will 1973 dual carb setup work on 280z?

[geosecor]

Is $90.00 a good price for a complete dual carb & intake setup (conditon unknown) off a 1973 240z and would it work on one of my 280Z years 1976 & 1978 if I did away with injection system.

[MikeW]

I'm no expert but most people around here seem to believe that carbs off of a '73 aren't worth anything, especially in unknown condition since they'd likely need work. While they would fit the earlier "round top" carbs from '70 to '72 would be a better bet if you want to get away from fuel injection.

[Arne]

Here in the USA, the carbs used on the '73 240Z and '74 260Z were very poor performers as delivered from the factory, giving 14% less power and very poor drivability. While I believe that with proper knowledge and a some custom work they could be re-tuned, it is far easier to get good performance from the earlier '70-72 carbs instead. Which is what many '73 and '74 owners do on their cars, so for a 280Z conversion I'd recommend the same. Average price for a used set of these earlier carbs w/manifolds and linkage is around $150. Also figure it likely that most any set you get for that amount will probably need the throttle shafts re-done. Check with ZTherapy or possibly Zedd Saver for this service.

As far as converting from injection to carbs, my first question would be, "Why?" For street driving on a stock or mildly modified engine there's nothing wrong with the factory injection. Converting will be a fair amount of work for little (if any) gain.

But if you do decide that converting to carbs is what you want to do, here is a link to a tech article I wrote on that subject a while back:

Fuel injection to SU carb swap

[Go240Zags]

Is $90.00 a good price for a complete dual carb & intake setup (conditon unknown) off a 1973 240z and would it work on one of my 280Z years 1976 & 1978 if I did away with injection system.

Have you seen the carbs in person or by way of a picture. Often the owners of the 73 240Z have converted from the carbs with the flat tops to the bell or round top carbs. If they were changed to the earlier carbs it would be a pretty good deal. FI to carbs has been done, you might search around this site and see if you can find some further information before you make the change. Gary D.

[beandip]

I installed a '82ZX engine in my 240 and kept the SUs. The engine runs great with the carbs. I tried a few different needles and found the 54s which are stock work the best . If you have a 280Z or ZX why change from the injection ? I have been told the engine running SUs develop a little more low end power . But not enough to be making the switch and giving up the drivability of injection. There are members that have stripped off most of the emissions stuff from the injection and the engines run great. You cannot run the injection fuel pump with SUs unless you add a pressure regulator .

[Bruce Palmer]

... FI owners who are tired of trying to keep their systems functional. Seems all they want to do is hit the key and drive off everytime. 2.8's run great on 46mm Hitachis, but the flat tops are a piece of work unto themselves.....

[geosecor]

I saw them in person on a new arrival to my local junkyard (1973 240z) and thought it would be easier than the computer-run injection crap I have deal with every car I have had (1975-1978) but I think I may hold out for a better setup, i had heard in 1973 they did more smog friendly changes to carb but didnt know they were so much of a headache..I will check to see if they are flattops or roundtops, but will probably steer clear. thanks for input!

[sblake01]

... FI owners who are tired of trying to keep their systems functional. Seems all they want to do is hit the key and drive off everytime. 2.8's run great on 46mm Hitachis, but the flat tops are a piece of work unto themselves.....

To each his own. I have two cars with the EFI system and have never considered converting them to carbs. A combined 13+ years of 'hitting the key and driving off everytime'. Sure, on a couple of occaisions I had to fix a problem but I have the knowlege to do so. They're not all that misterious. Not to knock what you do at all. If I had a 240 or 260Z, I would be most likely running your carbs.

[dogma420]

Geosecor,

If the 73 carbs are flat-tops, charge the guy $90 to dispose of them for him, and that would be a good deal. Stay away! They are so bad that if you bitched a bit, on a new 73 you could take it back and in some cases have the dealer replace them with older round tops--at no charge. Pretty much unheard of unless they were garbage.

You will find a few tweakers who like to adjust them but considering that round tops are so easy to tune, I don't see the point.

Take care!

[veritech-z]

I just slapped some round tops that I got from a buddy for $50 on my 77 280z, and it ran fine, considering I opted not to keep the choke system (Doh!)...I got tired of the cold start problems though, and just finished converting it to a Megasquirt standalone with an aftermarket fuel rail but otherwise stock injection. I prefer fuel injection, but carbs definitely have character, and a distinctive sound. So to answer your question, it's not too hard to do, the throttle linkage doesn't even need to be modified, you just have to put on a low pressure pump ( I got the puralator $20 "red" pump that does 4-6 psi and it worked fine) or a bypass regulator and you're good to go.