Should I convert to a Carb?

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Dec 7, 2011 | 06:20 AM
  #1  
So i'm making my 78 280 into a vintage racer...car is stripped, fuel cell in, roll cage to be installed in a few weeks.

Since the car has been pulled from storage i haven't had it running yet. The injectors were plugged so I ordered new ones.

But I just got to thinking. $400 for injectors?! Maybe I should just convert to a carb set up and strip all the emissions crap out. You know simplify the whole set up. Easier to work on for a shade tree mechanic and his buddies.

Thoughts?
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Dec 7, 2011 | 06:47 AM
  #2  
What about these two options..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Weber-Ca...item41601eac05

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-240Z-...item4cf840cb79
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Dec 7, 2011 | 07:18 AM
  #3  
.....

Quote: and we've discussed the "efi to carb conversion" soooo many times...


And why would you pay $400 for injectors? You know those ebay sellers are price gougers right????
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Dec 7, 2011 | 07:33 AM
  #4  
Six injectors at $40 each and plus new connectors from Oreilly is $300 plus whatever i need along the way will most likely be $400 of stuff.
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Dec 7, 2011 | 07:51 AM
  #5  
#1: You can buy a good used set for probably $50-$100.
#2: There are many fuel injector upgrade options.
#3: Buy a GM or Volvo injector harness from a junk yard ($0-$10). Click: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/showt...t=30516&page=2



#4: It's your car, so do what you want, but I suggest researching. Certainly there will be very minimal gains swapping to SU carbs.
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Dec 12, 2011 | 01:25 PM
  #6  
Quote: So i'm making my 78 280 into a vintage racer...car is stripped, fuel cell in, roll cage to be installed in a few weeks.

Since the car has been pulled from storage i haven't had it running yet. The injectors were plugged so I ordered new ones.

But I just got to thinking. $400 for injectors?! Maybe I should just convert to a carb set up and strip all the emissions crap out. You know simplify the whole set up. Easier to work on for a shade tree mechanic and his buddies.

Thoughts?
You may want to verify the rules & regulations for the vintage race series you intend to run in (if any) before swaping to carbs. Regulations may require period stock fuel system on the engine. Which for 1978 was EFI on a 280Z.
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Feb 7, 2012 | 06:25 PM
  #7  
I have FI issues and have been looking for carbs as well. There's a local guy those same dual webers w/manifold for $150, but I hear nothing but bad things about downdraft carbs on a car that was meant for side draft. I'm thinking of just keeping things simple running SU's, but I'm also tempted to get these dual Mikunis. I found dual Mikuni 44's for $350, but no manifold.

My question is, which is the best set up? I want to spend under $500 for the converstion, maybe a little more if its worth it.
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Feb 8, 2012 | 05:29 PM
  #8  
Quote: I want to spend under $500 for the converstion, maybe a little more if its worth it.
$500 will get you a screaming MegaSquirt EFI setup that is completely tunable...

Hum... old school mediocre carbs, or new tech efi....
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Feb 9, 2012 | 01:57 AM
  #9  
Hey. Nothing against fuel injection. But when I do get an S30 it will be carbed with either doubles or triples. I have always wanted a Z with carbs. And it will be my toy, and never be smogged. Because I will be putting collector plates and insurance on it.
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Feb 9, 2012 | 07:33 AM
  #10  
^^^ I agree that triples (like Weber or Mikuni) are badass, but to say you want to ditch the stock efi and go carb just because you can't get the efi running, will inevitability only lead to more probs / frustration.

Tuning dual / triple carbs is much more time consuming and frustrating than the super-simple Datsun efi...
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Feb 9, 2012 | 08:05 AM
  #11  
^^ Very true! I can't wait to get rid of the carbs out of my 240Z. They're temperamental, hard to tune.....and no one will work on them around here. EFI all the way!
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