CasperIV

Yeah I am working on heading toward the "less serious" direction with racing. It started feeling more like work than I would like and now that I have sold off the S2000, MR2, RX-7, etc, I don't have dedicated race vehicles. I jumped completely out of it for a while and only want to go back if it's fun. This car may not be a dedicated racer, but I think you guys are right that I would just end up frustrated and replacing everything else trying to get the adjustments I wanted. Short of 500HP+ at the wheels, the cars just won't feel that fast, so I really like them to handle and brake well (by not fast I'm referring to the fact I generally DD my Ninja 1000 or 636). Thanks for the input.

As the title suggests, I am looking for opinions on which direction I should head with my new Z project. I have been searching and reading other peoples builds as well as the how-to sheets for the coilover conversions. While I feel confident we (me and my friends that do fabrication) can handle the conversion, I like the idea of leaving the car unmodified and using bolt in parts. Since the voices in my head are deadlocked, I want your guys opinions based on my current goals/plans. Sould I go with a bolt in suspension upgrade along the lines of Tokicos and springs (here) or is this something that there is a good chance I would out grow quickly and replace with coilovers? The coilovers I have been looking at are the Arizona Z kit (here). I have been out of the Z world playing with my S2000 for quite a few years and it would seem a lot has changed. It would be helpful if you could provide a little bit of the reasoning/lessons learned that formed your opinion as well. Here's a run down of my build direction: Platform Car: 73 240Z nearly stock (5 speed swapped, rear end seems taller geared than my last 240). Purpose: A performance street car that will be autocrossed (mostly for fun locally). Would also like to do track days if I ever have free time and will probably visit the late night drags for fun with my friends cars. Other near future mods: Looking at the Arizona Z Wilwood 5 lug competition kit front and rear (here), most likely just the 4 piston. Minimum of a roll bar w/ harness bar (a more full cage) and other chassis stiffening improvements. LSD Swap (Not sure which direction I'm heading with this yet). Looking to do the suspension in the very near future (looking to make a decision and order within a month or so). I hadn't driven a fully factory suspension 240Z before and it feels like a tractor to me Once I feel that I like the suspension/brake/chassis setup I will finalize my engine plans.

I must see more about this. The reason I sold my 240Z was because I wanted to make room for an FD3 RX-7. Now that I have got the rotary bug I have been starting to plan out a build for a 20b 240Z... what was your reasoning for not using the 20b? Expense of the motor (since they are about double the price )?

I plan on doing an L28ET swap, but I am having a hard time finding an engine. If I did a NA L28E swap, but installed the turbo fuel pump, can I use it with the NA ECU? I want to put as many parts on as I can for the L28ET swap, so when I get the engine I can just plug as much of it in as I can and cut down on install time. Would this work? It's going into a 71 240Z that already has an electric fuel pump, but has the L24. Any advice would be great. -Casper

Well this engine isn't stock.... it's got the fan swap, carb therepy, headers, the head was swapped, but I don't know what else.... I'm figuring out what is different as I dig into it..... All I know is it is a lot more powerfull then normal, but it's not fast enough..... I need to atleast be able to run better times then the Z32 I had...

I have a 71 240Z that will eventually be swapped to an L28ET, but for now I have to stick with the stock 24. Is there anything I can do to this carb engine setup to get it quick? Right now I'm replacing head gasket and such so it would be a good time to do other engine stuff before I have to put it back together.... Thanks, -Casper

Currently some of us are doing the base work for a west coast rally, and I thought I would see if there were many hybridz on this coast that might be interested. It would be a rally from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico with stops along the way for events and such. Right now the specifics are being locked down, but the planned date is in mid june. Just thought I would ask. If any of you guys are the rally type and think that you might be interested, I can just keep you updated via email on the progress and specifics. -Casper

Thanks! Now, if only there were L28ET's in Oregon I would be set

I *think* that the 5 speed in the car right now is either an early 280Z tranny or out of a 260Z. It's bolted up to my stock engine, and I don't see any mods to the housing. As soon as I have time I'll pull everything and take a look. If I drop an L28ET, on the 5 speed I have now, with the car in stock form (Mines lighter then stock, but this way I can compensate for error), and only simple mods of a BOV and Boost Controller, what can the car run before it will have issues? I'm curious about what times you guys would guess, as well as how much boost I can give before forged pistons, headgaskets, and an intercooler need to be ordered.

