getting more HP in 78 280z

[olzed]

Someone mentioned MX5. My son is getting 245 RWH from an MX5 1800 supercharged, and it looks stock. Amazing acceleration. (if thats your thing)

[IdahoKidd]

I'll jump in............

My little blue volvo, the one with the VIAGRA plates in my avitar, will dust all but the late model camero's between street lights. First off, they absolutely don't expect anything like that to happen, but when it does............ it is all smiles. The down side is, I am all done at the second light. There is nothing more. 8500 out of the four banger and the 4.88 gears .............the overdrive takes WAYYYYYYY to long to engage. But, they don't need to know that.

A solid tuneup/optimal engine performance is about as good as the stock motor is going to do. In town performance is gear ratio's. Deeper gears, 3.90's, 4.11's will give great launches and a quick pass through between the lights. It will also be great on really twisty rural roads, etc. It is dreadful for economy and long trips. The rpms will wear you out. A later model 5 speed brings the rpms back down a bit. If it were my dollar, I'd get a used zx 5 speed, and some deeper gears. Tranny will be $150 and the rear end $150 to $300?? . One of my 240's has that set up. Another is bone stock with the automatic.(it REALLY needs an overdrive) And the 280 has the turbo, and non turbo 5 speed, but it hasn't moved across the yard for a year now..... still needs some love. The Volvo is quicker than all of them, but not faster.

[JacktheRiffer]

Im looking at something thats simply fun to drive, can get up and go when I want and looks good. I would prefer to keep any mods simple.

[BoldUlysses]

I really enjoy the responses on this website.

OP, you're asking very subjective questions. Either give us a HP/performance number to shoot for, or just do the recommended mods (tuneup, lightening, etc) and get back to us. Preferably both.

[Diseazd]

Im looking at something thats simply fun to drive, can get up and go when I want and looks good. I would prefer to keep any mods simple.

Simple mods are uninspiring........want to impress your date, do intensive head work. The L series motors are fun to drive in stock mode, but not impressive. Simple as mentioned by many is perfect tune and get the lead out! Otherwise get your wallet out.

Edited May 13, 2012 by Diseazd

[LeonV]

Im looking at something thats simply fun to drive, can get up and go when I want and looks good. I would prefer to keep any mods simple.

That's easy. ZX 5-speed and 3.9 or numerically higher diff. That's it.

Simple mods are uninspiring........want to impress your date, do intensive head work. The L series motors are fun to drive in stock mode, but not impressive. Simple as mentioned by many is perfect tune and get the lead out! Otherwise get your wallet out.

I think a date would be more impressed by a clean interior, having all body panels the same color and keeping the exhaust fumes out...

[tlorber]

Simple mods are uninspiring........want to impress your date, do intensive head work. QUOTE]

Wouldn't that be HER job?

[Diseazd]

Didn't want to say that, but as usual, you're dead on tlorber.

[olzed]

Stoplight drags didn't impress any girls I knew.

Clean shiny car yes,

and the head work for sure.

The date that I married all those years ago, was more impressed with driving that got us home safe.

[gnosez]

Launching is for laughs, high speed corning is where serious fun is had. I always like to accelerate around the corner instead of slowing down all the way around.

You want to beat someone off the line go put an LS crate motor in your Z....

[TomoHawk]

If you want simple or cheap modifications or bolt-ons you should've bought a Chevrolet instead of a Datsun. Mr. K designed the car just as perfectly as is possible. You might want to consider WHERE you take your date in stead of how fast you go on the way there.