Yea I'm new and need serious opinions.

[DtP1337]

I was driving down the road the other day and a shiny silver/white 1975 4 speed 280z caught my eye and ever since I've been aving up for it. Its condition is remarkable yet it still needs alot of work and I have no idea where to begin. I talked ot car down to 1800 and it does have some black smoke propelling form the exhaust. As a first timer I would really appreciate where to begin on this car. My goals are to make this car into a street legal 200 MPH 5 speed or 4 speed if possible to drift a 4-speed. I found many sites that have great prices from engine parts to exterior and interior. Any other websites would be very welcome. I'm taking this project very seriously and I really hope to make this car into the most hardass honda eater in east tennessee.

[WingZr0]

Hmm.. 200 MPH on a stock enigine block, I don't know,

drift is possible fo sho but others might know about the

200MPH thing.

1st in my opinion is get a R200 LSD.

They come in 3.5'ish crusie ratios up to 4.36, 4.444 all the way upto

5.0+ even 6.+ Drag Racing gear ratios I believe with, the last 2 being

JDM Super Rare.

The search function is always helpful when searching fo new information

and if you really need to go 200+MPH get an RB25(or)26DETT ^^

Skyline engines are good for 1,000+ HP

but the S30 engines is it's own animnal in it's self

~Z~

[BRE-240Z]

Serious horsepower costs a lot of money.

You say that you're saving up for the car. If money is tight, your first course of action should be to go through the car and make it safe and dependable. Later on you'll have plenty of options for adding horsepower. I mean, if my car were spewing black smoke I wouldn't be looking for ways to make it smoke faster and harder....you see what I'm saying?

If you go to hybridz.org you'll find plenty of great power enhancement ideas, or example, but as I said, when you're adding that much power you'd better have the means to pay for it. It can get crazy real fast.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[red_dog007]

Your going to need to go to hybridz.org for this one.

Getting to go super fast is super expensive. For drag and drifting, I would set my eyes on a RB26DETT that is modified for more power, or a stock LS2 or LS7 that could always just be easily supercharged if more power is needed.

I would not consider any other motors, other then the 2JZ which is a strong rival of the RB26DETT.

[WingZr0]

If you go with tha JZ you'll be hated for having a Toyo

(Toyota) motor .. :rambo: FYI

[240ZMan]

I hope you didn't literally mean "street legal 200 MPH". The aerodynamics of the early Z is really poor, so the HP to get to 200 mph will result in an engine that is not streetable, and even if you do have that much power, the car won't be stable without a lot of aero mods.

I'd suggest you shoot for a car that can hit 120+ at the end of the straight on a road course and you'll find you have a VERY ENTERTAINING car for the street. You can do that with the NA L6 without breaking the bank. But as others said, make sure you start with the suspension and brakes. With the stock 30 year old suspension, even 120 mph is going to be scary fast.

[EScanlon]

Dylan:

You asked for "serious" opinions.

Here is mine, without any B.S. padding added to it:

You're dreaming.

Many of us would admit that if we WISHED for what you've expressed ... we'd be dreaming too.

Now, here's a plain unvarnished truth:

200mph+....figure on spending $3000 to $5000 for every 10mph over 80mph. That's between $36,000 and $60,000, and all susceptible to go down the drain the minute something breaks and .... let's not go there yet.

While there will be folks who will tell you it's "doable" for less than the low figure ($36,000) understand that those guys will be guys who have years of experience behind them, under them, and all around them. That is, they either know and can do the work themselves, or they know someone that can do it for them inexpensively, or they have friends that can help them do it.

The upper figure ($60,000) is based on a very broad GUESS-TIMATE of what it MIGHT cost to have some of this work done by others.

I'm only guessing at the numbers myself, but if you're having to save up for an $1800 car, you're looking at saving for every $500 upgrade. Which in turn delays getting things done, which in turn means other expenses creep in.