Ok, I'm starting from ground one here. Yes, I searched, but I want a live disscussion on these questions. I have been plotting and planning on doing an L28ET swap on my 1971 240Z. The problem is finding an engine near me, and what all will be involved in the swap. I just need some definitive answers from you guys on these questions, so I can know what to expect. Does the L28ET bolt into a 240Z on the stock mounts? Will the drive line match up and handle the new engine/tranny? (I currently have a 5 speed in the car, but I don't know what it was out of) Will the stock 240Z rear end handle to new engine long enough for me to find an LSD? Other then the engine (And all parts associated there with), the wiring harness, and the ECU, what else do I need? (The car currently has an electric fuel pump, but it was on it when I got it and don't know if it is 2 stage or not). Answers would be great, I just keep getting contradictions from people I talk to, and you guys are the most informed on these swaps.

If you get the whole wiring harness, engine, ecu, and tranny, what serious mods are you looking at on an older Z? The wiring harness should have most of the wire needed, shouldn't it?

I'm in oregon......... if I find a Z in a yard it's a mirical

Yeah, I was typing with oily hands Anyway, I think you guys can figure out what I'm talking about.... BTW, my current engine just seized, so I guess I'm going to be working on it in the drive way

I just killed off my current engine, and really need to figure out whats going into the car now. From what I have been reading, the L28ET is a cheap and easy way to go since I can drop it in and not have to modify a whole lot. Is this true, and can you guys point me toward someone who rebuilds L28ET's or can get one? Hurry, I'm having withdrawals from my Z and it's only been dead 2 hours!

This guys a bit dim... I hooked him up with a couple people I knew from twinturbo.net and he still said he didn't get it. He bought the BOV, but doesn't want to install it because he says it might hurt his car..... so he brought it to me, but I'm not going to touch the thing. When he took me for a ride in it the turbo failed to spool when passing a car, and the oil pressure was dropping.... that things gonna blow, and I'm not going to do a thing to it.

I have a friend with a GSX who is going to be installing, or trying to install, a new blow off valve on his car. Are there any good walk throughs I could print off for him? There is no way I am going to help him, because his turbo is about to go out, and if I install the BOV and the turbo goes out, he'll blame me

I have to disagree with the problems on the VG30DE. The VG30DE in my 1990 300ZX never had a problem... even with around 200,000 miles on it, and being taken to redline atleast once a day. The only thing I had against the engine was the weight to power....... I wanted to swap for a VG30DETT. As far as I know, most of the problems with these engines are the peoples faults who break them, not the engine. I know people with Z32's putting around 300,000 miles on the engines without any sort of rebuild.

I'm proud of myself.... I read the whole thread in one sitting

Well, that gives me a bit more confidence in my plans.....

I don't know much about the rear ends in these Z cars (As you can tell), but I want to know if I do an R200 swap into my 71 240Z with an L28ET, if I could leave the R200 and add a RB25DET later...... I know the drive line would be weird, but I think I can find someone to make one.

I am trying to figure out if I grabbed a front clip from a GTS, mounted the RB25DET and it's tranny in my car, setup the drive train, and later decided to drop an RB26DETT into the car, how much trouble I would face matching the RWD tranny to new engine. See, I can get a GTS front clip for $2900 shipped to my door, but it might take me a while to get an RB26DETT to replace the RB25DET that would come with the clip. This way I could have the car up and running, and with plenty of power to keep me happy for the time being...... getting mid to low 12's with the RB25DET should be easy enough and keep me happy for a year or so.