daflyinghawaiin

Hi gang I have a 90' 240sx with some killer coil overs that I want to adapt to me older 83 280zx turbo. Can this be done and if so how would I begin planning? Does it need shock tower replacements? Etc. etc. the 90 sx has a Sbc 350 with a th 350 transmission. Good fun car but trying to build my 280zx now. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated folks. Thanks and aloha from hawaii! BOLO

Hello grumpy! some great info in this thread you are very knowledgable indeed. My plans for my 83 280zx is to do a sbc swap and that way i can actually enjoy owning one of these z cars. I am a chevy guy and not too knowledgeable on japan engines. It has the original 6 cyl eng with the turbo set up original. i have a few engines available. 406 stroked with dual carbs and aa nast cam. This one ran in the 9 sec range in a corvette. but, i was going to install it into my 280zx but am thinking i will need to backhalf the car to handle the torque of this engine. Also have a rather stock sbc 350 with a nice little cam and no real racing options. My question is in your experience which one would you recommend and why? Second question is where can i find the necessary parts needed? ive been all over the interweb and jtr is where i always end up. But is there someone who has some better mounts? I have a full s10 v8 swap kit and i beleive they are very similar. I would need to find a trans crossmember on its own in that case any ideas where i can find these parts? Thanks, BOLO

Hi and thanks for the advice my friend. I am not a new school engine guy either. i am a dying breed of oldschool sbc guys. It seems to be a dying breed now days. But i am not beyond accepting constructive criticism. Thank you for that. I have a few sbc oldschool engines freshly built i posted pics above. These are just sitting on my engine stands covered. I figured i would try to do a conversion because of the lack of turbo nissan engine techs here. Thanks again! BOLO

Hello yes i am interested in it. let me know. I do have engine mounts from an s10 conversion which are almost identical. What i dont have is the transmission crossmember for the chevy trans. The engine mounts look the same but not really sure of it.

Hi yes its not much but i have a bunch of other pics that really are not relavent to this build. I just wanted to show the car as it is and was. The motortrend magazine one was in the motortrend magazine while it was at a show in vegas with previous owner. Here in hawaii we dont get too much motortrend highlighted cars around. I am a bit pumped about the simple fact that this car was even in the magazine...very kool! The other pics are just for a reference base so that maybe the educated ones in this forum can help me to get a grasp on the direction that the car was and then is and then most importantly what it will be. it is a typical 280zx turbo car as you said with some stuff done to the engine on another website from previous owner. I basically got it and stored it. now im ready to start work on it. engine is still as in the photo installed after the rebuild. sat for years and got it to start and idle. nothing since. It seems really finicky to me as most turbo cars are foreign to me. I have some sbc engines and trannys to use along with a s10 complete conversion kit as well. so, any and all help will be appreciated! aloha, BOLO

It is almost a given fact i will be converting it. But, with the history on this car i am a bit skeptical. I do have a full conversion kit of a s10 swap and i beleive its almost identical for the 280zx? Real similar besides the trans crossmember. if anyone has a crossmember for the chevy transmissions i am in need of one. Please let me know and i will do what i can to obtain it from you. Domzs here is a pic of my sbc stroker im thinking of adding to my 280zx!! THANKS GANG!

This is my 83 280zx in motortrend magazine when it was in vegas inside the Sin City Z club. It still has the original paint as it is here in the picture. Do i ravage the car and put a sbc in it or do i learn the japan engines? Being a chevy guy my inclination is set towards a conversion. I have added some fun photos from previous stateside owner Mike from the sin city z club. Car is fun to look at but i want to have fun driving it around!! Any and all ideas and information is appreciated! Aloha, BOLO

Some tell me that there is a place to get the mounts besides jtr. I would love to see them if at all possible please? I also did some s10 conversions so i have some extra engine mounts for that. I think it is very close to what i may need for the swap? Please inform. The engine in the car is supposed to be a freshly rebuilt motor. But it will not start and run completely. When i first got it it started and idled ok. But later after stored in the garage it did not start again. So it sat. Now i either need to go through the entire engine system which i really am not in my comfort zone as im a chevy guy. So im kind of in need of some serious tutoring. BOLO

I do have several transmissions to choose from with the conversion. I have access to th350 and th400 also have several 700r4 as well. i have been contemplating the 700r4 due to the overdrive in 4th gear for long runs. But, i think it will need a lockout true? Have 350sbc with a mild cam and stock heads. Also have a 406 stroker that is just nasty! ran 9 sec runs in a vette before i pulled it for the conversion. thanmks again< BOLO

Thanks for the link i will check it out. See what i mean? I am completely out of my element here with the japan cars. Its not a numbers matching car you say? Can you tell me more please? i got it because that is what i was informed. But its not a big deal if its not original. The engine has been worked but not to the point of installing the megasquirt set up. It was prepped for that is also what i was told. thank you for the help...BOLO

