hey i need some help deciding. im lookin to build a 450+ hp TT L28. u all konw that. alright well.. im not sure if i wana drop it in my 2+2 or if i should buy another Z and put it in that. cuz my car now, being that it was my first car, is sentamentally very valuable to me. so i was thinkin of buyin a 240 shell. just the body. no engine or interior. u can pick those up cheap. couple hundred bucks easy. gettin that made deasently pretty. straight no dents . and primed, and dropping a TT L28 into that . bcuz if i put that much hp in my 280 i have a feeling if i ever wreck it, i would b sooo friggen sad. and i want that 280 to b something that i hand down to my son..so do u guys think that it would b wise to go buy a 240 shell. and not to mention they are like 500 lbs lighter, all that much quicker..

 

I honestly would, and have debated that a couple of times with my motor Lighter, and look a little better [no emissions] and more after market support for body work.. But I like my 280zx so I will stick with the under dog.

 

If you want to stick with originality I'd say put in 'A' 280zx (not neccessarily the one you got). You're not going to come across too many 280zx's with what you're planning. If it's just flat out performance though then the 240Z is a lot lighter. What you gotta remember though is if you strip a 240Z to bare chassis and then do the same with a 2seater 280zx (240 only came 2seater) the weight difference is not going to be as much as you might think. The 240 had less safety features like the huge bumpers and what not so it's lighter there. Plus it did not come with any of the conveniences of the 280zx like AC and power windows and all that crap. The seats are lighter, etc... Basically if you're doing a ground up buildup you can eliminate all the stuff that makes the ZX heavier in the first place and maintain it's advantages like aero, suspension design, and chassis stiffness, that it has over the 240Z. If you were to add any of those creature comforts to a 240 (like ac) you'd just be increasing the weight anyways. Plus you can probably find a 280zx 2seater for cheaper than you can find a 240Z in useable condition. Most of the cheap 240Z's are in need of major rust repair like rotting floorboards and what not and wouldn't make good candidates for a project like this. If you're going to leave them as is and all's you're doing is an engine swap then the 240Z obviously has it's advantages over the 280zx.

In the end it's a close one to call. My opinion would be to pick the one you find most pleasing to look at. Because everything else can be worked around. You can do almost anything to a car to make it better (or worse).

 

First off I know how you feel about your first Z. I just suffered the tragic loss of my first z a month ago. Just z months after I bought it. If I was you I would buy a 240 shell. Better look and lighter. Also there is a guy in Modesto that has a 240 shell for sale on ebay for like 500 right now. Look it up and maybe you get a deal.

 

In a way, I look at is as size. A smaller lighter car with much power is gona be very hard to control. Better chances of haveing a wreak. Yes the 280ZX is a lil bigger and heavyer. But you have tones more safter like JF said. 450+ in any Z will move fast. I would go with another 280ZX shell becaouse I know the 280 Alot better then 240. I would have to relearn the Z all over again. Plus 4 Whell Disk Break right from the get go.

 

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really? I had no idea you felt that way

 

2 seater ZX

240 and 1st gen 280's are dime a dozen with similar set ups. A ZX with that motor would be pretty trick.

 

Based on what jfairladyz said, I think I'd go with a 280ZX 2-Seater to drop the engine into. Still with even a 2+2 that car is going to go fast. Overall no matter what you drop it into(280ZX 2+2, 280ZX 2 Seater, 240Z) you will move. I think it is cooler to see a 280ZX with such a built engine. Like j said, 280zx would be cheaper to come by, and would be a much easier setup, but it's up to you!