I want to go the route of a turbo s30 sometime in the near future... I can find a 280z a lot easier than I can find a 240z (the 280z is right down the street). My question is this: What makes the 280z so much heavier? (2600lbs? vs 2300lbs). By the time I added an FI l28t and a decent transmission, would both cars be similar in weight anyways? Does the 240z make so much better of a baseline car?

Any help is appreciated.

 

In terms of a better baseline car, a 240z blows a 280z away for the simple fact that it weighs much less. A 280 should weight a bit over 2700, if not 2800lbs, while early z's weigh about 2250. (this is what mine weighed in at on Road Atlanta's racing scales). Engine and transmission aren't the big factors in the weight difference. Due to safety regulations being upped as the years passed by, the 280z, 280zx, and 300zx felt the brunt of the changes as more metal was added to the unibody to make it more sturdy in the event of a wreck. The lightest z's are the '69, '70, and early '71 240z's weighing about 2200-2250 (mine's a '70) while the '72 and '73 weighed about 2500-2600lbs. In terms of estimated acceleration and performance during comparisons with other cars, everyone knows that the hp to weight ratio is the most general way of estimation. Chop 400-600 pounds off of a car and you have just allowed yourself to acheive better performance and handling. At one point, the 240z was named one of the top 10 most important cars in shaping automobile history, you decide.

 

I doubt if the 72-73 240 are that much heavier as it's the same body. I think the big weight increase came with the change to the big bumpers and 280Z-style body, beginning with the late-74 260Zs.

Rex

 

Matt,
First of all, the '70 I own weighed in at 2250 with a 3/4 full tank of gas on racing scales with heavy wheels, nothing near 2350. The 260z and 280z body is identical to the 240z except for the rear tailight section, the front turn signals, and the bigger bumpers. These bumpers may weigh around 10lbs more a piece or so, when you say 150lbs due to the bumpers, that is a WAY OVEREXAGGERATION. You also attribute sound deadening material as a big factor in weight, gimme a break. The weight increase lies in the added weight for safety regulations. You must also remember that 240z's could have very well been weighed with the AC still attached also, i know mine was. I dont' get what a cars weight has to do with it being reliable and liveable?? You talk about losing all bumpers, AC, adding headers, lightweight rad, wheels and about how much weight it would detract from the 280 (when I doubt 2550 is feasible) and you neglect to acknowledge that these same measures taken with a 240 would lighten also. Flat out, a 240z is lighter. When you go to the track to see people who know what they're doing, they're mainly racing 240z's and they WIN. Chet Wittel, Eddie Radatz,etc. When you want better handling and more performance per hp, lighter is ALWAYS better. You can't argue that.