ZR8ED

Thanks Scott and Scott. I have mine turned back to about 11 lbs right now. I am assuming the additional octane, greatly increased cooling, and i'm starting to think the lighter weight of the car is allowing me to run the extra boost with no ill effects...and these days the temps are dropping quite a bit also. It was incredible how fast the boost went from vac to full boost when I would floor it! the engine doesn't sound like it is working very hard..and I proved it when I had the 4.11 diff in there..the 3.7 also.. I could not reach max boost in the lower gears 1-3 the 3.54 diff made all the difference in the world....it was strange to see the car get faster as I decreased the ratio..If I had a 3.36 R200 I would have tried it too!! hehehe The motor really likes to be under load. I figured that nissan engineered the motor that way..it did after all have to lug a 300zx 2+2 around...we are talking almost 800lbs difference in weight between the donor car and my 280Z. Now if I can only get that power to the road off the line I'll be all set. Thanks, Scott.

I agree.. Fix what you have. If you still can't get any satisfaction..then..well you know.. Personally I recently installed a TurboXs type H BOV. I'm very happy with it, and it sure sounds cool. Scott.

Hi folks.. is that a silly question or not? Well I was playing with the boost controler, and temporarily unhooked it (huge big story to this action...too long to explain) I took the car out for a blast. I use Sunoco 94 fuel, and I add 1 bottle of 104 octane boost... NO I/C installed yet. stock Z31 motor. I took it out, and the car ran to 15lbs..(what I modified my stock popoff valve to).. that was the test.... Anyways, the car ran perfect..no pinging..nothing but pure acceleration.. So here is the question..did my knock sensor do its job and turn back the ign timing??? I have heard that you can't run a Z31 turbo motor that high with out an I/C... or any turbo motor for that matter. I ran it on the highway, and did a 4th gear and 5th gear blast, and the motor sounded perfect..went like hell to!!! Now don't worry, I have it turned back now...I was just curious..the heat that is generated at that boost would nulify any serious hp increases (law of diminishing returns) is that correct? I'm just trying to get an understading why my motor did not blow up? BTW I have a greatly increased cooling setup with this conversion, and I didn't notice the temps climbing up very much when I did these tests. BTW 2 I have an I/C on the way..hehehe I want more boost!! Thanks, Scott.

Hey Zspeed I have the same style rear on my 280. I mearly removed the 280 bumper, and filled in the holes and fibreglassed the whole thing smooth. I was a bit concerned about crash protection, but since the car is sooo low..any SUV will hit me in my hatch anyways... To protect myself a little bit though..I did add a 12 point roll cage, as well as lots of additional bracing (which is not considered roll cage..but adds another 16 points). Scott.

Hey guys I have a link here to an article I wrote about my Z31T engine swap into my 1978 280Z. The article is posted at Zdriver.com Check it out http://zdriver.com/articles/full_article.php?ID=65 Thanks. Scott.

A friend and myself went out with a Gtech to try and get a handle on my launching technique. I must say I'm getting better... It seems that launching the car real easy..then mashing the gas is way better (though not as much fun) as burning the tires off the rims. I'm finally starting to get the feel of it now.. Stats you say? oh yea.. the G tech runs.. I averaged a 14.2 @ 102.9mph... certainly much better than my last attempt. I can't wait to get my launches back to where they were last year...It was sooo easy to launch my N/A motor... 1.9 sec 60ft times on street tires with an open diff aren't bad! It is a whole new learning curve.. the car behaves totally different now.. Thanks for the tips, and support! Scott.

