280ZX (NA) to 280ZX Turbo swap
Ok, here's the update that you didn't want to hear but oh well.
The decision has been made by myself to not attempt the engine swap before my trip to Orange California.
Considering the time it took me to get the work done on my truck this last month and how much time I took away from my life for a month, there is no way I can sacrifice that much time again and it doesn't even look like I would fit all the work in before the travel date. (and I've still got a few bugs to work out in the truck) Plus, even if I did get it done right before I left, I don't want to make my first test drive a 1000 mile road trip on that new turbo engine.
The engine I'm running now is great and has proven itself over the last 9 years so I will give it it's last few hundred miles before retirement. This month I will do all the suspension work and other cosmetic work that I can. I may even fix up the sound system. No paint work will be done except for a fresh coat of black on the front bumper. I may have some money for new tires and then cruise down with my deep dish rims. Ya, so my Z will make its appearance at the show as an NA. Turbo swap will be completed in May 2006.
That is all...
The decision has been made by myself to not attempt the engine swap before my trip to Orange California.
Considering the time it took me to get the work done on my truck this last month and how much time I took away from my life for a month, there is no way I can sacrifice that much time again and it doesn't even look like I would fit all the work in before the travel date. (and I've still got a few bugs to work out in the truck) Plus, even if I did get it done right before I left, I don't want to make my first test drive a 1000 mile road trip on that new turbo engine.
The engine I'm running now is great and has proven itself over the last 9 years so I will give it it's last few hundred miles before retirement. This month I will do all the suspension work and other cosmetic work that I can. I may even fix up the sound system. No paint work will be done except for a fresh coat of black on the front bumper. I may have some money for new tires and then cruise down with my deep dish rims. Ya, so my Z will make its appearance at the show as an NA. Turbo swap will be completed in May 2006.

That is all...
Originally Posted by Bleach
Considering the time it took me to get the work done on my truck this last month and how much time I took away from my life for a month, there is no way I can sacrifice that much time again and it doesn't even look like I would fit all the work in before the travel date. Turbo swap will be completed in May 2006. 

I'm borrowing a vehicle to drive this month so I hope I can finish the swap and get the car running before I have to return it.
Originally Posted by lww
Where's my wireless card?! 

