[tydog8]

bought a 76 280Z and was wondering if there is a head that is more of a performance head to look for for that engine....... how to tell??? Where aould hte numbers be located???? Was also thinking about buying a header for it and is there a way to tell if it was a square or round port without removing the manifold????

 

[Caezar75]

P90 is the best used with flat top pistons and shaved .08". If you are staying stock dished pistons for your 76 you should probably just shave your n42. here is a link for the Zgarage head page....this guy knows his stuff. and explains the setups very well. http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/heads.html

have fun, i just got a P90 for my 75, to go with a F54 flattop.


jon

 

[Stingray280zx]

Don't Shave the head, you increase slack in the timing chain and run a greater risk of having your cam jump a tooth and then the @!#$ can hit the fan. Personally, Best thing to do is get Flat top pistons and and N42 head, something like 9.8:1 comp raitio if I am thinking correctly, and I think it is the HKS head gasket that increases comp ratio too. There are a few guys on here who run 89 octane gas with this setup and don't ping.

Emir

 

[1970_240z]

ditto on the flat top idea. no need to mess with the shaved P90. you will get the same or better performance with your N42 and flat-tops.

 

[blake]

when you shave the head you will also shim up the cam towers so there will be no slack in the timing chain, Also a p90 is best because the head design reduces pinging. I have done the "shave" mod and it worked great. Not to say the shaved head is better than using flat top pistons im just saying that it will work and you will not slip a tooth on your timing chain.

 

[Al 260Z]

Bryan Little has long description of shaved P90 process:
http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/z.html

Seems to me the best head is one that you've got, that's flat and w/o cracks, and matches your exhaust manifold (square or round ports). Believe that untill you get into stratospheric realm of Rebello, Sharpe Racing, etc. lots of performance mods are going to influence power a lot more than which head you got.

Beware brass intake seats on early heads. Recommend change to steel.

Good luck!
Al