creating a 240z beast!

[skylinedriver59]

Hey guys whats up!

I just came up on a 73 240z. However It does not run at all so Now I have to decide what I should do with the car? I would like to drop a RB26DETT but dont have that kinda of money, my last project drained me out (300zx N/A to 300zx TT) So im turning to you guy for your advice and sujestions, What is the most economic or affordable project? Which project gives the best results?How much power can you pull out of the L engine?What V8's fit in the car?

[evildky]

well, pretty much any V8 fits the S30 chassis and just abotu all of them have been done, me I'm a fan of the L6, if you spend a few grand building the n/a L6 you can get as much as 300 whp! if your pockets are deep enough, 200 whp wfrom the n/a L6 si much more easily achieved, or you can do the L28ET and have 200 whp pretty much out of the box, and can get near 400 whp before the internals need upgrading! my 71 made 299 whp before the ring lands started letting go (high milage junk yard engine), I'm currently doing a .1" (thats right, not .010, .1) overbore and shooting for 400 whp, it really comes down to what you are comfortable with, you comfortable with domesttic V8's then build one, if you are comfortable with the VG30DETT then slap one of those in (yes it's been done) you comfortablew with turbo rotary, then go ahead and yes thats been done ti, CA's KA's, SR's you name it it's been done, just decide what you are most comfotable with and go from there, I am a fan of the L28ET, best bang for the buck hands down, but it has limitations you have to be comefortable workign with depending on your particular power goals, the stock engine managment sucks, so if you want more than 250 ish whp then you'll need to upgrade to stand alone engien managment, the stock turbo, headgasket, fuel injectros, fuel pump all meet there limit at about the same point, the RB is a nice motor but way overpriced IMHO, the 2JZ is a bargain comparatively and yes thats been done to, the RB also requires come oil pan tweaks not required by much anything else, the VK56 is about the only engine that hasn't been used yet

[skylinedriver59]

thanks thats a lot of info. i would want to obtain a L28ET or an RB however I dont have the deep pockets for a RB and I dont like the Limitations the L28 has. Would you say the V8 has more potential then the L28? How about price wise which one is more economical?

[evildky]

the L28ET is the cheapest, you just gotta find a good donor 81-83 280ZX Turbo, I've bought 3 of them and nto paid mroe than $400 for any of them, that gets you the engine, hanress, ecu and all the bits needed, and you don't have a buch of little itesm to run up the cost as it's still an L6 and just bolts right in, turn the boost up to aobut 9psi and enjoy arouns 200 whp, then you can add an intercooler and turn up the boost to about 15 psi and get to around 150 whp, then you can save up for the big mods all at once, and for engine managment Megasquirt is a real bargain

if however you prefer a domestic V8 the chevy is much more common and easier than ford or dodge, you just have to make some spacers and setback plates to locate the engine fab trans mount, have a driveshaft made etc

JTR (Jags That Run) made a book all about it and you can still buy the book, hybridz.org caters to engine swapped S30's of all variations, but yoiu'll want to do a lot of seearching and reading before asking any questions there

I personally really like and almost did the VG30ET swap, it requires a custom drivers side exhaust manifold but it'l locate the turbo up front where you have tons of room witht he V6

my monster L28ET 2100 lb 240Z

[skylinedriver59]

So I have the 240z with the stock L24 motor and trans, motor has a blown head gasket as well as any other things that happends when an engine sits for a long time? But I found a L28ET just the motor no trans or ecu oh and a bad turbo. So here is my plan Can I get the L28 slap my trans buy a turbo and pick up an ECU from a local junk yard or buy one if I find one on ebay or something?How does that sound and Will that work?

[skylinedriver59]

What kind of ecu you do I need? will any 280z ecu work or only the one of a turbo? Is there an ecu number or code to identify them?

[RagingPanda]

evildyk...can you provide me the link or infos on turning the L28E into 200whp?

