0 to 60 & Highway HP - 260Z

[TexasRider260Z]

I had not followed this progression in these cars. Thank you for taking the time to show it to all of us. It sure changes the idea some.

I have read here and other places that you have several top notch cars and have considerable experience so again your inputs are well received.

My little 260 car pics is shown above waiting on the transporter to pick it up and bring it to Texas.

It is a essentially a well maintained stock 260 from October 1973. Every record of anything done with the car or purchased was in a file and came with the car . That was nice to have.

I would work to a higher quality car in any event. And a weight loss is normally my first thing to do anyway on any of these kinds of projects. I better loose a few winter pounds too to help it out .

My safari PH is not going to like this !

Edited January 27, 2009 by TexasRider260Z

[TexasRider260Z]

- I worked my way through college selling cars and working in bars. I sold DATSUN's in 72/73...

Carl B.

I did not read that close enough - Cars and Bars.

This might be an interesting discussion for another time :laugh:!

[ChrisZ]

A little advise would be to keep the stock motor, i mean if the motor in your 260Z is the numbers matching one and then get your self a nice L28, you can build on, then you can always convert back again.

But as stated ealier, turbo the bastard:bandit:, find your self complete a 280 ZXT, a wrecked or rusted up one with a good drive train, swap it all over in the 260Z, include gearbox, rear end and wirering harness, best bang for the bucks.

Chris

[TexasRider260Z]

Chris:

I considered just keeping this one as a stocker. I did. And it seems as if there are a lot of 280s around over here too. The motors are around even new blocks, rods, cams, etc too. The list of things I dont need for a build like that is longer than the list of things I do need.

When the production rules on racing hit in motorcyles we just kept the frame, the cases, and the tank and stickers. So I know about these builds.

But another guy who had done builds on these cars advice was to get an unmolested and straight body one to work on. Of course that was before and even fewer original cars are left. And mine is not its green color or have the original wheels. I did see wheels for it though.

But if I get 2 Z CARS ?? Well you saw my other post. Now I am really double crazy.

Thanks though for the idea and time to post up.

[madkaw]

IMHO I think you could spice up that 260 to a point that it would keep you happy as far as performance, and not spend a ton, and have something different other then a new nissan. You could get a better flowing head and better carburation(maybe triples), and better gearing(5 speed with 3.7 or 3.9) and improve your 0-60 greatley. These engines are really tough on the bottom end, and though Carl is right that the bottom end rebuild would get you max HP, I think you could just do a top end and be happy and it would run good for a long time. If you already have a nice looking car, you have already covered a big part of the cost of fixing these cars up. Do the suspension and the top end and then make the call for a newer car or not.

Good luck

[Zs-ondabrain]

I guess I'm gonna have to get a Stop Watch and get some real world times for My Z. Or maybe even get a light weight passenger to hit the bottons and watch the times.

I need to get her tuned up and do another Dyno, now that I have the ignition and Triples. The previous Dyno was on untuned S.U.'s and an E12-80 Dizzy and no muffler. for the XBOX 360 game. FORZA Motorsport 2

http://forzamotorsport.net/news/carculture/dyno06-1.htm

http://forzamotorsport.net/news/carculture/dyno06-quiz-results.htm

That was a while ago and a fricken Blast.

Dave.

Edited January 28, 2009 by Zs-ondabrain

[rdefabri]

Some good points here. I'd agree with madkaw though, you can do enough to this car with head work and carbs.

I don't know the 260Z as much, but a few posters on various Z boards have taken a modded E88 (shaved, larger valves, notched piston bores) or N42 (already larger valves, but shaved and notched) on a stock bore L24. You'd want a hotter cam and minimally a refreshed (if not bored) set of SUs. Slap in a better rear end (3.90 or 4.11) and you'll have a nice speedster.

Now, depending on how "hot" you make the head / cam, I've seen "claims" ofanywhere from 14.5 to 15.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile. I put claim in quotes as I've not seen hard proof of the times, but 160 rwhp in a 2,300 lb. car is going to be zippy. Check out Classic Motorsports 240Z - essentially a stock L24 with a Sunbelt Performance head that generated 200HP at the crank (roughly 170 at the wheels) - certainly that car boogies, likely more than enough to satisfy most tastes.

Otherwise, I'd go with Carl - buy a modern used car like a Honda S2000. You can get one for $15K or less and it will perform better than most anything you could do to a 260Z (short of a L28ET, but still requires some mods IMHO).

I fret over this quite a bit as I have thought about bumping the power in my Z for years. Yet, I own a 2000 Lexus GS400 (300HP V8) that would smoke anything I could do to it on my budget - so why bother? These cars are wonderful time capsules that are meant to be enjoyed as they once were.

If you have the scratch, anything can be done. Head over to Youtube and check out "Turbo240Z" (heavily modded L28ET) or "ZRedBaron" (3.1L stroker) and you'll get an idea. Bring your wallet.

[ChrisZ]

rdefabri, despite of all my turbo writing, i fully agree with you on this, keep it old school.

Chris

[jmortensen]

I wouldn't hesitate to mod a 260, as they are the least desireable Z in my experience. If you're really looking for a lot of power, there are lots of alternatives with turbos or other-than-Datsun engines. Have a look over at www.hybridz.org. Everything from SR20DETs to V8s of all sorts to RB26s and 1JZ's have been done. I like the L28ET and V8 options, as they are relatively inexpensive and they've been done enough times that you won't really be charting new territory and you can get plenty of power from either.

[ChrisZ]

How many early US 260Z was ever made ? Carl Beck

Chris

[Carl Beck]

Hi Chris:

I don't have an official number, but based on recorded VIN's - it looks like something close to 46,000 would be in the ball park.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[rdefabri]

Hi Chris:

I don't have an official number, but based on recorded VIN's - it looks like something close to 46,000 would be in the ball park.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Maybe the question should be - how many are left? I agree, it's sort of the "red-headed" stepchild of the breed, and I would be more inclined to mod the 260 over a 240, but given it's 1 year run is it somewhat "exclusive"?