Just bought my Z - 1990 N/A 2 seater, she is gorgeous.

The only negative I am getting so far is that it might be a little short on speed - correct me if I am wrong but a 15.5 second quarter mile is a little on the slow side.

I also hear the the N/A doesn't respond well to after market - I am curious what mods I could do, and how far I should take it for it to be worth my money. I don't want to get put in my place by the kids with mustang GTs in my school constantly; is there a good chance that I could at least keep up?

No matter what, I know I still have a nice Z, and they still have a Mustang - which nowadays is horribly unoriginal. I love the car and can not stop driving it :D

well whoever told you that it didn't respond to aftermarket was a total fucktard... you can start by getting an aftermarket open element filter (JWT and Stillen both sell one... so does K&N... they're all pretty much the same, but bigger is better), and a 2.5" exhaust (custom might be a lil' easier on the wallet)... If you still have funds, hook yourself up with an ashspec ECU, total those mods can give you anywhere from like 15-25HP extra (more than likely on the high side)... also how many miles on the car??? if the timing belt is due for a change, I say do that, you'll feel a boost in power there too...

The Z car wasn't necessarily meant for 1/4 mile drag racing, as it was designed with handling in mind (which I might add it does very well)... if you want more 1/4 mile stuff you could start off with a 50 shot of n2o, and tune your way up from there, but as far as I know that's pretty much what you can do with an n/a...

now if you wanna do a TT swap (Which I'm sure will cost upwards of $5,000 ish depending on the deals you get, and if you do all the work yourself) you'll be spanking stangs all day... wellcome to the PZC by the way

Those Quarter Mile times are pretty normal for a Non-Turbo Zed32... I wouldn't expect much better than that for stock.

As for modifications:

-JWT Pop-Chargers
-ASH Spec ECU, or JWT ECU
-STILLEN or AMZ Headers (AMZ is much cheaper, and perform just as well)
-High Flow Catalytic Converters
-Exhaust of some sort... Magnaflow, HKS Hyper, Custom, etc
-TT MAF
-TT Injectors
-S-AFC

And I would HIGHLY recommend getting that 60,000 Maintenance done... As soon as possible!

Anyway, welcome to the PZC man, I hope you enjoy your stay!

-Wes

I second on the idiot who told you the NA's don't rsepond to mods!

The single most significant mod: Headers. STILLEN makes 'em but you can get them way cheaper through AMZ.

Like Rocker stated: Intake is a great place to start. From there exhaust... and headers if you wanna get a lil' serious. I for one am an advocate of modifying the VG30DE though some of my peers may disagree. Don't get me wrong... I plan to do the TT swap in a few years.

One argument against heavily modding an NA is that it's expensive with little power to show (compared to that of a TT that is). This is true. With the amount of money you spend on making a fast NA you could build yourself a moderately powered TT. But hey... you are stuck with a VG30DE unless you swap. Call me wasteful but I plan to build up the VG30DE until I grow tired, it blows, or a TT magically shows up in the engine bay over night.

-BLITZ SUS Intake
-AMZ Headers
-Hi-Flow Cats
-GReddy SP2 Exhaust
-JWT Mild Cams
-UD Pulley
-One peice Aluminum or Carbon Fiber Drive-shaft
-Electric Fan
-HKS ALC
-Hi-Stall Torque Convertor
-ASH-Spec ECU
-APEXi SAFC-II
-100 Shot Nitrous

I'm shooting for 220 rwhp all-motor.

With:

-Stripped interior
-Fiber-Glass Bucket Seats
-Light-Weight Battery
-Solid Bushings
-POWER-Trix Coil-overs
-DOT Semi-Slicks

I'm hoping for low 12's and pushing into the 11's.

Holy-Shit, Wes! We posted at exactly the same-time!

Thanks guys - I actually had the same mod plan you guys listed basically, I think I should be content with the N/A. There is more money to be spent on those mods alone then I will have for a LONG time trying to pay 'er off. I'll get some pictures up a little later - although its just a stock Z.

Stock Z's are beautiful! Post pix soon! And welcome!

-Stripped interior

booooo!

I'd upgrade as far as headers, intake, exhaust, turbo intake mani, lighter rims/z rated tires, tt maf, and an ashpec ECU.... I wouldn't do cams or injectors, cuz I'd be worried about it affecting my gas mileage... :p

booooo!


^ With the harnesses the rear seat is gonna be rendered useless anyway...

rear seats are fine, but you're not going to strip off the dash and interior panels too are you?

I'd upgrade as far as headers, intake, exhaust, turbo intake mani, lighter rims/z rated tires, tt maf, and an ashpec ECU.... I wouldn't do cams or injectors, cuz I'd be worried about it affecting my gas mileage... :p

Cheap Bas'tad...

The JWT Mild Cams aren't as expensive as one would think either. Under $600. I figure if I go that far I might beef up the heads and hone the plenum and TB's...

rear seats are fine, but you're not going to strip off the dash and interior panels too are you?

Oh-no... I guess I should have been a little more specific by saying 'stripped'. I'm pretty much getting rid of everything from the rear seats back. I might also get rid of the stereo system and atenae assembly... I have'nt quite decided.

oh ok good... i might have had to get upset if you were stripping the whole thing out...

anyway... good to hear about your purchase 123212321.. and the most beautiful z's are the stock ones :)

do the 60k maintinence, don't ask questions why just do it lol

Cheap Bas'tad...

