'83 280ZX TURBO

[Silviagirl79]

Hello,

Just purchased a good condition 280ZX Turbo. I want to do basic performance mods. What are my options for 3inch exhausts? Do I need to do something custom? Or can I purchase a bolt on kit out there? (Didn't find many aftermarket parts for the 280zx turbo)

Also, is it worth it to run the Iridium plugs or should I just stick with stock?

Can I upgrade the rear differential to say a 3.9 or 4.1 final drive or is this not recommended since the car is a turbo?

I was thinking of just dropping in a K&n air filter, instead of installing a cone filter, due to the heat from the engine it may create.

Nice to meet you all!Priscilla



Modified by Silviagirl79 at 10:00 AM 9/13/2009

Modified by Silviagirl79 at 10:04 AM 9/13/2009dded
Modified by Silviagirl79 at 10:05 AM 9/13/2009

[themadscientist]

Nice choice!

That's an old car. It isn't a glamorous task but you should give it a freshening up.

Check for oil and water leaks, trace and correct.Check the belts and hoses, replace as needed.Flush the cooling system and pop a new thermostat in there.Do a tuneup*plugs*cap and rotor*wires if they look at all suspect*set the idle and timingOil change with a good filter, no Fram.Change the transmission and diff oil and check the output seal and CV boots, replace as needed.Check the brakes, do as needed the following.*check hoses for age, replace if suspect*overhaul master cylinder and calipers if suspect*flush out old fluid and replace, bleed system*turn rotors and replace padsCheck charging system*battery condition, top water if needed*check cables for condition, tighten and replace as needed*is alternator sketchy-lookin? have it tested*have the injectors cleaned, A installed flush is adequate, don't need to pull them.

After that you can do the fun stuff.

[Silviagirl79]

Thanks, yes I plan on doing all that maintenance and freshening up stuff that you do when you buy a new/old car. Thankfully, I am buying it from the originak owner who meticulously took good care of the car, garage kept, etc. Ill post pics tomorrow.

[themadscientist]

That's a very good thing. Half the work you do on a used car is unscrewing what the last guy messed up.

[evildky]

MSA sells I believe a 2>3 exhaust, 3" is kinda a waste with the stock turbo

irridius plugs are a waste of money, stick to standard plugs

I believe all the turbo S130's came with the 3545 diff, ideally you find a clutch type LSD form an 87.5-89 300zx turbo, this comes wiht a 3>7:1 gearing but honestly tned right you don't need the extra mechanical advantage

your air filter is located forward of the firewall, so a cone air filter isn't effected by engine heat, get the cone if you like, it'll flow a bit better thna the drop in filter

if you want to make power get a good boost controller and turn up the boost to 9 psi, and put a pip eplug in place of the popoff valve inb the intake manifold

[S130Z]

correct me if i'm wrong dky, but can't you put in a 85-86 200sx turbo differential? I think it's like 4.11 or something like that.

Congrats on the ZXT

[ravera]

I'm sure you could, but why would you? These L motors create great torque for their size and are happy not revving to the moon. This isn't a little displacement 4, it's ok with the low revs. With a T3, you'll have plenty of spool with the stock 354 and personally I wouldn't go above the 370 on the turbo or TOPS the 390 if you've got a peaky NA motor with a big cam

[evildky]

I think it was the 200sx se with the v6 that got the 4.11 but I could eb wrong, but the gearing isn't needed and a limited slip is far more important and the 200sx all got open diffs

[S130Z]

I wouldn't personally do it, I was just reading a write up on a build, and the person but that diff. in and I guess he said, it's super quick off the line. But I think it pulls enough stock.

[NSR_s30]

Congrats on the purchase.

[kelloggman]

do you have pics of it

[themadscientist]

Yeah, for once the guys are actually asking a girl for pics of the car; how refreshing! I hope it's a two-seater.

[Silviagirl79]

Yeah, it's a two-seater. Ill post pics when I wax it this weekend.

I have a question though, the idle is kinda rough and I notice that in low gears and under 25 mph it hesitates and bucks until I pick up speed. Could this be a fuel issue, or a timing issue?

Also, whats the recommended method of cleaning the injectors without removing them?

