HB280ZT

I actually just finished down shifting 5th to 4th and getting on the throttle going into turn 14 on VIR full. While in 5th I was not fully into the throttle but at about 4000 rpms at the time. I also was breaking at the time I down shifted so I was doing about 100mph or so, down from over 125. That is when I noticed the big white cloud of smoke. As for how much gas was in the tank about half a tank. I just ordered the Nismo metal gasket and they only make a 2mm now so that is what I got. It should be hear on thursday I hope. That is good to know that the only metal gasket now availible 91mm will work on a basically stock motor. Thanks for the help. Now I just need to finish pulling the head and hope for the best. HB280ZT

Come on guys, anyone here using the 91 mm on there Turbo Z motor?? I am between a rock and a very hard place tring to get my car ready for a track day at VIR next weekend. I need to order a gasket today so that I can have it by friday. So any .02 is greatly appreciated! Thanks HB280ZT

Hi All, Well I blew my felpro head gasket on the back stretch of VIR yesterday. It is amazing what 15 psi, 6000 rpms in 3rd and 4th will do to a car. It was running really well then I got the white cloud of death!! I did manage to get off of the track without putting any fluid down. When I got home I pulled the plugs and found radiator fluid in cylinders 1 and 6. But now the million dollar question is will the 91 mm head gasket work on a stock 82 turbo Z motor?? I know the stock bore is 87 mm but the head gasket at Courtesy Nissan is 91 mm and they are not sure if it will work or not. So what to do?? I need to get this thing to my place by Friday so that I can have the car ready for another track day next weekend. Thanks for the help. HB280ZT

James Thagard will be out of the country until 26 Jan so that is why you have not been able to contact him. So try again in a day or so and you should be good to go. HB280ZT

Thanks for the good catch-can information. Now I still need to know if it is a good idea to pull both the crank case vent line and the valve cover vent line from a single point? HB280ZT

Hi All, Well I did a search and did not really find what I was looking for concerning catch-cans and PCV system. I found them separately but not really together. Here is some background information: 82 ZX turbo motor T3/T04 turbo running 15 psi Intercooler with 2 ¼ lines 8.5 to 1 compression ratio MS&S-extra V3 Stock vent system Good compression test I am getting oil in the intake tube before the turbo; vent line from valve cover comes in before the turbo. From what I can tell it is only a small amount and I think it is only getting there when I am in boost for a time, say playing around or at the track, track days. I was thinking about plugging the current intake PCV point and running an inline PCV and the valve cover vent to a catch-can. From there I would pull vacuum from before the turbo. The catch-can would not be vented to atmosphere like some do, but it would have a drain plug so that I could drain it from time to time. So what do you all think? Will this work? HB280ZT

My PCV is set up in the factor location, i.e. the tube running from the front of the motor to the bottom of the intake manifold. I also have the valve cover vent running into the intake pipe right before the turbo, I have checked this hose and it is clean of all oil. So what now? I did look at the oil feed line to my turbo and it has a diameter of .120 with a 3AN feed line. So I just made a restrictor that changes the diameter to .070. We will see if this changes anything. Also I found that I need a new oil pump so a new one is now on order. Thanks HB280ZT

I am currently running a T3/TO4 turbo on my 77 280Z and I just took the intercooler line off of the turbo and it has oil in it! Also I am getting oil around the outside of the compressor housing. I checked the oil inlet and outlet for a leak but they are both clean. So it looks like I may need to restrict the oil flow? I am running a 3AN braided steel feed line so apparently I am still getting to much oil to the turbo. Oh yea the turbo was reworked and checked by Garrett less then a year ago so it should still be good to go. I also look at my drill bit set and a #52 bit is 0.0635, this should work. Now I just need to plug the fitting and drill it out. So I will be off to the hardware store for a set screw of the correct size to plug my housing fitting. Then drill it out. Now with this restrictor installed will I have to be even more careful about letting the turbo spin down before shutting off the car? What do you all think? HB280ZT

I have an RX-7 oil cooler on my 77 Turbo Z and it works really good. I have ran it on 2 tracks so far, Summit Point and VIR without any problems. As for it cooling the oil to much do not worry. The RX-7 cooler has a built in temp sensor that only opens when the oil hits 180 deg or so. So if the oil is to cold it will not let it flow through the cooler. Also I did modify it a bit by adding 2 10AN fittings in the end tanks so that I can run steel braided lines from the Oil sandwich plate to the cooler. Now the oil pump should be good to go but I have heard that the turbo one from and automatic car runs more pressure or flow, not sure which it is. HB280ZT

Just one thing to remember. You will need to get the bell housing from the 83 280ZX Turbo with the T-5 transmission then you can start looking for a T-5 WC to put in your car. Just my .02! HB280ZT

