What are some fairly cheap, yet worthwhile mods to my N/A ZX? I'm looking for the most effective mods without going nuts tearing the engine apart. Basically, bolt on mods that will get me some power. And even though I said I didnt want to tear the engine apart, I would consider a cam swap. I'd like to hear your opinions on using a bigger throttle body, the cone style air intake, and exhaust mods. Now I realize i'm not going to create a monster from my tired old Z, just looking for some nice punch.

BTW, I realize the car was low on power from the factory, so I figure over time my power #'s are most likely lower. It just feels sluggish driving, no real kick in the pants. Only bit of speed I get seems to be in the low/midrange in 2-4th gear.

 

The first mod... using the SEARCH feature here on ZDriver. (hehe... had to say that since this has been asked a billion times before).

Getting more power from the NA:

-Cam
-Header
-Ported intake
-60mm TB
-Turbo w/ NA guts AFM swap
-Hotter coil, bigger SP wires


oh man the list goes on & on. If you're looking for much more than 200hp (stock na is 130-140) you should get an L28ET.

 

NismoPick speaks the truth. First you should have an end-result HP goal, then decide whether you want to stick with NA. Once you get past bolt-ons the power increasing mods get pricey.

My ZX had a bit more punch than the average NA when I bought it.
Mods = Headers, K&N cone intake, stripped off the A/C.

60mm TB was added, but I won't see a difference from that until I slap my reworked head back on.
Port/polish, with larger cam, but that may be getting into more $ than you want to spend, considering my end result will be around 175ish hp.

If sticking with NA you should consider some prep, like rebuilding injectors, rebuild the AFM, replace all vacuum hoses, clean the electrical connections, strip off the A/C, electric fan, etc.

 

Yes that damn search feature on every forum, I figured i'd have some interaction with the forum instead of being a "lurker".

As fun as it would be to do a ZXT swap, I am a high school student, and funds for that kinda thing just arent there. I'm just looking to improve upon my N/A.

About that cam swap, would it be advised to go ahead and rebuild the engine, or could I leave the bottom end and just have the head rebuilt and put in the cam of choice? I want some added power, but I don't want my idle to go to hell, I need to keep my A/C, too damn hot here.

 

You could rebuild the top and leave the bottom end alone. You probably wont net as much hp, but still you'll add some. None of those mods mentioned by Nismopick would take your A/C way. A turbo might, but hey, just drive fast to get the wind in you face. That'll cool ya down

Allen

 

I suppose my end goal would be to have at least 150 for torque and HP. I'm not looking to make a beast at all, so any turbo mods are out of the question. I forgot to mention that I dreadfully have a California model Z, and as far as I've researched that means I have a different emissions setup and probly a Z that started off with less power than most Z's at the time. On top of that it had all the luxury option crap, so I suppose that puts me deeper in the hole.

 

I just ment that if I use too radical of a cam I won't have enough idle for my A/C to be of any use. And yes, most people would think the wind would help, but not in AZ

 

Just do the basics... things that get more AIR and more FUEL into the engine. If you install an a/f gauge you can adjust the a/f mixture by adjusting the AFM & adding a potentiometer to the CHTS.

 

well start with the the coil, header, and intake. then try it. then get more comp ratio. p79 head code, deck .080",add a cam, then go like stink. n/a's are expensive anything past that.

 

Hmm, I see that theres a rising rate fuel pressure regulator available, would that be a decent mod? Would help with fuel at higher rpm's, but I suppose its worthless unless I do mods to the computer and injectors and so forth.

 

not required mod for n/a's doesnt help till way later down the road

 

You're car already has plenty of power, it's just a big fatty!

Make it lose some weight and you'll get the biggest/cheapest performance upgrade there is...


Rod.

 

hey, im a **** broke freshmen college student... got a s30 a l28e and then a whole mess load of turbo parts and am goin to town on assembly... its like... at one time seems like a mistake... but also sooo much fawkin fun, only costin me about 350 in all... well its costed more around 500 but thats cause im wasting alot of money on desired mods not just the neccessary for the turbo swap. but itll be worth it. lol. ive had to get turbo injectors turbo afm turbo ecu turbo efi harness turbo oil pan turbo exhaust mani, turbo, downpipe, and of coarse all new gaskets with all the pats off my motor im gonna paint it got a pallnet fuel rail sitting with DSM injectors for when i get safc got intercooler on teh way since its NA i want colder air to avoid detonation and eventually rebuild it to support much more boost, T fitting for oil supply, gonna need a fuel pump since my dad stole mine, its.... its alot but its fun. and lets just say for all my parts ive got and what i could spend to just turbo it on used parts, compared to the price of buying headers exhaust cam, its the same price.... but its alot of work.

but if your stickin NA... you can get slightly bigger injectors with cam and header and exhaust increase your spark then an SAFC to like tune it a little more.. you could see about 30 hp gain from that i would imagine...

 

I just want a manual trans not an automatic, which every turbo has. I realize you can do the manual tranny swap, but thats too much bs for me to do right now. I'll consider all options and really think about a turbo swap. I guess the question is now, is it easier to swap a manual tranny into a ZXT or swap a ZXT engine into an N/A?

 

um... wha? Who told you all the turbos are auto? Cuz most of them are 5speed.... hence the reason for the Borg Warner TURBO T5 Transmission which is a manual 5speed.

 

tis true what nismo says... ALSO... manual swap is not hard at all... its time consuming but you can knock it out in one day if you got time and patience... all it is is throwin in the clutch/brake pedal assembly... then attathing the slutch master in the engine bay... hooking up the hard line, then attathcing the slave cyliner then remove the auto place in the manual and bolt the slave to the manual bleed the system... and your done.

 

You are right to a degree, but not completely. The '81 Turbo, was the only year they only had autos. Then starting in the '82 turbo, they had both autos, and manuals.

 

I've personally never seen a Turbo ZX with a manual trans. The only ones I can say i've seen are the Z31 Turbos, but of course thats the 300zx.

 

I've personally owned 3 280zx turbos w/ manual transmissions.

Study up holmes:

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z...o/default.aspx

http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/borg.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg-Warner_T-5

 

wikepedia... theres a realiable source... i think ill right all my research papers with it ill pass college writing for sure haha.. im gankin yah... but you can put up almost anything there... soo its cool site as all hell has lots of info... but to much of a risk of it bein fake

 

just drop in an RB and call it a day. =] stock RB25 + S30 = fun.

 

not all of us can get full swaps dropped at our doors for 1500 dollars... yah dirty bastard! lol

 

ha ha u mak eme feel sooooo guilty

 

Well in that case Im going to throw my ZXT on Ebay for $12k because it must be super rare

 

Guess I'm unlucky, I have genuinely never seen a stock manual trans ZXT, I don't know why but damn I'd love to have one. I guess I can hold out for a ZXT someday. I guess I was always under the impression that most ZXT owners swapped their auto trans for a manual. Well call me an idiot I suppose haha. Anyway, good to hear I might some day be able to find a ZXT with a manual tranny thats readily available. You forum guys know these cars much better than me, I really gotta study up. Thought I was doin good by knowin I have a L28 engine haha.