260DET

Agree, that's the way it should be done, the Japanese are not necessarily right or best with everything they do.

Depends on use too of course but using a LSx seems to carry with it big, bigger and more bigger power potential so don't underestimate what's required transmission wise. Don't know about anyone else but I hate building something and then having it break, grrrr.

Ti valves are a potentially problematical item by the sound of it, what actual difference are they going to make? I bet that there are a few conventionally valved engines running around that make more power than yours and don't blow up.

Keep up the good work, it's looking good, what flares are you using?

Around 8 degrees caster is good for a circuit S30.

4L85E into a 280ZX here, basically plenty of room with just a few small mods needed. So if you can compare a S130 tunnel with a S30 tunnel then..............

For a high performance Z there is only one reason to run a R180 instead of a R200 and that's weight.

Looks like it has syncros to me, could be a first gen type that was used in the early 240's and late Fairlady 2000's. Pic of the shifter mechanism would clarify that.

Not many 2+2's in the US? Plenty in AU but why ?

Q5 order cancelled, now have a Jeep Cherokee Limited diesel

Put mine under simply because it's detachable for reasons of access and damage. The tiny amount of difference between under or over would make no difference aero wise.

My impression as a furriner is that the S30 market in the US is too picky and too cheap. This sort of market is really niche, it should be more about supporting those who are prepared to supply a very small market with never any chance that that the suppliers will bring in the big bucks for their trouble and risk. It's not like dealing with a big corporation where a few dollars here or there don't matter, that is the message which needs to be be accepted by customers who individually need to realise that they are part of a small community and act accordingly. The US is a bit of a stuff up in some ways but by gee there are some individuals who really do go above and beyond

Maybe someone is interested in something progressive/different so I'll mention that the 4L85E physically fits into the 280ZX shorty quite well, a bit of massaging for the tunnel but no real problem. Next will be tuning the PCS controller, the 85 has been on the trans shops dyno and it all works but tuning the controller for manual shifting is still to be done eg having the brake light switch disengage the torque converter clutch so that when braking there is no chance of the it disengaging and so upsetting the braking balance.

There is the possible problem with a LR, reliability. But, yeh, basically a very good allrounder.

An alternative to what I'm doing are manual transmission tricks, with say a Tremec. Don't quote me but there are sequential shift conversions available plus downshift blippers that basically make clutch use redundant except to start off and stop. If it all works as it is claimed it should be great for motorsport use.

Did a detailed comparison of what was available in my market to do dual duty, general runabout and long distance tow car with plenty of power but economical. All in a compact package. You probably have more choice in the US but there was virtually nothing that suited spec wise other than a Audi Q5 3.0 TDI.

What helped me and which should be applicable in any country is to use a online car sales site that has all the relevant specs and then use the search function to narrow down the list of suitable vehicles, as to towing capacity, price and so on. It's not necessary to have a truck just because you want to do some towing a few times a year.

In the middle of a Powertrain Control Systems conversion of a 4L80E for amateur circuit use in the 280ZX shorty myself, notice that there are all sorts of improved controls for manual gearboxes including Tremecs eg programmed sequential shifting and throttle blip downshifting that it's claimed enable clutchless shifting up or down. Am I in a time warp or is nothing like that happening here. Same old same old, surely not.

Meh, I've complained forever about the user unfriendlyness of this forum for pics and links, makes no difference, bossman is obviously not a Z enthusiast .

Think that this is just part of the upsurge in S30 interest in the UK which was never big in sales there and had to face a full on rust attack. Some Aussie cars have been bought apparently. The product is a great idea if it's engineered and built right, be very interesting to see what they are like.

OP's flares look good installed, well done for thinking outside the box. If anyone doesn't like the back cutouts for use on a daily it looks like it would not be too hard to fill them in with a piece of say black plastic cut from a sheet, ABS maybe.

A couple of facts the dreamers may like to consider. One, car manufactures have to abide by strict controls as to the actual engine power realised on a dyno that they can advertise. It's rubbish to in effect to say that such controls are ineffective or inaccurate, can anyone imagine that a car maker would tolerate that? Yes or no. Two, another ignored criteria, please explain how some back yarder can get more power per liter out of an old engine by changing a cam and so on than a modern manufacturers can out of highly developed performance car engines. If you can then do tell. Unbelievable that people would believe their local tuner, who has a business to run and cannot afford to look inferior compared with the competition, over whats involved by those who actually design and create engines in the first place. Man, those guys know nothin, I'll just do a new exhaust, whack in a proper race cam and show those dudes how it's done

Now I think about it a bit more, the dyno graph of my VG30/33ET looked a lot like the very few that the big power claimers actually put up, it's just that the figures were different. Not too hard to understand why that was is it?

No agenda here, I've moved on but like to cut through the nonsense and present the truth because originally I took notice of said nonsense and it cost me $. Presenting an estimate of power based on a drag racing time is a joke, it's obviously a joke because of the infinate number of unquantifiable variables involved yet it's still presented as fact. On the other hand I present real information including comparative dyno graphs and other real comparisons which are consistently ignored. They are ignored simply because they are facts which can't be challenged. Weird attitude, it's just an engine, why the ballship?

Virtually no lag, you won't be disappointed.