Top Speed?
06-02-2005, 09:48 PM
#1
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Top Speed?
Y'all probably already got this question, but what is the top speed of a turbo 280zx? It is completely stock, previous owner said the engine was rebuilt seven thousand miles ago along with transmission, or so he says. I guess he's telling the truth because the car has 212,000 miles on it and the motor doesn't feel like it has 212,000 miles on it. I bought the car about two months ago and love it! Nothing has gone wrong yet, and being the only kid in highschool who has a car like this is pretty cool. Is $2300 bad for a 1982 turbo 280zx? one small rust spot that will be repaired soon, no dents. Back to the subject. All I know is the car will go at least 85 mph because that's all the speedo goes to. The car has a three-speed automatic. I've gotten it up to 6,000 rpm going down the road and figured that is about tops for the car. After 6,000 rpm, the temp started to slowly rise. What is the stock psi on this turbo? thanks for any answers.
06-02-2005, 09:54 PM
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I have an 81 NA with a four speed manual and my speedo also only says 85. But I wanted to see how fast it would really go so I followed my brother in my ZX2, and he topped it out at 105 and kept right on going past him. So I know mine would atleast go 105. Don't know about that automatic though. How fast were you going at 6000?
$2300 ain't bad if the engine and trans were really only 7,000 miles old since a rebuild, and no body damage. F actual mileage, it depends on how well the car was taken care of. I'd say you got a good price.
$2300 ain't bad if the engine and trans were really only 7,000 miles old since a rebuild, and no body damage. F actual mileage, it depends on how well the car was taken care of. I'd say you got a good price.
06-02-2005, 10:03 PM
#3
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The guy who owned the car babied it around and only rebuilt the motor and transmission because people told him that 200,000 miles was the rebuilding point for a motor. It's good to know that it will go at least 105, hopefully mine will go at least that. I have a friend with a '01 toyota camry w/a 5-speed and she said it topped at 120, and over a 60-mile trip over interstate highway I was easily pulling away from her, but I don't know if she was going all out or just making me feel better by letting me outrun her. I know in acceleration, she's no race, but top may be a different story.
06-02-2005, 10:11 PM
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I don't think these cars had govenors in them, judging by the fact that I far exceeded the tire rating on the car I guess they're just limited by engine speed and gearing. Your cars got quite a few more horses than my NA and these cars were alot better aero wise than the earlier Z's which could get up there in mph. So I wouldn't doubt if these thing could click off 120mph. Can't verify it though.
06-02-2005, 10:33 PM
#7
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Well my 1982's engine and tranny are in about perfect condition after the rebuild. I wonder if it can hold the top speed (whether it's 135 or 105). I wouldn't call 130 mph at 7,000 rpm top speed, but Road and Track may be thinking the same way I do.
06-02-2005, 10:36 PM
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Speed at a safe engine speed is what I consider top speed. I may just have to get a 120 mph speedo out of an earlier 280z. Knowing it would go at least 120 would help my moral when someone is talking about their 1979 camaro that they think is sooooo fast compared to mine.
06-02-2005, 10:43 PM
#10
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That 79 camaro would need some power behind to go over 135, or even go 135 period. That car is so aerodynamically challenged as were most older muscle cars. They got plenty of grunt, but at high speeds they hit a brick wall. The Z has a much lower CoD and creates far less lift than an old camaro, so you would probably take him top end no problem. I he did hit those speeds, he'd probably lose control of his car,especially if he tried to take a turn with those leaf springs.
06-02-2005, 10:53 PM
#11
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that'd be about right. Kill someone while racing them. The guy who has the camaro says they put a motor that was originally built for a boat in it. I looked at a picture of the car, and even if he could outrun me, i'd be in an air-conditioned enviroment and wouldn't worry about breaking down.
06-02-2005, 10:58 PM
#13
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His so called high power chevy 350 boat engine had been sitting and rusting for about five years before he put it in his car. I have experienced american V8 power and I would much rather have a turbocharged I-6 with fuel injection than a V8 with probably the same or less power and way less gas mileage. Any other info on top speed would be appreciated by anyone.
