awd92gsx

Does he have excessive blowby? I've seen more than one turbo rebuilt because of this exact same symptom only to find out that it had nothing to do with the turbo at all. Have him check/replace the PCV valve. If he boosts with a bad PCV then it will usually pressurize the crankcase so bad that it will push oil right past the turbo seals (which incidentally look like little piston rings).

From the decals...it looks like he has a Powerglide in there...

http://www.smokemup.com/utilities/calc/fuel_injector.cfm

This is a problem I'm dealing with myself.. I've found out what I don't like about Z's. Too many options. With DSM's I only had to worry about 1 engine and 1 transmission. Now I'm finding with that Z's there are so many options that I'm going crazy trying to figure out exactly which way I want to go. 7MGTE, 2JZ, 350SBC, L28ET, 10:1 L28, RB26DETT, RB25DETT, and the list just goes on..and on...and on... And then there's the rear end? 3.90, 4.11LSD, 3.54, does it ever end? I'm going to be buying a L28ET that is already built here shortly (just waiting on the money to hit the bank...hurry up Uncle Sam!!) with JE's, balanced and blueprinted bottom end, Schneider racing cam, ported and polished hyd. P90A head, HKS gead gasket, T3/T4, etc... Hopefully I can get this engine in the car soon after receiving it (may need a slight rebuild) and finally put my mind at ease about what I want to do. I have a complete coil over suspension setup on my '77 280Z. It's very hard living in Phoenix, Arizona with a car that will probably outhandle some Porsches on a road course since we have nothing but straight roads here. The only time I ever even get to turn the steering wheels is when I'm making a 90 degree turn at a stop light...usually too much traffic to have any real kind of fun. Does it ride rough? Sure it does. But then again, I've never even ridden in, much less driven, another Z, so I have no idea how much stiffer it is than stock. All I was told was that the car was built as a road racer, and from what I've been able to tell certainly believe that!!! I just want a solid 12 second Z that will kick butt at the local road course =o) That's not too much to ask is it?!?!?

Tony, Do you happen to have AIM or MSN? I'd really like to chat with you live for a few minutes regarding the swap and a few other options. Thanks,

Ok, you've sold me =o) Luckily, I've got most of the stuff required to tune the stock ECU on most newer cars already sitting in my garage, since I've been building my 1G DSM up for quite a few years now. I heard once that the MKIII guys have gotten around the blown HG problem by torquing the stock headgasket down another 20lbs. or so... I've priced out the engine, ecu, harness, and ecu for $1500 from a local place, how much more do you think it will run to get it in and running and what all custom parts have you had to fab/buy. I saw that you were able to use '89 Supra mounts.

Yeah, I see he's putting in a 7MGTE MKIII Supra engine, which is certainly no slouch... I'll have to wait and see what his reactions are.

Being a great turbo fan myself, I must admit to one thing. Once you've gone turbo, it's very hard to go back. Owning a DSM I can attest to the power potential of having a turbocharged 4 cyl. Now that I own a NA I6, all I can think of doing is dropping in a turbo engine (be it a built L28ET, or a Supra engine). There are so many noises that I miss a turbo car...the PPPPFFFFSSTTT!! of the BOV, the jetlike roar of a large turbo, the rush of air past the intake...hopefully soon I'll have my Z fitted with a turbo motor and can yet again experience the exhileration of boosting 20+psi.

Yeah, the turbo ECU may be less affected by it than my non turbo ECU, since I'm sure the mapping for the turbo ECU leans more toward larger injectors anyway. Actually, I've had my AFC for a long time (have it installed in my DSM) and am getting a newer AFC soon. I've got an SPX regulator in my Z currently, but am unsure of the specs on this particuliar regulator, but I'm assuming it's a 1:1

When swapping the 2JZ into a Z, you would be using the 2JZ's ecu and harness/electronics or running a stand alone. I'm very seriously considering doing this swap. Time to start some research.

You're running twin 16's right? You could probably port the wastegate holes and install some 34mm flappers and your problem would go away...

umm..I might have to type 1 handed for awhile dizzammm!!

My 77 280Z has larger injectors (I'm not sure what they're from, they are O-ring type injectors). I also have an adjustable FPR. The bad thing about having the AFPR and larger injectors is that tuning is not very linear. I can get it to run fine down low, but then it gets too fat up top, or I can get it to pull like a mad dog up top, but then it runs way too lean on the bottom causing some stumbling on take off sometimes... That's why I need to get my AFC wired in, so that I can adjust the pulsewidth of the injectors dependant upon RPM and if I get my new Super AFC I can adjust seperately for WOT and part throttle applications.

I'm sure it can be done, what are the mods on your car?

I'm still working on the AFC for the Z... The REBIC is an additional injector controller, and the EVC-EZ is a boost controller.

Lone, Yeah, when you get out here lemme know and we'll definitely have to get together sometime and chat. Check out http://www.desertzassociation.com sometime. Unfortunately, like I keep telling people, AZ emissions are more of a PITA than Cali emissions are at the moment, mainly because you can't just go to Jose's Automotive to be tested like the Cali guys can. We have centralized testing along with all of the same standards that Cali has. Exemptions? What are those? Not here. All '67-97 vehicles are dynoed, while 97+ use the OBD-II test (they just plug the scan tool in and check for readiness test and codes...takes all of like 5 minutes)

I'm trying to figure out how to install an Apexi Super AFC into a Z. I know somewhere somebody told me they did it, but I haven't been able to figure out the dip switch settings yet (although, I haven't really tried installing it yet, either). Running an AFC would greatly enhance the stock injection system. I've seen DSM's with stock computers and AFC's run 10's. Basically, an AFC (Air Fuel Converter) allows you to modify the MAF...err..AFM signal to either add or remove fuel at different RPM points. Very handy if you have upgraded to a larger injector or just want to tune the stock fuel curve to a more power friendly setup. If I can figure it out, I'll be sure to let everybody know. Usually adjusting O2 voltages does not change anything because during WOT most ECU systems stop paying attention to the O2 sensor and rely on preprogrammed fuel maps instead.

The best engine to run right now is the 4G64/4G63 hybrid. Just about all of the torque of the 2.6L and all of the power of the 2.0L.

Lone, You'll have an idle test and a dyno test. As long as all of the emissions equipment that was on the car when it was built (in one form or another) are on the car and you don't exceed the HC and CO specs, you'll be fine. I live in Peoria, AZ (on the other side of town from you)

I believe I have the AZZcar suspension on my '77 280Z. I don't know for sure, since it was on the car when I bought it, but, looking at the pics, it looks identical to what I have on there now... At first I thought the ride was a little too stiff for my taste (and that was coming from a 2" lowered DSM), but after having owned it for a month I've come to appreciate the suspension a bit more and have decided against replacing it with a more of a stock type suspension.

Has anybody installed a 1G Super AFC into their 280Z? If so, what dipswitch settings did you use?

oddly, it seems as though the StarQuest guys are all running 4G63's now...I've wondered how a nicely built 4G63T would work in my Z...

Splicing new injector connectors into the stock wiring harness won't look like crap IF you solder correctly and use heat shrink tubing. If you're worried about the color not being the same, you can always just be a little creative with some paint and electrical tape or loom and nobody will ever be able to tell you touched anything.

Are those stock 7MGTE mounts? That looks like a very good alternative engine. I'm definitely interested in that swap, also.

Stony, I got your email, but am having problems opening it up with my Win XP machine...I'll have to try downloading it on my Win 98 laptop and doing something with it then...thanks!!