Keep the chipmunks out.
Simple 83' 280zx Performance Mods
I have an 83' 280zx and want to know of some easy bolt on performance mods. I have a few right now (cold air intake, drilled and slotted rotors) nothing major. I want to get the most out of my car without compromising fuel economy and integrity of the motor.
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headers. do the z31 maf/ecu mod. get rid of weight. that pretty much it.
This is a fairly common question (and one which I asked when I first got my car in October, 2010), so let me be the first to offer . . .
"Search" is your friend and ours. Please use it. There is a lot of knowledge on this Board that is based on years of driving, building, building, restoring, etc. You will get much more help if your questions are targeted and show you've done your homework. Some members will flame you unmercifully for not "searching" first.
Anyway, welcome!
"Search" is your friend and ours. Please use it. There is a lot of knowledge on this Board that is based on years of driving, building, building, restoring, etc. You will get much more help if your questions are targeted and show you've done your homework. Some members will flame you unmercifully for not "searching" first.
Anyway, welcome!
Or, without research, you will believe false information like Roger there provided about headers being something that offer fast bolt on power.
use search, as suggested.
use search, as suggested.
Thanks for the info guys.
Oh, car already had cold air intake. If you wanted the looks of the cone, super. But if you wanted cold air, you wasted your money.
Do a search on what head-work you need to do as the first thing to increasing power.
Do a search on what head-work you need to do as the first thing to increasing power.
Why would you say that I have wasted my money?
Because, as the first sentence said, your car already had a cold air intake.If you were only shooting for that, then buying another version was a waste.
If you like the look and wanted to pay for that look, then you got what you wished for. A cone shape over the stock shape.
No change in what it does for you, though.
Here is a site that will introduce you to builds and what can be done to start you off.
http://www.datsunzgarage.com/
If you like the look and wanted to pay for that look, then you got what you wished for. A cone shape over the stock shape.
No change in what it does for you, though.
Here is a site that will introduce you to builds and what can be done to start you off.
http://www.datsunzgarage.com/
I wasnt looking to upgrade the cold air intake I was just asking about other mods I could put on the car. I am very interesting in turbocharging the car but have much research to do. Can anyone point me in the right direction on where to start reading about the things I will need to do? Please and thank you!
Use the search feature to start. It's been covered quite a bit and regularly.
Best bet is to find a turbo 280zx and do the swap rather than build up a natural engine.
Best bet is to find a turbo 280zx and do the swap rather than build up a natural engine.
I'm doing a turbo swap (with huge help from another member). If you don't want to go the turbo swap route, check with Palladin, Tony D, and some others that run n/a and have years in the cars, and have seen the snake oil and real.
Well I would like to go the turbo route. What all do I need?
I've prepared a spreadsheet with the various parts the member on here who is helping with mine suggested. I'll try to email that to you tomorrow. It is likely not complete, and is not a complete list prepared for thispurpose, but it will provide some information which will be a start.ghost280zx said:Well I would like to go the turbo route. What all do I need?
We first were going to convert my n/a to a turbo, then he found a good deal on a turbo engine, so I bought that, and will rebuild that engine. Start looking for a turbo engine. I've seen a couple recently on the Board. You might post a WTB and check your local Craigslist.
Remember though, I don't have the experience that many on the Board have, so take my thoughts / comments with that in mind.
Thanks. Any and all help is appreciated!JGW006 said:I've prepared a spreadsheet with the various parts the member on here who is helping with mine suggested. I'll try to email that to you tomorrow. It is likely not complete, and is not a complete list prepared for thispurpose, but it will provide some information which will be a start.ghost280zx said:Well I would like to go the turbo route. What all do I need?
We first were going to convert my n/a to a turbo, then he found a good deal on a turbo engine, so I bought that, and will rebuild that engine. Start looking for a turbo engine. I've seen a couple recently on the Board. You might post a WTB and check your local Craigslist.