Hello again gang! I am a newbie to the import scene. But i have a 90 240sx with a sbc installed and also have a 83 280zx turbo that i am considering converting also. But i am having trouble locating the engine mounts besides the jtr stuff. I have seen many pics in here with mounts that look totally different from the jtr stuff. Is there someone selling or building these "better" mounts? I will post a pic of my sbc engine going to put into the 83 280zx and a picture of the sx also. i did not do the conversion on kit and it seems to be backyarded big time. My goal is to do a clean conversion on the zx and i hope i am in the right place to do so. i cant find an engine guy for the original turbo 6 banger in the car now. So i am heavily leaning to a conversion. Any and all comments and help are greatly appreciated folks! You guys and gals have some great inspiration. thank you, BOLO

Hello gang here is my sbc stroker engine that i hope to install into my 1983 280zx turbo. I would love to keep it original as the car is complete and in tact. I just cant seem to find any tech who wants to touch and and actually knows enough to tinker on it. I am completely a chevy guy but i love these 280zx cars. Hopefully i will get it running soon or i will do a conversion with this engine. Thank you all for any help and suggestions. This engine makes nearly 725horses! Will be nasty in the zx!! Aloha, BOLO

Well gang i have been looking around locally for a tech to freshen up my wiring and so on here in hawaii. No can find anyone who will even touch it. Thats a major drawback to living in paradise folks. Hopefully i will get some much needed help from the members on this forum. many thanks before hand for you time and help. aloha, BOLO

Hi once again gang! I still have not gotten into the main problems in the engine due to the fact that i am really not an import engine guy at all. But i would really like to be able to keep it original. I purchased it last year and just have it stored because of my other projects. I would love some points on making this thing go again! Its weird i know that i purchased a car i dont know anything of the engine but, ive always wanted to own one (reminds me of the good old days) and the chance came up so i went ahead with the purchase. We have not done much yet. Mostly because i dont want to screw the engine up any more than i already have. I have looked for a mechanic who knows these engines without any luck in my search. I do have a sbc engine that i am thinking of installing but i would rather keep it original and numbers matching. Hit me with any and comments because its sitting in my garage not doing anything. Thanks, BOLO

Hi i beleive that the measurements are from center of yokes on both ends. In order to calculate the right length you need to build. I think i have done the same thing with my 90 sx that has a sbc 350 with gear drive and a massive cam too. Its nasty fast but i am looking into a swap on my current 83 280zx turbo. But i am reluctant to do so because the car is numbers matching original 280zx turbo. Im just not a japan based engine guy. too complicated for me to understand. Thanks i hope this helps a bit. BOLO

hello gang i am contemplating a small block chevy into my 83 280zx turbo. reason is i do not know much about the turbo scene and i am more of a simplistic chevy guy. meaning i have no knowledge in foreign made cars. but i got this one because i wanted to own one since in school long ago. now, i have a 90 s13 with a conversion in it. it is freaky fast! however i dont like how they laid it out. so i have this great chevy engine sitting on my engine stand. that i am really thinking of dropping it in my 83. so is there somewhere i can go to look for the proper engine mounts and so forth? i am also not opposed to keeping it original as it is a numbers matching all original vehicle. it ran for a bit when i first bought it and then never started after that. its beyond my abilities to start tearing the motor up. the build for the engine is supposed to be in cardomain i beleive. it was built in vegas and i am in hawaii. i posted once in here and i forgot about this. so im trying it again. its from vegas and the sin city z club. has all the autographs of the builders under the hood. pretty kool. anyhow i am in terrible need of some guidance. again i am not a turbo guy or even foreign makes as well. just a simple chevy boy who does not really want to rip up this oriental toy to stick a v8 in it. any and all help will be greatly appreciated. aloha, jay

i am not sure if i am in the correct place for this but i have an 83 280zx turbo that i am frustrated with because the wiring and stuff needs to be redone due to aging. problem is i have a killer small block chevy engine sitting in my garage waiting to be put into something. please feel free to point me in the right direction if i am in the wrong areas of this site. its a great place if i may say so as well.

I know that car, I'm part of sincityz. Too bad your still in hawaii... ALOHA GOTH and thanks everyone for your input on this subject. i really want it to stay factory stock with upgrades of course because to me a car of this stature should stay original or turn into a beast! but im trying to stick to the roots of the car. however..like i said im a old school chevy guy and build cars in my spare time. which led me to this site. my son has a later model 240sx with the 350 swap in it and that thing is a rocket! th350 trans and 350 engine with a stall and shift kit. too much winding on the top end as u all have pointed out. thank you for that. hes got those racing seats with the full harness set up and all. but...im a 300lb hawaiian and i do not fit in those seats! i fit ON them though! lol...very uncomfortable to say the least especially when going really fast and not strapped in because they dont fit. i would say in my years of drag and chevy building...this 240sx woud prolly do high 11's or 12's or real close to that; so goth...what can u tell me bout this car? any info? i know the engine build is on another website and was done in vegas. by the way... IM KEEPING THE SINCITYZ! STICKER IN THE WINDSHIELD! im not taking it off. there are a bunch of autographs under the hood of those that helped build the car. i want to keep that as well! its history and character to mee so they stay. help please! DAFLY