Well the conversion so far has been mostly a success. Except for some traction, and launching technique differences from my long N/A L28 past. I had it out and running last night, after yet another new exhaust system put on. The first one has been on less than 2 weeks, and i just was not satisfied with the muffler..it seemed very restrictive...It seems I was right. I had a new exhaust put on with a much better muffler, and ZOWEEEEE! what a difference, and oddly enough, it is quieter than the other system. The car no longer sounds like it is straining to breathe. I still do not have my launch perfected, but that was the point of last night..PRACTICE. It seems launching the car easier..just enough to get the car moving, seems to have a better effect..once it is moving a few feet, then I get on it. It doesn't seem like the perfect way to launch, but at least I'm not sideways with the car till 3rd gear. The car is starting to rack up an impressive kill list (my personal opinion) I have confirmed: Beat my own personal 88zxt auto with 10lbs of boost. repeatedly beat a late modle Mitsubishi Eclipse turbo. and last night...... 1 late model Firehawk. I raced him 4 times. Because of my poor launching abilities at this time, he got 3/4 of a car length on me in first gear...then it was all over..I easily caught him and walked away from him. I talked to the guy after, and he was pretty impressed he was doing near perfect launches, and could not believe how I went by him with just a little 3L V6 ..with a stock turbo..hehehe The faster we went, the faster I was able to pull away from him. It took me hours to relax after that race! Now the car is starting to really show its potential..I am just dying now to get my I/C and my BOV installed...Got Boost? hehehe ZR8ED Retired Weber Warrior Now a Boost lover! Thanks, Scott.

Thanks. I do run 94 octane, and i had added a bottle of 104 octane boost before i left for the track. As far as the ECM is concerned, this turbo motor is stock for now..it only has a larger throttle body, custom exhaust (obviously) and a custom intake piping with a large K&N out front.... oh..and a modified popoff valve, and manual boost controler. The suspension is in good shape, and nothing in that area had changed from last year. as a test when we left the track, I eased the car out into the road, and had no problems getting max boost without using full throttle..and when i did floor it, it kept max boost...it must have been because of wheelspin, and not enough load on the engine to get full boost. Ie like reving the car in neutral..boost guage never goes beyond zero because of no load.. I never had enough time to get any more runs in, cause my mustache bar bushings started to give out, and it was a 3 hour ride home, so pushing the car was out of the question. I'll go out and get some seat time in the car, and see what i can do...I can't wait for the I/C to go in this winter... Thanks, Scott.

Hi guys. I just got back from the track, and man is it ever different launching my turboz compared to when i had the n/a motor. I could launch my n/a Z no problems, and my times are pretty good considering I use street tires... well this same car..with the same tires, with my new turbo motor is a whole new ballgame..my 60ft times are almost 1 second slower this year?!!!! I'm having trouble with wheelspin. Also the car is not reaching max boost in 1 2 or 3rd gears?.. under daily driving, I can hit max boost in all 5 gears...but launching hard, I can't hit max boost..till i shift to 4th..at which point it feels like i'm going to launch into orbit. The car seems fine..it appears i have to relearn my launching technique...could someone help me out with some techinques to get off the line? Thanks, Scott.

Hi folks I was looking up fuel pumps at the local speed shop, and the dude at the counter was only able to find one aftermarket pump for FI cars that was external.. ie inline rated @ 125 psi???? holy crap!! can you even use this with a FI Z? I checked out Summit online...kinda confusing, and very little on specs..ie flow and psi ratings... what are you guys using? Thanks, Scott.

Hey all, I have a q regarding fuel pumps...for FI Z's 1) how much hp will a stock 1st gen FI Z pump handle? 2) what is a good upgrade pump for more flow (primarily for 1st gen turbo conversions? 3)where to order one? Thanks for you help. Scott.

Again I thank all those who replied to my last post about the tire selection/rims. Sooooo I give up... Can anyone tell me where to order custom made rims to my specifications? I know the style I'm after, I just need to custom order the size and offset. Something like a 17x9 and 17x10 with a 2" negative offset (will confirm once the flares are installed) Oh.. and I would need them shipped to Canada, so something in North America would be best. Scott.

