getting more HP in 78 280z

[JacktheRiffer]

What are the cheapest/easiest (weekend project with limited tools) ways to increase a 1978 280z horsepower?

[240260280z]

get a 2nd head, cam, valve job, port it.

[Travel'n Man]

To do it right it is still not cheap! Call Dave Rebello at Rebello Racing - he is one of the masters at squeezing every ounce of HP from our engines.

[JacktheRiffer]

Im looking for easy ways to increase the horsepower, nothing drastic

[240260280z]

For these motors, most HP is in the head. A header and intake will give you a little but head work and cam is what you will have to do.

A good coated header will set you back $300 to $1000

A good efi intake will cost $300-$600

You can upgrade the EFI and tune for more HP but that is more complex and $$$$.

The only other way for easy HP is to swap out the motor for a 280zx turbo motor.

The cheapest horsepower is simply to press further on the pedal and run ~1,000 to 2,000 rpms above where you normally drive.

[cbuczesk]

Try some new plugs, 8mm wires, performance coil (remove the ballast resistor), run premium fuel, adjust the timing and adjust the valves. After that you can try a K&N type air filter, header and 2.5" exhaust. And remember that reducing weight is like adding horsepower. The '78 Z has some pretty big bumpers...

Chuck

[Gary in NJ]

What's the budget? There is a simple formula to remember: Hp=$

[steve91tt]

Will the stock EFI will handle any significant increase in HP? I thought that if you start putting go-fast parts on the early FI cars you had to go with an aftermarket system like Megasquirt.

[Unkle]

The only thing you can do is give it an extremely accurate tune up .

Nothing will give it more power the way you describe you want to do this .

Fresh filters , oil , plugs, wires , cap + rotor etc. might free up something .

Fresh gas with the right octane helps too .

If your passenger weighs more than 100 pounds , open the door and give her a boot ( kidding ) .

More horsepower and tourque ( Canadian , eh ) are achieved by a performance rebuild and planning , not ''bolt on'' stuff.

In other words cbuszesk in post 6 says it too .

Edited May 10, 2012 by Unkle

[tlorber]

Unkle,

Is that 100 pounds Canadian or American? I think I'd allow up to about 120 lbs if properly proportioned.

Question about octane--if a car is not pinging on low or mid grade, will a higher octane really give more power?

[LeonV]

The only thing you can do is give it an extremely accurate tune up .

Nothing will give it more power the way you describe you want to do this .

Fresh filters , oil , plugs, wires , cap + rotor etc. might free up something .

Fresh gas with the right octane helps too .

If your passenger weighs more than 100 pounds , open the door and give her a boot ( kidding ) .

More horsepower and tourque ( Canadian , eh ) are achieved by a performance rebuild and planning , not ''bolt on'' stuff.

In other words cbuszesk in post 6 says it too .

Exactly! Go through the FSM and give every system a tune up. The results will far exceed those from throwing bolt-on parts at your engine.

Unkle,

Is that 100 pounds Canadian or American? I think I'd allow up to about 120 lbs if properly proportioned.

Question about octane--if a car is not pinging on low or mid grade, will a higher octane really give more power?

Answer: a resounding no.

A bump in octane will help if and only if you have pre-ignition or detonation at MBT timing.

[Unkle]

Unkle,

Is that 100 pounds Canadian or American? I think I'd allow up to about 120 lbs if properly proportioned.

Question about octane--if a car is not pinging on low or mid grade, will a higher octane really give more power?

OK 120 then . On the octane statement , I did say the correct(right) octane ( for the motor's current setup ) , not higher rating .

Edited May 10, 2012 by Unkle