Going Carbs to Fuel Injection?

[Guest Reisman240Z]

My z has a problem with cold starting. I takes a really long time to start it warm it up and actually running well. I can warm my car up for over ten minutes and I still have to fight to keep it from stalling once I get it on the road. I takes at least 20 minutes before it runs nice, and I'm a little impationt to wait so long. I have a duel su set up. I was curious to wether or not switching it to fuel injection will help my problem. I know modern fuel injected cars need little to no warm up to run fine. And I know I can easily find a 280zx to pull whatever parts I need.

 

So what I want to know is will this help me?

How dificult will it be to change over?

Is there any potential for losing or gaining horsepower?

What parts should i get out of the salvage yard and which parts do i want to get from a nother source?

And finally will this help to set my car to be turbo charged sometime down the road?

[JMortensen]

ZX FI sucks. I think it would solve your driveability problem assuming you installed it properly, but it might lose you a few ponies in the process. I'd suggest you look at an aftermarket FI system if you have to go FI, especially if you're thinking of turbocharging in the future. The NA FI system is different than the turbo FI system, and both of them leave a lot to be desired.

 

Your other option is to fix your carbs. Yes, you might have to use the choke when its cold, but tuned properly they shouldn't be a big problem at all, especially in San Diego. It's not like you're in Minnesota or something.

[datsunlover]

That would be my advice too; The SU's are a good carb IMO and I can tell you they will do just fine in the cold, given a proper set-up. I've started mine up in minus 15* C (yup, canadian here) and only had to give it about 5 minuits running on the choke.

 

I also agree that the ZX FI is garbage. Think about it.. it's a 25 year old system! There are quite a few aftermarket systems out there now that would be FAR superior to the ZX's, and most allow you to tune it to exactly what you want/need.

[Guest Reisman240Z]

Okay, ZX fi system sucks. I should have known, since my dad always told me to never buy a fuel injected Z. So if I still feel the need to install fi on my car especially since I plan to turbocharge it later. Where do I start looking for an aftermarket system? That won't be to expensive and still maintain current performance along with giving me the option to turbocharge it one day?

[sonomaz]

Go to this web sight and order a set of these! They are worth every penny. My Z is a 72 with a set of Z-Therapy carbs and it runs great. http://www.ztherapy.com/

 

So a couple of things to know before you just slap on new carbs (or remanufactured in this case).

 

1) your engine needs to be healthy with good compresion in all cylinders and no major oil burning and no flat lobes on the cam shaft.

 

2) your engine needs to be in tune with an operating thermostat (170 or 180 degrees F will work fine). Timing must be acurate and the valve lash adjusted properly. Do a full blown tune up with points, cap, rotor and wires so everything is working.

 

3) Your carbs MUST be tuned properly with the choke cable and linkage adjusted and working.

 

If you get these three things set up, then on a cold morning pull your chock lever all the way back. Keep your foot off the throttle. Your engine should crank several times before a single fire and then light right up to high idle. Wait a half minute or more until you hear it start to flatten out then slowly un choke to keep the motor smooth. After about two minutes you should see the temp needle rise slightly and you are ready to roll!!

 

"Wait" you say My Z is a 73 or 74. Stop I say do nothing until you get the ZTharepy conversion kit to retrofit 72 or earlier carbs. Thats a must. The workst FI on the planet is better than those boat anchors.

 

Good luck!!!