If I get the 280ZX should I....

[TJcars2]

A: Rebuild the L28?

or

B: Do a motor swap?

or even better

C: A + a turbo?

[evildky]

I am a big fan of the L28ET, bolt in, cheap, good potential, whats not to love

[TJcars2]

Is it hard to convert the L28 to turbo because there aren't many L28ET motors layin around down here.

[evildky]

I've bought 3 turbo parts cars and never paid over $450 for one, you can convert your existing L28 to turbo but if you don't know what you are doing you will band you head a lot, and likely spend mroe than buying a complete parts car, you need:exhaust manifoldturbodownpipeoil panwire harrnessecu or stand alonedistributordistributor driveshaftoilpanoil "T"oil lineAFM"J" pipe or i/c and piping

[TJcars2]

Sounds like I would be biting off more then I can chew.....

How much power can I get out of the n/a L28??? Any really good ways to get alot of power n/a?

[DachshundTooAteEZ]

Your limitation is the head design, basically, it's SOHC and thus has rather inconvenient locations for the plug and port shapes, not crossflow etc. Many would use a P90 turbo head for its larger ports (from which you can probably get the greatest HP stats), some would use a later N47 for its flow characteristics, compression... It's all individual and better discussed by people who have played with it more.

Keeping it short here (if you need details, be devoted enough to look them up), for an N/A L28, with some cam and a bit of magic to the stock head, about 300hp is possible, but might still not be adequate for what you actually want to do with the car... This is convenient, because your stock internals will probably deal with no more than 300hp, which is a testament to them.

An engine built race-style is only really good if you actually want to thrash the engine, if you want to be a bit gentler with it, you'll actually wind up faster with a milder build. A 200hp build on the L28 is regarded as more streetable. Think of how quick your Z is even with it's stock horsepower numbers (these cars do a lot with little horsepower) and you'll find that more impressive than it sounds on paper.

You can then proceed to going VERY fast with an L28 by either replacing the head with an aftermarket DOHC, or slapping on a turbo, but those will put you over-budget and not be as driveable or reliable, likely.

If you really want a turbo, find a whole car for cheap.

[evildky]

a good engine build with cam tripples header etc 200 whp is achievable, you can go full bore stroker or high compression race gas only and get up to around 250 whp, and if you get 10 grand I hear robello can get to 300 whp!