N/A to turbo conversion
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N/A to turbo conversion
I'd like to know what would be entailed in converting an N/A 280zx to a turbo, if i were to buy a garret turbo, what parts would i need to pull off a zxt to donate, or it i used the entire motor... how feasible is this transformation?
Super Siver & Black Stud
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,526
From: Hayward Ca
well ill be doing the same swap by next year.. its pretty simple on the ZX.. the only problem i can see me having is the power steerting... i have the power asist steering not the rack and pinion... i know that if i dont change it its going to get in the way of the turbo..so i gotta get that replaced before i do it.. im also going to go with th t5 tranny that came with the turbo model.. its got a diffrent driveshaft too and yeah i gues ill be changing the rear diff too and half shafts... but the engine swap is pretty easy.. ive seen it done...
I just tilted the engine a little bit. And while i was at it I lowerd the engine a bit too.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 903
From: Alameda, CA
Ok....but what if I didn't do an engine swap? How difficult is it to install a turbo on an '83 ZX? I know the compression is low enough (8.3:1 if I remember correctly). What can the soock motor handle?
The Evil Twin
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,296
From: Seattle, WA
The L28 with dished pistons from 1975-80 is 8.3 or 8.5:1 compression. The 1981-83 280zx has a different block, head, and flat top pistons. They claim 8.8:1 compression although it'll probably take boost just fine still. I'm not sure you would be best off doing that. The n/a rings are not nearly as strong as the rings on the turbo pistons. Keep it below 240hp; that's just a guess though. Maybe 8psi on a well built engine?
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A stock L28et internals can handle 400 hp as long as you do two things.....get enough fuel to the cylinders and keep the air intake temperature down. The job of a turbo is to force more air into the motor than what it can normally. That is going to cause the air to heat up. A hot intake air temperature and a high compression ratio is going to cause pre-detanation. The only way to blow up the motor is to have pre-detanation. Getting 400 hp means a new fuel management computer, fuel pump, injectors, and an intercooler. I'm sure I've left some stuff out. A stock motor from what I've heard can handle about 11 psi before the use of an intercooler. Using an N/A motor for the swap means you will definitly need a turbo exaust manifold. I would also highly suggest using ths R200 rear differential that comes with the turbo models to handle the increase in torque.
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Well I swapped an 83 turbo engine into my 81 non turbo. It fit fine, but there is barely enough clearance for the pre-82 recir. ball power steering box. I had to cut the waste-gate mount. I didn't go into this much on my webpage, but have some good info:
http://users.bentonrea.com/~strausz/zcar/the_swap.html
The closeness of the turbo to the steering box makes me nervous. I don't think it will be a problem, but it gets rather hot down there.
Fredrik, I am curious how you tilted your engine. That might be an option to get a little bit more clearance for a bigger turbo someday. Right now my turbo is slightly out of commission, as I need to rebuild the turbo and replace some fuel hoses. Hopefully I will get it back in shape in a month or so.
http://users.bentonrea.com/~strausz/zcar/the_swap.html
The closeness of the turbo to the steering box makes me nervous. I don't think it will be a problem, but it gets rather hot down there.
Fredrik, I am curious how you tilted your engine. That might be an option to get a little bit more clearance for a bigger turbo someday. Right now my turbo is slightly out of commission, as I need to rebuild the turbo and replace some fuel hoses. Hopefully I will get it back in shape in a month or so.
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