The JWT Mild Cams aren't as expensive as one would think either. Under $600. I figure if I go that far I might beef up the heads and hone the plenum and TB's...

honing the upper plenum and TB's is a useless mod for the N/A Z. with those mods, it will never flow enough air to see a significant benefit from opening up the passges.

secondly, N/A's dont respond well to mods or shall i say cost effective. yes you can make an N/A make alot of power but it will cost you more to get 250whp than it would to just swap in a TT engine professionally. i dont know what you guys are smoking...

the most cost effective mod you can do to an N/A is swapping in a TT motor and modify that.

getting over 200whp is a very nice benchmark for an N/A. i dont know about you guys but without nitrous your not breaking lower than a mid 14 with an N/A motor.

the most cost effective thing you can do to an N/A is add nitrous. it can handle a 100+shot but to i would keep it safe around 60-75shot.

im not trying to diss the N/A but just pointing out that it isnt a powerhouse without the means to spend some serious cash on it but then that would be idiotic because you could have swapped in a TT for cheaper and have the same HP.

also, a TT swap shouldn't cost more than $4000 if doing everything yourself. thats including replacement parts for stuff that needs to be replaced and a new wiring harness.

seriousy guys, you guys are talking about $4000+ worth of mods just to get over 200whp.

$4k? that's with upgraded parts yes?

$4k? that's with upgraded parts yes?

depends on how many OEM parts needed to be replaced after the motor was received. it is possible to get a front clip for less than $3k. if you luck out and everything is good to go, $4k could give you an extra large chunk of money to spend on modifications. it all depends...just dont get a lemon motor, that will set you back a little bit, trust me...i would know. :(

Sure, Jason... dis the NA just 'cus you got a TT now. Remember where you came from, boy!

I never mis-lead him. It's not cost effective at all. But why not mod the NA as much as possible? It's what he got. Cost effective mods? Modding in general is stupid and a waste of money in the long run...

Plus: Modding an NA is the true Z Enthusiast calling! ;)

lol well as much as I hate to say it, I'd stop modding an n/a after about 1K dollars worth of parts, becuase like I said earlier, you really won't hid n.e. thing better than 14s w/o nitrous

By the way guys... what are some visual differences between the 2 seater, and 2+2 seater z32 models... I can't really tell the difference, so I was hoping you guys could show me the way

2+2 is a little longer... you can tell after being around them awhile. On a 2+2 the fuel-door is on the side of the wheel-well closest to the rear bumper while the Coupe's is closer to the driver. Generally stock 2+2's don't have a wing I think. And if you peer inside... alas! Rear seats!

By the way guys... what are some visual differences between the 2 seater, and 2+2 seater z32 models... I can't really tell the difference, so I was hoping you guys could show me the way

Coupe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/myz32rocks/SienaSR01.jpg


VS.


2+2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/myz32rocks/Beauty.jpg


As you can see the 2+2 is a little longer looking and the difference between the fuel door location... personally I would much rather have a TT 2+2 than a TT Coupe. I love the longer lines and with right fascia and wing it looks better! Plus it's better for cornering as the longer wheel-base stabilizes cornering. I'm sure Coupe owners will disagree on the looks though... :rolleyes:

BTW... I have those Siena's!

I'd upgrade as far as headers, intake, exhaust, turbo intake mani, lighter rims/z rated tires, tt maf, and an ashpec ECU.... I wouldn't do cams or injectors, cuz I'd be worried about it affecting my gas mileage... :p

Are the turbo intake manifolds different? What are the differences? As far as I knew, they were the same manifold as the VG30DE?

Cheers,
Mike

I'm assuming that they're different, becuase the difference between turbo and n/a performance is like night and day...


yea Jorgey, I do see the diff... I actually like the 2+2 a lil' better :D

nope the plenums are the same as far as i know.. maybe with the exception of a different sensor or 2...

yea Jorgey, I do see the diff... I actually like the 2+2 a lil' better :D

Plus it would be sick if you did the TT swap. TT 2+2's = Sex!

Yuh, I'm pretty sure the Plemums are the same... Jason may know for sure.

tt swapped 2+2... meh... factory 2+2 tt... maybe ;)

no the plenums are identical i am pretty sure. there may be a different coolant routing system underneath but that stuff should be removed anyways.

2+2 Twin Turbos are sex because of rarity here in the states. thats the only thing that keeps me keeping the 2+2. :D

BTW: the only thing that sucks about owning a 2+2 is the fact that aftermarket side skirts look like poop on them without a rear bumper. this is a big problem from me but to others who like the aftermarket rear bumpers, it may not be.

Well it depends what you are building the Z to do. If you are setting up for drifting then you are better off with a NA 2+2, better more predictable powerband and longer wheel base. If you are setting up for all out numbers and speed then a TT is the setup for you. If you want turns practicality and speed, then you want a TT 2+2. But if you want a non-limo Z for speed and handles corners well too then any of the TT coupes will do. But if your like me and you like your car then stick with what you have.

well my plan was actually to get a nice 2+2 with low miles, and than eventually do a TT swap, cuz I can always use as much space as I can possibly get