i ran across an ad on craigslist for a 280 parts car (no title). so for a very good price i'm thinking about snagging it for the tranny. i don't know what year it is though so my questions are these:

1) did all 280s come with a 5 speed?

2) were all 280s FI? if so, would this FI system be better (i.e. more reliable/less expensive) than the arizona Z 4-bbl intake and a 390cfm holley?

No, the four speed was standard in all four years of production with an optioal auto trans. The five speed became an option in 77 and 78 but the four speed was still standard. All 280Zs were EFI but to swap it over to a non EFI car is pretty labor intensive as far as the fuel and electrical systems though it has been done.

I don't think I would switch from FI, it is very reliable.

Neither would I. He's talking about switching a non EFI S30 to EFI. So many things would have to be changed/added/modified etc. to do that. Fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel pump, wiring harness, relays, ecu.....the list is a long one!

Sorry - misunderstood the issue, as you can tell. Thats a whole different ball of wax, gets a too technical for me.

i ran across an ad on craigslist for a 280 parts car (no title). so for a very good price i'm thinking about snagging it ...

...would this FI system be better (i.e. more reliable/less expensive) than the arizona Z 4-bbl intake and a 390cfm holley?

Don't waste your time with a four barrel and intake, do this once and do it right!

Get a set of SUs and an appropriate manifold and be through.

Ztherapy has everything you need, if you want a less expensive alternative, get a set of SUs from the classifieds, ebay, and the rebuild kit and tape from Ztherapy and rebuild them yourself-if the bushings are shot let Ztherapy replace them with bearings.. Your A Z was made for equal length runners, not two sets of different length ones...

WIll

Neither would I. He's talking about switching a non EFI S30 to EFI. So many things would have to be changed/added/modified etc. to do that. Fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel pump, wiring harness, relays, ecu.....the list is a long one!

Yup, it's a mess. My yellow car came to me with a very ham-fisted fuel injection conversion. While I can't imagine swapping an injected 280Z driver to carbs, I very quickly went back to SUs on the yellow car. Much better than all the garbage you'd need to work through to make it right. (Pictures on my website linked in my signature below.)

If you must have injection on a non-injected car, I'd go totally aftermarket instead. You should be able to do that much more cleanly. But it'll be more expensive than even a set of ZTherapy SUs.

Don't waste your time with a four barrel and intake, do this once and do it right!

Get a set of SUs and an appropriate manifold and be through.

Ztherapy has everything you need, if you want a less expensive alternative, get a set of SUs from the classifieds, ebay, and the rebuild kit and tape from Ztherapy and rebuild them yourself-if the bushings are shot let Ztherapy replace them with bearings.. Your A Z was made for equal length runners, not two sets of different length ones...

WIll

thanks guys, i was not aware the 5 speed didn't even come in until '77. if it's a 5 speed car, i may still offer the guy some money for the car but i will pass otherwise.

as for the 4-bbl, that will happen. i'm simply not a fan of the multiple carbs, on this or anything else. besides the control circuits on a single 4-bbl has so many advantages over the two single barrels.

this seems to be a polarizing issue with Z people. seems half swear by the SU's and the other half love a 4-bbl. i overhauled my SU's and they work but i'd rather have the 4. not to worry though, the original SU's will go in a box on the shelf for future.

this seems to be a polarizing issue with Z people.

One of many.