ya, THE Datsun truck of all time, with Bleach license plates got stolen out of my driveway while I was at home working on my Z on April 15th.
I went on my trip and I have not put the engine in the Z yet.. what am I supposed to drive while I do this swap??? ...and after I do the swap in 2 days I'll need something to drive for the next few weeks while I try to figure out why it won't fire up!
ya, the status is the same as two months ago. Engine on stand, 95% complete.
I need to make AAC and EGR blockoff plates
Buy more fuel lines
Buy black paint for engine compartment
ya s/c what is up with your name ..do the pigs have your zx
hmhmhmhmh this consers me ......****ing pigs
bleach i hate you ..i would have had it done days ago .........lolololololol J/K
**** CRAG .... i ant got NO job ....ant got **** to DO!
YOU NEED MY HELP ? MABE I COULD RUN OVER THERE ON A SUNDAY AND
HANDLE THAT BITCH IN AND MAKE IT RUN LIKE THE TURBO BEAST WE NEW IT COULD BE
hmhmhmhmh this consers me ......****ing pigs
bleach i hate you ..i would have had it done days ago .........lolololololol J/K
**** CRAG .... i ant got NO job ....ant got **** to DO!
YOU NEED MY HELP ? MABE I COULD RUN OVER THERE ON A SUNDAY AND
HANDLE THAT BITCH IN AND MAKE IT RUN LIKE THE TURBO BEAST WE NEW IT COULD BE
Last edited by 81 Black L28E; Jun 10, 2006 at 12:29 AM.
Lookin' snazzy man, keep it up. I really like seeing you progress on your Turbo project. And good luck to you at emissions. If you need some pointers in passing. I will do what I can to help, but I am sure you know all the tricks on these motors.
Well, the Z failed emissions today... I've got 3 months left on my tabs. So I either try to get the NA engine to pass and then swap the motor or just swap in the new turbo engine and hope it will pass NA emissions checks right after I get back from Canada in 3 weeks. hmmm
hearsay is that the turbo engine should run just as clean when off boost so it should pass considering they don't even pop the hood on our tests
Seems I'm running lean... at idle and cruise. and yes, I can tell its not idling perfect so maybe I can find a vacuum leak or something quick and fix it. Spark plugs look very light tan colored... oxygen sensor was replaced about 14 months ago and that made it pass emissions last year. AFM is 'rebuilt' and has been on the car a couple years since then. The car runs great, no power loss or misfires really... except for a very slightly unsteady idle. It blows a little smoke above 5000rpm
but that shouldn't matter for emissions stuff.. .probably oil due to the 235,000 miles on it
hearsay is that the turbo engine should run just as clean when off boost so it should pass considering they don't even pop the hood on our tests
Seems I'm running lean... at idle and cruise. and yes, I can tell its not idling perfect so maybe I can find a vacuum leak or something quick and fix it. Spark plugs look very light tan colored... oxygen sensor was replaced about 14 months ago and that made it pass emissions last year. AFM is 'rebuilt' and has been on the car a couple years since then. The car runs great, no power loss or misfires really... except for a very slightly unsteady idle. It blows a little smoke above 5000rpm
but that shouldn't matter for emissions stuff.. .probably oil due to the 235,000 miles on it
Yeah... I was there 3 weeks ago. In the 3 years I've had my L28ET... I've never had it "LEGALLY" pass emissions. Luck ran out this year as my mechanic friend can't do emissions anymore... now it really does have to pass! DOH! Thas why I'm doing the Z31 ecu swap.
Did ya turn down the timing Bleach? N/A's are usually easy to pass when ya adjust the timing down. Will the shop let you put it on the emissions machine in "observation mode" so you can adjust?
Did ya turn down the timing Bleach? N/A's are usually easy to pass when ya adjust the timing down. Will the shop let you put it on the emissions machine in "observation mode" so you can adjust?
well, maybe it could be rich. The paper they give you tries to tell what probable causes are. I guess the idle HC would be a rich condition more than lean. Maybe my FPR hose is broken or something.
I forgo to turn the ignition advance back. I don't remember right now if it was advanced or not... probably is.
I forgo to turn the ignition advance back. I don't remember right now if it was advanced or not... probably is.
Last edited by Bleach; Jun 26, 2006 at 02:14 PM.
Hmmm Try retarding your timing 6 degrees, richen your AFM to 900-950rpm's. Then open up your idle all the way, as high as it will go. And what i was told is the idle is the screw on top of the throttle body. Also unplug your T.P.S., put a thin plastic piece on it. And fake plug it back in, don't connect the contacts, or it will operate. Because it could be bad internally, I seemed to get away with it more plugged in go figure. But I guess it all depends on the engine and setup. Some work differently than others. Anyway only do this process, when you are going to emissions. Otherwise, you are just burning more fuel, because of the high idle. Hope this helps you out, and let us know how it goes.
Yowsa! That's more than a tad over. Timing won't adjust that much. Is your EGR working properly? Still have a good cat? I've got a buddy that throws a bottle of Everclear in his tank every year for emissions... Alcohol burns cleaner.
Actually it doesn't look like he had a NOX test. Which the EGR would take a major part in. That is something I learned from my Celica failing before. So when I did my motor swap and such. I made sure the EGR was clean, and functioning properly. And also that trick I said, that was told to me by the Zguru. And it played a part in HC, and Carbon Monoxide. Plus the fact I passed with a gutted cat, blew my mind completely. Anyway just trying to help you out man. Not much else I can think of really, but I do think you should replace the o2 sensor in case.
Make sure the cat is good, run the car a good amount before hand like take a 20 minute or so drive, use high quality/high octane fuel and maybe even a booster and reatrd the timing. Worked for my 260k+ original engine
i passed with flying colors at a california state ref.
i passed with flying colors at a california state ref.
Originally Posted by Bleach
well, maybe it could be rich. The paper they give you tries to tell what probable causes are. I guess the idle HC would be a rich condition more than lean. Maybe my FPR hose is broken or something.
I forgo to turn the ignition advance back. I don't remember right now if it was advanced or not... probably is.

I forgo to turn the ignition advance back. I don't remember right now if it was advanced or not... probably is.

Time to check all the usual "Running Rich" suspects...
Rod.
unplug the #5 injector bleach, that works like a charm, boost your idle, and run 94 octane, and add a bottle methl hydrate to help out the clean burn. a good cat works wonders. thats how i pass, no egr, and i got a wicked big cam.
well, it runs worse with the TPS off. I swapped out the FPR and it has a strange studder and has far less power so that's not going to work... oh, I think it might have been a turbo FPR.
oops...
I replaced a few hoses today but nothing really made a difference. in the end, I got the car to run worse but I can't even tell if its too rich or too poor...I mean, lean.
oops...I replaced a few hoses today but nothing really made a difference. in the end, I got the car to run worse but I can't even tell if its too rich or too poor...I mean, lean.




