280Z motor into 240Z -- SEARCHED

[jdm_master_X]

I'm a complete noob when it comes to the S30 chassis, so bear with me.

I wanted to know the difficulty in swapping a 280Z motor (L28?) into a 240Z. I've searched and I've come up empty. A friend of mine asked me to do the swap and I was trying to find info but to no avail.

Has anybody heard of this swap being done before?

[240sxApocalypse]

Yes its been done before and its a very popular swap. The engine is a le28et that im asuming you want to swap into the car. I was going to do this to my 280z to make it turbo but decided to go the rb20det way. The swap from what I have heard is eazy and the engine has lots of aftermarket support but if you want a cheap swap I like the rb20det its a eazy swap and can be built with eaze.

[jdm_master_X]

wow never knew it.

what are the steps to installing it? simply plug and play assuming i have the 280z harness? so whats the difference between a 280zx and 280z?

[evildky]

all the L6 engines are interchangable any 70-83 motor and or transmission will bolt into any 70-83 model 240z, 260z, 280z or 280zx

as for swapping the 2.8 into the 240z chassis, it's up to you as to if you want to run carbs or injection, some of the 280 cylinder heads lack the mounting holes for the carb intake manifold, I believe the P79 is the only one lacking these holes but I wouldn't bet on it (look on the passanger side between the spark plugs for #1 and #2 at the base of the head and you'll see the cast ID: E31, E88, N42, N47, P79 or P90)

if you choose to run injection you'll have to drill a hole (about 1.5" IIRC) under the clutch master cylinder to route the harness through and then it's only a hadnful of connections to be made

differences in the 280z and 280zx it's just a matter of which blocks, pistons and cylinder head they have, a popular combo si the flat top F54 block (this casting is on the drivers side of the engine kinda below and beside the engine mount for a 2.8 it's either N42 or F54) from an 82-83 280ZX N/A with an N42 cylinder head from a 75-76 280Z, this combo yields a higher compression ratio with good size valves, the 2.4 heads had smaller combustion chambers but smaller valves as well

the RB's are an option but way overpriced IMHO, the rb20 is cheap enough but at a major loss of displacement, the L28ET is what I have and what I recomend, it's 180 hp stock and really easy to make lots more power form, I'm at nearly 300 to the wheel! in a car that origionally had aobut 120 whp!

[jdm_master_X]

damn you answered like all my questions. now it doesnt seem so bad.

im assuming wiring is a breeze as well (assuming these cars had an ECU)?

[evildky]

the 240z was carbed, the late 260z and all the 280z and 280zx's were injected, and all interchangable at least for the N/A's, the wiring is pretty simple, I'll have to look for the wiring on the n/a, but it can't be any more difficult than the turbo which is like 6 wires

[evildky]

and yes they had ecu's, they are mounted on the drivers side kick panel on all years, you'll have to drilla couple holes in the 240 to mount the ecu

[jdm_master_X]

no rewiring necessary?

[Stealth-Z]

Since you started off by saying you are new with the S30's, start with the simple route. Take out the original L24 motor and swap the intake and exhaust setup and accessories onto the L28. Early L28's have a block off plate on the head so the mechanical pump could be mounted. Newer L28 heads, (1977 up I believe) do not have the casting area cut out. You may end up having to use an electric fuel pump. If you do go the electric fuel pump way, get the lower pressure carb version.

Going to a complete 280Z FI system requires a little more than wiring it up. No one mentioned the electric fuel pump. The mechanical fuel pumps mounted on the cylinder head do not provide enough pressure for the fuel injection system.

If you go the FI route you might as well change out the ignition system as well. That eliminates the old distributer point setup. It is separate from the FI controller.

Look at a 280Z factory service manual. All the wiring diagrams are there. Here is a link to some useful wiring info.http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/electrical.htm

[evildky]

if you take a complete ecu and harness form a 280Z you'll have to wire a couple of switched and constant power sources on the passanger side near the fudsible links, inside you'll have to wore to the ignition systema nd convert to the electronic distributor, this wiring varies depending on if you for the 280z or 280zx

but yes in general staying with the carbs is easier, i believe the p79 head was the only one without the fuelpump hole, maybe the n47 I can't remember for sure, but you'll need the fuel pump escentric and bolt from the 240z camshaft to drive the pump

[Stealth-Z]

I just looked at two N47 heads. They both are sealed up around the mechanical fuel pump mounting point.

One is on my 78 280Z, the motor is original. So I would gather to say 1977 280Z ~ 1983 280ZX L28 heads would require an electric fuel pump.

Unless you want to cut out the casting. I have not verified if the Cam even has the lobe to run the mechanical pump.

[az240wanted]

so basically you want the setup that I have?

[cpt jack]

Ive done the swap in to a 240z before and my buddy went with mega squirt for the install but if you suck at wireing as much as i do id go with SU's and get SM needels from a jag. Ztharopy.com sells rebuild kits and things like that and if you had a 240z single point dist. you have nice easily tuneable power, im in the process to do the su swap for my z but yea just though id share...

[DJButton]

Hmm interesting thread, I'll eventually be picking up a 240z chassis and if no one buys my 280 I might swap in the L28E, rather do an RB though, we'll see if I still want another RB car at that point. I love the sound of the stock L28 so much as it is!

[cpt jack]

hey if u want a ecu and COMPLETE WIRE HARNESS AND N42 MANIFOLD WITH EVERY THING YOU WOULD NEED TO DO THE SWAP LET ME KNOW.... AND SORRY FOR EVERY THING BEING IN CAPS MY CAPS KEY IS MESSED UP...