From 1979 Nissan shows records of the automatic 280ZX 2+2 hitting over 112mph, and the 5-speed 280ZX 2+2 hitting over 124 mph. Don't forget this is in 1979 when the ZX also had the 8.3:1 compression ratio, then in 81 got the F54 block and Heads on the non-turbo with the 8.8:1 compression ratio and was making more power. So I'd say 130 on an auto non-turbo is definitely plausible, and a turbo should be even faster. I got the speeds from that Datsun 280ZX book that Nissan issued in 79, or was it in 78? Either way, that's not bad for 23+ year old cars. Not to mention they look damn good doing it too.

 

I've hit around 115 in my 81 2 seater when it was NA. I couldn't verify it personally though. That is going by what my brother said we were doing from his Mustan following behind. I had my 130mph speedo in but had the wrong speedo gear so the speedo was way off.

 

The original owners manual for my '80 states that top speed in 4th gear is 128 MPH... However, it then states that top speed in 5th gear is the same 128 MPH.

Rod.

 

Prolly cuz the wind resistance is greater than engine power above 128mph.

 

wait a second...i ran 142 in my 81 N/A slicktop coupe w/n47 head running a 10.7 CR, this was recorded by a freind on his motorcycle.

 

Yeah but with that C/R you're making more power than than a stock 81 which made more power than a stock 80 so... It's all about having the gearing to go with the power and being aerodynamically invisible to the wind If we all coated our cars with cooking spray we'd be able to hit 200mph no problem cause the car would cut through the air like butter.

 

well i was running a tank of 125 octane racing gas that day. i guess ill do another run after i get it running again.

 

in my 280zx 1982 turbo 2+2 manual tranny i was able to hit at least 160 mph yellow lining it 5,900 rpms.. i wanted to puish it all the way but i love my 280 and i woulnt do anything to abuse him... i think a turbo automatics top speed is 140 due to higher gear ratio...3 speeds compared to a 5 speed go figure u know... p.s. i did this on a freeway and i told the state troopers i was gonna do it..i had one right behind me just ot make sure.. =-) i love it when you are a cook and u cook for the police at night time =-) hehehhee

 

I'm callin your bluff on that one.

 

Yeah I think that is almost mathematically impossible to achieve with the gearing and redline you mentioned. At those RPM's the most you could hit is 157mph with the tranny and rear end gearing of the 5 speed turbo cars. In addition to that a stock 280zx, even turbo, is going to be hard pressed to hit that kind of speed. While it's coefficient of drag is not horrible it's not too great either and 180hp (to the flywheel, not the wheels) is really not enough. 5th gear is made for cruising, not accelerating.

That is a speed not easily achieved by even some of our modern day sports cars making twice as much power if not more.

 

But he has that oversized TURBO emblem from a Saab! That has got to count for something.

 

I knew there had to be something I was missing.

 

sounds like you guys go too fast too many places, wait till you right off one of our special unicorns, or yourself, oh yeah, where can you do those speeds with out traffic? around here if there is no traffic, its too bumpy to speed does he have anything painted funny colors, that adds hp too.

 

I hit 115 on a two lane back road in NE. There's a particular stretch thats straight as a properly constructed arrow and flat as a... anyways , it goes on forever. We took advantage of this opportunity to pass a tractor hauler. we started gunning it about a 1/4 mile back from 75mph and we kept going until the flat started to come to an end. When it was all said and done my brother called me and said we were doing about 115 when he last looked at his speedo before we started slowing down. And that was an NA lightly modded. It was like a 5 mile drag strip And not a car in sight other than that hauler. 160 though Thats just exceeding the safety of your tires, suspension and just your car in general.

 

maybe he was drafting?

 

with nitrous and jet fuel (okay not really but...) - 160...that is really fast in a Z, well atleast to me up here at 6,500ft (on average) above sea level where altitude sucks your power away (I think it's 30% power loss)
I think I've done only about 110 - if that, but then again the whole 85 mph speedo thing throws everything way off (also, i don't have a radar detector and I am not friends with cops...etc) I think I was doing about 4200 rpm in 5th gear (1983 N/A)
...speaking of 85mph speedos, has anyone ever tried to add another gauge somewhere that goes from 80mph+ ? is that even possible? cause I have an aftermarket radio deck and it would be pretty sweet to have another speedo gauge down there... you know just for the look, never to be used....

(I know going fast you don't want to look down there and stuff)

 

If you can find a 79 you can grab the 130mph speedo off of that.

 

The 280zx turbo certainly limits something.

This is easily evidenced when you put in a 4.11 r200 from a 200sx turbo in place of the stock 3.54 because you easily run into a limiter with that gearing and it's obvious that it is a limiter at that point.

 

The limit in that case, would be you hitting the redline.

 

Then that would mean it has a rev-limiter.

 

Um... didn't we already go over this? THE 280ZX DOES NOT HAVE A STOCK REV LIMITER. YOU CAN TAKE PAST REDLINE.

 

I am not going to knock our Z cars but I am going to lay to rest the speed on the Camaro. Back in '93 or '94 my good friend and I took his 1978 Camaro down US 19 in Clearwater Florida at about 3am, his spedo read 140 or 145mph, we had it burried and the car still wanted to go faster and was pulling hard. The block was a stock 305 small block with an Edlebrock intake and 600cfm carb, long tube headers with Flowmasters and true 2 1/2 inch dual exhaust...thats it and the car had the factory spoiler on the rear. The rear gear was a stock 2.73:1 with a turbo 350 tranny. A couple of years later I took my brothers '78 Camaro over the Bayside bridge in Clearwater, an almost identical car only it did not have the rear spoiler and I backed off of it at 110mph because the *** started wondering due to lack of downforce.

The hp difference is not that great between the 1978 Chevy 305 and the 280ZXT in fact the ZXT may have a little more but the 305 has more tq and taller gearing and when put up against each other near stock for near stock, yes the Camaro from 1978-1980 is going to take the ZXT whatever through 1983 top end. Off the line is a different story. But who is going to be doing top end runs all the time? I like my cars to be faster light to light so I would be happy if my car only went 100mph as long as I win the race...hooowhaaaa!

 

Are we talking about a 280zx or 280zx turbo?

You did read my profile, right?

 

Wow... another techie. You're not the only Nissan Tech on this forum... sorry to burst ya bubble. But do tell me, what's the 280zx rev limiter set at?

 

I don't think there is a rev limiter in the 280zxt. You can rev freely past 6500 all day long without a load on the motor. Under load you'll hit valve float around 6400rpm which feels like a limiter. Upgrading the valve train will allow you to rev past that. Ask a guy named TonyD on the zcar boards. He works with land speed z cars on a regular basis. He should be able to confirm if the limiter exists or not.