Driving habits

[Pomorza]

Hello all

I've been a proud owner of a 1976 280z for all of three months. In that time I've done a lot of work to get the car in better mechanical shape as it had some "issues". Anyhow I've been doing some short driving around town, (mainly to school and back) and was wondering how you guys drive your Z's? Where do you shift on the RPM range and sorts..basic driving habits.

This question come about due to http://www.zspecialties.com/. Read their "driving tips" section and though...oh that's something new. I usually try to shift to fourth gear as soon as possible to keep the RPM's low while cruising.

Any advise would be great

Jan

[moritz55]

I can't open the website url.

Anyway from my experience shifting for me ussually occurs around 3k rpm. From 1st --> 2nd , I can do it around 2k starting off .. 2nd --> 3rd I try to keep it around 3k and the same for 4th & 5th. I have a 1982 5sp 280zx in my '73 240z. If I feel like having fun I'll shift around 4-4.5k for 3rd --> 4th and 4th --> 5th... the sound and pull is awesome.

In general my best mileage and performance is when the car runs around 3k. I also have a vacumm gauge in place of the clock - so it gives me a good idea how my engine performance is doing all the time. Normal idle Vacumm is around 14psi, when driving steady state regardless of what gear I may be in I like to keep it above 10psi and if I remember correctly for my car - it's ussually when it runs above 2.0k rpm(maybe close to 2.3k). If I get below 2.0k and press on the accelerator - my engine power drops and it really lugs along.

Not sure this is what you were looking for - but hope this helps.

Edited November 4, 2009 by moritz55

[motorman7]

Dude, that is too funny! First off, you have to question anyone who starts off their instructions with "These are a performance engine". What a riot. I would find myself in disagreement with a number of his statements.

Not sure I would want to do the blow the smoke out the back end trick.

Personally, I agree with what Moritz has said. Rarely do I shift above 3K unless I'm at a freeway on ramp light or doing some spirited driving.

Used Firefox to read the article. IE did not work

[g9m3c]

Dude, that is too funny! First off, you have to question anyone who starts off their instructions with "These are a performance engine". What a riot. I would find myself in disagreement with a number of his statements.

Not sure I would want to do the blow the smoke out the back end trick.

Personally, I agree with what Moritz has said. Rarely do I shift above 3K unless I'm at a freeway on ramp light or doing some spirited driving.

Used Firefox to read the article. IE did not work

I agree.

That advice page almost makes me wonder if it's supposed to be sarcastic.

[Pomorza]

I can't open the website url.

Anyway from my experience shifting for me ussually occurs around 3k rpm. From 1st --> 2nd , I can do it around 2k starting off .. 2nd --> 3rd I try to keep it around 3k and the same for 4th & 5th. I have a 1982 5sp 280zx in my '73 240z. If I feel like having fun I'll shift around 4-4.5k for 3rd --> 4th and 4th --> 5th... the sound and pull is awesome.

In general my best mileage and performance is when the car runs around 3k. I also have a vacumm gauge in place of the clock - so it gives me a good idea how my engine performance is doing all the time. Normal idle Vacumm is around 14psi, when driving steady state regardless of what gear I may be in I like to keep it above 10psi and if I remember correctly for my car - it's ussually when it runs above 2.0k rpm(maybe close to 2.3k). If I get below 2.0k and press on the accelerator - my engine power drops and it really lugs along.

Not sure this is what you were looking for - but hope this helps.

Actually that was exactly what I was looking for. I usually try to keep the RPM between 2k and 3k. I haven't been driving the car that much but I have found that below 2k it tends to loose a lot of its ump. As for the article. I was pretty skeptical of what it said. I'm not exactly a car guru but I've been around enough race cars and performance engines to know that what the Z has is not really a "performance" engines.

Thank

Jan

[Zs-ondabrain]

The Z's engine WAS built as a SPORTS CAR motor. Sports cars are typically, or almost always equipted with PERFORMANCE motors. I agree with Many of his rules. These cars don't have crap for power in the lower band (under 3000 RPM)

I don't think I go for more then 2 days without driving my Z around town. And in doing that, I, 90% of the time, shift at 3K or above. I always get great gas milage, power at my feet and no lugging from the motor. My 70' 240Z has over 185,000 miles on it and it runs awesome.

I clear out the motor all the time by reving it under a load to around 5500 RPM. blows out the crud and she keeps on going. Sure, she blows some blacker smoke when I hit around 6500 to 7000 RPM, but that's to be expected from an almost 40 year old original block with 15K shy of 200,000 miles on it.

And it's all stock on the bottom end, no rebuild yet. Oliver has been working on Z cars for over 23 years and detroit Muscle 13 years before that. I trust his work and look to him for advice often. I am personally trusted by hundreds, if not thousands of Z car owners for parts that I build for their cars and the knowledge I have about cars. I trust Oliver and his rules.

So rev the damn thing up and drive it like a sports car. Or get rid of it to someone who will.

JM2CW.

