I have just recently bought myself a 260Z. So far I am more than happy with the reliability, handling, and looks of my Z. Unfortunately, the 3 speed auto & tired motor combination is making me a bit of an embarassment to the Z world. The other day a jeep wrangler wasted me off a set of traffic lights. After coughing on the jeeps fumes for a while I decided that a bit of work on my Zs powerplant could be in order.

Now I'm a bit in the dark here because I have never driven an old Z in good working order so your advice would be appreciated. Would a mild L motor build up attached to a 5 speed manual give me the kind of performance to deal with your average hondas, commodores (or jeeps dammit!) that I may encounter? When I say mild I'm talking SUs, mild cam headers etc.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not aiming for super low 1/4 mile times or anything. I just want my Z to be quick enough to get some respect on the road dammit!

 

yeah, it won't be a rocket, but it will be pretty quick. Go 240z carbs, extarctors, exhaust, mild cam, ignition, 5 speed and it will be pretty quick, beat most hondas and commodores (probably not v8's though)

Alan, Australia

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I just needed some reassurance that build up would give me the performance I am looking for. I would have hated to go thru the whole motor building process then been disappointed with the result!

Thanks also for the pedal box offer David, but being so far away from you I would probably be better off looking for the same thing locally. Thanks anyway.