Key differences between the American and European 260z

[LeonV]

Hi LeonV:

To be fair - I did not quote the data as scientific evidence. I clearly labeled it as "relative data" - not ordinal. Road Test data from the auto magazines is all we have that reflects more or less common performance measures - 0-60, 1/4 mile etc.

From your comments, I believe you understood my point - that being that an additional 200 lbs - the difference between the UK and NA cars - couldn't account for a 2 second difference 0-60. The Pounds per HP numbers also seem to fall in line with the differences in performance.

I have about 10 RLS30 engine plates - but they all range only up to the 40,000 VIN range - they all say 162HP. I did not find a HP Rating in my 74 FSM. So I don't think there is an explanation needed for that. Rather a source or explanation is needed for the 139 HP rating given in the Road Tests.

DING-DING-DING!!! Precisely!

You also have to add the additional weight of the 260Z doors with Side Impact beams, the reinforced sub-frames and the additional heat/sound insulation. I've never weighed a 260Z door, but if I pick up an S30 door I can tell pretty quickly if it is from an early or late 240Z or a 260/280Z.

We're getting a bit off topic here, but I will say that late 240Zs had side impact beams as well and I can easily tell the difference between the two (late/early 240Z). I haven't had a 260Z-specific door to look at, but I'd suspect the differences between a late-240Z door and 260Z door to be minimal. Also, I haven't noticed any signs of a "reinforced sub-frame" when compared to my 2/71. Maybe I need to look more carefully, but I've s no signs of extra metal.

I did not say emissions equipment. I attributed it to "configuring and tuning" our L26's to meet our emissions standards. The combustion chamber design, fixing fuel/air ratio's to meet the emission standards, and ignition timing.

Right, but I covered both in my previous post for the sake of completeness. My apologies for the misquote.

No I don't see anything, other than setting the engine up to meet the emissions standards. With 11 more HP - that should offset the additional weight of our 260Z's - - but then other than a loss of HP what else accounts for the significant drop in performance - stock for stock.

FWIW,

Carl B.

In the beginning, you mention not taking the magazine articles as scientific evidence. These magazines, especially back in the '70s, do not and did not account for varying conditions at the times of their tests. Who knows the circumstances between the '70 240Z "road test" and a '74 260Z one. Elevation, temperature, tires, road surface, driver, timing equipment, etc. all totally affect performance figures. You can even compare contemporary road tests in current publications and see the variance that different articles have on things like 0-60 times.

The much more scientific approach would be to take a stock 240Z and stock 260Z, run them back-to-back on the same dyno and compare results. This would give much more insight into this myth, than a 40-year-old magazine article. Anyone up for it?