THIS IS THE 1983 280ZX TURBO THAT WAS IN VEGAS (WHITE ONE UP FRONT) AND NOW ITS IN HAWAII WITH ME. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. 1:SOMETIMES WILL START AND RUN AND THEN WARMS AND SPUTTERS AND DROPS OFF AND GETS FLOODED. MAYBE FUEL LINES? 2:MOST TIMES WILL NOT START OR HAVE SPARK IN PLUG WIRES..CHANGED COIL AND IT SEEMS INTERMITTENT. 3:TURBO WORKS WELL AND HAS DUAL ADJUSTMENT DIALS UNDER HOOD...ALSO HAS SECONDARY TURBO TUNING WITH A FLIP SWITCH INSTALLED INSIDE VEHICLE. 4:ENGINE IS NEWLY REBUILT AND WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN TUNED TO BE ABLE TO RUN NEARLY 20LBS OF BOOST USING SECONDARY SWITCH. I GUESS WIDE OPEN? 5:HUGE WASTEGATE ON THIS CR THAT MAKES A CRAZY ASS SOUND! 6:DUE TO THE FACT THAT IM NOT AN IMPORT GUY...IM LOOKING FOR HELP TO MAKE THIS ENGINE RUN GOOD OR I WILL LOOK TO MAKE IT A HYBRID! I HAVE THE SBC ENGINE AND AUTO TRANS AS WELL BUT WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE 5 SPEED IN THERE. BUT NO KNOWLEDGE OF USING THE SAME TRANS THATS IN THE CAR NOW. A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS. IS THERE A BELL HOUSING ADAPTOR FOR THIS APPLICATION AND IS THERE A PLACE THAT I CAN FIND SPECS ON MOTOR MOUNTS AND SO ON. ALOHA TO ALL! DAFLY

ALOHA GANG! IM VERY NEW HERE AND HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR DAYS TO FIND ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS. I HAVE RECENTLY AQUIRED A 1983 280ZX FROM LAS VEGAS. SHE IS IN SIN CITY Z CLUB AS THE WINDOW STICKER SAYS. HOWEVER..I AM HAVING A LOT OF DIFFICULTY FINDING THE RIGHT SPOT I SHOULD SAY FOR THE ENGINE TO RUN RIGHT. I GOT IT FROM MIKE A FRIEND HERE IN HAWAII THAT HAD HER SHIPPED OVER WHEN HE MOVED HERE FROM VEGAS. THEN SHE SAT FOR 4 YEARS. IM NOT A TURBO GUY AND NOT A "REAL" IMPORT GUY AS WELL. BUT IVE ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE AND NOW I HAVE HER! SHE IS FEATURED IN ONE OF THE MOTORSPORT MAGAZINES YEARS AGO. SHE IS ALSO IN OTHER WEBSITES THAT I HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO RESEARCH YET. SO.....MY QUESTION IS THIS. I HAVE ACCESS TO A FEW SBC ENGINES AS I AM A CHEVY GUY. AS WELL AS TRANSMISSIONS TOO, TH300 TH400 700R4 AND SO ON. HOWEVER...I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A BELLHOUSING ADAPTER PLATE TO MOUNT A MILDLY BUILT SBC 350 TO THE STOCK 5 SPEED TRANS IN THE 83 280ZX? IF NOT...WHERE CAN I START TO FIND THE PARTS I NEED? I CAN FABRICATE AND WELD TOO SO IM NOT TOTALLY MINDLESS HERE BUT IM NOT AN IMPORT GUY TILL NOW! I LOVE THIS CAR! WANTED ONE SINCE THE OL DAYS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 80'S. OR IF SOMEONE CAN HELP ME TO GET THIS BUGGER RUNNING RIGHT THAT WOULD ROCK TOO! SHE HAS A FRESH ENGINE BUT ITS BEEN SITTING LIKE I MENTIONED. TURBO RUNS AND BUILDS PRESSURE...WASTEGATE IS ENORMOUS! SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF SOME PEOPLE. BUT IT RUNS GOOD WHEN COLD THEN REACHES ROUGHLY 180 DEGREES AND SPUTTERS OUT AND EITHER IT IS FLOODING OR SOMETHING CLOSE. I CAN SMELL GAS WHICH MAKES ME THINK FUEL LINES HEATING AND CRACKS START SUCKING AIR SO FUEL PUMP KEEPS PUMPING! I HOPE IM CLOSE. BUT..THIS CAR NEEDS HELP AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE...BUT, I AM ALSO WILLING TO DROP A SBC IN IT. SO...PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HELP A HAWAIIAN IN NEED! HEHEHEHE! MAHALO, DAFLY