Z31 MAF/ECU Swap for N/A non-turbo cars

[datsun40146]

was looking though Hybridz trying to find a way to upgrade my the electronics on my 77' 280z on the cheap. Mega squirt seemed to be overly involved and had too many things that could and do go wrong so I kept looking. Well I stumbled upon the Z31 MAF swap; apparently this can be done for under 200 dollars and gives a GREAT improvement over the stock AFM ect but is only for turbo cars. However I have found one reference to this swap on N/A cars. Here is the link to the thread. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread...ap+N%2F A+car in the thread, Grayzee mentioned that the swap should be possible and then the thread just dies without any further information. I need to know if the wiring is the same compared to the L28et to a non turbo l28. If it is then I can use the sticky for this swap this right? I need either to be told if the instructions in the sticky apply to N/A cars or if the wiring is totally different and how to make it work. If it is different would someone mind posting the differences and how to resolve them so I can continue with the swap. Thanks HybridZ!

[datsun40146]

I've never seen anyone do this on the N/A. The reason it's so easy on the turbo is because the 280zxt & all Z31's use the same ecu plugs. You just have to cut & solder several wires. You will need the entire Z31 n/a ecu wiring & run it to all the sensors for the N/A L28... or at least cut the Z31 ecu plugs & solder them onto the 280zx n/a ecu harness.... which is about 30 wires (fun!).... and don't forget all the wire tracing to match them to the Z31 ecu (more fun!).

 

You WILL need the 82-83 L28ET distributor w/ the VG30 CAS "chopper wheel" as ALL Z31 ecu's use that optical pickup.

 

I think the reason no one has done this for the 280zx n/a is because it would be too time consuming, for little benefit. If you're going to spend all that time rewiring, go megasquirt. The reason I did the Z31T ecu swap, is because it was very simple... cut n splice a couple wires & pop in the new ecu... much less time n money than swapping to Megasquirt, but with less benefit.

 

Well I found this and it kind of shoots down my hopes. I wanted to do this swap because of the increased tunability, but I guess the cons outweigh the pros. Anybody have another opinion on this swap. What does everybody else think of doing this swap to an N/A car?

[award280]

I'm going to be doing this on my '83 NA. I will eventurally be going turbo, but will post the ins and outs of doing it on a NA L28. I think when Nistune is finally released, we will see more advantages for this swap in NAs.

[datsun40146]

I guess the general thought are that this wouldn't be a good idea then?

[nismopick]

I guess the general thought are that this wouldn't be a good idea then?

 

 

Here's another thread that references the n/a swap: http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=116623

 

Another reference of doing an n/a swap: http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?p=686973#post686973

 

It can be done, but it involves tons of rewiring. You will have to cut all the 280zx ecu wires, trace them to where they should go on the Z31 ecu & re-connect them all... It's not a horrible job, just very time consuming compared to other do it yourself stand alone instalations. It's very easy to do on the 280zxt because the ecu connections are the same as the Z31 & the ecu's are programmed similarly.