Thanks guys,Priscilla

[evildky]

could be a fuel issue, form a rusty tank and a clogged pickup, to a clogged filter, to an ailing pump

as for cleanign injectors, most oil change places offer a service where they bypass your fuel lines and feel pure cleanign into the injectors, it'll still make the car run but smokes liek a freight train

[Silviagirl79]

im going to replace the fuel filter tomorrow, as well as the rubber fuel injector hoses that lead to the filter (they are cracked). regarding the fuel pump can i use a walbro 255 pump? or is it overkill?

also, my transmission is making a clunking noise when i shift, im going to replace the diff fluid with redline synthetic 75w90.

[ravera]

You can use a 255 pump, but at stockish power levels it's way overkill. That pump flows enough for 400hp. You will have rightabouts half that give or take depending on your setup. Your call.

And I would not recommend Synthetic 75W90. Most are GL5 which is not rated for our boxes. The Redline MTL is non synthetic and is not GL5 (GL4). This is rated for yellowed metals in the Z boxes that eventually got switched to stronger stuff. This is why if you use synthetic or GL5 gear lube it will eat up your box.

[Silviagirl79]

thanks, i plan i raising the boost, and pushing about 250hp at the crank when im done with the car.

ok so i should use redline mtl for diff and transmission? (i have an 83 turbo 280zx w/5 speed transmission)

[ravera]

Just MTL for the transmission. The Diff doesn't have yellowed metals so you can pick and choose your preference, unless you've got an LSD, then that governs what you put in.

[Silviagirl79]

thanks, i plan i raising the boost, and pushing about 250hp at the crank when im done with the car.

ok so i should use redline mtl for diff and transmission? (i have an 83 turbo 280zx w/5 speed transmission)

how many quarts does the transmission use?

[ravera]

Do you have the T5? You can tell from the removable bell housing, 4 bolts holding on the shifter, and Borg-Warner plastered on everything.

If so 2 quarts

If not, it's something like 4.21 pints.

[Silviagirl79]

Yes, I have the T5 Borg-Warner.

[Silviagirl79]

How to I set idle and timing on these cars? Timing seems to be off...and idle is pretty rough.

[kelloggman]

im not entirely sure but for the idle theres a screw on the throttle linkagetiming someone else will have to do

[evildky]

the timing you adjust be rotatign the distributor, same as any other distributor fired car, th eidle, can be tricky, there is an adjustment ont he throttle body but idle air should be handled by the aicv, I don't think it was adjustable on the 83 but it's been a while since I've delt wiht a stock one

a rough idle coudl also be a misfire by way of a fouled plug, bad plug wire, cracked distributor cap, bad injector connector, bad injector, bad lifter etc

[pwill]

Timing and idle are controlled by the ECU on this car.

My son just bought one of these (83 ZX Turbo, BW 5 speed transmission, t-top) and we spent a few weeks going thru what you are doing right now. Believe he is keeping it all stock -- at least that is his current plan.

Pull the FSM off the xenon website and run thru the ECCS checklist. We got it running better but still having problems with stumbling / hesitation when cold.

Let me know how it works out for you.Pat

[evildky]

no it's not

the base timing is set at the distributor, advance is handled by the ecu

and the cost start idle is a simple heating element otherwise it's mechanical as I recall

and your stumble might well be a deadsport or maladjusted afm

[Silviagirl79]

I have the Haynes Manual, for 82-83 ZXT timing you dont turn the distributor, the crank angle sensor may need adjustment and its inside the distributor.

[evildky]

I have the Haynes Manual, for 82-83 ZXT timing you dont turn the distributor, the crank angle sensor may need adjustment and its inside the distributor.

lol, stop reading and pop the hood, how do you adjust the cas inside the distributor? by turning the distributor! the 81 model had a crank mounted cas, all other70-89 Z's had their base timing adjusted at the distributor, and all 82-83 turbo, and 84-89 models had the same cas inside the distributor but the shutter wheel on the z31 is different as it's triggered by leading edge instead of trailing edge, trust me on this

[Silviagirl79]

Hi guys,

Car is idling pretty high 1000-1500. I have the digital gauge so I dont know how accurate it is.

Changed distributor cap, plugs, wires. Couldn't get the distributor rotor unscrewed. Whats the best way to get the rotor off?

Still need to change fuel filter, and hoses for inlet/outlet of fuel filter (5/16th fuel injection hose correct??), crankcase ventilation hose and pcv valve and hoses. Hopefully I can get the car running right so I can begin modding it.

Ohh and makes a thudd when i left off the gas.....is this is the diff mount loose?

[evildky]

rotor, just take the bolt off, if it's stuck, cut pry and pull, the steel shaft it's sitting on is a lot tougher than the plastic rotor button

as for the high idle, have you adjusted the tb?