I'm goin to pick up my newest project car tomarrow (a 83' 280zx) and just wanted to drop in an say hi. I'm new to the whole Z car....but not new to nissan. I do have a few questions about the 280zx. Are there any major issues that I need to be aware of? Also, since this is a project that my friends and I are making into a drifter, what are some easy engine swaps for the car? I was thinking RB20, RB25, or SR20...but I'm open to other swaps.

Well anyways, just wanted to drop in and introduce myself.


Catch ya on the flip side.
83_280zx_Slider
part-owner of Project: 280slideways

 

all those are great engines, but for the price go with a l28et. Thats the turbo motor that came with the 280zx's from 81-83. They are direct bolt in, so you don't have to worry about fabbing motor mounts and changing the drive train.
If you want more power, get the engine stroked to a 3.1 and add a t3/t4 turbo and a stand alone system. Thats just my opinion though.

 

Welcome to ZDriver...

I agree with what Skittle wrote. Go L28ET with the mods he suggested and you'll have plenty of power.

Rod.

 

Word... word... and word. Ya got any pics or a web page?

 

A LSD from a Z31 make her bite down nicely on road. The L28ET make all the power you want. and easy to work on. Do it right the L28ET make 550 Rear Wheel HP. plenty for a drifter

 

My buddy and I are goin to go pick it up today....it was the last 280zx we looked at yesterday...so we take it home right away. I mean for $300 for the car that the guy said that runs rough (considering he didn't know the MAF wasn't pluged up)...we didn't want to chance drivin it 40 miles home at 10:45 at night. But as soon as we get it home and cleaned up...the pics will come.

 

cool. We wait to see them

 

welcome to zdriver man. id go the good old, tried tested and true, l28et

 

Finally got the pics uploaded......

 

Not bad... Looks like a fun project.

Is that a big patch of rust on the passenger door rocker?

Rod.

 

that engine looks like mine did when i got it from the junker. Only more part's on your's.

 

Yeah...that is some rust...but its just surface rust. I mean it's not a bad car for $300. Plus I'm goin to pick up a L28ET tomarrow for $200 that just needs a new oil pan gasket and head gasket.

 

sweet. That car will be goin before you know it. Now just for that ECU that you will need. Is it an Auto it standard?

 

Pretty nice Slider, you have a much better body than mine, I am envious bro'. And it does look like you have a 5 speed, nice dude. Let me know, if you need help with the interior. Mine is almost done, just have a few more things to do in it yet. But definately keep us up on this pretty sweet looking Z. And thanks for showing it to us.

 

i like the all black stock interior, rare man, dont change it

 

Black interior, 5 speed, good body... Definately a good buy.

Have fun with your new project

 

Did I read that right....that interior is rare? Kinda makes me not want to gut it out.

 

Yes, the factory black interiors were relatively rare and are currently the most desirable.

 

but if you want to gut it and send it all to me for the cost of shipping

 

ive got my black parts currently reserved for so-cal hehehe

 

Ah...I don't know about just for the cost of shippin.

But anyways...finally got the engine back in. The original one was basically blown...but thankfully a junkyard about 2 miles down the road had 2 280zx's (an 82' and 83') which I pulled the engines and trannys out of only to find out that one of them had a header on it. Now just have to get a new clutch and rear end out of a Z31 and I can start havin some fun.

 

great buy if it had a header on it, it prolly has other work done to it too, not saying that everything with a header on it is done up, but ya never know, you just might have gotten very lucky

 

I hope so...I'm gonna tear apart that engine(the one with the header) and rebuild it. Any sugustions on where to get the internals and which ones.

Plus, how much hp is possible with just the na engine? If I don't have to go turbo to produce the hp I want that'll be awsome. BTW I'm lookin to produce 300 whp but don't want to rev the crap out of the engine.

 

Unless your rich (im guessing not) I wouldnt try getting 300whp or even 300 crank horse power out of an NA motor. The cheapest way to go is a turbo motor. Didnt you say you found one??

So get a turbo motor throw on Megasquirt ( http://forums.hybridz.org/forumdisplay.php?f=88 ) and the stock T3 can handle 300whp

 

Yeah...I found a L28ET. I guess I'm goin to pick it up tomarrow after I get off work. So...I should be able to get 300 hp out of the turbo engine + the Megasquirt (mind you that I am going to rebuild the whole bottom end with H-Beam rods, deep dish pistions, etc.). Is there a more aggressive cam for the L28ET?

Thanks for the info.