Phantom

I have the combination iron/aluminum drums on the rear - for about 2 years now. Working great with almost no wear. I'm replacing them with a set of disk brakes over the next two months so someone is going to get a good set of drums for half price.

My car has competed successfully in car shows and made it into two magazines, it has been to the dragstrip and run well there, and I have raced with Ferrari's, Lotus'. and Corvettes out at Texas Motor speedway. But most of all, I drive it to work every day and frequently around on weekends. It may not be the best at any one thing but it is very good at all of them - think tri-athelete. I am continually working on it - or getiing it worked on - depending - but it is always available for the drive to work. I, for one, think you can do it all if you can settle for being one of the best, instead of the best.

Maybe the question should be - could you hear them at all?

I was on my way to a prayer meeting with my wife last night when I had a shiny new bright red Dodge SRT-4 pull along side and start doing the "let's race" routine. I was in shock at first. It had been over a year since someone had come alongside and wanted to play. Guess he figured he would have some fun with the old guy and his wife in the old Datsun - Oops. Little did he know that it was the Phantom and his bride in the 280Z28. We were also going about 65 which is a perfect 3rd gear point for the LS1. Downshifted from 6th to 4th, pulled even with him, and then slammed it down to 3rd and nailed it. Pulled a car length almost immediately, ran it out in 3rd gaining another car length, and then slammed 4th and continued the walk long enough to prove the point. Slowed down and let him catch up - he was really cool about it - laughing and in shock about getting wasted by an old man with his wife in the car. The best part though was the cop stuck in rush hour traffic on the other side of the road that had to watch us blast past at 100+ and couldn't do anything about it! I have got to behave!

510six - and you have a motor with excellent low end torque that can handle the overdrive well. That makes my point. A stock L28 isn't going to have that. My L28 had 163 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm - think what it was at 1,500. My LS1 has 290 lb-ft at 1,500 and even it drones when headed uphill at 60-70.

Kevin - would you believe that it's the original, 27 year old blower? It is not particularly strong but with a new compressor and new expansion valve the AC gets pretty cold and will eventually pull the car temperature down to downright chilly. 240Z28 - I'd still stick with the Euethane bushings. They really don't affect the "softness" of the suspension, more the responsiveness. The Struts and springs have more to do with the ride stiffness. I'm running some KYB gas struts and the Nissan Euro springs which are 15-17% stiffer than stock. Yes - I'd stil go that way. Pop - Sound is GREAT! - until about two hours into it - then it starts to get tiring.

I am now at the 10,000 mile point on the conversion. The drive-train is still bullet-proof. No complaints. Got a call from John at John's cars Sunday with a drive belt routing question. Fortunately I had a photo that I could send him. Good thing I took, and kept, some in-progress photos. Even the AC is working better. Had to drop the fan speed two clicks on Sunday to keep it from freeezing me out of the car. How many 1st gen Z owners have you heard say that? The exhaust was recently redone and I am much happier with it now. It is a bit quieter in the car and I've got dual 2 1/2" pipes all the way back to the single Magnaflow muffler now. Still don't have the computer at home fully operational so still no pic's availabe. Car is still running great and drawing a fair amount of attention although folks on I-20 are getting very used to seeing it. My '83Zx has been transferred to my younger son - had to give him a car to make a Zcar dirver our of him - so the 280Z28 has definitely become my daily driver. Up coming work includes: brake upgrade - in the works New interior - getting quotes on some custom work New Sound system - getting quotes Wife made a comment on the car that summarizes the current situation - "I wish the car was quieter. It sure is pretty but it beats you down on long trips." The car isn't actually that noisy because a normal conversation can be held in it but the various road noises with the underlying exhaust drone all combined with the tight cabin and tight suspension all combine to make the suburban a much more pleasant cruiser. That being said -we're driving it down to Fredericksburg (300 miles each way) the 23rd for a swap meet and car show.

Not sure the T56 would be of any use behind an L28 unless you have it significantly boosted. The 6th gear .5:1 OD would have the L28 turning 1,500 RPM at 60 with a 3.70:1 differential and standard diameter tires. Th's no where near it's power range and will have you downshifting every time yo start up any kind of a hill. Change the tires to smaller or the differential numbers up and it helps 6th gear but hurts 1st. First is nearly useless even with the 3.70:1 gears in the rear. A good T5 will provide everything the L28 can handle.

Again - welcome to the forum. Where in Oregon are you from? There are some nice V8 Z's up there and guys who really know what they're doing that you could talk with if you're anywhere near them.

See my post under drivetrain. There is a used one for sale very reasonably.

All - thanks for your input!! PoundZ - I like the sound of the engine but after a couple hours it's either going to put me to sleep or give me a headache. Time to tone it down just a bit so I can listen to the tunes I enjoy. Jeff - I PM'd you with a review of where I am now. Brad-Man - I'll probably stick with 6x9's in the rear because I already have the sound enclosure for them and have been using it for a couple years now. It works pretty well but needs a little more oomph. All - I'm phasing toward the dark side and am now considering an 8-10" subwoofer in the well behind the driver's seat. I know it can accommodate an 8" for sure, and maybe a 10". The well can also be properly treated to act as a decent enclosure for the sub. The well behind the passenger seat is reserved for the CD changer as it will be relatively easy to access from the driver's seat. The systems I've had proposed so far range around $2k for equipment and installation so that should indicate to all that I'm trying to go with better equipment. One of the controlling criteria of this installation comes back to the planned use for this car - It is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. It is primarily a daily driver so broad functionality of the car (think hauling groceries & 2x4's) is paramount in the decision process. It also goes to car shows and to the track where I don't intend to have to remove the equipment. It needs to be solidly buttoned down. That makes the system design more challenging, expensive, and forces some compromises.

