When you set your mind to a build the end result can come from several changes in direction — changes that can come about from factors like budget, parts availability and the fabrication involved to complete the work. And this is one project — an awesome one, mind you — that’s taken some interesting turns.

Here is what the motor looked like with the giggle juice hooked up. Very clean.

With the amount of LSX platform motors than can now be found in Craigslist ads and junkyards for a unbeatable price, the GM powerplant has become one of the go-to engines for V8 swaps.  Everywhere you look there are cars of all makes and models sporting LS power, and it’s certainly not because they’re bad engines or unwanted junk. Josey Steeples is one of those individuals that’s taken to the platform, and he’s been building a 1978 Datsun 280Z over the past few years that sets a new standard for LSX-swapped cars.

Finding a clean 280Z is not an easy task to begin with, but Josey found this particular car for a steal at $1,500. When the car was brought home it already had the foundations for a V8 swap with a small block Chevy under the hood and a Turbo 350 transmission. Right away, Steeples terrorized the streets with the car, rocking the old school small block Chevy before the LS swap process started. But later, with a little bit of work the swap was finalized and a hit of giggle juice was added for good measure. 

The build was held up for nearly a full year as the new headers were being made at 417 Motorsports that Steeples had purchased through a group buy. During this downtime, Steeples was driving a heads and cam 4^th generation F-body to scratch the go-fast itch, but once the 280Z was back on the road with the 5.3, the 4^th gen went up for sale, minus its built drivetrain. Like any self-respecting gearhead looking to up their game, Steeples made the decision to take the heads-and-cam motor and stuff it into the Datsun.

Having all of that power that drove that nice was great, however the stock Nissan parts were struggling. When all of that power did get to the ground the differential was the first thing to go, then axles started to snap, as well. Even with all the parts carnage the 280Z was able to click off 11.00 at 125 best at the track.

Tired of breaking parts, the winter of 2012 brought on some changes for the Datsun. The most rational choice to beef up the stock Nissan IRS was with something not only more capable of taking a beating, but more readily available. Steeples turned his eye to Ford’s 8.8 IRS setup. On a build like this off-the-shelf is not an option and because nobody made the mounts he needed, Steeples had to fabricate his own. 

To finish fixing the weak links out back, The Driveshaft Shop built a set of custom axles and a driveshaft to axe the driveline failure once and for all. To get that power to the ground Techno Toy Tuning was tapped to provide coil over shocks. Techno Toy also hooked Steeples up with some backing plates with Z32 300zx wheel bearings, hubs, and brakes to make the back of the car complete.

After getting the suspension sorted out it was time to pour the coal and add some power. To accomplish this goal a Nitrous Express plate kit along with a few other parts were added to the motor to complete the setup. All-motor, the 280Z was putting down a stout 440 horsepower and 442 ft/lbs. of torque, and on the zesty sauce the Nissan put down 575 horses and 618 ft/lbs. on a 150 wet shot. At this power level the car was running 10.20s at over 138 with 1.50 60’ times!

Filling nitrous bottles to get your speed fix can get old, and that has caused Josey to change directions with this project yet again. A new 2005 5.3L truck motor has been sourced to go with a new Turbonetics 75mm turbcharger. A healthy diet of E85 will be fed to the motor through some 120 lb. injectors and the Holley HP EFI system will control the engine and boost. The shifting duties will be handled by a trusty Tremec T56 built in Steeples’ garage and a Monster Stage 3 clutch will be used as well. To make sure the car passes tech this year an 8.50 certified cage will be installed along with new frame rails.

Here is a sneak peek of what the new boosted LSX setup will look like.

Since the 208z was purchased in 2010 as a project it has taken several changes in direction, and Steeples has done a majority of the work himself and taken great pride in that work, with stellar results to show for it. Making the jump to forced induction should take the project in a new and potentially scary fast direction, and we’re sure we’ll be hearing more from this 280Z in the coming months.