You probably know your cars(78-84 810s and mximas) are very closely related to the 70-83 Datsun Zs. There dosent seem to be a whole lot of 1st gen'ers here and I just want to let you know if you guys have some sort of drive train probelm or question that cant be answered here theres a GREAT place you might be able to get some answers. If you dont already know about it its the 70-83 Zcar.com discussion board. What better place to learn how to build a high performance L series engine? Heck we might even be able to get some tipe from you guys. Besides that I wanna see a Turbo Maxima(or 810)Come to zcar.com!


Justin T

 

I second that . I have an 84 max with a 5spd and over half of the parts I have found for it are from the 280ZX.

 

Hi, my name is chris (easy deduction from my login name ) and I'm getting ready to purchase a 1st gen (1984) Maxima. Been trying to read up on the purchase, and want to know if any of you know where I can find reviews on my soon-to-be-ride. It is in need of love (cosmetically) but I will duly take some pics of it and zap them in! I do have a multi-faceted question for everyone: Mine is a 5-spd (straight 6, of course), and I would like to know some basic mods that are worthwhile. I have to go through the suspension, has anyone had any luck finding decent parts? Will the 280zx suspension bits bolt it? Thank you, and I am looking forward to getting up to speed on our "new" 4-door. Other ride: 1995 Eclipse GSX.

 

well, I just found this site saturday. On my max I really haven't done that much to get into the 13's. I bought a cam from CRANE CAMS, WHICH IS JUST A STEP over stock . that gives it a longer power range ,also I put a good exhaust system on it and some new injectors.(borla boomer cat-back with the 4 1/2 inch outlet. $300.00 from JEGS) AND A K&N FILTERCHARGER. WHEN DRAG RACING TRY SHIFTING AT 6,000 RPM'S. IT WILL BE VERY FUN.

 

13's in a 2.4 maxima motor thats pretty good. These L sereis motors are are great. theres a guy who runs 12s in a 71 240Z with a NA l28 stroked(with a mxima deisel crankshaft) to 2.9 shaved head and pistons, balanced pistons and rods, and a hot cam, headers and dual SU carbarators. and the best part he did it all with facotry parts from different Zs and done everything but shaving the head himself. And theres another guy who built a turbo L28 bored and stroked to 3.1, and ran 11s. No he is in the finishing stages of his twin turboing that motor with a custom `header. Its going to be MEAN.

Anyone running an l28 in thier Maxima? If so got a site where I can see it?

 

Hey dude, I think Ijust found a way to get closer to the 12 second mark. I went to the junkyard today and found an intake manifold blower/cooler from an 83" 280ZX. I'm going to put it on m car this weekend, so next Wednsday Iwill post my new best E.T. Hoping for 13 flat.

 

Heres what i learned on zcar.com to get better results with a FI L-motor.

Free flow intake, bigger Trottle body, bigger injectors, rising rate fuel regulator, hotter spark, header, high flow exhuast, port and polish, and of couse better cam. Might be able to get a higher ratio rearend such as a 3.9 or a 4.11. maybe a lighter flywheel.

Heres another trick not sure if it will work on maximas though. get a turbo AFM( air flow meter) from a 81-83 280ZX turbo take the chip and stuff out of it and swap the stuff from your maxima AFM and put it in the turbo AFM. you gotta swap the stuff because the maxima computer isnt compatable with the turbo AFM.

You might benifit from swaping in an entire 280ZX FI system. not sure because I'm not familiar with the Maxima system.

 

Hey dude thanks for the info, I'm going to try that. I know where a couple turbos are, so if they still have the afm's on them I'll do it tommorow.

 

Im new here too. I'm just looking for some info and specs on my car.

 

if your 82 is 5spd tere might be some hope for it. if not have fun!

 

I don't come in here much but just to let you guys know, one common swap is the entire L28 turbo from the 280zt. Apparently it's a very straight forward swap from the engine, tranny, ecu and even the stock turbo intake. Of course the exhaust would need to be adapted but what they hey huh? A guy up here in the NorthWest does these types of swaps but I don't see why a DIY w/ decent tools couldn't handle it w/ the right info.

 

of course its a 5sp! anything else is uncivilized

 

I've heard its pretty easy too. the only thing you gotta modify on the motor is the oil pan. The Z has a rear sump while the maxima has a front sump. so you gota switch the pans and put an oil line on the maxima pan for the turbo. other than that it basicly goes in the way the old one cam out you can even use you maxima tranny. The only real pain is getting the wiring right.

maybe I should get me a maxima and put my 83 280ZXT turbo motor in it and make me a super sleeper.

 

would the swap still work with a auto? i need to beef up my 82 because shes getting old and i lose drags against bikes it's pretty sad......i have a lot of work ahead of me

 

I hope like hell your not talking about bicycles

 

what exactly do you want to do to your 82, I might be able to help

 

and what if i am? now you see why i need a new engine or rebuild this one. nancy has seen better days

 

what is said in your signature
is that true?