06-02-2005, 11:36 PM
#15
worried about your top speed?? go here.. http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/
insert your tire size/rating and the ratios for 3 speed auto are 2.458; 1.458; 1.000; just enter those custom.. and my car hits 138mph
so i have no major worries.. but thats bone stock.. and i have made some slight modifications.. increased boost to ~12 psi and self adjusted pop-off valve and rebuild just a month ago with rebuilt injectors and im currently replacing my cooling system..
i have never heard an auto peel out in full but my car lays down rubber so.. dont underestimate these cars... Zs Rule!!!
insert your tire size/rating and the ratios for 3 speed auto are 2.458; 1.458; 1.000; just enter those custom.. and my car hits 138mph
so i have no major worries.. but thats bone stock.. and i have made some slight modifications.. increased boost to ~12 psi and self adjusted pop-off valve and rebuild just a month ago with rebuilt injectors and im currently replacing my cooling system..i have never heard an auto peel out in full but my car lays down rubber so.. dont underestimate these cars... Zs Rule!!!
06-02-2005, 11:57 PM
#17
oh its not hard doing homemade.. but BE careful.. you can eaily get carried away and blow your engine if youre not... basically your wastegate actuator arm on the turbo can be bent slightly to shorten the (lenght the actuator arm has to push to vent pressure.. consider getting another wastegate actuator to keep a spare for stock usage.. for every 1/16" it increases .5 lbs plus .15 lbs + every 1/16" thereafter.. the stock turbo puts out 8-9 lbs stock.. for shortening it 1/4" it increases to about ~12 lbs... for the pop-off valve.. you can invest into a turbo boost controller and replace the popoff valve with a 1" pipe plug.. or you can grind/drill off the top of it and take the cap off and use 1 1/2" x 5/16" fender washers about 3-4 will do ya and tighten the spring on the valve.. go here for all the details
http://home.flash.net/~joeao/greg/adjpopoff.html
http://home.flash.net/~joeao/greg/adjwastegate.html
http://home.flash.net/~joeao/greg/adjpopoff.html
http://home.flash.net/~joeao/greg/adjwastegate.html
06-03-2005, 01:06 PM
#19
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My 80 NA showed 220 km on the speedo on one test run after I had put the Large throttle body on. It was kinds scary sliding around a slight high speed curve. Stock it could barely get to 200 more likely 190. Remember these numbers are metric. And I am to lazy to convert. I think the 220 was close to 140 mph. I don't know if you can trust the speedo though at the extreme end.
06-03-2005, 01:20 PM
#20
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The connector that connects to the engine computer on my car has a problem. Every once in a while it will not get a good enough connection and the car will spit and sputter and not go over 50 mph. I have to move that connector a little to the right and the car will take off and run just fine. This isn't too much of a problem, but do any of y'all know where I can buy a new connector?
06-03-2005, 01:25 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by WildmaN
My '81 hit about close to 140! 
It has a 5-speed! And I have smoked a '69 built Chevelle before, so I know I was flying, 5300 rpm's in fifth gear!
It has a 5-speed! And I have smoked a '69 built Chevelle before, so I know I was flying, 5300 rpm's in fifth gear!
06-03-2005, 02:13 PM
#23
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Yes in the long run considering if it was a big block no doubt. He would have smoked me, but I think he had a small block in it. 
And believe it or not. My '81 only has a Turbo p-90 head, with headers. Nothing really built up. He is pretty much stock.
And believe it or not. My '81 only has a Turbo p-90 head, with headers. Nothing really built up. He is pretty much stock.
06-03-2005, 08:27 PM
#25
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280zxav8r, best place for a new harness is in the junkyard. You can use a Z31 (either naturally aspirated or turbo) harness connector, just be sure to grab a couple extra because you will need to add a couple pins in the Z31 harness to make it work with the 280zxt computer. I had to do this earlier this year when my harness took a dump.
