[czgo2]

My dad and i have purchased a 260Z and have realized that it was the biggest joke nissan ever made. Nevertheless, we are determined to get this car up to spec. We are wanting to get about 150-170 hp to the rear wheels We are either going to find a 280zx and do an engine swap OR put some SU carbs in and do some head and cam work. What other problems plague the 260 besides the enigine? Which one of the above would you do? Are 280xz engines complete hard to find?

czgo2

 

[Mack]

You must have gotten a crappy 260. It's more powerful than the 240 with no disadvantages other than the 2+2 which was an option. Go with the dome top SU's, cam, maybe a head swap, exhaust, aluminum or lightweight flywheel and electric fan and you've got 180 to the wheels no problem. Probably only run you about $1500.

 

[steve 260z/300zx]

If it is an early 260z and not a 2+2 then you picked up one of the nicest z's possible to buy.

Just curious why you don't think it was a good choice.

 

[240ZIP]

They were only made in one year (1974) in the USA, so parts are hard to find. Hopefully yours is in good shape. In the UK, the 260Z was made a bit longer and was actually a nice car because it didn't have all the emission stuff the US version had.

Some ideas:

1) V8 conversions - $3,000 minimum
2) 2.8L conversion with 5speed - crate motor, SUs, and 280Z/ZX 5speed will run you about $2,000 minimum
3) 2.8L Turbo from a ZXT with 5 speed - $2,000 if can get a nice turbo motor with all the FI and ECU stuff (personally I wouldn't go this route, but many have and like it)

The V8 conversion is not that difficult nor expensive and would give you the maximum bang for the buck. The 2.8L conversion will keep the handling characteristics of the car and is a straight forward conversion.

Remember that when swapping the 4speed for a 5speed, if you don't swap the rear differential, you'll have a doggy car.

All-in-all it's always cheaper to buy someone elses conversion than doing it yourself. I saw a 240Z with a 5sp, 2.8L motor, E31 head, headers, tripple carbs, and Toyota 4x4 brakes selling for around $5K. Oh yeah, the body was rust free and straight. Try and do that yourself for under $8K.

 

[steve 260z/300zx]

Not only was it only made for one year, but there were two quite different versions. The earlt one is basically a late 73 240Z but with a bigger motor and slightly pushed out bumpers. The late 260Z has the bigger 280Z style rubber bumpers. The carbs on the 260Z are best junked in favour of the slightly older dome topped SUs. (sorry Al260).

 

[czgo2]

well to you the truth we have never really drove it yet, we have just been reading through a lot of the forums here and found that no one really likes it much. I am open to your thoughts so could you tell me why you think it is one of the nicest possible z's to buy? It is a early 260 and not 2+2. It sure makes me feel better to here somone likes the 260!

 

[mattz280]

I've been on this board for a long time and I've never gotten the feeling that 260's are bad at all. In fact, they are quite unique. Plus, there will be less competition at car shows ;-).

I don't think you can say something like a 240 is better than a 260 or vice versa, even a late 260. Remember, big bumpers and emissions equipment can be removed, carbs/engines can be changed and when it all comes down to it, a 240/260/280 are basically the same car with a few differences that are not too difficult to change.

 

[David240Z]

With the right plan you will have really nice car at finish line.Check out ebay there is one red hot 260z ,once you will see it you will definetly feel much better about your car

 

[WoZZd]

czgo2,
The 260's aren't a bad car its just that they were a little heavier then the 240's and they had bad carbs. Just switch the carbs for the early domed ones and u got a nice ride. You could even keep the intake manifold, i hard it flows better. I personally have a 72 and hated the bumpers on them so took them off. If it makes any different you could put the early style bumbers on ur 260 and u basically have the same looking car. All up to u, there's much worse cars out there.
cya,

 

[RebelZ]

I own a early 74 260z and I love it. Sure I have thought about parting with it once or twice, but could never make it happen. I 'm glad I did not. My car is a blast to drive and it does look as old as it is. I have changed the exhaust, replaced the distributor and added the GM HEI Ignition mod with 79 280zx and trans from the same car. Again, this car is a blast. I am building a 72 240z and to me it is "torquier" at the low end, but the 260 is definitely stronger at the top. Both are great cars. If I were to have one complaint it would be that their parts are so expensive....

 

[mattz280]

THAT 260.........

