Originality or Performance?

Dale

Club Member
You could always drive something slower and less sporty Monday to Friday. ;)

When my daily was a 350z, the 260z didn't feel that fast. Against the Pathfinder.....it does! :D
 
My point is that even an L24 in a 2+2 will not achieve a great deal. I have a standard 240 and it''s not as quick as you might be hoping for. My 240 with 200bhp 2.8 is OK but not really quick.

To quantify what you want you really need to ride in a few different Zs or find an acceptable modern car that you can quantify for reference.

What's the dyno curve of your car look like rob? A nice free spinning 2.0+ na depending on where you want the power should feel fun?
 

johnymd

Club Member
The feeling of a car being fast is alway subjective. My blue car doesn't feel that fast anymore but if you watch the speedo, the needle moves quite quick. My green car feels quite quick because it sounds like your going fast with all the noises associate with no interior and very little exhaust. The black car is quicker than the green one doesn't feel it due to the total lack of noise.

If you want to feel pushed back in your seat you need to aim for 300+hours/ton.

Just to add. I enjoy driving all my collection of zeds just because they are zeds. The power doesn't matter for cruising around and turning heads.
 

Farmer42

Club Member
Just to add. I enjoy driving all my collection of zeds just because they are zeds. The power doesn't matter for cruising around and turning heads.

That's a good point. I do really enjoy driving my Z and it does sound wonderful especially with the windows down. I guess I should just be happy with what I have and leave well alone although the idea of the lightened flywheel appeals as it really is just a bit more acceleration off the mark that I am really looking for. I am not really looking for monster HP or some mega-top end cos you can't use it fully on the roads anyway and as said before, I am not interested in thrashing round a track.

I just wanted to gauge what is deemed important with these classic cars if I ever wanted or needed to sell on in the distant future. Keeping all the original parts if I did modify would satisfy both worlds to some degree & I appreciate the comments that planted the seed.

Still fancy getting hold of an L26 or L28 engine to rebuild although I think that i would want it a bit more complete than the one on e-bay. I'm not in any hurry so I will keep my eyes open for one.

Thanks again for all the positive feedback.:thumbs:
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
That's a good point. I do really enjoy driving my Z and it does sound wonderful especially with the windows down. I guess I should just be happy with what I have and leave well alone although the idea of the lightened flywheel appeals as it really is just a bit more acceleration off the mark that I am really looking for. I am not really looking for monster HP or some mega-top end cos you can't use it fully on the roads anyway and as said before, I am not interested in thrashing round a track.

I just wanted to gauge what is deemed important with these classic cars if I ever wanted or needed to sell on in the distant future. Keeping all the original parts if I did modify would satisfy both worlds to some degree & I appreciate the comments that planted the seed.

Still fancy getting hold of an L26 or L28 engine to rebuild although I think that i would want it a bit more complete than the one on e-bay. I'm not in any hurry so I will keep my eyes open for one.

Thanks again for all the positive feedback.:thumbs:

A lightened flywheel won't give you more acceleration off the mark. The inertia of the flywheel is not very significant compared to the inertia of the whole car.
http://www.w8ji.com/rotating_mass_acceleration.htm
 

toopy

Club Member
So assuming a L28 in good running order, with 150bhp (is that right for a standard L28?)

Is it possible to get close to 200bhp without internal modifications?

Assuming the car already has 240z carbs with SM needles

I would say, some degree of flowing/porting on the inlet manifold, a performance exhaust manifold with matched exhaust, fit an enclosed air filter box drawing air from front of car, lighten the flywheel.

Is that enough, without say, swapping the cam as well, but not messing with anything else internal?

also how much difference does a 3.9 diff make over a 3.7 for acceleration, is it really worth the effort for a car not used on the track?
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I'm guessing, but I think you'll struggle to get to 200bhp without raising the compression and/or changing the cam.
As I said, lightening the flywheel won't give you more power or even help you accelerate significantly. It's the last thing you do rather than the first.
swapping to a 3.9 over a 3.7 will enable you to accelerate about 5% faster I would think. (3.9/3.7 = 1.054)
 

MikeB

Well-Known Forum User
Mind you, I'm surprised nobody's asked the ultimate power question.............. How much are you prepared to spend? ;)

Enjoy your pondering, and enjoy you Z.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
You could always drive something slower and less sporty Monday to Friday. ;)

When my daily was a 350z, the 260z didn't feel that fast. Against the Pathfinder.....it does! :D

I agree Dale, I think modern cars spoil you for acceleration (but not fun) and 'Famer' you seem to have lowered your requirements now, if you wanted to be pushed backwards in your seat my previous comments were valid. ;)

I've seen 0-60 quoted at 8.0s for a '71 240Z, (that seems very optimistic to me). The same reference book gives a 260Z 2+2 at 9.9 so that's quite a difference due to weight/gearing. My point is that you need a big increase over your 2.0 car to get to standard 240Z figures and they don't feel quick these days.
 

Farmer42

Club Member
Head & cam changes are another option that I hadn't thought of and quite like the sound of as it keeps the 'matching numbers' aspect of the motor. I am currently running all stock parts on the engine and exhaust with the exception (as you will know Franky) of an electronic ignition distributor from a 280ZX.

Not being a mechanic or very knowledgable in these things, what would be involved in upgrading the Head, where would I get the parts and what would the likely cost be? I presume that, to gain maximum benefit, I would need to upgrade the exhaust parts including the Manifold and from what I have seen, this alone could be around £700-800. I will probably have a top-whack budget of about £1200 unless my Missus wants to do some more decorating:(
 

Farmer42

Club Member
With respect, £1200 won't get very far touching the head and exhaust.

If that's the case then that has probably made up my mind. However much I want the extra 'buzz' of better performance, it really depends on the funds (or lack of them) that I have in my wallet.

"Leave it alone " it is then!!! - at least for the time being.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
"Leave it alone " it is then!!! - at least for the time being.

No, there is not only black or white but grey - limit the improvements to your budget and which not only can be reversed (or swapped back) but accompany anything further done later if and when funds allow.
 
For £1200, head skim-cam-rolling road setup with a tweak to your SU's. That'll net something you can feel. Might even get a flywheel of some type also.
 
Top