> I own an '81 280zx2+2 and am wanting to give
> it a performance boost.If I were to remove
> the pollution devices, what modifications
> would I have to make? Also what are some
> good parts sources? Any info is really
> appreciated.
This may come as a shock but I will advance the idea anyway. Removing or disabling emission control devices will seldom net any gain and often hurt drivability. Many times the ECU on the early Z car has been programmed to compensate for a metered vacuum leak which comes from the EC device. When you disable or remove the device you wind up running rich or you are unable to get a stable idle. An example is the evaporative canister. This would seem to be an innocuous thing to remove. I have seen several Z cars that don't have them. Just to experiment, remove the hose from the gas tank to the canister and leave it open to atmosphere. Now cap off the connections at the manifold. Now go drive your car for a 1/2 a day. Then, reconnect it and see if you can't feel the difference. This is a metered vacuum leak which probably changes your fuel pressure. The ECU expects it, compensates for it. Your ECU is looking for input from all of the system devices that have electrical connectors. Anything that sends no signal could cause a decrease in drivability and performance. The only way around this is to go with a programmable FI/ign system like TECII from Electromotive. You could go with a hi-flow catalytic converter such as those sold by Random Technology. (they have a web site) You might also consider using an earlier Federal Manifold without the EGR. I have one for sale on my website. I wouldn't mess with it until you can honestly say you have gotten every little bit of HP and Torque out of it in the stock configuration.
