Guest Boopie Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Hello, I need to know the differences between a 280z and 280zx? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerware Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 The engine is about the same unless it is a turbo. But the bodies are so very different. Wieght, length, and features all differ. Probably too much to write about. What exactly do you want to know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Boopie Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 I thought the Z and ZX in the two seater were the same body. I know the 2+2 was longer in length. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metro Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 The 280z shares the same general body and chasis as the 240z and 260z but with a larger motor. The 280z was sold between 1975 and 1978 in the US. The 280zx is a totally different car, sold from 1979-1983. Both the 280z and the 280zx offered 2+2 models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad-ManQ45 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 The ZX got 'improved by gentrification' - a subframe in the rear to isolate noise, more sound deadening, power windows and steering. Body-wise they are better aerodynamically. They weigh more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savageskaterkid Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 from wht i've heard.........the ZX has a longer wheel base, upgraded suspension?, it was a bit slower-unless u had the turbo, and if i remember correctly-my wieght sticker on my door says its-3800 pounds, and im not sure about the 280z, but i just found out that the ZX has a 21 gallon tank!!! i thought it was gonna have a 12 gallon one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerware Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 This is a write up on aerodynamics of the early Z. It talks about some differences as compared to later models. http://zccw.org/Tech/Body/09-97EarlyZAerodynamics.html This link has history of the Z, it might help: http://www.aboutsportcars.com/datsun1/ http://www.theautochannel.com/publications/magazines/sci/aug-sept-97/waywewere.frame I haven't read them in a while but they are good reads never-the-less. I hope that it sheds some light on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 I don't think the zx suspension can be called 'upgraded' really.. ANY zx I've been in/driven (stock mind you) has had a very soft ride and plently of body roll compared to my 75 280z. Basicaly, the older Z's were a true 'sports car'.. but the zx ended up being more of a 'sport touring' car.. heavier, lots of power features, softer ride.. Better arodynamics yes, but less power and worse handeling (from a performance driving stand point) than the earlier Z's. Also, (JMHO here) I think the zx rear suspension is inferior to the set-up in the older Z's.. I believe the N/A zx's made 132 horse.. and I'm sure they are at LEAST 3300 pounds.. My '75 has basicaly the same size engine (2.8L), and the tag in the engine bay sais '170hp @ 5600 rpm' and the weight tag says 2750 iirc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad-ManQ45 Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 The ZX has a 19.8 gal. tank. The use of a rear subframe adds weight, and helps isolate road vibrations. Yes they had softer springs - remember that word 'gentrification'. My '83 has a curb weight of 2872 - no gas or driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean 83ZXT Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 I weighed my ZX at 2700lbs empty. You may be referring to Gross Vehicle Weight on the label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayZee Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 I believe the N/A zx's made 132 horse.. and I'm sure they are at LEAST 3300 pounds.. My '75 has basicaly the same size engine (2.8L), and the tag in the engine bay sais '170hp @ 5600 rpm' and the weight tag says 2750 iirc.. Yes the tag on the 280z says 170hp but that is gross HP and the zx is rated in brake-horsepower. They are both L28 engines and actually have very similar HP but the later models are supposed to be slightly improved with better combustion chambers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyson Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 A lot of you are very very wrong. #1. The ZX got LIGHTER...What you are reading under the hood is the MAXIMUM weight of the vehicle, with a full tank, 1 large driver, 1 large passenger and a hatch full of weight. #2. The ZX got