83 280zx carb and intake??? Is it possible???

[Myfirst280zx]

I have an 83 280zx.I need to know if there is any way possible to put an intake and carb on the engine? I had a truck that the engine was formerly Fuel injected but was switched to a carb setup..a little easier since it was a four cylinder and not a straight six SOHC engine. Is there a place that sells a bolt on intake and carb or will I be looking at a ton of fabrication to make an intake??Any help would be appreciated.

[evildky]

your car should have the P79 head (look for the code on the head between the spark plugs for #1 and #2) I don't think the P79 had the rcorrect holes tapped in it for the carb manifod, but I'm nto sure, the P79 is a pretty undesirable head, if it's not tapped for the carb intak manifold you can simply swap in another head, the N42 is a popular option, it's got the same size itnake and exhaust valves as your head but with a smaller combustion chamber gfor higher compression, this should raise your CR by about .5:1

to convert to carbs yiou simply need a set of carbs and intake form any 70-73 Z car, preferrably the 70-71 style, or if you prefer you can runn tripple webbers or delorto's or mikuni or whatever, they can be foudn new but are nto cheap (around $1500) but can be foudn used for around $800, you'll also need to convert to a low pressure fuel pump and you'll need a low pressure fuel pressure regulator to go with it, or you can vconvert to a manual fuel pump if you prefer

[DoctorRobert]

I saw a '79 280zx with one 2-barrel carb at a junk yard. Not exactly sure how it was done, what head, etc. I might ride back out there one day next week and take a look - and some pictures. It allegedly ran and was actually in really good condition. He only wanted 1500 for it. I would love to have it, but instead bought my 300zx.

[AZ-ZBum]

I have an 83 280zx.I need to know if there is any way possible to put an intake and carb on the engine? I had a truck that the engine was formerly Fuel injected but was switched to a carb setup..a little easier since it was a four cylinder and not a straight six SOHC engine. Is there a place that sells a bolt on intake and carb or will I be looking at a ton of fabrication to make an intake??Any help would be appreciated.

Why would you want to go from the fuel injected system to a system that's outdated, gets worse mileage, worse performance, and is temperamental to weather changes?

[Myfirst280zx]

Why would you want to go from the fuel injected system to a system that's outdated, gets worse mileage, worse performance, and is temperamental to weather changes?

To make it easier for me to work on.I could try to learn all the computer gadgets and junk that are on this car, but I have always preferred cars without all the complicated computerized this and computer controlled that.I bought this car originally being told there was nothing wrong with it.I find out now the person COMPLETELY lied their *ss off, but I am determined to keep this car on the road,even if I do have to jerry rigg the piss outta of her! I refuse to be beaten..lol.. I just never have understood why car makers,after the introduction of EFI and Computer Controlled Systems, continue to make cars as difficult to work on as possible (yeah I know most of it is the Almighty Money God..lol).I agree that fuel injected motors get better mileage,perform better and such, but the vast majority of my experience with cars is 60's and 70's muscle cars so that is why I was considering a switch. I was wondering when I first thought of it, if I could just fab an intake that would mount up to both my engine and whatever carb I chose. But then got to wondering if the internal engine pressure alone would be enough to suck fuel to where it needed to go. Just tryin to "Keep it Simple".

[Myfirst280zx]

I saw a '79 280zx with one 2-barrel carb at a junk yard. Not exactly sure how it was done, what head, etc. I might ride back out there one day next week and take a look - and some pictures. It allegedly ran and was actually in really good condition. He only wanted 1500 for it. I would love to have it, but instead bought my 300zx.

If you ever do happen to get pictures of it I would LOVE!! to see them!!From what I am told the 79's were a lot easier to put carbs on than like mine an 83.

[DoctorRobert]

Yeah, I'll try to snap some pictures of it as soon as I get a chance. It's a really nice car... sad to see it in a junk yard. Although the guy isn't parting it out. He wants to sell it whole, but until he does he's just letting it sit and, eventually, rot out there.

I agree with your reasoning for a carb system. I considered the same thing on my '79 when trying to track down an intermittent running problem based in the fuel injection, but never enough to actually attempt doing it. (Never did get it fixed either, so I'm taking care of the 300zx and have the 280zx in storage... for now.) Before I got into Z-cars I worked on '61 - '65 Chevrolet trucks. So, so simple to work on.

[evildky]

Why would you want to go from the fuel injected system to a system that's outdated, gets worse mileage, worse performance, and is temperamental to weather changes?

because the bosche L jetronic system is crap, outdated and gets horrible gas milage! I highly prefer injection as well but the technology for fuel injection has come a long way. To run fuel injection on an L6 either megasquirt or convert to vg electronic's. The stock system sucks .....a lot, and the carbs offer fewer potential points fo failure (at least the su's the webbers etc are of course more complicated).

[Myfirst280zx]

I was thinking something like a quadrajet off a 305 or something like that or a Holley carb.Not 4 webbers.What poor redneck can afford that. .lol.Just like the Pontiac Overhead Cam 6 cylinder with the quadrajet that came in the 67 Pontiac Lemans Sprint 6.That is what I am talking about really, like aftermarket stuff.I know somebody makes one somewhere ( prolly just dreamin, but hey what a nice dream,eh?..lol)..My biggest issue,and reason for the switch, is intermittent ?electrical? problems.My model is the one with all the digital crappery,nice I'm sure in 83..lol...and it will just start stalling out like it is starved for gas or not getting spark, sometimes will die out..sometimes won't.Sometimes you turn the key and..nothing..again and nothing..might start on the first try..might have to try a couple of times.Then again I might be at the light and it will start to run "funny",cut off,strong smell of gas accompanies the not starting, acts like it wants to start but like it is "flooded"(I know EFI, not something you would think of with a EFI vehicle) then after sitting a bit..2-20mins will start up and run like it has not even had a hiccup...lol...So needless to say..it is driving me a bit batty.

[DoctorRobert]

Dude, that is very similar to the problem I had with my '79. You might want to check your Cylinder Head Temperature Sensor. That can cause it to, essentially, flood.

[Myfirst280zx]

At first I thought it had to be electrical,with the key switch,or something along those lines.But then I noticed that the temperature digital readout would just go totally out the second it acted up.And as soon as the car started running fine again, the readout would light back up. My wife has come close to believing that the car is possesed or something.When it first started acting stupid, it was only doing it when she was driving it.It took almost a week, but it did finallly start the running weird stuff with me as well.At times if you jiggle the key switch when it doesn't want to start that that helps.If it is the sensor your talking about causing it thou then I have just been deluding myself..lol..but that's ok Thanks for the heads up on that sensor.I'll be sure to check that out and replace it..hell, what DON'T need replacing on this car..