TIM240Z, I clearly remember stating in my original post"don't go nuts keep it within reality!"

I've talked with three installers so far including Car Toys and Hawk. I've had Alpine, Cadence, Focal & MB Quartz speakers recommended. I've looked at Pioneer, JVC, & Kenwood head units and CD changers. I've looked at Eclipse, Cadence, and Alpine amps. The costs are coming in around $2k By the way, the CD changer will be installed vertically rather than horizontally which I think will help with the skipping problem. I know it took one heck of a hit to get the vertical changer in my Jeep to skip but the horizontal JVC unit in my sons Bronco II skips as much as it plays. Anyway - was just hoping someone who has maybe walked the walk on a system for the Gen 1 Z car might be able to pass on some do's & don'ts.

Guess I'll have to 'weigh in' too. The Z32 coupe is about 250lbs lighter than a late model Camaro. If you look hard at the Z32 in question, however, two things become apparent: 1) It's a 2+2!! That still doesn't make it as heavy as a Camaro though. Besides - he took the AC out so that lightens it a bit more. 2) No 2+2's were TT's. Only coupes were TT's. That means it started life as a 220 HP NA V-6. In that case, look at the bang for the buck!

Sounds like it's time for his supervisor to tell him to take them home. The work place is no place for beanie babies.

Let me start this out by say I do NOT have an unlimited budget - but I do want to install a good sound system in my 280Z. Right now it has a 4x35watt peak head unit running 6 speakers, two 4" in the stock location even with the seat backs, two 4" in the door panel at the knee, and two 6x9's in an MSA sound enclosure at the back. OK but definitely on the weak side. First - I am going to Dynamat the entire car. Wasting my money on the sound system otherwise. What I have in mind is something like this: A combination 4" system up front with mid-range 4" in the door and tweeters on the A pillar, Use the stock location 4" units for filler and then use 6x9's in the back for the base. No - I am not going to install a subwoofer. Don't even go there. I need suggestions for: Speakers. 4" combo, 4", & 6x9's Head unit 4x50watt rms amplifier Install under the passenger seat? CD changer - Install in the deck well behind the passenger seat? Any other ideas that would improve the system without going extreme.

I came across one last week. Jerry at All Z Car Specialist in Fort Worth has one (817) 483-0383. I know these are hard to find so thought I'd get the word out.

Pete - guy - you got to settle down and focus on one car if you're going to have it ready by the 2006 convention! You going to be at Christy's on Sunday for the Cowtown party?

Mike Kelly brought this up on another board. What would each of you do to your Z to make it perfect for you? Don't go nuts, keep it within reality of what can actually be done with equipment that's actually available. In my case I would take my current car and: 1) Upgrade the brakes which I'm in progress on now. 2) Redo the interior in a custom color combination leather and carpet. 3) Install a nice sound system and about 50lbs. of Dynamat. 4) Get it repainted to freshen up the 6-yr old paint. 5) Chrome plate and/or powder coat many of the vbare items under my hood.

Pick the body style you like and do it. It can be done in all of them, just that some of the requirements and equipment changes. That is what this site provides - a way to do it in any of the body styles. PS - if you don't know the difference between a 280Z and a 280ZX you need to spend a LOT more time using the search button and learning about the cars before you ever consider modding one of them.

What John Says

So now we've gone from a discussion on intake valves to the entire head? If that is the case then I heartily agree the head can be improved. I do not, however, think that you would see any more than possibly 1-2 HP improvement by optimizing the intake valve diameter and it could easily cost $thousands$, especially if it is smaller as the original post suggested. It would be much easier and cheaper to just replace the cam with a more aggressive grind. THe intake valve diameter is kind of like swatting at gnats IMO.

Well - got to change my mind now. After installing the new exhaust the LS1 now sounds really sweet.

The L28 had years of development by both Mercedes-Benz and Nissan so I would expect the valve sizing to be pretty well optimized for that head and their expected uses for it.

Well - I'm taking the big plunge and ordered the adapters today to upgrade the brakes on the 280Z28. After a long and painful search and deliberation cycle I have opted to get the 240SX/300ZX rear disk upgrade from Modern-Motorsports and the JSK Innovations Willwood upgrade for the front. I would have preffered to have had mfg. matching brakes front and rear but this is the only combination that matched my criteria: 1) Most brake for the price, 2) Availability of spare parts, 3) Concerns about the Modern-Motorports big brake upgrade fitting my particular set of 16" wheels, and 4) Keep the e-brake. I still have tow or three decisions to make: 1) The Willwood Superlite IIA's have been replaced by the Superlite forged series. The IIA's are still available at a really good price though http://www.pitstopusa.com but the forged series are supposed to handle peak heat situations better (like me running out at Texas Motor Speedway). 2) Do I upgrade to the 79-81ZX 15/16" Master cylinder or stick with my 7/8". 3) Do I install a proportioning valve. This will be answered after I install the brakes and can evaluate the front-rear balance.