Can it be done? I have a 260z motor that's completely dead, and a 280zxt that's being rebuilt as we speak. When I bought the engine though, it's only the long block, intake and exhaust manifolds, the AFM and the turbo ECU (and engine mounts). Can I swap over the 260z air cleaner to fit the FI 280zxt?

Are you planning to use the EFI, the turbo (you did say ZXT). If so, you're going to have a lot more to worry about than what air cleaner to use. The simple answer is no because that air cleaner is designed for carbs and you'd be better off with the correct air cleaner. Are you also installing the electronics that go with the ZXT engine? Do you have the wiring harness from the ZXT? The fact that you asked the initial question makes me wonder if you really know what you're getting into.

I don't have the wiring harness, but im planning a trip to the junkyard soon to rip one out. What the general plan was: Take all the smog off, run the EFI, header, (maybe) a bigger turbo and some other minor things.

Don't forget the fuel pump, fuel lines, filter and bracket, damper, relay boxes and relays, and I'm sure there's other things but it's been years since I've done of of those conversions.

This is going to be a big challenge to switch the whole electronic fuel injection and turbo and all. Forget the 260 air cleaner it's not even close to expect that to work. You might find it a better choice to look into a after market injection system from my limited exposure to them they are much less complicated .

If you don't mind me asking then, why does everyone claim this swap is "drop in"? I realize that it fits without any fabrication, but is that all you meant?

I really don't know exactly what these things entail, so if you could enlighten me, please do.

Yes, the engine will drop in-it bolts up the same as the L26 you don't want to use. However, what you are doing is converting from a carburated engine to a fuel injected one (and a turbo one, at that).

The devil is in the details. You will need the correct wiring harness, upgraded fuel pump, ECU, a fuel return line, new FI hosing, stronger alternator, new distributor, different exhaust manifold (maybe)...

But the engine is a direct swap.

It's a drop in if you don't use the EFI and use your carbs instead. But in the case of a turbo engine, if you did that, you wouldn't be able to use the turbo which kind of defeats the purpose of buying a turbo engine. Plus, with carbs, that head/block combo will be low on compression ratio.

This is still the easiest way to properly turbo a car. The F*****y did all of the engineering, all you have to do is move all of the components. Because the Engine bay is so similar, there is very little in the way of supplemental engineering to do(basicly you have a few brackets to relocate and/or fabricate). Buying a running donor car and putting them side by side is the easiest way. Buying pieces a part at a time from multiple sources means any part could be suspect if you get it all together and it doesn't work-unless you are really familiar with the systems you are moving, it can be a seriously fast way to frustration. If you have a running car to test and verify parts with, it really helps.

A side by side conversion is absolutely the easiest way to do a first time swap-and it is pretty basicly a drop in-but involves everything that is needed to support the running of the engine as well.

If I had to do one piece meal, I would get it running on a stand where everything could be r/r easily to make the job as easy as possible, and probably get two of everything supporting the engine-nothing is worse than continually having momentum stopped cold by having to wait to find a good part on a used part project...

Will

Just stick an after-market pod filter on the front of the intake pipe.

Are there any books concerning the wiring of a Z then? Or could I possibly get by with threading the ZX harness directly next to the 260Z's harness?

find the FSM (factory service manual) from the 82 ZX in www.carfiche.com , right now is not available, but check it out constantly until you can download it.

Camilo