DSM tuner interested
10-05-2002 | 02:35 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
DSM tuner interested
Howdy guys,
I am a former tuner of DSMs and RX-7's, and I've been considering buying an '83 280ZX. However, I'm not real knowledgable about the older Z's and nissan's in general.... so i was hoping you guys could help me out with a few questions before i spend my front mount intercooler money on a Z car.
So here's a couple questions to start off...
what is this i hear about a head swap for a maxima?
how much horsepower can the stock bottom end take on average before a major failure?
what turbo comes stock?
the engine has alot of wiring and vacuum lines.... is there any way most of this can be cut out?
there's not much of an aftermarket on the internet for the 280ZX.... am i missing something?
If i do decide to buy this car, i'd be looking to do a full restoration and increase performance to about 300rwhp. is this possible without hurting the reliability too much?
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
I am a former tuner of DSMs and RX-7's, and I've been considering buying an '83 280ZX. However, I'm not real knowledgable about the older Z's and nissan's in general.... so i was hoping you guys could help me out with a few questions before i spend my front mount intercooler money on a Z car.
So here's a couple questions to start off...
what is this i hear about a head swap for a maxima?
how much horsepower can the stock bottom end take on average before a major failure?
what turbo comes stock?
the engine has alot of wiring and vacuum lines.... is there any way most of this can be cut out?
there's not much of an aftermarket on the internet for the 280ZX.... am i missing something?
If i do decide to buy this car, i'd be looking to do a full restoration and increase performance to about 300rwhp. is this possible without hurting the reliability too much?
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
10-05-2002 | 07:45 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: DSM tuner interested
ok on an american dyno jet (isnt it ??) dyno you could get 300rwhp out of an L28ET im pretty sure ... ur probably better to get an earlier 240Z or 260Z and put the turbo motor in that though as it will be faster .... then you dont need all the vacuume lines etc ...
yeah you are missing heaps if you cant find much 280ZX stuff ..
if you want to go really fast put a 2jz-gte or V8 in a 240Z / 260Z the conversions are pretty easy and are common......
Rusty Datsun x 3
yeah you are missing heaps if you cant find much 280ZX stuff ..
if you want to go really fast put a 2jz-gte or V8 in a 240Z / 260Z the conversions are pretty easy and are common......
Rusty Datsun x 3
10-05-2002 | 09:19 PM
#3
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 646
Re: DSM tuner interested
First if you want to go fast use a 240Z body. Much lighter then
the ZX and its easier to get performance suspension parts.
The ZX shared the L28 motor with the 280Z . The ZX had a
different casting and some refinements over the earlier L28,
L26, and L24 (240Z ) engine. A boosted and I/C'd L6 can easily put out 300RWHP. If your going to do something like
that then find a Turbo 280ZX and get the drive train from it.
BTW the ZX would way around what the last generation
DSM without the aid of all wheel drive.
Mike
the ZX and its easier to get performance suspension parts.
The ZX shared the L28 motor with the 280Z . The ZX had a
different casting and some refinements over the earlier L28,
L26, and L24 (240Z ) engine. A boosted and I/C'd L6 can easily put out 300RWHP. If your going to do something like
that then find a Turbo 280ZX and get the drive train from it.
BTW the ZX would way around what the last generation
DSM without the aid of all wheel drive.
Mike
10-06-2002 | 02:12 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: DSM tuner interested
yeah, the real big problem with DSMs is the stupid mitsubishi tranny's....
2JZ-GTE into a Z??? that's pretty cool. i have a friend getting ready to drop a 383 small chevy into a '76 280Z. it's his influence that got me onto the old school Z's. the 90+ Z's are sleds, IMHO.
so im missing alot of information... where's the best information come from, internet wise?
thanks for the information guys.
2JZ-GTE into a Z??? that's pretty cool. i have a friend getting ready to drop a 383 small chevy into a '76 280Z. it's his influence that got me onto the old school Z's. the 90+ Z's are sleds, IMHO.
so im missing alot of information... where's the best information come from, internet wise?
thanks for the information guys.