Some of these upgrades you are planning are very time consuming and what's more, put the car down until most of it's completed. Were you planning on driving this car? You won't be able to after a point. Have you got a place to store it? Where it won't be exposed to the elements and doesn't require Mom and Dad to park in the street while your project collects dust in the garage?

All of these can be deal breakers. Period.

Now, if you're looking for a sharp looking car that will be a BLAST to drive and more than likely can beat many Honda's, then it CAN be done. However, the drifting and drag-racing will create problems....and those problems WILL cost money. I'm not just referring to the broken mechanical parts, I'm also saying don't get caught racing, speeding, or any kind of infraction.

Did I mention insurance? The car is classified as a Sports Car by most insurance companies. Are you planning on using Mom and Dad's policy? Have you bounced it off of them as to how much it will cost to insure you...in a SPORTS car? Again, the plain truth is that at 19 and Male.... it's EEK-$pen$ive with a major bullet. Which nut are you planning on giving up? (They don't take legs, nor first borns at your age.)

So, sorry for the bucket of cold hard facts.

But you did ask for serious opinions.

2¢

E

[newguy22]

what Escanlon says makes a lot of sense u might want listen

[DatsunZsRule]

Enrique nailed it with his response.

The Z Car is a blast to just drive and is plenty quick stock when they are in healthy shape in my opinion. You'll be doing more cruising on the streets anyway so 200 MPH is not only crazy expensive, but not necessary. Your focusing on racing honda's for gods sake. Not vipers

I say enjoy what you got and focus on getting it safe & reliable for normal road use. A classic car hobby is for sure not cheap like already mentioned. Keeping up a nice stock original classic car will keep you plenty busy and will take plenty of your cash as it is. You need to store them during winter season, have a winter/daily driver which also requires insurance, maintainence ect., Storage place for your car unless your folks are nice and have a spot they can let you use in there garage, license tabs, gas, ect. ect. Having a beautiful classic Z at your age is impressive enough. There are a lot of people out there that would be happy as a pig in crap to just have the car.

Anyway best of luck with your new Z. Please don't take this negatively, we are all just looking out for you (Safety and financially)

Like Jon Morton said at the end of that 240Z Commercial "There's more to life than just winning races"

[Unkle]

Now for something completely different - besides the above threads - STOP playing video games , , actually buy a car , and have fun . Modify slowly so you can see each change work for you . 200 MPH is not available to you son , unless you encase the entire car in resin , and load an exotic v8 in it , and have weeks at the salt flats . Oh yeah , cooling and brakes ......... NO flame intended :rambo: .

[DtP1337]

Yea yea I know it seems that being a 19 yr. old male and such may make me look like an idiot but I have went to college when i was 17 and decided I wanted a few years outa school to get that shiny car and financial support to look good when i decide to leave my small village. I have a 8.50 soon to be 11.50 paying job and I'll have around 1200 to 2200 to instantly slam into the car. And yes i understand the whole safety measures I have a Nissan Maxima 1991 for getting to work and such even if it looks twice as bad as the 280z. I also would like to state that im not insuring the car until I can hear the engine and new parts roar. I tend to take it one stpe at a time and I just really need opinions on what engine I could get the most HP and gas mileage out of. My Maxima has a v6 in it and gas is fine for me so I can be generous about that. Also the 200 mph thing wasnt completely literal yet I do want speed. I've read up on drifting and all the great expenses and I understand i can replace all those things on my own and have plenty of redneck hill billys who live in my current area. They would actaully be happy to see me with a bad car for once. In conclusion to it all I'm glad to see you all are a honest club and should be a little less stereotypical about the video games and stuff. Also I'd like to add my father owns a 69 Camaro SS and it is good. So I've grown up around a few sports cars over my life span.

Really all I need is to know where I should start when i get it. Im expecting engine, heads, injection, intake. I would like for my engine to be running clean on clean parts like discussed and I don't want the dirty parts to dirty my clean ones. Ill take a look into the motors you all specified and see what would best fit me.

[DtP1337]

And Can a 4 -speed be driftable and good for the stretch at the same time. I've been hit with opinions left and right about changing it over to a 5 speed.