[Leegamer]

the L28ET is the cheapest, you just gotta find a good donor 81-83 280ZX Turbo, I've bought 3 of them and nto paid mroe than $400 for any of them, that gets you the engine, hanress, ecu and all the bits needed, and you don't have a buch of little itesm to run up the cost as it's still an L6 and just bolts right in, turn the boost up to aobut 9psi and enjoy arouns 200 whp, then you can add an intercooler and turn up the boost to about 15 psi and get to around 150 whp, then you can save up for the big mods all at once, and for engine managment Megasquirt is a real bargain

if however you prefer a domestic V8 the chevy is much more common and easier than ford or dodge, you just have to make some spacers and setback plates to locate the engine fab trans mount, have a driveshaft made etc

JTR (Jags That Run) made a book all about it and you can still buy the book, hybridz.org caters to engine swapped S30's of all variations, but yoiu'll want to do a lot of seearching and reading before asking any questions there

I personally really like and almost did the VG30ET swap, it requires a custom drivers side exhaust manifold but it'l locate the turbo up front where you have tons of room witht he V6

my monster L28ET 2100 lb 240Z

Wow...that looks badass.

[hbpignosePA]

should probably make sure u clean up any rust before u try for huge HP...

and suspension and brakes.... no sense in having a crazy fast z that will fall apart or get wrapped around a tree

[evildky]

What kind of ecu you do I need? will any 280z ecu work or only the one of a turbo? Is there an ecu number or code to identify them?

you need the correct Harness, ECU, Distributor, AFM form an 81-83 280ZX Turbo, rpeferably the 82-83 as they changed the 81 is a bit unique

[evildky]

evildyk...can you provide me the link or infos on turning the L28E into 200whp?

if you want 200 whp form an n/a L28 you'll want to run tripple side draft carbs or if you prefer injectiron, stand alone ecu, of even z31 ecu conversion, and I've seen one guy do a turbo electronic's conversion, anyhow, a good headergood ignition systemfree flowing mandrel bent exhaustbumpy cam high compression pistonsN42 cylinder head or a P90 mechanical shaved by .80 and then shim the cam back upit's a lto cheaper to make power with a turbo!I got one local bub who made a short stroke 2.8, kept the L24 crank and rods, alsong with custom pistons and a .80 overbore on an L28 block, alson with an E31 head modified to accept larger valves, tripples, headers, crane ignition Nissan motor sports L7 cam and made 186 whp, he has since upgraded to an L9 cam and upped the jets in his carbs, he's confident he's at about 200 whp now we'll find out at the syno day this spring

I have another buddy found a set of old Nissan motorsport high compression dome pistons, on a basic L28 with tripples etc, and make 190whp, that same guy built an L31 stroker and only made 210 whp

the national championship FP 240Z cars are running basically stock L28's but milled for comrpession and tripples etc and are putting down 240 whp! but they are race gas only with CR's int he 14:1 range

[RagingPanda]

wow...i guess you're right. Going L28E-T is probably the cheapest and easiest for making around that power range. The car is currently daily for now so I don't want to get into any engine swap or major overhaul yet. thanks again

[NSR_s30]

I'd definitely go L28ET....or make a N/A monster triple carbs and all like mine will be.

[skylinedriver59]

can some one answer my question more clearly

I found a L28ET just the motor no trans or ecu. So here is my plan Can I get the L28ET slap my trans buy or pick up an ECU from a local junk yard or buy one if I find one on ebay or something?How does that sound and Will that work?

[evildky]

can some one answer my question more clearly

I found a L28ET just the motor no trans or ecu. So here is my plan Can I get the L28ET slap my trans buy or pick up an ECU from a local junk yard or buy one if I find one on ebay or something?How does that sound and Will that work?

you need the correct Harness, ECU, Distributor, AFM form an 81-83 280ZX Turbo, rpeferably the 82-83 as they changed the 81 is a bit unique

yes it will bolt to your trans, other than the trans what part wasn't clear?

[skylinedriver59]

the ecu was the part that was not clear to me, but what your saying is any ecu from a 81-83 280zx turbo? does the trans matter(manual or auto)? OH and my L28ET is of a 81 will it make a difference if I get a ecu and wireharness from an 82-83 280zx turbo?

[skylinedriver59]

I also forgot to ask about the fuel pump? do I have to change it to a 280zx turbo fuel pump or will the stock 240z work?

