im looking foward to buying a header for my 1980 280ZX.just got the car and im new to the nissan world. if anyone knows where i can find this and other parts to restore my car i would appretiate it alot, thanx.

 

Your best bet is http://www.zcarparts.com Theyhave the most popular header for your car.

Rod.

 

Just curious, why are you replacing your header. Just cause the headers on these cars are known to be pretty rock solid to begin with...or is it for performance sake?

If performance is on your mind search past threads to find some stuff you can do for good gains well in advance of replacing an otherwise good header

 

yeah i was doing it for performance wise. btw will one from a 78Z fit my 80ZX?

 

I don't know about that, it may fit, but it may lack needed components such as a port for the EGR tube or an o2 Sensor. I'm sure somebody a little more knowledgeable in this stuff like JFairladyZ or Bleach or lww would know the correct answer.

Rod.

 

do you mind looking it for me becuase im new and dont know much. thanx

 

I'm sure one of those guys will view this post tommorow and let you know. If it's a 1980 it shouldn't have an o2 sensor, so that won't be an issue. Mines an '80 also... but they came with two totally different set ups that model year. The California car and the non-California car had very different smog set ups. I think the exaust manifold is also different between the two versions. I know that every other 280ZX exhaust manifold I have seen had the EGR tube port in a differnt location from mine (Mine is non California equiped).

Rod.

 

Hey Rod are those Bluestreak's from your personal collection? I think that is a pretty cool Avatar. I wonder why I didn't think of using an Autobot for mine. Anyway really cool man, is he your favorite too?

 

Hahahaha... actually WildMan I was never into the TransFormers. I just made it my Avatar to freak out you and Bleach.

Rod.

 

Ha Ha that's cool, I mean they are after your time anyway. But you picked a cool Autobot to display!

 

LOL.. Yeah you are old Wildman j/k

 

so does anyone know if the 78 z header fit my 80 zx?

 

The 78 280Z and the 80 280ZX both came with the N47 head so the exhaust ports will match with no problem.

Unfortunately, I'm not that familiar with the difference in emissions equipment from 78 to 80 outside of the federal requirement for a catalytic converter that was mandated in the 79 model year.

If the cat is the only difference, it should be a straight swap.

 

i dont believe so. i recently had to replace the egr tube on my 82 and was looking for one at the yard. now what i noticed from the Z's there is that the 79-early80's had a different egr set up than the late80-83's. and even then there was two different shaped tubes for the 1nd gen 280ZX. i ended up buying one from nissan. but all this is what i gathered from the search for a egr tube at the yard. so the header might fit but will you able to maintain the egr? my guess would be no. but if you're not concerned with smog regulations then you can ignore everything i just said.

 

If you get the EGR tube from the vehicle that the header was intended for (if the header even has a provision) then you should be able to use it. I say SHOULD. Not for sure on this. The tube should mount to the intake manifold the same as any other year. It's the exhaust side thats definitely different. But you'd have to verify that first. Worse case scenario is that you have to plug off the opening in the header and the intake manifold. Best case scenario is that an 280Z EGR tube would fit. And middle ground is that the header doesn't even have provision and you'd just need to plug up the intake. Plugging is the easiest method if you don't have emissions to worry about.

 

well i was thinking of throwing that cat. away and running a stright pipe. as long as i can bolt it up. about the egr pipe, so if i get one from a 78 then i can swap them? or will any modifications need to take place? thanx guys.

 

or can i eliminate the egr pipe? what do i need to do or buy to do that?

 

It should still pass w/o the EGR pipe, & your intake manifold will stay cleaner too! But ya gotta have a cat... it will never legally pass w/o one.

 

well i got the hook-up on instpection stickers plus im in houston texas not cali. so thats that a problem.

 

Yeah in Cali you would NEVER pass an inspection without an EGR pipe. Hell if the damn thing looks funny they'd probably fail you. They got them cheeks pinced tight out there boys. I know, and apparently, Rod knows They don't just run emissions. You have to pass a visual inspection too. If anything's missing, you ain't gonna pass til it's on there.

 

does my car have what they call the round ports or the square ones?

 

80, if stock has diamond shape ports with liners in them. So to answer you question, neither. If you look at the side of the head near where it mates to the block you'll see a casting number. You head SHOULD say N47. If so then you've got the diamond ports I mentioned. If it says something else let us know and we'll let you know.