200+ hp out of a n/a l28e?
10-28-2001, 08:50 PM
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200+ hp out of a n/a l28e?
I guess I'm just wondering..
I found out that I have weak compression in my 3rd cyllinder (running about 70psi instead of about a normal 130 psi as other cyls) due to worn piston rings in my n42 '79 280zx. The engine is old... 22 years and 145k miles.. pretty dirty, its lived most of its life ungaraged and driven on tar/gravel back roads
anyway, this compression problem really sucks.. I'm losing quite a bit of hp, burning oil, and getting a horrible idle (it dies unless I gas-nurse it till its hot). I don't have the bucks to rebuild the engine at a competant machining shop with some good new pistons, a nice crane cam, maybe even the stroker kit jim cook sells for 1800 bucks (!:<!)
.. at least right now.
I know my l28 is not gutless, with a good valve job, machine work, maybe even a port polish.. as well as some nice pistons, cam, a 3.9 rear end, turbo afm, huge k&n intake, 60mm 240sx throttle body, msa 3-2 headers, 2.5 inch exhaust (the last 6 I already have done) my ZX could be pretty quick. But how quick? I'm not one to rely on "box-figures" hp, I prefer actual dynos. I've read a ton on the sbc 350 swap... sounds nice.. but a lot of work, a good 3-4 thousand for 250-300 hp. Not too shabby, but then of course there is structural/frame mods for the increased weight..and if I were to transplant a v8 into a Z it wouldn't be on my 280zx, I'd do it into an early 240 to take advantage of the extremely light weight. I think it would be an adventure to get a z31 turbo or even a l28 turbo to swap.. I could probably get a good l28t with ecu and everything for under 1000.. and then if I were to pull 250 hp I'd have to spend another 2-3k on the turbo/intercooling work. As a high school/college student, I would be ecstatic with more than 200 hp from my l28 n/a if I didn't have to spend more than ~2000 for performance stuff (in addition to what I already have.. I've already spent about 1000). I guess what I'm asking is... has anybody pulled this off? I'm sure people who have transplanted a l28 into a 1gen Z and used triple webs have pulled this off rather easily (I've seen a few of these in the past few months).. but I'd like to keep with the stock fuel injection.. I rather enjoy the programmed precision and gas mileage. If somebody could recommend a competant Z shop (or just a good import engine specialist) in the southwest WA/Portland, OR area I'd appreciate it. I also kinda curious.. who's got the fastest 280zx out there? I must say that I love my zx as a daily driver, I'd like to get a good body mold/paintjob, sound system, redo the interior, and get a gc coilover suspension kit... but that's about 10 grand on a car I bought for 1200 to use as a daily driver while I built up an older Z. Well, I figure I can spend a good 2000 more on engine performance for my daily driver and be quite pleased with the results. Any other ways to get to 200+ hp without a turbo or supercharger that I left out? Thanks for reading my story, hope you enjoyed..
-980
I found out that I have weak compression in my 3rd cyllinder (running about 70psi instead of about a normal 130 psi as other cyls) due to worn piston rings in my n42 '79 280zx. The engine is old... 22 years and 145k miles.. pretty dirty, its lived most of its life ungaraged and driven on tar/gravel back roads
anyway, this compression problem really sucks.. I'm losing quite a bit of hp, burning oil, and getting a horrible idle (it dies unless I gas-nurse it till its hot). I don't have the bucks to rebuild the engine at a competant machining shop with some good new pistons, a nice crane cam, maybe even the stroker kit jim cook sells for 1800 bucks (!:<!)
.. at least right now.
I know my l28 is not gutless, with a good valve job, machine work, maybe even a port polish.. as well as some nice pistons, cam, a 3.9 rear end, turbo afm, huge k&n intake, 60mm 240sx throttle body, msa 3-2 headers, 2.5 inch exhaust (the last 6 I already have done) my ZX could be pretty quick. But how quick? I'm not one to rely on "box-figures" hp, I prefer actual dynos. I've read a ton on the sbc 350 swap... sounds nice.. but a lot of work, a good 3-4 thousand for 250-300 hp. Not too shabby, but then of course there is structural/frame mods for the increased weight..and if I were to transplant a v8 into a Z it wouldn't be on my 280zx, I'd do it into an early 240 to take advantage of the extremely light weight. I think it would be an adventure to get a z31 turbo or even a l28 turbo to swap.. I could probably get a good l28t with ecu and everything for under 1000.. and then if I were to pull 250 hp I'd have to spend another 2-3k on the turbo/intercooling work. As a high school/college student, I would be ecstatic with more than 200 hp from my l28 n/a if I didn't have to spend more than ~2000 for performance stuff (in addition to what I already have.. I've already spent about 1000). I guess what I'm asking is... has anybody pulled this off? I'm sure people who have transplanted a l28 into a 1gen Z and used triple webs have pulled this off rather easily (I've seen a few of these in the past few months).. but I'd like to keep with the stock fuel injection.. I rather enjoy the programmed precision and gas mileage. If somebody could recommend a competant Z shop (or just a good import engine specialist) in the southwest WA/Portland, OR area I'd appreciate it. I also kinda curious.. who's got the fastest 280zx out there? I must say that I love my zx as a daily driver, I'd like to get a good body mold/paintjob, sound system, redo the interior, and get a gc coilover suspension kit... but that's about 10 grand on a car I bought for 1200 to use as a daily driver while I built up an older Z. Well, I figure I can spend a good 2000 more on engine performance for my daily driver and be quite pleased with the results. Any other ways to get to 200+ hp without a turbo or supercharger that I left out? Thanks for reading my story, hope you enjoyed..
-980
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