jmead

I've got a 1976 280z w/ auto transmission Since I installed my upgraded throttle body (60mm 240sx), I've been having a problem. Sometimes the car "pops" a little bit, you can feel it very clearly in the gas pedal, and my girlfriend said she could feel it from the passenger side, too. It used to just happen once when you pressed the pedal hard from a stop, but now it seems to do it all the time under 30mph, even with the slightest acceleration. When it happens, the car lurches a little bit, and acceleration isn't even close to what it normally is. In addition, since this started happening, the car has also been stalling. The tach jumps up to 3500-4000, flutters around a little bit, along with a loss of power, and once the car slows it just shuts down completely. Normally if you re-start the car its fine, but on my way home it happened several times, when it normally wouldn't. Does anyone have any ideas? It’s to the point where I can't even drive my car now, so I'd really like to get it back into tip-top shape. Thanks for any help.

then you would have a 280zx n/a with a turbo bolted to it it would probably work, but the compression ratio would be a little high. I wouldn't expect the engine to last too long

I've got a MSA-style cold air intake tube coming from eBay minus a filter. I decided I'd rather have a true K&N rather than the "K&N-style" filter it was listed with. I was wondering what size/shape k&n filter I should get in order to maximize filter size yet minimize the chance of it rubbing on the body or just not fitting entirely. I will probably order this from summit, but if anyone else has any recommendations on a better place to buy K&N filters that would be great too.

I'd like to switch from my stock airbox to a K&N CAI. I know MSA sells kits for ~100, but I noticed summit sells universal K&N cone filters for around $40 each. As long as I can find the elbow I need for under $60 I'll still come out on top here. I just need to know where to get an elbow that will fit, or at least the dimensions so I can find one that is pretty close to what MSA sells. I plan on installing a 60mm throttle body as soon as my spacer comes in, and I think this would be a good time to upgrade the rest of the intake. Thanks for any help

I've got a 76 280z and I'd like to go with a pertronix optical igntion. In their applicationg guide, all I see listed is the 240z points style. Which model do I want for a 76 280?

If you look down a few posts you'll see exactly why I'm replacing my heater hoses, but now I need to know what size. I plan on placing an order to summit (unless someone reccomends somewhere else). I plan on replacing the hoses running from the engine to the firewall, and from the firewall to the heater core. What size hose do I need to replace the ones currently on the car (I'm not at home otherwise I'd check), and is there any specific brand I should buy? Do I need the braided heater hose for inside the compartment, or should I just use rubber for both sets? Also, if anyone has any reccomendations for other little things to throw into my order I'm game. I'll be paying shipping anyhow so in the long run I'd save a little bit over needing to place a second order later for whatever I left out this time. Thanks

Well, driving down the road, foot on the accelerator, at about 5000rpms I hear a loud pop and a hiss, followed by a massive amount of smoke puring in through the heating ducts and up the whindshield. A few seconds later I also hear the sound of hot coolant being shot into the passenger side of the cabin, and trickeling down the passenger seat (luckily I was alone in the car at the time). I was just a few seconds from home so I rolled down the window and stuck my head out just enough to see my way into the garage where I quickly shut of the car and prayed that once the smoke cleared the temperature needle won't have melted. Since I couldn't see anything I'm not sure how hot the engine got, but it was only a few seconds so I'm pretty sure there isn't any damage other than the coolant-soaked interior and a burst heater core. All this is really beside the point..what I'm really asking is if my temporary fix will do the job for now, before I start it, or if it could cause any more damage. My plan is to take the two hoses off where the pass through the firewall to the heatercore, and basically just bypass the problem area by routing them together. This way the coolant meant for the heater will just flow right back into the engine. Is this going to cause any problems? I haven't joined the hoses yet, or started it, I just wanted to check here first. If my thinking is correct, the heater core isn't really needed for anything, and routing the coolant back into the engine will barely make any difference then it going through the core, since it isn't a critical cooling component or anything. Thanks for any input....I hope to have my car back on the road ASAP. And since its getting to be summer, I didn't really need the heater anyway.

I've just got a quick question. I found someone selling a few 5spds from 80 280zx's, and would like to know if one would bolt up to my l28. I've got an auto right now, and really want to make the swap, I'm just not sure if it would work. Also, he's asking $200 + shipping, this sound like a good deal? I think the price is right but I'm not sure what one would normally go for. Thanks for any input.

it seems like a good idea, if you're planning on keeping the water circuit seperate from the main cooling lines. However, keep in mind the lowest the system could possible run would be ambient temperature, and even if that was achieved the results would probably be minimal. A fuel cooler like above would probably work just as well, but again, would likely have little effect.

Remove the whole console? Cutting? ...I don't like the sounds of that. Any ideas on how I actually get at it? ie, like where the screws I have to remove are. I guess I'm gonna go down to the garage and see what I'm dealing with. Thanks for the info, and keep any more you've got coming!

I'm pretty new to the Z stuff, just got my 280 a week ago and haven't messed with it yet other than fixing a few small electrical problems. I've decided the first thing to go is the stock stereo. I'm thinking about putting some 6x9's (pioneer?) in the compartments directly behind each seat, along with an amp behind the passenger seat for now. I've never done a stereo install before, but I really don't like the thought of having some guy at circuit city screwing around with my Z, so I think its best if I do the install myself. I looked around under the dash and realized I have no idea how to get the stock stereo out to replace with my CD player. Is it just held in by a few screws in the back? If so, how do I get to them? Or is it a little more complicated then that? I think I can handle all the wiring and everything, I just need a little help with exactly how to go about swapping out the HU. Thanks for any input

OK, thanks for all the replies guys! Sounds like I should be OK. Update though, not getting the ZX like I had intended....but there is a sweet blue 280z that is looking like it might be parked in my garage in a few weeks...with some luck

damn...that is one NICE LOOKING CAR

Basically, I'm 6'4, but only like 170lbs. Planning on getting a Z car of some sort, but before I do I guess it would be wise to make sure I can fit. I'd just like to know the opinions of any other tall guys here, how much headroom, leg room, how far back do you put the seat back, etc. Also, is any one Z better suited than another for somebody tall? ie, 240z seats go back an extra inch or something like that. Thanks for any input!

Alright, makes sense. Will the ZX require any custom fabrication or anything not specifically mentioned in the JTR (I don't have my copy yet)? And I understand the weight distribution consequences of the engine being more forward, does this really make a noticable difference? I could pretty much even it back out with a trunk mounted battery, couldn't I? Thanks for the reply, I don't think the engine placement will be enough to deter me from buying the 280zx, unless there is anything else I should know about, that is.

I'm planning on picking up a 1982 280zx I found. Stock motor, 112k, manual, brown paint (color's gonna hafta change..). Anyhow, I decided it would probably be best to first just get a Z, make it look nice and get to know it, and then in a few months/whenever swap in a chevy 350 or 400 instead of just buying one that has already been converted. I was reading around here and I think I remember seeing someone say that the 280zx would cause some problems with the swap, and that an older model would be a simpler conversion. Is this true? Is there any reason I should hold off on my Z-car purchase for now and wait until I find a similar 280Z? Thanks for any input..don't want to bid and find out I'm just causing problems for myself in the future.

you bastard, you're the one that bought that car before I could, aren't you! The blue one with white stripes? Oh well, very nice car, really wish I had gotten to it first. I agree with the others, 8.5 seems like it was designed for forced induction, but fitting in under the hood is going to be a challenge. Maybe just changing the N/A compression ratio is a better idea, building up the engine a little bit without adding a supercharger. Or, you could just sell it to me....