What to buy? 1972 240Z vs 1977 280Z

[ZcarFanMan]

Concerning the exhaust system, best bang for the buck is to find a good exhaust guy and have him make you whatever you want. If you're after performance, a single 2.5 inch pipe with a resonator and straight through muffler will have great performance and shouldn't cost you much. If you want less noise, get a quieter muffler.

My local exhaust guy did a header-back twice pipe exhaust for me, including a total of 4 glasspacks and 2 O2 sensor bungs for $300. Obviously, I can get a single pipe system for less. Find a good local exhaust guy and you won't regret it!

Ahh! Thanks, I never thought about that. It's a pretty straight forward setup under there.

As for the carbs, It sounds like the way to go would be ZT carbs, no?

[joel72]

Hey how are you doing? This is Joel the Guy you bought the 1972 240 from in sacramento CA. I'm on the 3rd green one and it is almost done, new complete rebello motor zero hours on it looks exactly the same as this one wheels and all. all chrome and wheel centers have been powder coated gloss black ,it's going to be for sale in a couple of weeks . joelholquin7669@comcast.net it is nice to see it is still out there joel

[bartsscooterservice]

It's not an american car, weighing 2 tons and a crush zone of a tank, the 240 is a tin can ! But it's all what you want, look on hybridz.. anythings possible if you don't like stock, and you need deep pockets...very deep pockets.

[rcb280z]

Ztherapy carbs are the way to go. Nice buy. I, living in CA, would have bought the 240 also. Smog laws are hard here and its getting harder and harder to pass my 77 280.

[ZcarFanMan]

Hey!

Work is kicking my A@@ all year (Auto transporter) and i'm now getting ready to "Do Work"!

I've bought a lot of stuff since last time I posted here. All new interior.. Carpet, red panels, door panels, new seat foam, new seat upholstery.. etc. I need a glove box lid and liner still.

For exterior, I bought new Ball joints, new front turn signal lenses, all new badges, motor mounts, brake lines. I need a front bumper and a complete front valance still. I debating on keeping the front bumper hood protector bar or whatever the proper name is.

Radiator coming up as well as a motor and i'm going with headers over the OEM exhaust.. My motor only cranks 75 75 80 150 145 78 psi.. It's toast, do I rebuild and try my luck or buy a new rebuild from a local builder. Any reputable builders in the inland empire or OC? Who (builders) do I need to stay away from? I know I can save a lot of cash by doing it myself but i've never rebuilt a Z motor. I can get a good 160+ psi 260z motor, carbs and trans for under 800.00.

I'll snap some pics during the process if anyone is interested, as for now the car is the same as the last pics I posted.

Thanks for your time and any info is greatly appreciated!

Jim

Edited October 14, 2013 by ZcarFanMan

[Patcon]

If cash is tight, a good running motor with good compression is cheaper than the machine work and parts it will take to rebuild what you have. Also it will be quicker than waiting on a machine shop...FWIW

Charles

[ZcarFanMan]

OK, I came across a low mileage 280z motor so i'll have my old motor to tinker with and rebuild as time goes on. The 280 should drop right in and bolt up with the manifolds right?

I have a few more questions..

1. Radiators, I'm looking at 3 row cores from a local shop here in socal. My question is, Do I keep the clutch fan or go with the 2 10" electric fans? I'm going to add A/C so I was thinking less draw on the motor the better in the summer time but how efficient are the dual fan vs clutch?

2. Complete A/C systems, This car had NO A/C. I see the system for 1149.00 @ MSA. Any input or advice on a better setup? I'm not worried about external controls or anything..

Thanks..

[hr369]

Perhaps that old 240 motor has some stuck rings

from sitting so long.

You might try getting it running first and see if the

compression on some of those cylinders comes up.

Thats the route i'de take first before buying another

motor.

BTW... What shape are the exhaust ports on

the 280z motor?

Edited January 5, 2014 by hr369

[EuroDat]

OK, I came across a low mileage 280z motor so i'll have my old motor to tinker with and rebuild as time goes on. The 280 should drop right in and bolt up with the manifolds right?

