty rust free but a little rust in the back floor. Its rusted through next to both front turn signals. Just seems like a project eather way. thankfully no major dents, just dings.
Now heres my idea, I have a 1987 Ford 302 that I built for a truck I had, By my numbers around 280 hp, and I have a t5 5 speed. The motor has aluminum heads/ intake, shorty headers, and a few other light weight hot rod goodies. Now I will have to do some cutting, and building pieces to place this drivetrain in it. But man would it haul a$$!!!. I also have all the rear suspension out of a e32 740, so I have some parts to start with. This is my second 02', my other is a 76, with everything restored and set up with fuel injection, and everything looks and performs like a tii. So I want to do something diffrent. Anyone know if this has been done before? I have seen 3 series v8 conversions, but never a 02'. Or would the opinion be that i will be destroying this car. I'm kinda torn between, but it is a 76, and not in the best shape. Let me know, thanks, and please no bashing, just opinions please. I am not looking for a fight, just your 2 cents, thanx.....

The wieght distribution would be thrown off so ioncredibly badly. And i would think you would also have problems with the frame, from that much wieght and power.

I already know i will have to build up the structure of this car. It will get full frame rails, and some kind of cage inside, havent decided how radical I want to go with it. I know It wont drive like my other 02', but it will surprise all these damn honda owners, I hate hondas! I know that the front suspension will HAVE to be beefed up to handle the weight, but i need a project car, and this seems like a blast. Just another car to fix up and let sit most of the time. Just to drive for fun. Thanx for the reply....

check this out

http://britishv8.org/swaps/bmw2002.htm

Even if you beefed up the chassis so it wouldnt twist like a pretzle, it would corner like a double decker bus. Streetlight to streetlight would be fun though.

I would think that your time and money spent on a more traditional motor would yield better, long lasting results.

Or, maybe sell the V8, part out the rusty '76 and look for a small bumper candidate to restore and complement your restored '76.

An easier car to swap the 302 into would be to find an old Miata. You could surely find a ~90 to 91 for as low as $750, possibly even running. Anywhere from $1K to $3K is the usual for an older miata. The 90 and early 91s had crankshaft problem, so they tend to go for cheap. You might even be able to find one with a blown engine for next to nothing. The crankshaft problem isn't really that common though, just people are afraid of it so they have to sell them for cheap. Aside from that, its nearly impossible to find a miata with a blown engine.
You can get a 302 conversion kit for ~$1K to $2K, I can't remember the price. Or you could just follow the advice of many people that have done it before on the miata.net forums, and fabricate your own stuff. It certainly wouldn't be the first 302 Miata, but it would be a lot of fun. Most people claim that it doesn't really affect the weight balance that much. It takes it to like 53:47 instead of the perfect 50:50 that miatas were built with from the factory. The miata is slightly heavier than the 2002, at around 2250 lbs, depending on options. Weight can be removed, though. The front and rear double wishbone and great weight balance make it a great platform though. Some extra bracing would be necessary, but braces are readily available in the aftermarket and cheaper than 2002 parts. Plus you get to have the wind in your hair.

Just an idea. But if you don't want to spend much more money, I could respect putting a 302 in a 2002 if you can make it work.

I dont know if you have seen the pic of the 02 w/ an M5 motor, but here it is.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8530/m5027us.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looks like he had to cut the firewall pretty extensively and you have to do quite a bit of modification to the nose panel. Like cut most of it out and use just the very front part of the nose panel.

(O==00==O)
tedd

How about maybe an LS1? I may be wrong but dont they weigh around 390?

HOLY CR@P! a M5 V8 WOW!

amazing.......