Thanks for the replys folks. No, price does not scare me for rims..I'll pay what it takes..it is the tires themselves that are hard to find...In regards to the diameter..I have to becareful not to go too big so as not to kill all my torque, but also i am concerned with fitting them with in the wheel well themselves..even more so considering suspension travel... Oh and Drax...more hp is on tap now....details to follow soon (I hope)

Hi folks.. I've almost given up on rims/tires for my car.... I currently have 16x9 and 16x7 rims on my car...BUT I'm putting on very large fenders/flares, and the rims will sit too far inboard. I've been hunting for other size tires/rims, and am having serious troubles finding combos that are wider than 275's..and smaller than 26' diameter!!! I can find 275+ widths in 15" rims, but they are not rated higher than "S" rated rubber... by the time I find decent rubber, I'm well into 17's and 18" rims.... What are the guys who are running WIDE tires doing? I've got lots of room for tires...but am concerned with getting too large of a diameter, and killing all my torque... current tires are 245/45/16 and 225/50/16. (back/front) anyone got some wide rims for sale? say 10" or better?..wanna trade for some 16" dia rims?.. other ideas?....I've spend many hours at various tire sites, tire rack, etc....and Have no good solution... Thanks Scott.

Hi all..let the questions begin....I finally got my JTR manual, and I've already read every word of it twice... Now they recommend all kinds of different rads, and say the stock rad is not good enough. BUT I dont have a stock rad anymore..I have a 280zxt automatic rad..which is much bigger than even a 280z rad..I had to modify the mounting points a bit to get it to fit in the car..Oh and an electric fan.. So will it work? I'm just doing a fairly mild 350..nothing extreme..I only ask, because this rad is nearly new, and I'd hate to get rid of it for nothing...oh and another thing..I live in the great white north...no desert near me...hehehehe Thanks all Scott.

Thanks for the info... But so far I'm having difficulty finding that type of tranny...Is there anything wrong with the older style 5spds??? I seem to have no real problem locating 84,85,86 and even 87's.. Do they not fit? Are they weak? Poor ratios? Time is still on my side to find the 88+ 5spd, I'm just wondering on other options if I run into trouble... Scott.

I have just recently read somewhere on a web page..can't remember which one which is why I'm asking...That the 280 trans tunnel is a bit bigger than the 240 and offers more choice in the type of tranny that you can fit. Oh and how does a T5 5spd fit in a 280?..tunnel pounding time??? Thanks Scott.

Which will fit under the stock hood? I'm concerend with clearance, and don't want to change or cut my hood. I will be getting an aluminum one..edelbrock seems to be fairly cheap and plentiful... BTW with a 650 holly carb. Scott.

I read in my eariler post a responce that mentioned a "world class T5 from a 88 or newer v8 car 26 spline not the 14 spline" What type of cars might I find this in, and how much should I pay for a used one? I feel like a little kid with these Q's. I know a hell of a lot about Z motors, but near squat about chev stuff. Thanks guys. Scott.

Is this a decent carb? I found one in top shape I can have for $0.00 Man the chevy boys up here are sure friendly! thanks Scott.

It is me again. I knew finding a motor was the easy part. One of my very good friends has a power plant (350) just "laying around" It is fully rebuilt, and was going to go into his firebird till the car got crunched. Anyways..$1500 and it is mine, and he will help me install it. Oh.. it is good for about 300hp, and will run on normal gas..yippie..I like that part. Anyways to my question..I ordered the JTR manual to give it a look over to figure out exactly what I'm going to need, and have to do. Now I saw that they have a "kit" for the Datsun, and was wondering what all is involved with it, and is it worth the $325 US (or about $700 Canadian for me) Oh..and what is a decent tranny to match up with a 350?..needs to be a 5spd..sorry no $$$$$ for a 6 speed me thinks... Ahhhhh all the questions... Hope I don't bug you guys to tears... Thanks Scott. ZR8ED@hotmail.com

Hi all I'm kinda curious about the total costs to do a 327or 350 chev conversion. Including estimates for labour. This project should include the motor with the appropriate parts ie aluminum parts to keep the weight down, and any other parts that make this converion look at least reasonable..(not a show winning engine bay) hp in the 350hp range. The car already has upgraded brakes/suspension, and a full rollcage. This is just to get an idea for $ planning and need the motor to be reliable, but not an all out hp/high rpm race motor. Please email me if you can. I'm new to this site,and don't come by all that often (yet) but am a regular at Z Car Com. Thanks. Scott.