Ratfink's 260ZT Build Thread
 

Okay. Everyone knows I have a 2+2 260Z.

I recently got a complete and running 1981 280ZXT. I am taking the engine harness, and a few other parts from the 280ZXT and swapping them into the 260Z..

Pretty basic swap. Going to part out the 280ZXT. Would like to keep the body intact, and rolling. Everything else can go. Send PM's if there is something you want along with what you think it's worth.

Going to be selling my DCOE 40 Triple setup too. Same- PM me. I have not set a price. Want to rebuild them first, to insure everything is good before selling.

This will be my build thread. Please don't thread jack yet. I will be taking pictures of everything while I do it. When I get a chance to load pictures online, I will do that.

i have a carb blow through setup if you want to buy..one webber needs to new top piece. fyi

hmmm.... i feel like jacking this thread, BLAH BLAH BLAH i can piss REALLY far blah blah blah.



haha, start out with swapping over the full drive train, that should take a day to do if you work fast enough (gotta love simple cars) then we can talk about the wiring. its alos VERY easy, a bit confusing the first few times looking at it though. clean up the engine bay and engine once you gut both cars, its what i would do, spray the block and pan down to clean em up then paint them since its the only opportunity you will have to do it good. and if you want while your at it, drop the engine cradle with the steerring column, clean and paint those replace their bushing cause its also the only time you'll have for that. are you swapping rear ends by chance? if so when you drop all that spray them and get new bushings to (poly=urethane ftw!) and you can do the rest of the stuff (really just the struts and control arms and sway bars) later, like when you go to upgrade them! i got a sticky made up for some good pics if you want in the how-to section.

Everything will be cleaned BEFORE going together. Just a pet peeve.
Everything not needed is already being stripped off. Wiring looks like a cake walk. I made the current chassis harness that is in the 260Z now. Just rigging the power supply up to the 280ZXT fuel management system will be easy. Nice to have the complete harness for the L28ET. I will OHM everything out before the swap to make sure the harness is in perfect condition, then replace what is needed with new high quality CAT wiring, and solder/heat shrink everything.

I read a lot on here, and I am getting pretty good with the search function.

I'll come to you guys if there is something I can't find.

One thing. The 260Z 2+2 comes with the long nose R200 rear end. That would make me beleive that swapping in the other componants from the 280ZXT would be pretty straight forward. Meaning rear discs for me. But, I must be searching wrong because I can't find where a 280ZXT rear suspension/brakes/rear end was swapped into a 260Z.

because zx suspension cant swap over on a s30 without mods. if you want rear brakes either have to get bracket for the caliper and get zx rotors. (or get wilwood setup) different design on the suspension buddy so really only drivetrain that can swap over. i forgot what gearing your 260 came with but the zxt came with 3.54 gearing.

cool. I was too busy playing with the engine to go back and check it out well with the rear lifted. Think I will keep the spare R200 though. Will be keeping starter, alternator for spares too. I'll hold onto the calipers, and discs too then. Saying I just need a hanger for them?

if you can find a older maxima in your jy you can snab the rear bracket that holds their calipers. or you can buy from a supplier. but brackets you will find will accept a 240sx rear caliper hugging on a zx rotor

There are never any older Maximas in my salvage yards. I was waiting for one for a long time with the head I wanted.

I will have to get them ordered through the salvage yard I go to, or see if I can get them at work with CSK/O'Reilly.

Well. Engine is in, and running much better. Having problems with crappy injectors, but I will replace them as soon as possible. until then, only 4lbs of boost, and a 5k limiter in my MSD6al. =(


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/DSC03869.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/DSC03884.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/DSC03883.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3/DSC03882.jpg

Would post more, but I am limited on time.

Awesome! I love my 6-AL.

My 6AL has been through 4 vehicles, sold to a friend, and bought back over the period of like 5 years. It's awesome.

good stuff. that was pretty quick.

yup, quick fo sho, you didnt even really up date us lol. so.... whats it doing wrong now? or was it doing wrong? or both?

Thats one sharp looking 2+2! Love the color.:023:

Thanks!

Sorry, no time for an update while a guy is wrenching. Swapped it in a day. Probably 10 hours for the total swap. Most of it cleaning under the hood of the 260Z.

The regulator is bypassing at 35psi. Pretty low. I am ordering one that I can set manually. Then I should be fine. It's leaning out at higher RPMs and stops at 4.5 psi of boost. I am not driving it untill I get that replaced. Lean running is not my favorite thing to do.

That was the easiest swap I have ever done. Beats swapping the 17 ton engines that I did at work in the Haul trucks. lol..

Wiring was a breeze too. Made my day. :icon_super:

wow you're my god. if only you knew how much i've been working on my first engine swap into my 260Z trying to put that T onto the end of i: sweet mother of science. i worship you. PLEASE put more pictures!! if you could of the right side of the engine bay, under the turbo, and under your steering wheel, and maybe a dozen more of the engine bay <3 :038::038::038::038:

I will do that in the daylight. There are some finishing touches I want to make. Like get rid of all that stupid vacuum crap on the intake manifold.

What are you having troubles with on the swap?
Thought it was pretty straight forward.

Hey a quick question for your swap, mainly on the wiring. Did you just swap the L28ET and the EFI harness for it? I'm curious if you need any of the ignition harness or not. Did you use a writeup or anything. If all goes as planned in the next few weeks I should finally be able to get my swap going.

I kinda used a writeup that was linked to hybridz. But, I used the L28ET ECU and engine harness. Ran my fuel on the previous circuit I created when I built the cars wiring harness. My car was incredibly simple with the swap because of the way I had my wiring harness in my Z to begin with. I created it, so I knew what was what.

makes sense. I'll have to look for some writeups. Overall it doesn't sound hard. Basically for the most part the ECU's harness just connected to a switched, and constant power.

thats like half it ^^^

That's the most of it really. It's pretty dang easy.

A little soldering, and heat shrink, and it's all gravy.

The hardest thing in the swap was upgrading my fuel system, but I was installing a fuel cell too.

i'll probably be installing a fuel cell in my Z when i get it. errr.... did i just let something slip? woops...

Bout time you own a Z again... Should have banned you for non-ownership of a z. lolz

Update.

Bought a T3/T4 50 trim Garrett for $100, new. Friends are good that way.
Nice little upgrade. It's a tight squeeze, but I will make it work. Just found an internal wastegate and flange for it so I can get the exhaust figured out.

New upper end gaskets. Port matched intake and exhaust, and removed shrouding around the valves. Polished exhaust, and valve faces. Lapped valves, and replaced seals. Will get some pictures on here soon. I am taking lot's of em, just not so easy for me to post them.

Now I need injectors, a couple sensors, and Megasquirt II. FMIC, and tires.
This is a budget build and a half. Not skimping much, just taking a lot of time and work on my part. Shops take money and fun out of projects.