Tom, Do you by chance have pictures of your install? I have decided to return the Momo pedals to MSA and look into something else. So if anyone has an idea of what to use on or for pedals please let me know. Thanks HB280ZT

I thought the 240Z had a 51mm strut tube and the 280Z had a 56mm strut tube. So that being said they would have to have a different gland nut?? HB280ZT

Ok, here is the dyno information on my 1977 280ZT It is running a stock 82 turbo lower end A stock N42 head with the turbo cam, 8.2 to 1 compression ratio T3/T04 turbo running 15psi of boost from Speed Shop Thagard Aftermarket Supra Intercooler with 2 ¼ “ plumbing 3” mandrel bent exhaust system Pallnet fuel rail with 460cc injectors and Aeromotive RRFPR MSD fuel pump and 3/8 lines 240SX 60mm TB MS&S-extra with MSD Blaster 2 coil and MSD wires 82 turbo 5 speed and 3.90 rear gears RX7 oil cooler I pulled a best of 298.5 rwhp at 5200 rpms and 320 ft# of torque. This was done on a Dynamics Dynamometer. HB280ZT

Yea, building a cart is a great way to learn to weld, or that is what the guy who taught me said and I enjoyed doing it and it did help me out. Something that I found to use as the starting point for a cart was a steel 2 drawer cabinet! That way you can store stuff in the cart where you really need it. Just a thought! HB280ZT

To answer your question about the floor supports. I just used a spot weld remover and cut the spot welds out from the inside of the car. That way you just need to drill holes in the new floor pan in about the same locations as the floor supports and weld them up. Also you will need to remove the seat supports and weld them back in. Remember to use the seat rail as a guide to make sure they are put in about the correct location. As for price to do it!! Boy it took me many, many and many more hours to put floor pans and frame rails in my car, so no idea there, sorry. HB280ZT

I also second the big compessor, 5hp 60 gal. I also like the 220V units over the 110V. The one that I have has been with me for about 15 years now with no problems and I can do pretty much anything I want to do from running all tools to a paint sprayer, even a sandblast booth. HB280ZT

Well All, I purchased the MOMO pedal set from MSA: http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/LNP1/50-3924 Now my question is has anyone tried these? The reason that ask is because I was looking at installing the pedals but the gas pedal is nice and straight but the pedal has a nice curve to it. Also the mounting instructions tell you to drill holes in the middle through the pedal. Well the backing rod is also located in the center of the pedal so what to do? Thanks HB280ZT

My FSM for my 77 280Z says 181 to 239 foot pounds of torque! Hope this helps HB280ZT

At a minimum I would pull it apart and replace the gaskets and seals and why I was there I would give everything a good once over to make sure it was in good shape. As for rings if they are not gumed up then they should be good to go. And I would at least prelube all of the parts so that when I get ready to start it up there is no metal on metal rubbing. This is what I plan on doing with the corvette LT1 motor I have in, when I am ready to use it. Just my .02!! HB280ZT

Thanks for the information. Will have to ask when I get around to getting sometype of camber plate. HB280ZT

Ok, this is great information but the million dollar question is who is making a bushing that is 5/8 to 14mm?? HB280ZT

Hi All, Sorry about resurrecting a very old post but it brings up a question that I have. I have been looking for a good quality wheel bearing grease to replace the Kendall Super Blu that I have used for so long and can no longer get here in VA. I have tried several other greases without much success. Here is what I have tried so far that I can remember, or still have sitting around: Valvoline Synthetic – no joy Mobil 1 Synthetic – no joy Lucas Heavy duty grease – no joy either The one that I am currently using is Amsoil Series 2000 Synthetic Racing Grease, NLGI #2, GC/LB (GRG), however I am not pleased with it either. I packed my wheel bearings about 2 weeks ago and have about 600 mile on the car to include 120 miles of hard use at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). But now when I check the bearings most of the grease is no longer in the bearings and the grease is starting to turn black around the bearings. Oh yea the grease starts off the color and consistency of pureed bananas, just so you know! So my question is what to try now?? I have tried hand packing the grease and to use a grease gun and packing tool and they work about the same, just one is cleaner then the other. So what to try next?? Thanks for your help. HB280ZT

I have my exhaust manifold, turbo and downpipe Jet hot coated and love them. They look good and do keep the underhood temperature down some. HB280ZT

I second 81na XZ and make sure whatever you get it is SFI 16.1 rated. I have 5 point G-Force belts and they are great! HB280ZT

ezzzzz, Thanks for the information. The only problem is that I need to have the bumpers dechromed so that when I am finished welding up the holes I can have the bumpers powder coated. He gave me information on 2 companies in the Hampton Roads, Va area and it looks like it will cost me about $250 or so to have both bumpers dechromed! Thanks for the help. HB280ZT