83 280zx exhaust question

[Guest jc280zxt]

Greetings!

I have recently purchased a rust free automatic '83 280zx from California for $150.00. It has a spun motor bearing, a few minor interior flaws, and a poor paint job. My goal is to turn this into a stock looking daily driver (305/4 speed auto) with all accessories working including air and cruise. I have a JTR manual for reference. I have done some research into this (including this site) and have a little clue as to what I am getting into.

My question is about the exhaust manifolds. I have the power rack and pinion on mine and have read about the drivers side steering / header clearance problem. I want to use a stock style manifold if possible. Has anyone tried the ramhorn style as listed in the JTR manual? How about Gen III Camaro manifolds? Any help would be much appreciated! On the headers issue, the shorty headers for an S10 / V8 conversion allows the steering shaft to go between #3 and #5 cylinders. Will these work?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!!!!!!!

[Phantom]

First - use the search engine above to look up all the currently existing documentaion on your subject.

Second - Become buddies with Greimann. He has a sweet 280ZX conversion.

[Guest greimann]

I too have cast manifolds, ram horm on right, and log style #364747 on left with steering box, not rack. Don't rely on the JTR motor mount information, because a ZX can't accept the setback. As far as the S10 header, I can't remember if anyone has tried it. You may be the first!

[labrat]

It's a good thing you want to stick with stock type manifolds, cuz that's pretty much what you're limited too, as far as I have been able to determine. I did a 350 swap with in my 280ZX, and used a center dump ram's horn type manifold on the passenger side, and a rear dump manifold on the driver's side to clear my power steering gearbox. I have the recirculating ball type power steering, so YMMV. You may be able to get away with the center dump on that side too. Find a wrecking yard that will let you exchange parts, and keep swapping them out till you find a good one that you like. It also helps if the dipstick is on the passenger side, as the rear dump manifolds will block it off if it's on the driver's side. There is no milling required with this, or at least on mine there wasn't. Now, If i could just find headers that fit.... Btw, when you build your trans crossmember, be sure to put a "hump" in it where you want your exhaust to route under it, i just used flat stock, and i always scrape my pipe there, it's the lowest point on the car.

 

My $.02

Bill

[Guest jc280zxt]

Thanks Phantom and Labrat for the info. I will look into these.

I never thought about a local junkyard to keep swapping parts to find what I am looking for. I have one I used to deal with alot. I have a 305 already so I will need to check about the dipstick tube.

Thanks again!

[Guest jc280zxt]

Thanks Dave. Your car is awsome!!! I really like the quality of the work. Looks like it came that way.

I was looking at the pictures of you ZX on your web site and noticed how close the steering box is to the manifold. I believe that this will not allow the S-10 headers to work. The #3 tube is pushed out away from the engine to allow the steering rod to pass through. I may be wrong on this though. My brother-in-law has an S-10 with these shorty headers on them. I do not believe these will work at all for me because my steering shaft is at a sharper angle and goes lower in the car. The S-10 steering is up alot higher.

Thanks for the info!!