 

what do i want to do to it? nothing really, i spend all my money on my other car

 

only without using the dope(NOS). WHEN I USE THE DOPE I CAN'T GET TRACTION, IT SPINS 1ST THROUGH 4TH.with all the other mods, I made my own cold air intake tube, that scoops up cold air.

 

It didn't do anything, but I got a solution for that.

 

Whats your other car?

SuDZ

 

83 CAMARO/ SMALL BLOCK 400/400 TRANS, basically stock but it will GO.

 

well I haven't gone to the junkyard yet, but I did get some 4inch dryer duct and made a CAI(cold air intake) but I think the stok AFM is choking it down. but Idon't want get rid of my K&N. ANY IDEAS

 

Try this site
http://sites.netscape.net/planetzusa/planetz.htm

 

Hey everyone. I just picked up a 1981 Maxima for $100.00 at an auction. I am wanting to put a L28ET, 280ZX Turbo, into it. So all yall who are expierenced with this please contact me so I can gleen info from you. I am shooting for 350+ HP out of it when I am done.

 

I'm not experianced with maximas, but I know a pretty good amount about doing that swap into Z. The only major thing you have to do on a maxima is switch your oil pan from yur maxima motor on to the turbo motor and make a place for the oil supply line and move the dip stick. Other than that it will pretty much go in the way the old one came out.

The hardest thing will be getting all the wiring right to run the motor. Unless your going with an after market adjustable EFI system which is needed if your going to put out some serious power(the stock 280ZXT cpu is good for 250-300hp). As for what you need to make alot of power you neeed, a good intercooler, bigger injectors, a boost controler, a bigger throttle body, an upgraded turbo(stock only goes so far), aftermarket EFI, a good boost gauge and air/fuel gauge, the list goes on and on. a 280ZX tranny(maybe) and a stronger clutch, and you might also wanna go for a r200 rearend (you can get a 3.7 lsd from a 300ZX turbo) if your car doesnt already have one.

Find out more at Zcar.com, zdriver.com, and hybridz.org.

 

Thank you for the info. How, if I may ask, did you learn so much about this? What turbo would you recommend I am shooting for between 350 and 400 HP when I am all done.

 

I leaned almost all of it at zcar.com. I am not an expert on turbos I just know the basic so I dont know what kind of turbo yu would need. Most guys get a t3/t4 hybird or a 60-1. Go to Zcar.com and search the archives in the 70-83 forum there is an almost endless amount of information about turbos there but the good stuff is hard to find. Also go to hybridZ.com thier all about doing engine swaps. BTW I'm not 100% sure about the oil pan thing I' mjust going by what people have said on zcar.com.

 

Go to this site http://members.home.net/drax77/Turbobuild.html



BTW that should be hybridz.org not hybridz.com.

 

What do you all think about using the transmission radiator from a automatic as a oil cooler? Obviously it would require greater oil pressure but it should cool the oil quite well for the turbo unit I think.

Doran

 

I would not recommend using a trans. cooler for your engine because the trans cooler tubing is too small, it will restrict te amount of oil flow to your engine. that means your camshaft won't last to long,same with your crank. the best thing to do, is get a regular oil cooler w/tubes at least 3/4inch in diameter. it would be wize to go with at least a step over stock oil pump. not exactly a high pressure but high volume.

 

280ZXT's with automatic transmission come with an oil cooler stock. So you best be would be to find a automatic turbo 280zx and get the oil cooler off of it.

 

I want to go with a 5 spd tranny. Would it I get a block from an automatic and switch out the fly wheel? to use a 5spd?

 

automatic and 5 speed blocks are the same. but on the A/T crank shaft thier should be a spacer on it that needs to come off. Also you'll need a pilot bushing from a M/T cranksaft to go with the M/T flywheel.

I've been told its a pretty easy swap.

 

i am just jumping in here, i saw a first gen in a parking lot one day and now im in love. been looking in the autotrader and cant find any thing past 88. if anyone has a handle on a first gener let me know.

 

I know of a place in Portland Oregon that has a 1st gen body. Mechanically its dead but depending on what you want to do with it, it could be an option.

Doran

 

SORRY dude, I've been looking for some body parts and and I can't find any on the MS gulf caost

 

It sure is funny reading that your cars are so fast while the newer gens think they are so fast. Looks like you guys have the best potential. I have a question about your motors. What about fitting a 350 V* in the car? Does it fit (I don't think I have even seen a 1st gen up close ever)? I am looking into buying a early 70's Z car with a 350 planted into it since turbo is way too complicated.

 

a chevy 350 will easily drop right in, you just have to modify your motor mounts and you decide to race, make sre you change the axles EVERY!! 20 passes. just take my word for it. you don't want to know what the outcome will be.