HB280ZT Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 Hi All, This is my first post so be gentle with me. The site is great and I am glad to see how people like to help each other out when they have problems, keep up the great work. I will start with some background information: 1977 280Z with an 82ZX turbo motor and 5-speed. This setup is still using the original 77 wiring harness, computer, distributor and other parts that I am still finding out about. This disaster was installed at Harry’s Z Shop in Miami, Fl., thank god the shop is closed now because my car is really messed up and I would not wish that on anyone else. So here are my questions: 1. Should I upgrade to the 82 computer and wiring harness? 2. What else should I upgrade to make this setup work better then what I currently have? 3. Eventually I want to make more power (300-350 RWHP) and have contacted JWT to that end. But right now they are still on holiday and I have not received anything from them. So what to do? I have found a complete 82-turbo car and the guy wants $500 for the computer, wiring harness, distributor and all of the little parts that go with the harness. What else should I look at doing? Any .02 cents would be appreciated. Thanks! HB280ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 well whats wrong with your car 1st to find out the reason why to upgrade your computer and etc. also welcome to the site.. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HB280ZT Posted January 2, 2004 Author Share Posted January 2, 2004 Thanks for the quick reply. For starts I think the motor is not running at its best with the 77 computer and harness. When I decide to upgrade for more power I think the older setup will only cause me more problems. Not to mention the Z shop that did the work had to jury rig a few items to make them work like the AFM for starts. I am also having problems with vacuum for the car and only the A/C works and not the heat at all and when you try to drive the car in the winter its a PITA!! As for how the car runs I think the only reason it is running halfway decent is because of the MSD 6BTM that I installed to help with the pinging. I am also having problems with the plugs getting fowled. So like I said where to start?? Thanks again for the help. HB280ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Well $500 sounds like a lot for all that--is there any way you can get something else in addition to that or get a lower price? I'm a bit cheap, that's all. Still, you might pay more for all the stuff separately. I would have someone knowledgeable first diagnose the car's issues before making the purchase, but that's me. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 I would buy the whole car if its still running, thats the best way to make sure all that stuff works right. Working with a harness that got cut anywhere is a PITA. JWT will make you swap out to the zxt harness before any of their ecu setups will work. Assuming to get the right components to wire up zxt efi and you paid 500, jwt is another 600 or more before you have anything installed, easily putting you in Haltec, Sds, etc..standalone management range, and 300-??? is a lot easier and safer with the standalone system. I think going standalone is your best bet when I think about it. Look into Sds or Haltec, there is a group buy going on Sds in the non tech forum maybe thats an option for you. I would first tune the car, Ive seen setups like yours that didnt run bad at all, but the owners admitted to them being a little finicky, which is the case most of the time using NA harness for the turbo ap, which I think should work well and its something I have planned for a future car when I finally hook up the Haltec and make my 300+hp!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HB280ZT Posted January 4, 2004 Author Share Posted January 4, 2004 Thanks again for the information. I am not sure if I want to go with a stand alone system or not. I don't like the idea of having to play with the system alot to set it up and to keep it running. I do not have a dyno around to do the tuning that is required with a stand alone system. Also if I went with a stand alone I would probably go with the Mega Squirt system, I am an Electrical Engineer after all!! So, would the factor setup be a place to start from or should I keep the jury rigged NA system? Right now my NA harness is pretty much jury rigged together to make the turbo motor work. My AFM is AFU mostly because the shop had to solder the internal parts together to make the car run, which is running to rich at this time and fouling plugs. As for how much the potentiometer in the AFM has been moved around I am not sure because they never put any reference marks before they moved it. Also what is the difference between the NA and the turbo AFM? I guess it all comes down to what I want to do with the car!! For now i just want it to run good and be dependable and maybe get better then 15-16 MPG. Then maybe a few more pounds of boost Now what is this about JWT making you replace everything to use there systems?? I though from there site, they use the factory wiring with a few mods like MAP vs AFM and reprogram the factor ECU? Let me know if I am way off here? Also any info concerning JWT would be great! So, thanks all for the help! Now I just wish I could find a whole 82ZXT cheap! HB280ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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