is just my z or is the acceleration pretty bad until 5th gear, and if it is just my z what could the problem be?

 

That doesn't make much sense to me (maybe I'm reading it wrong?)...

Your car has a hard time accelerating until you get it into 5th gear? That's amazing... because the car would naturally have the HARDEST time accelerating in 5th gear (gear ratio and wind resistance). Also... You would have the same RPM range in the previous gears.

Anyway... from your question, I guess I would ask: Have you checked over everything? Have you done a tune up? Does the car pass emissions? What kind of mpg does it get? What's the timing set to?

 

if its not accelerating good until 5'th then where looking at a 1.87:1 gear ratio?

setting them land speed records one day at a time?




alright, but it probable needs a tune-up fluids change and compression check.

 

Have you timed it or does it just feel sluggish? What are you used to? My daily driver is a Civic, and I find that on the weekends I have to get used to the Z again, which pulls in the 2000-3000 rpm range. In the Z, I shift up at about 3000, whereas if I'm pushing the Civic, it's more like 4000-5000.

Once you're up in 5th, I know what you mean, it does feel like it accelerates better - maybe because you're not trying to get from 0 to 50 in a hurry, but just from 50-70, right in the engine's 2500-3500 rpm sweet spot.

Bear in mind, too, that if you have a non-turbo, it's not really a beast of an engine. I did all the standard lightening mods to mine (remove a/c, cruise, rear wiper, spare tire), and that felt like it did some good. Bumpers will be next. Since all we have is seat-of-the pants, it's hard to say.

You could time your 0-50 or 0-60 time and compare it with the original specs...

 

My car feels slow...but I've already gotten used to 10psi...

 

you should be informed that the power curve for a stock z is in the 5.5-6kRPM range and that redline on a civic is like almost 8k, whereas redline on the L series is like 6.5kRPMS.

 

You're right, here's the first curve I could find (off an older carbed engine, but, you know... ) http://datsunzgarage.com/dyno/

Being an old fart, though (comparatively), there's no way I'm going to run either of my engines anywhere near those rpms... I guess to me it feels like it pulls well around 2.5-3.5K, probably because lower than that it's chugging, and higher than that and I upshift....

 

hmm, check you timing, spark and compression. but since when did age have to deal with driving a car?

 

With no more information about the car, I have to conclude it's just you. Mine pulls like a monster from about 8psi to 22psi when it starts to run out of breath...

 

oh i remember how to fix this. pull the floor mat down so that it's not bunched up behind the pedal

 

hahahahah i know what you mean, i got used to mine after my build, now its slow as ballz

 

my car accelerates pretty quick but at the same time i am getting 17 MPG but thats almost all intown...hmm my milage dropped alot i wonder if its time for a water and air temp sensor

 

yah that sounds bad, i dont know what my mpg is but i never really have to fill up

 

It's the magical 280zx that never has to be re-fueled.