SilentNight1647 Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I bought a 280ZX off a guy last week and when I bought it he told me it has an L31ET with an Isky cam, 10:1, T3, and a ported P90 head in it. Obviously I was suspicious because high end Z cars don't exactly grow on trees around here, so I just assumed I was getting a stock car and I would use it as a daily driver. But there are a couple of things that are bugging me about it. For starters it has the Non-EGR intake off a 280z, it also came with an intercooler off an NPR truck, as well as a large assortment of electronics from MSD and Jet including one of those old boost timing master boxes. Not to mention the VIN on the dash is from a '81 turbo while the doorpost claims its an early '80. So here I sit with a car that I know little to nothing about and it's bugging the hell out of me. I know there is a no way of knowing exactly what I bought without taking it apart but I really don't feel like it. It just strikes me as odd that someone would spend so much time and effort on a stock L28. So what do you think, something special or stock with bolt-ons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHADY280 Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 well do a comp test, and pull the valve cover, other than that, you gonna have to do the 1/4 to find out. either way it sounds fun.. but why 10.1 cr with a turbo? he did it the funny way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 well why would you think it's something stock with bolt ons if he told you what it had, and left out the bolt ons? Perhaps he assumed that you can see the exterior and didn't need to mention it, but you can't exactly see what's inside, so that's all he told you about. Sounds like you got one hell of a car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentNight1647 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Share Posted December 31, 2007 I don't have my whistle at the moment the track borrowed it, i'll get it back sometime and check the compression. Do you happen to know how Isky marks there cams? The only distinguishing marks on it are E30, Japan, and an A stamped on the back. The turbo doesn't spool hardly any boost so maybe the guy figured high-comp low boost was the way to go, who knows. Anyway I only gave 2k for the car and it's in good shape so even if it is stock I think I got a good deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 the cam is most likely a regrind of the original E30 cam then. Are you sure there isn't a boost leak, or the waste gate isn't lodged open? It should make SOME boost. Especially so, with a 3.1 litre backing it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank280zx Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 shoot pictures they can tell more a A stamp is a stock cam, it should have some 'writing'on the bak mostly with an L followed by a number (4/6 etc) meaning the grind profile.. next to that what kind of headgasket is between there make a picture of teh passangerside of teh head .. a HKS metal unit is very notabable So pics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentNight1647 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Share Posted December 31, 2007 I will try to get some pictures, but I bought the car while I was on leave and I am back in Japan so I will have to have my Dad take them which is going to be interesting. It does spool some boost just not very damn much (like 4psi). The car feels pretty quick has pretty tight suspension I am starting to think it is an ex-track day car maybe thats why the steering wheel is a quick detach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 Lucky...$2k for an already modded Z is damned good. I payed $2k for my daily driver 81ZX and it needed some work. But for as hard as it is to find a good body around here I couldn't complain about the price. Sounds like a fun car. I would check it over for a boost leak somewhere because 4psi doesn't sound like enough for what's pushing it. Even at 10:1 I would have figured 6-8psi at least. If he went with a radical enough cam grind it would bleed off some of the excess compression to keep the boost from blowing the head gasket clean out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 What do the pistons look like when you pull the spark plugs? 10:1 CR and boost sounds like a REALLY bad idea for some reason. The E30 head came on the JDM L20A engines...supposedly 38CC combustion chambers. Never seen any pics of an E30 off an engine though. Sounds cool! You got a deal on that car! OTM BTW a 3.1 with that much compression should be able to spool just about any turbo out there that is smaller than a semi-truck turbo...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 The E30 head came on the JDM L20A engines...supposedly 38CC combustion chambers. The cam itself says E30, which my cam also has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentNight1647 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Share Posted December 31, 2007 Maybe I have a boost issue then I just got off the phone with my brother who is storing the car while I'm away (and evidently driving it too). And he said the thing is barely registering any boost on the gauge but it still has enough snort to turn both tires all the way through first gear and into second and that's with the 10" wide CCWs and Kuhmos off my other ZX. I'll have him pull a plug next time I talk to him, but I think I've got a good idea what the car is capable of I can't wait to get it to the track this spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 *inserts foot into mouth* LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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