280ZX Mod Options - SA

[swiftless]

Hi,

 

There's one place here in Adelaide that 'specializes' in Z cars and they haven't been able to help me in the slightest, hoping someone here can.

 

Running the original L28 (reconditioned ~75,000km ago) in my 280ZX, but I want to either give it a turbo which was a foreign option, or do an engine swap. I see the RB engines are quite popular.

 

Has anyone in SA done either of these and can direct me somewhere/give me some advice?

 

I was told a turbo upgrade wasn't possible because they weren't released here in Aus and that due to expenses/legalities (they wouldn't elaborate), they didn't recommend an engine swap. This is my daily driver, so I want to keep it street legal and don't have any outrageous plans, just that little extra oomf and I don't mind importing the parts required or forking out for the cost of a swap.

 

I'm in need of a new gearbox and instead of getting the current one reconditioned and possibly wasting money, I wanted to find out about this first as I'm pretty sure I'd need a new gearbox for either option anyway.

 

Thanks,

Donald

[Ledge]

Hi Donald

Best thing to do is ring Regency and see what they will allow. Cant see why turbo

charging your l28 wouldn't be allowed without an engineers report but if you do a swap

with an RB or LS1 etc etc you will need to get a report done maybe even brake/suspension

upgrade.

As i said ring up Regency to get definite answer.

 

Cheers

Paul

[zzzzed]

Hi Donald. Who was it that you talked with. If it was adelaide z cars I find it strange that they could not help you. I have spoken to Barry obout this before and he was very helpful. last time I was in there they had a customers 280zx which had a turbo rb30 in it.

[swiftless]

Paul - Thanks, I'll see what they say!

 

zzzzed - It was Barry who I received my initial response from, he sounded like he didn't want anything to do with the engine turbo/swap, but said he could help in other areas such as suspension. I'll see if I can get in contact with him again, he never replied to my second email. It's good to know that there are other 280ZX's in SA that have had upgrades. Thanks!

[pauly_adams]

both can be done without too much effort, L28 can be turbocharged pending you get a turbo exhaust manifold, some one on the forum may have one but they are hard to come by

 

RB conversion is also quite easy most people change the engine mountings but you can use all stock nissan parts,  you will need a new sump custom made or from a 200zr, if you use rb20 engine mountings with old jag type engine mounts it will sit in the same possition as the L28 and requires no modification to the chasis or mounts, as for gearbox if you use a rb20det or rb25 na gearbox and if you use 280zx auto gearbox mounts and a 280zx manual tail shaft yet again there is no need for modification.

 

so take your pic and go down one path or the other check out hybrid z and there is plenty of info on there

 

hope this helps

cheers pauly

[RBZ 260]

In SA last time i checked they allow any engine to be installed without engineers report as long as power is not increased more than 25%. In theory if your na is modified to produce more than 25% u need report regardless its the original motor. In practice no one checks stock looking engines.

 

Anything more engineers report is required. Pending on hp rating of l28 (official one from brochures or id plate) u may be able to fit an rb30et or rb20det or sr20det assuming hp rating on efi l28 is at least 10% more than l26 carby.

 

So 240 or 260 cannot have rb20det or sr20det without engineers.

Fitting a turbo to ur car is not a problem as that engine did come with one in US. Rb30 non turbo is acceptable replacement without engineers report.

 

Now this info is about 2 yrs old so ring up regency and ask the latest info.

[swiftless]

Pauly - Cheers. I was expecting more to be involved in the turbocharging of the l28.

 

RBZ 260 - That's exactly the type of information I was after, thanks! I'll definitely check with Regency, but this gives me a major starting point.

[pauly_adams]

there is a bit more involed with turboing a L28 but it can be done even on the standed ecu, the problem is that the dissy needs to be locked or the weights in the dissy need to be removed or more weight taken off them as the advancement in the timing with a turbo will cause all sorts of issues. there are 2 solutions to overcome it, 1) there are some HKS diaphram's for the distributor that actuly retards the timeing as the revs increase insted of advanceing, i have yet to track one of these down they where used with the HKS surge tank setup (tripple webber turbo), or 2) get an aftermarket ecu like wolf3d, megasquirt etc and run a dissy free setup, you can acheive this with a opticle sensor and a 36-1 trigger wheel mounted on your harmonic balancer or on your flywheel, there is a bit of stuffing around and what sort of power you want will depend on what setup you should go, if your chasing 300hp or less the L28 can do this with some 280cc injectors (standed L28et) and no intercooler anything after 300hp thats when the $$$$$$ start.

 

hope this helps

cheers pauly