79 280ZX to turbo

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05-29-2002, 01:03 AM

CaZa350

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79 280ZX to turbo

hi, i recently bought a great condition 79 280ZX, (no dents, scratches, or rust) for $1,500 and i want to juice it up. i'm looking for a turbo but i can't decide on how to do it. i've heard many things about how to upgrade a ZX. Take the whole turbo motor or just use another turbo set from another ZX. i'm stuck between the 2. though i heard that the turbo motors came out stock with less compression. if i had the same motor in there, and stole the turbo set up from a wrecked 280zx, i would have a much faster car. HELP please

05-29-2002, 02:34 PM

Skully

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Join Date: Feb 2002

Location: Saskatoon, SK

Posts: 2,901

Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

thats what i wanna do to my 81 280zx but like you i have no idea if this would be good....
just like you i wanna take a turbo of a turbo Z and put it on my stock NA

wooohooo done done finaly done

05-31-2002, 11:45 AM

Bleach

The Evil Twin

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 9,296

Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

There is a reason why the turbo motor has less compression. That reason is (for some unknown reason) the lower compression allows you to more easily force more boost in there. The higher compression of your N/A motor will resist the forced induction, requiring you to spend more money on a larger turbo just to put the same boost that a lower compression engine allows.

low compression / high boost
high compression / low boost

that's just the way it is...

Also, the turbo block is the same but the pistons have thicker rings on them. The head has larger exhaust ports for the added flow of gasses the turbo makes. You NEED to use the entire turbo engine if you want it to run good and run fast. Don't mess around with bolting on a turbo exhaust manifold.

Take the whole engine and wiring harness (and gauges) and put it in your Z, or just buy the 280ZX turbo and put your nice body panels and interrior on the turbo Z. :-)

05-31-2002, 02:52 PM

zguy36

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Join Date: Jan 2002

Location: Idaho

Posts: 162

Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

The reason that you can run more boost with a lower compression ratio is due to cylinder pressure. At a certain pressure inside of the cylinder on the compression stroke, you are going to experience detonation. By lowering the compression ratio, you can add more air, via a turbocharger and still keep the cylinder pressure below the detonation point. Make sense?
-jeremy-

06-02-2002, 06:26 AM

240z

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Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

Yeah low compression is also so u don't blow up your engine.

Gavin,
Melbourne
Australia
73' Datsun 240z

06-02-2002, 06:44 AM

Tombarace14

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Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

not trying to be an egg head but i've been doing reasearch on all of this because this is what i want to do with my 76 280 and i don't want to give up my n42 L28 combo the comp ratio is 8.3-1 in my car and near the same in other NA z's the comp ratio for the turbo cars is around 7.5-1 (so i have read?) but i have been told by the companys that the use of stackable copper head gaskets will lower my comp enough and will hold up at the same time. or you can get after market pistons that are dished you can get them custom to what you want. either way you do it just about all production cars coming out have a comp ratio in the 8-1 ballpark and people are putting turbos on them and the ratio does help city driving and still have great spool up / reach max boost at low rpm for racing ect.

06-02-2002, 09:57 AM

Skully

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Join Date: Feb 2002

Location: Saskatoon, SK

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Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

ok man thx alot

wooohooo done done finaly done

06-02-2002, 10:54 PM

240z

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Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

I'm sure this question was asked before but nobody answered it from memory but is there a manual on converting an early Z or ZX to a L28 Turbo. This has been done by so many people and it's only really the wiring etc. that needs to be covered but it's so hard to find any info on it.
Does anyone know if there's a manual u can buy or find info on this swap like the Datsun V8 conversion manual??
I am very interested.
Thanks

Gavin,
Melbourne
Australia
73' Datsun 240z

06-02-2002, 11:02 PM

240z

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Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

Found this article but doesn't help alot
http://www.zhome.com/rnt/L28TurboCon...n/Genavese.htm

Gavin,
Melbourne
Australia
73' Datsun 240z

06-23-2002, 10:14 AM

#10

Skully

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Location: Saskatoon, SK

Posts: 2,901

Re: 79 280ZX to turbo

ok i found a 300zx engine and its a turbo so if i was to take the turbo off and strap it to my 280zx and then get the right compression would it work?
which turbo is better 280zxt or 300zxt (aprx 84-6)
i know it would b better off to go with the engine but its too much money for me to go with the whole engine