hagdog

Congrats on your new (old) 260Z! I'm in the middle of getting my 260Z on the road. I have the engine partially assembled. I purchased a reconditioned N42 head for it. You had many questions. Most of your answers can be found on this and other forums. But there are so many enthusiasts that the wealth of info can be hard to sift through. I'll try to save you some time. I found that performance cams are relatively inexpenisve. However, the cam is only part of the expense. Inexpensive cams are re-grinds. Billet or new cams are not inexpensive. The re-grind requires a new lash cap set for maybe $100. You may need new lash caps even if the cam is not a re-grind. Just make sure to measure accurately and only buy one set... The higher lift of a performance cam will crush the stock springs. For new springs add $200-300. So, think about what a "performance" cam will do. The main difference is that it will shift the hp/torque curve. With triple carbs you can get some good HP at the upper end of RPM. But, your low end torque will not be a significant gain over a 2-roundtop carb setup. Is the curve shift worth $500 or more? For a head, the N42 is a good deal. It increases the compression ratio which, of course, is important for a NA engine. The P90 flows best but has a lower CR than the N42. The P79 and P90 are best for forced induction. To sum it up, swapping an N42 for an E88 should result in better CR and exhaust flow. For the diff, you are looking at the R180 in the 260Z vs the R200 in the 280Z. The R180 will handle whatever your NA engine can muster. And, it is lighter than the R200. The more important issue is if you are looking for LSD. There are more options for LSD for the R200. It is my understanding that the R200 short-nose can replace an R180 with no modifications. Using the long-nose from a ZX model is more involved. But, that diff will handle the higher torque of a forced induction setup. Check these links out: Z engine calculator This does not include L26. But, the L28 numbers are proportionally equivalent. Head comparison BTW, I got an L28 engine with 240Z round-tops and a 5-speed tranny on Craigslist for $500. I bought the setup to get the 5-speed for a tranny swap from the original slush box. Naturally, I am also replacing the 260Z flat tops with the round tops. Triple Mikuni's, on the other hand, go for $800-1200. Again, what is your budget? 240Z carbs might not be a bad option. Then again, rebuilding 2 SU's costs around $600. So many choices. Enjoy your angst. When you're done, enjoy your Z!