Remember though, I don't have the experience that many on the Board have, so take my thoughts / comments with that in mind.
A really good tune up with the best parts(nissan) and a really good valve adjustment is the best mods ever. Make sure timing and its's advance system is working correctly, I bet a lot of advance systems are not working correctly . Why bother moding if it's not in perfect tune? It really is the basis for all mods.(not that your car is in need of a tune up, but it's 28 years old).
So many people want simple mods, but also have posts about there car not running right. Make it runs right and you may not want simple mods.
Also it's a Zcar, drive it like one. Power comes on strong above 3k, so keep the rpm,s up in the power band. A perfectly tuned and runing L motor is a real joy to drive.
So many people want simple mods, but also have posts about there car not running right. Make it runs right and you may not want simple mods.
Also it's a Zcar, drive it like one. Power comes on strong above 3k, so keep the rpm,s up in the power band. A perfectly tuned and runing L motor is a real joy to drive.
I had the engine tuned about a year ago, but the motor has ran like new ever since I got the car even after the tune it wasn't too much of a difference.WI280ZX said:A really good tune up with the best parts(nissan) and a really good valve adjustment is the best mods ever. Make sure timing and its's advance system is working correctly, I bet a lot of advance systems are not working correctly . Why bother moding if it's not in perfect tune? It really is the basis for all mods.(not that your car is in need of a tune up, but it's 28 years old).
So many people want simple mods, but also have posts about there car not running right. Make it runs right and you may not want simple mods.
Also it's a Zcar, drive it like one. Power comes on strong above 3k, so keep the rpm,s up in the power band. A perfectly tuned and running L motor is a real joy to drive.
I do try and drive it like a Zcar for the most part. I don't get on it too often mostly for the fact that it is 28 years old, so I baby it a lot.
Not that the car isn't already a joy to drive, I just want a little more push. My roommate has an 09 Civic SI (with some mods) and I would like to keep up and surpass him.
1985 Honda Civic S 11.1 0-60 18.2 Qtr mile(closest to a 83 I could find). think what the owner of 85 Civic S would have to do to beat your Z.
Look, there are no simple mods to turn your car into a 21st century burner. You could buy a 370Z, that would beat the Civic I guess. Making the engine breath better is always good, but the 79-83 came
with cold air from the factory. The sucking sound is better tho with a cone. A better exhaust is a help, but headers can be a pain to keep leaks away. I doubt they add much without head work for HP.
Maybe a turbo is a simple mod. for you(some would say it is), the sky is almost the limit for HP with a
turbo install depending what you want to do.
You have a really cool car designed in the mid late 70's that hit the market in the fall of 1978. No Civic
has ever been as great looking or legendary as the mighty Z-car. Just make it
run as good as you can and enjoy the ride for what it is. Maybe you find turbo-ing a car simple or head and fuel injection upgrades simple, nothing I know of that is simple adds very much HP.
Look, there are no simple mods to turn your car into a 21st century burner. You could buy a 370Z, that would beat the Civic I guess. Making the engine breath better is always good, but the 79-83 came
with cold air from the factory. The sucking sound is better tho with a cone. A better exhaust is a help, but headers can be a pain to keep leaks away. I doubt they add much without head work for HP.
Maybe a turbo is a simple mod. for you(some would say it is), the sky is almost the limit for HP with a
turbo install depending what you want to do.
You have a really cool car designed in the mid late 70's that hit the market in the fall of 1978. No Civic
has ever been as great looking or legendary as the mighty Z-car. Just make it
run as good as you can and enjoy the ride for what it is. Maybe you find turbo-ing a car simple or head and fuel injection upgrades simple, nothing I know of that is simple adds very much HP.
I got 2 air filters one open one closed, no difference in power or fuel economy. Best upgrade is a tune up with proper maintaince. look for leaks and clean/replace defective parts. there are minute little horsepower things like disconnecting the AC and removal of the catalytic converter and etc. Personally it sucks with no AC and most places want an emition test.
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