need 0 to 30 better

[83'280zxturbo]

My 0 to 30 time is horrible! I am wanting to do something to my car to make the low end torque better and have a great start to my car. It is an automatic and I am thinking of getting the fuel injectors cleaned. What do yall think I should do to make the car faster from the start.

Thanks

[JEFF]

How many miles are on your engine?

Are there any aftermarket performance parts on your engine?

When was the air filter changed last?

Plugs changed last?

What octaine of gas do you use?

Is your auto trans fluid full?

Is your turbo waste-gate fully opening?

- Jeff

[83'280zxturbo]

The car has 96,000 miles on it, no proformance parts at all, going to change filter , changed plugs recently, car runs on 93 octane, transmission fluid is full, and I don't know about the waste-gate being fully opened. Give me some more ideas of what to do. And also where to buy some proformance parts.

Thanks

[83'280zxturbo]

What about new exhaust? It has the same exhaust on it as in 83' when brand new. The only thing different is the cat is gutted. Will all new pipes and a muffler help?

[JEFF]

Some turbo cars NEED the restriction produced by the cat - did you notice a performance decreece after the cat was gutted?

A good turbo Header and properly flowing exhaust is a must for good acceleration. When I put 2-1/2" pipe on my 240Z I lost all my low end power but gained top end ( it would do 143 mph) I reduced the exhaust size to 1-7/8" I got all my low end back - So there is such thing as "to large" on an exhaust pipe.

- Jeff

[Leeroy]

With respect to exhaust sizing on NA engines, tuned to perfection is the way that I would describe it. Different ppl will tell you different things but the fact remains: Bigger = top end, smaller = bottom end. Too small, it'll choke the engine, too big and it will run like an absolute pig with no manners and a huge performance decrease.

Turbos thoughare much different...for more low end and top end go for the biggest exhaust that you possibly can, with the least bends and preferably Mandrel bent (so that the bends are exactly the same size as the straight sections!)...3" is about standard for a 2 litre-3 litre capacity path (ie a 4ltr twin turbo would run 2 3" exhausts (1 for every 2 litres)...so 3" is a good size for your standard jap turbo car. If you put a 3"on a L24-26 NA, then you would lose heaps of power...and if you are going to use a turbo engine, get a high flow cat that will match the exhaust diameter (its usually the weakest point) because to be honest, most high flow cat's nowadays run nearly as good as an open pipe (ie maybe 2-3% decrease in power) and it will keep you out of trouble with the EPA and keep you in the good books with the environment!!

Good luck!

Cheers ppl!:classic:

[Leeroy]

GET RID OF THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST!!!

It is very restrictive, and I can guarantee you a 20% (minimum) increase in power if you fit a 3" mandrel bent (if your engine is in good order and your turbo is fine). Here are some performance pointers:

1 Exhaust (most power getting and good sounding!)

2 Cold air intake with a high flow air filter (K&N are good (bit expensive though) and have a 1 million mile warranty!)

3 Boost controller/bleed valve (a bleed valve is cheap and will do the job, but a boost controller is very accurate, has constant data logging and can give you a constant display!).

4 Intercooler (big, mounted out front in the open, cool air and with a good flow rate (cheap ones tend to be low flow even for their size, although an EVO 3 Lancer core is very good, and can be bought fairly cheap!)

5 Rebuild turbo! (do this for reliablility and to make sure that its all good and well, also makes sure that your power increases aren't hampered by a lack of turbo efficiency!)

Thats about it for easy mods, though they will garner you alot of power (just don't put the boost beyond what it is now without an intercooler, TRUST ME!!! Once you have the intercooler though, and you have the turbo rebuilt put it up to 15psi (1 bar) and feel the power!)

Good luck, let us know how you get on!!

Cheers ppl!

[ZmeFly]

with just a 3 inch exhuast ill post when i get it from my friend jeffp, what the dyno says on a stock turbo with a 3 inch exhuast.

the gained power was 20 hp and 18ft lbs of torque at the rear wheels.

that shows you how restrictive the stock system is.

he has dyno sheets that i can post to prove it.

jeff mentioned some turbos need the restriction, sorry jeff but that is totally wrong.

the less restrictive the exhaust is on a turbo motor the better for power. you want as little restriction as possible.

[mushupork5]

where is a good place to get a new exhaust system online fairly cheap for a 76 280z with stock everything, also can i just remove the air intake cover to make it a cold ait intake? there is a picture of someone else doing this and i wonder if that would help performance. thanks

[hf240z]

Originally posted by mperdue

Swap in a higher ratio differential.

i believe the above mod will be a sure thing.

[2ManyZs]

Well, actually that would be a lower ratio, remember, higher numerical number is actually a lower ratio....

You've more than likely got a 3.54 or 3.70 now, so going a bit higher numerically will help... but, the biggest help will be to make sure all the engine systems are in top condition. A diet for the car would be the second best thing you could do...as they are considerably heavier than an early car.

[ZmeFly]

you dont want to go above 3.70 unless you have taller gears in the transmission. what happens is you will get a better take off, but what you lose is the power that the turbo will produce by not being able to say in gear long enough to use that boost therefore losing power.

nissan was very right in there thinking and keeping the ratio at 3.54