austinreed21

hey what is the difference between the 1st gen models?
240Z,260Z,280Z,280ZX? what is the difference between each? thanks, o btw which is best for modding, and which is just over all best -thanks

L0ki

the 280ZX isnt first gen, its second gen,

240Z is lighter
260Z more common if you live in aus (very few in USA)
280Z if ur in USA has EFI and more common

Rusty Datsun x 2
1x Bronx Grey 260Z 2+2 (Soon to be blue)

kolts

Also, the 260Z and 280Z were offered in a 2+2 body. They were a fair bit heavier, I think a very early 240Z weighed about 960kg, but my 260Z 2+2 weighs about 1200kg. All of the first gen Z cars had very similar (if not same) structure, so swapping an engines etc is almost the same on any one of em. IMHO for serious modding, the 240Z is the way to go, its light and had a 50 / 50 weight distribution, but stull has enough room in the engine bay for a 'few' engine mods.

Kolts

Perth - Western Australia

austinreed21

EFI or Carbeurated? which is the way to go? i havent had a carbeurated car before- so which is better? also if i went with a say- 1971 240Z body, i could place a 280Z EFI engine in it yes? is this commonly done- is it hard? thanks a ton- also i see some cars that seem to have a different front end than the others- is this a body kit i can purchase? also whats the moste dollar friendly way of getting a car to run ( like buying a 1970 240Z with a good body and suspension, and then also buying a 1975+ 280Z engine? is this the cheapest way to go? hwo much does a conversion cost? thanks)

kolts

I like carbs personally, but if you wanna go with forced induction, EFI is the easier of the two. The enignes are interchangable across the 240Z, 260Z, 280Z and 280ZX. If you really want some ooomph, you could put a 280ZX turbo engine in a 240Z. It isnt hard at all, and has been done a million times before.

The trick with a cost effective Z car project is rust. Its cheaper in the long run to pay a little extra for a car with as little rust as possible, espically on the chassis and rear panels. I paid about $1000 over market price for mine becuase it was pretty free of rust. Finding an engine shouldnt be a problem in the US, just check this forum or others like it, and also your local wrecking yards.

there a few body kits available for first gen Z cars, the most common is a front air dam. I think MSA makes them. hope this helps you out.

Kolts

Perth - Western Australia

L0ki

240Z lightest model was 1024kgs and the weight distribution is 52/48

Rusty Datsun x 2
1x Bronx Grey 260Z 2+2 (Soon to be blue)

zguru

Anything after 1978 you're getting into the bigger body style. The 77 is still a 280z with the lighter body style. Electrically it's a tricky thing if you're throwing in a small block 350.

zstone

L0ki, why do you say 280zx's are second gen, there not that much different from the 280z's, just has more power stuff, and therefore is heavier, the bumpers are different, and the body changed slightly, but i wouldnt say enought to consider them second gen, second gen is the old 300zx's because its a dramatic change, and then again with the newer 300zx's, because its another dramatic change. Just wondering, sory to be a jerk about it, thanks

Zstone

To deny our Z impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human...

hops280zx

zstone,

280ZX's are 2nd gen because the car was mostly a new design with the exception of the drivetrain. Although similar in appearance to the earlier models, the chassis/body unit was completely new. I believe the suspension also has some notable differences.

L0ki

Maybe thats why Datsun called them teh
S30 240z - 280z
S130 280ZX ???

Rusty Datsun x 2
1x Bronx Grey 260Z 2+2 (Soon to be blue)

L0ki

it was for the wider public, i was just helpn u out aux

Rusty Datsun x 2
1x Bronx Grey 260Z 2+2 (Soon to be blue)

Ben

Personally, I'd liken the S130 as closer to the Z31 than the S30 series, in interior, brakes, suspension config, and size/weight.

FWIW

Ben
Adelaide
Sth Australia
IZCC#1902
240Z L31ETT
L28ET MR30 Skyline
FJ20ET DR30 Skyline RS-X

zstone

sory to reply so late, but thanks, I guess your right, never realy thought about it before, and my initial reaction was they were similar, but your right, allot different than they seem at first glance

Thanks,

Zstone

To deny our Z impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human...