just as much power, what you are reading is the FLYWHEEL horsepower on your 280Z, without an alternator or anything else reducing the wheel horsepower. It is a very innacurate way to measure your real power. Datsunlover...How can you say the ZX has less power? It has virtually the exact same engine and drivetrain as the 280Z, as well as the same fuel system. I think you are being a bit biased in your car review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Here's a quick way to distinguish: The Z has strut suspension front and rear. The ZX has front strut and rear semi-trailing arm. Also the front is designed very much like the 510. I do not think the ZX was heavier than the 280Z, in fact I've heard that it is slightly lighter. In my mind the ZX will always be a big fat 510, or if you prefer, a sporty version of the early 80's Maxima sedan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Datsunlover...How can you say the ZX has less power? It has virtually the exact same engine and drivetrain as the 280Z' date=' as well as the same fuel system. I think you are being a bit biased in your car review.[/quote'] Exact same? Lets see.. -75 280z; N42 head, TVS, non EGR intake, NO O2 sensor, FOUR speed, 3.54 rear gear... -81 (for the sake of arguement, I had 3 of them) P79 head, TPS, O2 sensor, LOTS of emisions crap and EGR on intake, FIVE gear, 3.90 rear gear... I'd say the ONLY thing 'virtually' the same is the fuel system and the engine BLOCK.. seeing as even the pistons changed in the ZX... Even if the ZX's have the same power as the earlier Z's, you can't really compare them.. TOTALY diffrent gearing, suspension, ect. And I dissagree on the weight thing; I'm sure the zx's are a heavier car. Either way, biased or not, it's my opinion.. I've had 3 ZX's, and now have a 280z.. as far as I'm conserned, there is no comparaisin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Well I have never heard of the 280ZX weighing less than GEN 1 Z but most of the time people are comparing the 280ZX to a 240Z and we all know the 240Z weighs a lot less than a 280ZX. Here's what I think.... The 280Z has more sports car features than the 280ZX and the 280ZX has more luxurey items like P/S, P/W, cushey seats, T-Tops(personal opinion, I love them), 4 wheel disc. I think that the later 280Z's are very close in comparision when it comes to weight due to the larger bumpers and any added structural metal due to updated regulations. The power should also be very similar, they both had the L28E but I think(not to sure) the 280ZX had more sensors and probably had better EFI than the 280Z, again Im not sure on that one. The 280Z from a motor swap stand point is a better car due to the larger engine bay. The 280ZX's firewall is 3" farther forward than the 280Z and it can make fitting bigger engines in the 280ZX a little more complex. I know with my SBC in my 280ZX there isnt any room between the fan and the motor, of course I could have set my engine back about 2 more inches but didn't. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyson Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Exact same? Lets see.. -75 280z; N42 head' date=' TVS, non EGR intake, NO O2 sensor, FOUR speed, 3.54 rear gear... -81 (for the sake of arguement, I had 3 of them) P79 head, TPS, O2 sensor, LOTS of emisions crap and EGR on intake, FIVE gear, 3.90 rear gear... I'd say the ONLY thing 'virtually' the same is the fuel system and the engine BLOCK.. seeing as even the pistons changed in the ZX... Even if the ZX's have the same power as the earlier Z's, you can't really compare them.. TOTALY diffrent gearing, suspension, ect. And I dissagree on the weight thing; I'm sure the zx's are a heavier car. Either way, biased or not, it's my opinion.. I've had 3 ZX's, and now have a 280z.. as far as I'm conserned, there is no comparaisin.[/quote'] Does anyone else see this post as utter nonsense? Making the ZX sound bad because it has a O2 sensor, a TPS sensor (which the 280s had, as with any other EFI system). I wont even get into the rest of the argument, like weight...some people refuse to look at the facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Does anyone else see this post as utter nonsense? Making the ZX sound bad because it has a O2 sensor' date=' a TPS sensor (which the 280s had, as with any other EFI system). I wont even get into the rest of the argument, like weight...some people refuse to look at the facts.