Hey everyone I know this has been discussed in the past however I would just like some new thoughts on the topic. Should I turbo the na zx or just cam it. Its not a daily drive and will never be a race car currently just my fun car and would like to wake it up a little more. I am not looking for anymore than 200 HP out of this car..... I started accumulating turbo parts but am worried about blowing my na motor up. Any advice or thoughts would help. Thanks

 

A cam won't get you to 200hp.
If you want turbo, go turbo (L28ET that is).

 

Lol I know that not even close I just wanted to throw in an idea power range.

 

FYI it's much, much easier and more cost effective to just swap over a complete L28ET and not convert to turbo.

 

With drivable 280zxt's popping up for sale all over, I don't see the need to convert the L28E to turbo. Just search out a 280zxt and swap the engine, or buy and drive it.

If you want to build an n/a motor, expect to pump in a lot of cash for hp, though a very stout n/a is a blast to drive. Shady280 has about $6k in his L28E 200whp motor. It pulls hard all the way through the rpm's.

 

Swap in the L28ET... if you have to ask the answer is always swap in the L28ET

 

Hmm sounds like a plan I will sell the parts I bought to do a bandade turbo swap by some tokico hps eventually and wait for a cheap 280zxt to come up for sale. Thanks all anyone know where the cheapest hps and springs are being sold these days?

 

i got 6k in my motor, i can only touch lightly modded turbo cars. if your running extra boost I'm toast. that said i have no turbo lag and it snaps to attention all the way thru the autox course. the turbo guys have issues at autox, they have no power then as the turbo spools, too much power. all that said its what you want to do with the car. both setups have drawbacks and both need premium fuel

 

Shady

How much power are you making about?

 

If you've got tons of money to throw at an N/A engine, do an ITB build! I'd like to give it a shot someday.

 

with the stock ecu it tops out at 180rwhp. i have megasquirt, turbo injectors and a lightweight flywheel waiting for it on the bench that will hopefully get me over 220. next is a larger bore intake and bigger headers and 3" exhaust. right now im building a customers turbo car so mine is on the backburner. the customers car is actually fricfracs old car!!

 

Neat! Shady, do you have a build thread or a list somewhere of all of the major mods done to your car?

 

That's some pretty solid numbers!!! Small world I suppose with fric francs car being in your shop local.

 

No real secrets in my motor. Over bore. P79 head decked .080 and flattops with a 1/2" lift cam. He is close to local. He lives off the mainland on a island. My customer bought the car and lives 45-50 mins away in Vancouver bc. Fricfrac recomended me for any work the car needs. I run a shop out of my backyard in my spare time

1guygarage.com.

 

What's your compression ratio?

 

i first had 11.8:1 my pistons stick out of the block a bit. after not being able to get it to have any ign advance i put a 2mm head gasket in and have 10.8:1 now. if we ever get e85 im going back to the 11.8 tho

 

You guys had E85 in Van? Never seen it over here in Victoria but it would be wicked for all the turbo guys esp in an L series engine.

 

I've never seen e85 around here. I'm waiting for it tho. I have a 1mm head gasket waiting. It seems to be an American thing right now

 

I'll trade e85 for more toews and Crosby to play for team usa next year lol!!!

 

I thought E85 was a come & gone fad... haven't seen or heard anything about it in several years.

 

I know e85 was driving the cost of corn up in the us but don't know where. Farmers were making more money selling for fuel than they did selling it for food. I like the 117 octane rating it carries.

 

Well I think it was more the fact that they were making any money at all..

The US Govt subsidizes corn A LOT and basically pays farmers to burn their crop so the price of corn doesn't drop too low.