Dave

[Pomorza]

The Z's engine WAS built as a SPORTS CAR motor. Sports cars are typically, or almost always equipted with PERFORMANCE motors. I agree with Many of his rules. These cars don't have crap for power in the lower band (under 3000 RPM)

I don't think I go for more then 2 days without driving my Z around town. And in doing that, I, 90% of the time, shift at 3K or above. I always get great gas milage, power at my feet and no lugging from the motor. My 70' 240Z has over 185,000 miles on it and it runs awesome.

I clear out the motor all the time by reving it under a load to around 5500 RPM. blows out the crud and she keeps on going. Sure, she blows some blacker smoke when I hit around 6500 to 7000 RPM, but that's to be expected from an almost 40 year old original block with 15K shy of 200,000 miles on it.

And it's all stock on the bottom end, no rebuild yet. Oliver has been working on Z cars for over 23 years and detroit Muscle 13 years before that. I trust his work and look to him for advice often. I am personally trusted by hundreds, if not thousands of Z car owners for parts that I build for their cars and the knowledge I have about cars. I trust Oliver and his rules.

So rev the damn thing up and drive it like a sports car. Or get rid of it to someone who will.

JM2CW.

Dave

JM2CW

I didn't mean to be rude or insult Oliver and his rules. I just wanted to know what people's driving habits. I also didn't mean to say that Z motors aren't in a way performance. I've never owned a Z or any sports car what so ever. My other car, that I just gave to my big brother, was a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee that has 260k on it. (yup that's right 260k and still all original). So if I say dumb things by all means set me right.:stupid:

Now I do shift at 3k or above unless the car is cold. But my question is more of my question has to do with what you do when you actually reach cruising speed. (say 35). Do you keep it in 3rd @~3,000 or do you shift to fourth and let it down to about 2k? (I have a 5 speed out of a 78)

Jan

[FastWoman]

Sound advice. I've often considered screwing my accelerator pedal to the floor and installing a rev limitor, so as to keep my RPMs as high as possible at all times. It might be a bit hard on the fuel economy, but everyone would really be impressed with my performance engine.

Seriously, just because these engines can be run hard and fast doesn't mean you're being hard on them by running them from, say, 2000-3000 RPM. They're happy at lower RPMs too. Just don't expect 150 hp unless you're willing to wind up the engine.

Jan, in answer to your question, imagine running your engine at an idle. It can handle that, right? Now imagine coasting down a long grade at a moderate and steady speed with the clutch in. Still no problem -- engine happy. Now imagine you go into gear in 5th gear, and the engine and transmission speed are perfectly matched by coincidence. The engine still has no load on it, and it's still happy at idle speed. What an engine doesn't like is being put under load at low RPMs. If you're just cruising along at a constant speed, there's no harm in shifting to a higher gear that is "comfortable." I don't go into 5th below 40 or 4th below 30. If I'm cruising at a steady speed in a high/highish gear, I recognize I might need to downshift to accelerate. No problem. That's what an automatic transmission does, and it doesn't kill the engine.

Edited November 5, 2009 by FastWoman

[Zs-ondabrain]

No insult felt here. I was just stating out loud I guess. Sometimes it comes of as strong when I state fact or opinions. Sorry if you felt troubled in any way, not what I set out to do.

When I reach speed, say 35mph, It may fall under 3k but I only let it stay there if the road is on the empty or uncluttered side. If there is traffic around, I'll keep it at 3000 or higher. Reason being that People in general, are stupid. And stupid people like to aim for my little Z or just don't pay attension. Being at a higher RPM allows me a quicker get away from tailgators or cars coming from the side.

I love to drive my Z as much as possible but the idots make me wanna find more and more backroads to get where I'm going.... My 5-speed is out of a 79' 280ZX and the diff is a 3:90 R200 with CV axles. I love the combo as it gives great MPG but still has UMPH!! at low RPM's

Dave

[gnosez]

When rpms start moving down to 2500 (and lower), DOWN shift and get over it, regardless of what gear you're in. Up shift whenever you want (short for gas mileage, long for power/speed).

I seldom ever short shift (it's not a eco-box, it's a sports coupe). My drivetrain is similar to Zs-ondabrain save for a '80 tranny, a quaife in the diff and about 260hp@rws (3:90 gears and ZXT CVs). My up shifts tend to be in the 6000 range (peak power) when I want to go fast and around 3000 to 3500 around town.

[Pomorza]

Thanks guys. Exactly the answer I was looking for. I must agree with you that Dave that people in General are stupid. It tends to be worse now with all the technology such as phones and GPS's and all that people insist on using instead of paying attention to the road. I almost got hit last night on my way home by a lady who "forgot" that you have to yield on a red light. Nearly took me clean off the road.

Again thanks

Jan

[mgood]

My car is like everyone, it does not like to below 2k and and I usually try to up shift at 3k or above. Mine seems happiest at 3k or above. I never try to start out in second from a stop, I will do a rolling start in second on the level or down hill but never up hill. The engine will shutter at that. My car has 49k on it.

I have always wondered how the other z reacted to RPM's and shifting, now I know, they all seem to be alike.