[hbpignosePA]

i would probably switch it out or get an aftermarket if your going with a boosted motor.... u dont want to run lean with fuel or u can damage/destroy the motor

[DemonZ]

I also forgot to ask about the fuel pump? do I have to change it to a 280zx turbo fuel pump or will the stock 240z work?

the stock fuel pump for the 240Z is a mechanical one on the side of the block, it's built for a carb'd motor, which is extremely low PSI and EFI runs at a much higher PSI... So no, it will not work for a fuel injected engine, much less a turbo motor.

As fot the wiring and ECU, you will need the entire fuel injection wiring harness, ECU, and Mass Airflow.

all the transmissions will bolt up, the bolt patterns are all the same.

[evildky]

what he said on the fuel pump, as for the engine being an 81, 81 used a unique distributor that is hollow and had a crank mounted CAS, 82-83 have the CAS in the distributor, I really am not sure what distributor drivehsaft is in the 81 and if it will work with the 82-83 distributor, the 81 distributor, CAS, harness, and ecu are unique to 81, you can run 82-83 electronic's but you might need the distributor driveshaft and will definitely need the distributor, or maybe you can find the 81 bits but they are rare, there were fewer 81's tahn 82 ro 83 and all 81 turbo's were automatic, if you run 81 distributor, and CAS you'll also need the 81 ECU, if you run 82-83 distributor and harness you'll need an 82-83 ecu from either auto or manual, they are interchangable

I like the MSD high pressure pump from summit, it's like $80 and flows enough fuel for 500 hp, it's a bit noisy but in the S30 chassis everything rattles anyhow

[skylinedriver59]

thanks guys, you have all been helpfull.

Im working on the motor right now, replacing the stock head gasket with a 2mm metal head gasket to be safe since im going to be boosting. im still having trouble with the ecu and harnes i cant seem to find one anywhere. I have looked all over the internet and my local junk yards but I cant seem to find one. Does anyone know where i cant get one or an alternative idea?

[evildky]

I have sold a few of each on ebay, keep your eyes on ebay, and the 2mm HG is kinda a waste ont he stock block, that'll take your 7.3:1 CR and lower it to a hair under 7:1, and the meetal HG is a waste without the ARP headstuds, I was lifting the head before the upgrade, locatring and running 82-83 components wil be much easier than locating the 81 bits

[skylinedriver59]

I want to avoid messing up the head when I start boosting, so how about the 1mm HG? Well I cant find no 81 or 82-83 ecu or harness I guess I have to just keep my eyes open

[evildky]

the 1,, gasket will raise your cr to aobut 7.5:1, this si why it's way easier to find a wrecked donor car, you have an engine and paid whatever amount for it, the electronic's will likely run you another $300 or so, I've bought complete parts cars for that, if you felt brave you could do the Z31 electronic's conversion, or full stand alone

[skylinedriver59]

Well I ended up getting an 82 280zx turbo Harness and ecu, now im trying to get this right. I need to change out my distributor to an 82 as well, now my question is if that is a direct change just by the whole distributor and swap them out? I need to be guided so I could get this correct thanks

[evildky]

yes you will need the 82-83 style distributor to work with the 82-83 harenss and ecu, I am honestly not sure if it will fit to your distributor driveshaft, I've never seen the 81 to know if it uses the same driveshaft as the 82-83 turbo or if it's the same as the n/a's, I'd guess it would match the 82-83 turbo but not for sure, just pull the 81 distributor out and see if the 82-83 will engage the driveshaft, either it will or it won't

[-RJ-]

hate to thread jack, but has anyone ever swapped a ka motor or vq into a s30?

[evildky]

have they been done, yes, the is not worth the effort IMHO, the VQ I think is a great swap but still a bit pricey, the trans linkage seems to be the most dificult part, and the stock injections makes things more difficult but a stand alone solves that issue, there is a guy doing a twin turbo VQ that's just totaly awesome but I'll have to find the link

[evildky]

here ya gohttp://www.vq240z.com-a.googlepages.com/

[-RJ-]

here ya gohttp://www.vq240z.com-a.googlepages.com/

well there goes my hopes and dreams of making a s30 with a vq in it lol. That looks way out of my league of fabrication lolz