Pellius

PM’ed (long shot, I know)

Me being an average guy and just out of idle curiosity, what turbos would you use?

Eeeexcellent.... I always wanted that car. James, you are the MAN.

I suppose I have been way out of the loop. Am I missing something? Is this some cruel joke? Can that car be had for $14k?

Just to add my two cents: I did a 134a conversion in my 240z by simply pumping out the old freon, attaching the 134a adaptors for the charging valves, and putting in the "conversion" oil and freon that came in the $30 conversion kit. I didn't even change the drier. It worked fine for something like 4 years with no recharging. (I have recently had some problems, but I think they are due to the orifice assembly) I converted a Celica the same way with similar results. Kinda cheap, but, well, kinda cheap. Even if you need to recharge once in a while, a 12oz can of 134a goes for like 2 or 3 bux (around here). If you can hunt up a pump, it might be worth the price of a cheap conversion kit to give it a try, especially if you have no cool right now. An A/C shop should be able to pump your system down. BTW, changing the rubber hoses shouldn't be too tough - on my 240 there are only 4 of 'em (as I recall), and you can pretty easily reach both ends of each. You'll prolly have to cut the old hoses off of the hose fittings. One last thing. You might consider having a shop look at your system and give you an estimate. Since the system is an add-on (EZ access to everything), it might be cheaper to convert than you think. All that said, I still vote for a domestic 134a system. New everything will outperform and outlast fixing what you've got.

The Datsun A/C system is pretty straight-forward. I don't see any reason why you can't make a custom bracket and simply mount your Datsun (Mitsubishi) compressor to the Chevy motor. However, my experience has been that the Datsun A/C system just doesn't cool the cabin very well. For my car, I'm saving up for a 100% aftermarket kit. Before I buy, I'll ask around for other experiences, but right now I have my eye on a kit by Hot Rod Air. The kit is around 800 bux, but it comes with all the components (except freon and a vacuum pump) and an integrated under-dash unit housing the evaporator, heater core, fan unit, and all the venting controls. It is in a box that is something like 12x12x20 or so. It should fit cleanly behind the glove box, and no more push/pull cables! The controls unit look nice and modern, and fairly tasteful. I didn't set out to pitch the product. Those are just the things that I noticed when I was shopping around. Anyway, if your Z has A/C, just make a mount for the compressor. I don't think I would try to tackle transplanting a system from a different car, though. Dunno if this helps.

I have tinkered with the L motor a bit, and even did the MBC and K&N thing on my 87 turboZ. I guess I may not be the best person to talk to right now because it's all still new and exciting to me, but lemme tell ya', there is absolutlely no comparison. It's hard to tell how much faster the sbcZ is, because I haven't figured out the launching thing yet - it was never an issue on my other cars. Even so, being in even a mild sbcZ like mine is like being wrapped in horsepower. I've had the car for like three days now, and already no less than 5 people have come up to me to admire and talk about the car (none of 'em cops!). As usual, I've rambled on a bit. Suffices to say, if you are trying to decide whether to mod an L motor or plop in a 350, go with the 350. At least one guy is apparently over 135mph in the quarter on an L motor, but he's an engineering PhD candidate, and has spent a few bux. And you'll never get that rumble from an L, you have to settle for showing off a massive IC (and your tail lights).

Thanks all. I have put a few dozen miles on her now. I think I, I think I, I think I love her. I don't know what was done to the rear. I will investigate and report back. I would like to do the diff. upgrade, but I was going to wait to decide whether I really needed to go thru the headache of hunting and installing an LSD or just to get the R200 (hopefully a little taller). LSD's spook me a little coming out of a corner, and I hear they can sorta ambush you under certain circumstances. Then you get to do the headlights, tail lights, headlights, tail lights thing. However, after burning about 20 bux in gas and tire life in about six seconds, I think an LSD may be in order. I really need less smoke and more go. Suggestions always welcome. I'm sure I'll be asking lotsa newbie questions soon, but I promise to search first.

Okay, I just figured out the personal album thing.

Wow, that IS one kewl scoop. Now I know where the galleries are, too.

Wow, you gotta love this site - hosts pics and everything. The pics I posted were the ones emailed to me by the guy that sold me the car. They were really meant for email, so the res. is a little low. He sent more, and I took some digital photos of my own once the car arrived (I bought it unseen from OK), but I don't want to be a post hog, etc.

I bought mine instead of building it (I don't have a shop or lotsa time), so most of what I know I either saw while looking the car over or the last owner told me. It's a 12/70 built Z. The engine is a .030 over 350 with headers and a Carter (?) 4bbl carb. Engine is mated to a TH350. I got a spec sheet on the cam, but I don't have it in front of me. The rad. is aftermarket, and looks like an all-aluminum custom job. It has a flex fan mounted WAY away from the rad. with no shroud. I think I am going to follow the advice from 'round here and get the Taurus elec. fan set up. This is my first US engine, so I'm an absolute noob when it comes to the drivetrain. You can immagine my befudlement when I got to looking for an ignition coil. Anyway, the engine is running way way rich, so I'll be hunting up a manual on my carb to tune it. Even so, this is prolly the fastest car I have ever owned. The push-in-the-pants feels stronger than the ole' DSMvr4. The engine is mounted low and back and very cleanly, with the distributor maybe three inches from the firewall. It has a full size air-cleaner. The car is beautiful. It has a good quality (red) paint job; no rust. Exterior is all stock except for a small air-dam and a few hood louvers (sounds like overheating woes) and hood pins. The interior looks custom, and is tastefully conservative and very well done. I would post pics, but I don't have a web site. To do includes installing an A/C system and the sound system from my last Z. The car doesn't really need anything (except, as always, more hp), which is hard to get used to after my last 240. I really loved my last 240, and hated to see her go. But let me tell ya, nothing gets you over your last one like the next one. On a different note, are there any Z clubs close to Tallahassee? Maybe I can come down for the Gainesville meets once in a while. JAX is dooable, too. Anyway, sorry for the long post, but I'm looking forward to learning a thing or two around here.

Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong forum, but I just had to tell somebody. What a rush. In retrospect, all that work I did to try to tune my 2.4 was kinda wasted effort.