I bought a 1977 Datsun 280Z 2+2 for 500 dollars, in pretty good shape. I want to pull the engine (that does run but rough), and build it to push around 350 hp reliably. Does anyone have any advice as to what I should do to it? What parts would you recommend? Please share. I am going to try to keep this thread updated with pictures.

 

To make easy cheap Ponies with these cars these is one simple answer, Turbo.

The easiest way is to find a donor turbo car, use the turbo parts and ECU, or go Megasquirt. If you are looking at 350, definitely will need some type of engine management system, and Megasquirt is very customizable, so you can "tune" your car as you add parts and modify it.
Porting and flowing the heads and intake are very important to pick up hidden horse power.
There are many threads addressing your question already, a heavily talked about subject. Google your questions, and look for Z forum responses, the onsite search engine isn't very robust, and gives to many false positives. Then when you get stumped on a really technical issue one of our experts will chime in.
Trying to get 350 out of an NA motor would be a much more expensive undertaking, and that has been discussed at length also, the negatives and expenses of a hi HP NA build, with all the "stroker" diesel truck crank non-sense thrown in too !

 

Check out your service manual if you don't already have it. Download from XenonS30 May be some help to you as you move ahead. Other good docs there too.

Welcome to ZDriver! We'll be watching for your thread.

 

Thanks! Big help, ill try to keep this thread updated.

 

What about a V8 swap, might be a cheaper & better HP project!!