You can drop the L28 in the 240Z with little trouble.

One thing you should note is the manifolds could be different. Depends on which year the 280Z was. Early 280's had the N42 head and the later had the N47. The 280Z engine blocks are all N42.

In the N47 the exhaust ports are round and fitted with emmision liners. You will need a header to suit or the L28 exhaust manifold to match the head.

If you plan on rebuilding the L24, I would just use the standard L28 exhaust manifold for the time being.

Is the L24 a matching numbers engine? If it is, you should at least keep it for possible resale. It will add value to the car even if its not installed.

You have not mentioned it, but just in case. If you are planning to use the L28 clutch, you will need the throwout bearing assembly for that pressure plate. Often left in the transmission.

Your bearing collar will be to short and stuff up the clutch fork geomentry and you won't fix it with a longer push rod in the slave cylinder. The fork will probably hit the opening in the transmission housing before the clucth disengages. You don't want to find that out once everything in back in the car and all running ready for a test drive.

Chas

[ZcarFanMan]

Perhaps that old 240 motor has some stuck rings

from sitting so long.

You might try getting it running first and see if the

compression on some of those cylinders comes up.

Thats the route i'de take first before buying another

motor.

BTW... What shape are the exhaust ports on

the 280z motor?

4 of the cyls are heavily oil polluted, The plugs are covered in sludge, she's tired. I haven't yanked the manifold yet to see the ports. I haven't bought the motor yet, i'm going today to check compression and a closer look.

[ZcarFanMan]

You can drop the L28 in the 240Z with little trouble.

One thing you should note is the manifolds could be different. Depends on which year the 280Z was. Early 280's had the N42 head and the later had the N47. The 280Z engine blocks are all N42.

In the N47 the exhaust ports are round and fitted with emmision liners. You will need a header to suit or the L28 exhaust manifold to match the head.

If you plan on rebuilding the L24, I would just use the standard L28 exhaust manifold for the time being.

Is the L24 a matching numbers engine? If it is, you should at least keep it for possible resale. It will add value to the car even if its not installed.

You have not mentioned it, but just in case. If you are planning to use the L28 clutch, you will need the throwout bearing assembly for that pressure plate. Often left in the transmission.

Your bearing collar will be to short and stuff up the clutch fork geomentry and you won't fix it with a longer push rod in the slave cylinder. The fork will probably hit the opening in the transmission housing before the clucth disengages. You don't want to find that out once everything in back in the car and all running ready for a test drive.

Chas

Thanks for the advice.

The motor (Not sure of the year) comes with the manifold. My plan was to go with a header so i'm covered either way there. How would I know if the motor #'s match? I do believe the motor is original. I was going to rebuild and use the 240 trans/clutch setup that's in the car now. Can I do that, will they just bolt up? I'm not sure I understand about L28 clutch. I've seen other motors in my area with trans for around the same price or a bit more. This motor i'm looking at still shows the OEM paint colors pretty good.

Thanks

[EuroDat]

Thanks for the advice.

The motor (Not sure of the year) comes with the manifold. My plan was to go with a header so i'm covered either way there. How would I know if the motor #'s match? I do believe the motor is original. I was going to rebuild and use the 240 trans/clutch setup that's in the car now. Can I do that, will they just bolt up? I'm not sure I understand about L28 clutch. I've seen other motors in my area with trans for around the same price or a bit more. This motor i'm looking at still shows the OEM paint colors pretty good.

Thanks

The early Zeds had the engine number stamped into the identificationplate on the car. That way you have the chassis number HSL30-....... and engine number for that vehicle.

The 240Z clutch will fit the L28 no problems. It only becomes a problem when you start mixing the parts. Both pressure plates will bolt up to the flywheel, but they are different heights. This is compensated by a different length throwout bearing collar.

They are both 550lb pressure plates, just the 280z is flatter in appearence.

If you can pick up a L28 with the 5sp, would be a nice swap.

Chas