10-06-2002 | 04:48 PM
#5
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Posts: n/a
Re: DSM tuner interested
for modified performance like engine swaps etc www.hybridz.org is really good .. they do lots of RB JZ and v8 swaps on that site..
this site is very good too but you have asked a pretty broad question...so if u make your questions a bit more exact you'll get more responses
other good websites for info
www.zcar.com
www.zhome.com
www.240z.org
Rusty Datsun x 3
this site is very good too but you have asked a pretty broad question...so if u make your questions a bit more exact you'll get more responses
other good websites for info
www.zcar.com
www.zhome.com
www.240z.org
Rusty Datsun x 3
10-06-2002 | 11:19 PM
#6
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Posts: n/a
Re: DSM tuner interested
okay, here's some pretty specific questions...
what is the popular turbo upgrade, and what is the stocker?
how much horsepower on average can the stock bottom end handle?
if there was one mechanical problem with a 280ZX you would let the world know about, which would it be?
the reason im so stuck on the 280ZX is because i found one in pretty decent shape that would make a great project car... on, and it was made the same month and year i was born. it's an 81, not an 83 like in my original post, that was a typo i didn't catch. this is just kinda my little project....
what is the popular turbo upgrade, and what is the stocker?
how much horsepower on average can the stock bottom end handle?
if there was one mechanical problem with a 280ZX you would let the world know about, which would it be?
the reason im so stuck on the 280ZX is because i found one in pretty decent shape that would make a great project car... on, and it was made the same month and year i was born. it's an 81, not an 83 like in my original post, that was a typo i didn't catch. this is just kinda my little project....
10-07-2002 | 10:18 AM
#7
Externally Wastegated
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,220
From: San Diego
Re: DSM tuner interested
Well, I'm working on my ZXT, and the popular upgrade for the turbo is either a t3/t4 or a t3/t04B. I've got the t04b turbo in, but no intercooler yet. I'm saving up to use a Spearco intercooler. Before the turbo, the car ran a 14.72 with a K&N intake, and an HKS exhaust. I have yet to run it again because I want to have the i/c in before I test it.
The stock turbo is a T3 non-water cooled unit with a .63 a/r. Not bad for a stock unit and easily out flows similar turbos such as the SVO Mustang's and the Thunderbird's. Those turbos were a T3 wth a .48 a/r... only good for budget small displacement turbos like 1.6L Hondas, 4AG's, etc.
On average, from what I've been told from other turbo people, the stock bottom end is good to ~300hp. The head gasket is usually something that goes after you hit 12 psi or so, many upgrade to the HKS one or O ring.The only mechanical weak spot I've heard of the Z is the water pump... Keep an out on that, also change the fuel lines as 3 other people who have Z's and me have had our fuel lines burst while driving. 2 cars caught fire (but were put out). I looked at zcar.com and apparently it happened to several other people as well. Anyway, this is long. Good luck and happy tuning.
82ZXT
71 510 autocross & 71 510 daily driver
The stock turbo is a T3 non-water cooled unit with a .63 a/r. Not bad for a stock unit and easily out flows similar turbos such as the SVO Mustang's and the Thunderbird's. Those turbos were a T3 wth a .48 a/r... only good for budget small displacement turbos like 1.6L Hondas, 4AG's, etc.
On average, from what I've been told from other turbo people, the stock bottom end is good to ~300hp. The head gasket is usually something that goes after you hit 12 psi or so, many upgrade to the HKS one or O ring.The only mechanical weak spot I've heard of the Z is the water pump... Keep an out on that, also change the fuel lines as 3 other people who have Z's and me have had our fuel lines burst while driving. 2 cars caught fire (but were put out). I looked at zcar.com and apparently it happened to several other people as well. Anyway, this is long. Good luck and happy tuning.
82ZXT
71 510 autocross & 71 510 daily driver
10-07-2002 | 10:39 AM
#8
Externally Wastegated
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,220
From: San Diego
Re: DSM tuner interested
Oh yeah one more thing. Keep an eye on your exhaust manifold bolts, specifically by the 5th and 6th cylinder... They tend to get loose a little and if that happens even for a couple of drives, you'll get a lovely exhaust leak and that gasket is a pain to change. The turbo bolts to the exhaust manifold are another item to check every so often too. They are a part of the reason why many turbo owners complain about a lack of consistency of power delivery. If only they'd look! If those bolts are loose, you have a lot of lag and the power delivery isn't linear at all. I'd check every other month or so.
82ZXT
71 510 autocross & 71 510 daily driver
82ZXT
71 510 autocross & 71 510 daily driver
10-09-2002 | 10:54 AM
#10
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Posts: n/a
Re: DSM tuner interested
the 240z isn't much lighter than a 280zx, id say go with the 280zx chassis since it is much more fortifed than the 240z's (thus the increase in weight) once you take out all the creature comforts the 280zx is pretty close to the 240z weight wise.
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