[/quote']I think maybe you are taking this a bit personal for some reason? FACTS......... --------------Peak-----------Peak--------------Curb Source Datsun 280Z HP/RPM--------TQ/RPM ------------Wght (date) 75 Z--------149/5600-------163/4400-----------2870 CD 6/75 75 Z--------149/5600-------163/4400-----------2875 RT 6/75 75 Z(5sp,+2)149/5600------ 163/4400-----------3030 CD 10/75 75 Z--------149/5600-------163/4400-----------2830 MT 11/75 75 Z (2+2)--149/5600-------163/4400-----------3005 MT 11/75 77 Z (2+2)--149/5600-------163/4400-----------2990 RTM 8/77 78 Z (5 spd)-149/5600-------163/4400-----------2780 CD 7/78 78 Z BAE ---------------------------------------2960 CD 7/78 78 Z dM eng.------------------------------------2850 CD 7/78 Notes: 1. All cars 4-speed, except as noted 2. The BAE car is a turbocharged, 2+2 equipped with a 4-speed manual. 3. The dM Engineering car is also equipped with a turbocharger. FACTS.......... --------------------Peak----------Peak----------- Curb Source Datsun 280ZX -----HP/RPM-------TQ/RPM----------Wght (date) 79 ZX------------135/5200------144/4400--------2825 RT11/78 79 ZX------------135/5200------144/4400--------2900 CD 1/78 79 ZX (AT)-------135/5200------144/4400--------2900 RT 4/79 79 ZX------------135/5200------144/4400--------2850 CD 4/79 79 ZX (2+2)------135/5200------144/4400--------2855 MT 6/79 79 ZX------------135/5200------144/4400--------2970 CD 4/80 80 SCCA TA------300/7500------245/6000--------2230 RT 6/80 80 IMSA GTU-----270/7500------202/6000--------2430 RT 6/80 81 ZXT (AT)------180/5600------203/2800--------3070 CD 5/81 81 ZXT (AT)------180/5600------203/2800--------2995 RT 5/81 81 ZXT-----------180/5600------203/2800--------2960 CD 12/81 81 ZXT (AT)------180/5600------203/2800--------2867 MT 2/82 82 ZX------------145/5500------166/3000--------2825 RT 82 82 ZXT-----------180/5600------203/2800--------2990 RT 12/82 82 IMSA GTO------580/7500-----520/5500--------2600 RT 5/83 Notes: 1. All cars 5-speed, except as noted. 2. 1982 ZX in RT Sports & GT Cars. 3. SCCA Trans Am car owned/driven by Bob Sharp and Paul Newman. 4. IMSA GTU cars owned/driven by Don Devendorf (Electramotive). The GTU car was normally aspirated while the GTO car was turbocharged. These numbers are from http://zhome.com/ and it is a very reputable site for Z car history info. Now since HP was measured at the flywheel for the 280Z we can "guestimate" that the 149HP that the 280Z had at the flywheel is about 127HP at the wheels with a 15% drivetrain loss on a MANUAL tranny and about 120HP on a auto tranny with a 20% drivetrain loss. So I think it would be safe to say that the 280ZX did have more power but the early 280Z's weighted less and the 77-78's were about the same as a 280ZX at around 2900 lbs. Datsunlover, how can your L28E not have an O2 sensor? Its kind of a major sensors for EFI? Oh and my L28E that was in my 80' 280ZX did not have an EGR system, stock. I think if I remember it had an N42 head? The guys at MSA were a little confused when I told them I didnt have an EGR when I bought a header for it? Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Yes another S30 v S130 thread that is causing people's blood pressure to rise unnecessarily. Bottom line, both cars are great and if you own one or the other you are going to be partial to what you own. Yasin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayZee Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Datsunlover, how can your L28E not have an O2 sensor? Its kind of a major sensors for EFI? My 76z did not have a O2 sensor, neither did my 79 ZX. However I had a 83n/a and it did have a O2 sensor. I think the older ECU's were kinda primitive and didn't have any kind of feedback/correction system. Although you have to consider that these were Canadian models. Another thing I noticed about the older L28 is that it didn't have a temp sensor in the head (near #5 spark plug) It just used the sensor by the thermostat. I had a online argument once with a American that said they all have temp sensors in the head and claimed that he was a mechanic at a Nissan dealer for years and that I didn't know what I was talking about. I just told him it must be a difference in Canadian models. So here's a question for all you Yanks, was he right? Do all US L28's have temp sensors in the head, or was he the one who didn't know what he was talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 You bring up a good point GrayZee, I was wondering the same thing about the older L28E's not having a feedback system. The US probably had more strick guidelines and that might explain why the US models had more sensors to help control emissions? Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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