Not much power :(

[kenz240z]

I have a L28/5-speed from an '82 ZX in my '73. Running SU's instead of EFI. Diffy is a R-180 3.90 out of a mid-80's 4X4. My Z is quick off the line, but nowhere near my '97 Camaro Z28 with an LT-1/6-speed. The Camaro is fun for hot rodding around town and running errands. The Z is fun for spirited driving on the twisty roads in the nearby foothills & mountains. Guess which one leaves me with a bigger smile on my face...

One cool thing about a Z is that you can soup it up with factory Datsun/Nissan parts, much like a Chevy. Replace the L24 with an L28, swap in a 5-speed, and for quicker launches swap in a 3.90 or 4.11 diffy.

[ajmcforester]

Now you have a goal, you stated you had an L24, what head, are you using the smog pump, any aftermarket exhaust?

This engine will meet your goals, you might want to stiffen the diff mount in back, but the car for the most part can handle a 50hp gain. I recommend getting it running like a top first, and answering the questions above first so we can have an idea on what we are helping with.

[Co0kieduster]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I was in the process of taking care of all the safety issues with the car before doing any modifications. I was assuming all the standard stuff wouldn't take long, but when I was at the tire shop trying to figure out where my shimmy and rear wheel noise was coming from (after a set of new tires) I found out that the rear end is pretty jacked up. Camber, toe and the right wheel is shifted forward.

So everything is being put on hold until I can figure out what i've gotten myself into....I guess you never know with these old cars. Just from looking at the car everything "appears" straight all the seems line up no visible cracks in the body, all the wheels are perfectly centered in the wheel wells. Should have brought a tape measure with me and measure from hub to hub maybe.

Anyway the car will be going to the body shop, hopefully next week, to be put on the frame rack and inspected for a bent frame.

Again, not feeling good about this, I wont drive a car until everything is straight and riding the way it is meant to. Just worried they're going to tell they can't fix it or its going to cost a million dollars.

This is the first time i've dealt with something like this.

[FastWoman]

Maybe antique cars aren't your sort of thing. You can get pretty impressive power (225 hp) out of a BMW Z3 and look damned good in it. Maintenance is high, but it's a modern and affordable car. Probably a similar total investment.

[sblake01]

Anyway the car will be going to the body shop, hopefully next week, to be put on the frame rack and inspected for a bent frame.

Can that actually be done on a unibody setup like an S30?

[Co0kieduster]

I'm not sure if the unibody can straightened. I talked to the owner when i went and he didn't act as if i was out of luck if it was bent. I'm hoping its maybe just the rear suspension. Replacing parts sounds more promising.

[ajmcforester]

You can straiten the carthe question might be cost