I have been digging for some info about 280zx's for some time but have come up empty handed. So I turn to the collected knowledge of all things Z with a few question. What is the Final Drive in the stock rear end of a 280zx? Is the differential an LSD? Approximately how much torque can a stock differntial handle? If the diff is not an LSD where can I steal one from? What kind of brakes does the 280zx come with stock? Do 280zx's have power power steering? What is the approximate weight of a ZX with a 200lb driver and 3/4 a tank of gas? How much do the bumpers on a 280zx weigh? Are their any good ways to strip weight out of 280zx? Are their any specific trouble spots I should look for when buying a 280zx? Has anyone swapped an SBC into a 280zx? Are their certain packages for the car I should pay more for than others? What should I pay for a 280zx sans motor and transmission? Wow that is more questions than I thought! Any answers would be greatly appreciated and will aid me in my quest for an SBC powered Z.

An easy answer for drive ratios would to go here: Z Transmission Calculator
(http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/transmission.html)
Ok... next. The R200's are the only diffs that came with the optional LSD. It's a clutch type LSD and was found in the Z31 300zx Turbo. It may have been optional in the S130 280zx Turbo, but I don't know for sure... the most sought after diff is the one from the Z31 Turbo (3.7:1) with the factory LSD. But, on Ebay people will pay upwards of $600-800 for a LSD R200. Insane.

The R200 diff is a very strong unit. Most likely, you won't break it. What kills diffs is the sudden launches. But, since Z's are lightweight and you can stuff a big motor in side the car. Torque will over power just about any tires you have, if it doesn't catch, it can't break. :lol: If you give the unit a fresh rebuild with new bits, fresh oil and a NISMO 2-way LSD (roughly $600 itself) it'll be a damn strong unit.

The 280zx comes with 4 wheel disc brakes, you can buy upgrades for them at Motorsport Auto (http://www.thezstore.com/), click on the online store and pick what ya need.

280zx's do come with power steering. They were the first Z's to have powersteering. The S30 (240z, 260z, 280z) were manual steering, they didn't need powersteering cause they were lighter weight.

A 280zx with a 200lb driver and 3/4 tank gas would be roughly 3000-3100lbs. They're about 2700-2800lbs stock. They gained alot of weight when they went from the small sports car (Z) to the bigger luxurious grand tourer car (ZX).

The bumpers are molded into the car, so I'm not exactly sure how much the ZX bumpers weigh. A good way to strip a ZX would be to strip the interior and maybe replace the fenders/hood with fiberglass counterparts.

Trouble spots... hmmm look for any type of hack job wiring done. Injectors can be a nightmare on ZX's if somebody dicks with them... but if you find a unmolested car... due to it's age check for rust, under the car on the frame, in the door sills. The ZX's used a bit heavier gauge steel than the S30's so I'm going to assume they resist rusting a bit more. Other than that, just the normal old car stuff... go over it with a fine tooth comb.

Yes, you can swap a Small Block Chevy into a ZX. To get an idea about it, I'd suggest ordering this book (http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html). Also, I'd highly recommend visiting HybridZ (http://hybridz.org/). Those guys know alot about swapping anything into Z's.

Certain packages... well, I'd suggest getting a turbo ZX to start off with. But good luck finding one, I mean they're out there, but you'll usually pay more. Hmm, but if you're looking to swap a V8 into it, then any car will do, they're pretty much all the same... they all came with the same options.

I'm not sure what the current prices of the ZX motors/trans go. You can find them floating around Ebay (http://motors.search.ebay.com/280zx_W0QQfromZR40). Buyer beware.


Phew... Anything else?

msa owns

It does.

True Story.

Thanks for the info I really appreciate it this will certainly help me figure out the logistics of my swap.

Thank You,
SilentNight1647