zcrazy13

If I run headers on my '86 na, who sells a complete bolt on kit for the exhaust?

NismoPick

Click: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/300zx-z31-forums-8/where-buy-parts-300zxs-z31s-20451/

NeverDiez84

One question to consider:
Why would one install headers when installing a turbo requires comparable effort and cash, yet increases horsepower well beyond headers, and leads to limitless tuning potential by comparison?

NismoPick

Welcome to ZDriver!

I highly doubt you can fully install a functional turbo setup on an n/a motor for $250-$350.

A turbocharger doesn't lead to limitless tuning... a tunable ecu does... which will require a lot more $$$ and time than installing a set of headers.

I don't disagree that a turbo option might be more wise, but it's not cheap, simple, or always what the driver wants.

AZ-ZBum

You're an idiot. There is a LOT more work involved to adding a turbo than there is to replacing manifolds with headers. Do you know what's involved in adding a turbo?

NeverDiez84

You're a sandy vagina as always, Paul-have you ever attempted EITHER job? All that I know you've done yourself is a boost controller and turbo timer. I did the whole turbo conversion myself(aka beater'84 on Z31 & 3ZC?)
But you are right; I should have said it's a comparable skill set required. Neither one is as involved as an engine or turbo rebuild(which I've also done),so yes I misspoke. But none of the turbo swap work is any harder, skill level wise, than a header swap.
The hardest part was the exhaust manifolds(for myself) and on headers you're doing that twice instead of the one side. But still you're right; injector, oil pan, engine mount & cross-member swapping is all extra work.

If I could say it over, my point would be that its just all component swapping, so when it comes down to getting power gains WORTH the effort you may as well turbocharge it.

There; happy?
Now go build a speaker box.

NeverDiez84

[QUOTE=NismoPick;299149]Welcome to ZDriver!



"I highly doubt you can fully install a functional turbo setup on an n/a motor for $250-$350."


You sure can. I don't think I spent more than two bills for everything-it's called Pick n Pull. Granted my turbo rebuild would have cost at least that; s'why I rebuilt it myself with a 75$ kit. Balanced at a deisel shop for $40. Where there's a will(and no cash), there's a way, my friend.


"A turbocharger doesn't lead to limitless tuning... a tunable ecu does... which will require a lot more $$$ and time than installing a set of headers."

Again my generalities get in the way of my communication, as with my bitchety old correspodent above.

Better stated: a turbo swap is the 1st task clearing the path to tuning a Z31. I considered this a no-brainer, since, if you can't even increase air & fuel exponentially(n/a), then exactly wtf do you intend to tune?

"I don't disagree that a turbo option might be more wise, but it's not cheap, simple, or always what the driver wants. "

1)Disagree-it's cheap if you know how.
2)Disagree-it is as SIMPLE, but as the Neanderthal mumbled, there's a lot MORE simple work.
3)couldn't agree more; to each his own. Maybe op just wanted the question answered and wasnt interested in the most efficient method by which to obtain power.

AZ-ZBum

I'm a sandy vagina because I'm honest about how stupid that comment was? Whatever. It was a very stupid comment to make. You obviously don't know everything I've done and I'm not going to list out every repair, upgrade, rebuild, swap, etc that I've done.Not even remotely. What does a header swap involve? Taking off old manifolds. Installing new headers. Don't have to change anything else. Removing the O2 sensor, and maybe the AIV depending on his year. Now compare that to a turbo addition. On top of the simple things required for a header swap, you have to:
- change injectors
- swap motor mounts
- swap cross member
- add vacuum pump
- oil lines
- host of other little crap that goes along with it (i.e. ECU)
So NO! Flat out, NO! Adding a turbo is not even remotely as simple as swapping to headers. To make that comparison is stupid and asinine.

And then there is the cost. YOU and a few other people may be able to source all the necessary parts for $200, but most people will be looking at closer to a grand for everything. So four times as much money for used parts as compared to the cost of a new set of headers.
That's a better statement to make. And to that, I can agree.

NeverDiez84

Yeah I admit it. It was stupid to imply there's the same amount of work involved. If I was a noob deciding to do the overhaul based on that advice, Id be pissed off at the poster before I was halfway through.
But I'd thank him after I finally finished, for talking me out of the headers!

zcrazy13

Agreed guys that putting a turbo in would be a better idea than headers. Thanks for explaining it all. If I did a turbo, I'd need to get pistons, rings, a new ecu, the turbo, and a bunch of other things that I don't have money for right now. I'm a college student, money is tight and I have to repaint it, swap the engine and a bunch of other stuff. When I'm done with college I'll have more money to do a turbo conversion I found custom made racing headers off of a 1990 non turbo that are so cheap I'd be dumb not to buy them. Would these fit the car? I know that the intake changed on the new engine but I don't know if the exhaust manifold is the same?



More pictures to come when it's finished if anyone cares to see the progress

NeverDiez84

You do not need to do a thing internally to a strong-running n/a motor. The stock pistons & rings will be just fine.
Z32(90-96) headers will not
fit in a Z31.

Flacster

If need parts for a na to turbo conversion I know someone who is parting 2 turbo engines. Send me a pm if interested.

AZ-ZBum

What makes you think you need new pistons, rings, etc? You don't need to open up the motor at all to add a turbo to it.

READ:
http://www.redz31.net

zcrazy13

I read that the pistons need to be changed because the compression ratio is like 10:1 in a n/a and its a lot lower in a turbo. Also read that the factory piston rings will support a turbo but if the engine has +100k miles, the rings won't be able to handle it. I've done a lot of work on engines and cars in general, just never slapped a turbo on anything so these are things I was unsure of.

Flacster

Comp ratio is 9:1 on a stock n/a... Get the compression tested before anything.

AZ-ZBum

Where did you read that the pistons need to be changed?
Where did you read the compression ratio is 10:1?
I HATE it when people say that after XXX miles, you have to rebuild it. That's bull. You don't need to rebuild anything until it is broken. Do a compression test to verify a good running engine BEFORE you decide to waste money on a rebuild.