The guy with that 260 is in my Z club. He won first prize for 260 modified at Z-fest. Yes, it is a very nice car, but when you see a car in person, you see it's flaws. The paint in the picture looks flawless, and it is nice in real life, but there are some stone chips on the front spoiler. The hood hinges are chromed, which is cool.

However, when I saw it on ebay, the current bid was 4250, but as we know, a top quality bumper-to-bumper Z costs several times that to reproduce.

 

[JimmyNoles]

This is a test. If no photos can be seen, how do I attach? If they do, this is my 260Z

 

[ZZZZZ]

U.S. 260Zs Kick Ass!

I've had a '78 280 and an early '74 260. I WAY preferred the '74. It looks like the 240 on the outside and has the interior of the 280. You can use almost any of the parts from the other first gens-I almost completely rebuilt mine stem to stern, top to bottom and had no problems getting parts except for some foam gaskets for the air ducts (no big deal). I put a set of ZThrapy SUs on it and she ran like a champ. Anybody that says 260s are no good is an idiot. Period.

 

[kelstar]

Re: U.S. 260Zs Kick Ass!

Hey! I had no interest in any of the Z's (I like the early 60's lincolns) but my wife insisted they were one of the most bad-ass cars ever made. I now agree. WE have a early 74 260... got a 5 speed trans and a 280 block, a 260 head, and the dome top carbs... works like a dream (I just finished it up today) and it's fast as ****. I don't know crap about horsepower and all that crap, I did all this in the dirt in my backyard, but I do know what fast as **** means, and our Z is it! That one is her's, now I'm getting one for myself! Any one want a 66 lincoln?

 

[Al 260Z]

260Z Owners Unite!

Way to go guys! Tell 'em like it is!

BTW, don't ever rest your foot on a 240 bumper to tie your shoe. You might bend it!

:-D
Al

 

[zx-ae]

Nothing wrong with the 260Z that not fixable

A 260Z won best of the show at the 2001 MSA nationals. If thats not enough to convince you nothing is. The Carbs and the emission crap is what gives the 260 a bad name the motor is alright. As for finding a 280ZX or 280Z(82-83 motors have a little more power maybe 81 too but I'm not sure) motor they're pretty easy to come by in most places.


Justin T

 

[czgo2]

Re: Nothing wrong with the 260Z that not fixable

i probably should have choosen a better choice of words for my statement about the 260 being a joke but i just kept on reading about the hitachi carbs or "boat anchors" ,but i sure am glad to know that my 260 isn't so bad after all. Thanks for the encouragement all.

czgo2

 

[Ben78Z]

Re: Nothing wrong with the 260Z that not fixable

A Z is a Z. Welcome to the club.

 

[Z-quest RLS30 1/2]

From time to time someone posts a message, such as yours, just to stir the pot.

One of the requirements of owning a 260Z is having a thick skin and a deaf ear. In Nissans evolution of the Fairlady (Zcar), improvements were made through the years. Some improvements have had side affects over the years.

Improvement? - smog equipment: side affect - unhappy people.

Ask a 260Z owner if they have ever had their fuse box catch fire or melt? Or if their thicker body metal rusted sooner. Fodder for thought.

RLS30

 

[Tony D]

Good enough for the world...

Everywhere but north america, they got the 260, non-emissions engine up until the ZX came out in 79.
Problems do not "plague" the 260, and the engine definately is NOT a problem point!
The 260 is an improvement and evolution of the 240. The next logical step in a world of tightening emissions requirments. Take ANY car built in the USA in 1973, or 1974 and you will find that it is the hallmark year of "Problem" cars: Chevy's wouldn't start hot. Ford had the Pinto, and hey, there's always Dodge and their plastic carb. EVERYONE sufferred by governmental mandates inside the USA forcing technology to be put in place outside of the normal project cycle of renewal. Had the US regulators let the emissions requirements go until 1975 instead of having "provisional" requirements for one year, maybe some things would've been more thought-out. Basically what you had in the 260 was the improved wiring system for the coming EFI cars in 1975, but a 73 intake system leaned out to meet stricter emissions standards because the Bosch EFI wasn't ready for introduction yet.
To keep power up near former levels, they stroked the motor to give some more torque, and left it at that until the L28 EFI motor was ready. A compromise, but one the entire world lived with from 74 to 79 (normal cycle life then...) until they got the next generation of vehicle. Only here in North America di we get EFI in 75, and Japan got it in 75/76 on the Fairlady, too. But hey, the Fairlady still had the skinny bumpers in 78, with EFI, what---the best of both worlds!