Swap engine or have it rebuilt????
Mr Z++ Wiki
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,195
From: Victoria, BC
Honestly I'm with my hermit !! In my mind the last true Z had a straight 6. Myself I wouldn't even want that 300zx series engines. Gives me that icky 3.1 / 3.4 GM vibes 
Granted People may hate me for saying that but I do recall they had they're fair share of known problems the T/T well you may just want to save money and buy a 370z once you drop a turbo.
Granted People may hate me for saying that but I do recall they had they're fair share of known problems the T/T well you may just want to save money and buy a 370z once you drop a turbo.
Ruff Ryder
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,140
From: palm desert
^^^ There's no firewall fitment issue. All LHD 280zx firewalls are the same. The only fitment issue is if the car is a 79-81 and has the steering box instead of rack & pinion. In that case the turbocharger wastegate bracket has to be cut, or swap to rack & pinion.
But yes, please SEARCH. This topic has been discussed so much, the horse died about 5 years ago.
But yes, please SEARCH. This topic has been discussed so much, the horse died about 5 years ago.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 520
From: Monongahela Pennslyvainia
Yea the rack set up is wayyyyy better than the drag link. Honestly rebuild what ya got swap the steering out and put new struts on. Then you got a car that runs and handles as equal any new 20 k car. Oh btw after doing 6 swaps so far the engine comes out in 2 hours 
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 95
From: victorville
I heard its about the same or even cheaper .. Cause in parts it's probably like 500. L28et is about 900 -1100
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 548
From: Foresthill, California
There's no firewall fitment issue. All LHD 280zx firewalls are the same. The only fitment issue is if the car is a 79-81 and has the steering box instead of rack & pinion. In that case the turbocharger wastegate bracket has to be cut, or swap to rack & pinion.
But yes, please SEARCH. This topic has been discussed so much, the horse died about 5 years ago.
But yes, please SEARCH. This topic has been discussed so much, the horse died about 5 years ago.
The Good Twin
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,639
From: Wild Wild West, UTAH!
How do you plan to get these parts since you refuse to use ebay, craigslist, or any other classifieds websites?
Mr Z++ Wiki
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,195
From: Victoria, BC
Manifold - $100ish
Turbo - $100 at least
Intake - $50-100
Oil pan - $75ish (this can be a challenge to find - good luck)
Distributor - $100+
unless of course you have an '81 then you need a CAS and the wheel from the harmonic balancer as well as the brackets - again good luck since that was only for 1981 1/2
ECU - $100 +
Injectors - $75+
J-Pipe - $50ish
AFM- $75+
P90 head - $150+
Turbo oil pump - $50
Turbo pistons - $75
Don't forget to add shipping as well into all that....
The Emblem Thief y0!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 948
From: Tulsa, Ok
I guarantee you that you can find a turbo motor at the salvage yard and pay less than 500 for it, and rebuild it for probably twice (One thousand dollars, at most) as much if it's still in decent condition (not every car at the yard is there for a blown motor)
For $1,100 you can get an RB20, but if you do that I won't show you my unposted writeup on the RB20 to the S130 chassis, simply because it has the same power, harder to get parts, and some fabrication, I won't let you do it.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 95
From: victorville
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 95
From: victorville
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 95
From: victorville
We never like to play the guessing game.
I guarantee you that you can find a turbo motor at the salvage yard and pay less than 500 for it, and rebuild it for probably twice (One thousand dollars, at most) as much if it's still in decent condition (not every car at the yard is there for a blown motor)
For $1,100 you can get an RB20, but if you do that I won't show you my unposted writeup on the RB20 to the S130 chassis, simply because it has the same power, harder to get parts, and some fabrication, I won't let you do it.
I guarantee you that you can find a turbo motor at the salvage yard and pay less than 500 for it, and rebuild it for probably twice (One thousand dollars, at most) as much if it's still in decent condition (not every car at the yard is there for a blown motor)
For $1,100 you can get an RB20, but if you do that I won't show you my unposted writeup on the RB20 to the S130 chassis, simply because it has the same power, harder to get parts, and some fabrication, I won't let you do it.
The Emblem Thief y0!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 948
From: Tulsa, Ok
Cheap labor
More Than Meets The Eye
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,120
From: Mesa, Az
Harness - $100 (most are hacked)
Manifold - $100ish
Turbo - $100 at least
Intake - $50-100
Oil pan - $75ish (this can be a challenge to find - good luck)
Distributor - $100+
unless of course you have an '81 then you need a CAS and the wheel from the harmonic balancer as well as the brackets - again good luck since that was only for 1981 1/2
ECU - $100 +
Injectors - $75+
J-Pipe - $50ish
AFM- $75+
P90 head - $150+
Turbo oil pump - $50
Turbo pistons - $75
Don't forget to add shipping as well into all that....
Manifold - $100ish
Turbo - $100 at least
Intake - $50-100
Oil pan - $75ish (this can be a challenge to find - good luck)
Distributor - $100+
unless of course you have an '81 then you need a CAS and the wheel from the harmonic balancer as well as the brackets - again good luck since that was only for 1981 1/2
ECU - $100 +
Injectors - $75+
J-Pipe - $50ish
AFM- $75+
P90 head - $150+
Turbo oil pump - $50
Turbo pistons - $75
Don't forget to add shipping as well into all that....
The Emblem Thief y0!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 948
From: Tulsa, Ok
Sounds like we were playing truth or dare 
Last edited by WanganDevilZ; May 7, 2012 at 10:31 AM.
Mr Z++ Wiki
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,195
From: Victoria, BC
I have most of those parts. I am only missing a few of them. I need the turbo oil cooler lines, the turbo itself, the oil pump, the 300zx turbo ecu and the injectors. Granted I hunted and scoured for months finding the parts. But paid less then what you listed the parts for. I got lucky I guess.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 548
From: Foresthill, California
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