Camshaft option

[riffa3y]

Hello eveyone

i own 1977 280z a fuel L28 N47 stock engine and its a weekend car im not racing and not drifting .. so far i have fixed a full headers and exust and 3 raw almnm  radiator 

so im planning to fix a camshaft for a great sound and a lil more HP’s ! I have been suggested to go for the 274 will be great for street use and i wont need the full kit and the camshaft it self fits on the oreginal springs

Is it ok to go for 274 ? Or  ? I dont want any engin trbles later or overheat issues 

And where can i find the cam ? Or anyone has a second hand for sale ?

[dutchzcarguy]

Hi.. I'm also interested in the answer.. i've got a L24 and L28 (N42) and a .275 new Datsun (slalom) camshaft in stock..   Thinking of using it myself in my 240 or 280zx..  But i don't know if i can use the same "rest of the parts "on the orig. head. 

It will have a bit more power but the fuelconsumption wil also skyrocket??

[Diseazd]

Any cam with more than a .460 lift will require performance springs.....stock springs will stack up at full lift. I don’t notice hardly any difference in gas mileage with a .490 lift stage III Isky cam from stock. My suggestion is go Stage III with performance springs....you won’t be sorry. Also remember that you will need to use a thicker lash pad (geometry your rocker wipe patterns), and you may need to use a shorter valve stem seal (depending on the motor head that you use) with a higher lift cam......get your machine shop to check those specs. More cam....more fun! Bigger is better!!!!

[dutchzcarguy]

Thanks! (the thicker lash pads came with it! so, i'm complete..)  Sorry riffa3y..   But you got also the answer, buy a Isky cam!

To go stage III where can we get the performance springs?  (That would be the better option than stick with the orig. (very old)  springs..

[Diseazd]

I really like Isky Cams. I always send a used Datsun camshaft to them for a regrind. The new blanks that Schneider grinds just aren’t up to the metallurgy that the old Japanese steel provides. If you use Isky, you can use their springs....I have them in all 5 of my Z’s (all Stage III).... never any problems whatsoever. They send .175 lash pads with their performance grinds......that should be about right, but you still need to confirm the wipe pattern.

[Patcon]

Any issues with a stage III came on an EFI car? I believe the OP is running EFI

[Diseazd]

Good point Charles. I’ve got zero experience with EFI. Maybe @zedhead can chime in on that.

[Jeff G 78]

Don't do it!  L-Jetronic EFI and bigger cams do not play nice.  I tried to put a Web Racing #91 grind street cam in my L28 and it ran like crap.  After some research, I learned that L-Jet relies on proper engine vacuum and the cam reduced the amount of vacuum created.  The car idled poorly, had no power through most of the rev range and at best, had a bit more power up top.  I pulled the cam and went back to stock.  I then installed the same cam in a L28 with very similar compression, but fed via SU carbs and it runs great.  I couldn't be happier with the performance.  

[wheee!]

Megasquirt or Haltech can fix that..

[Diseazd]

2 hours ago, Jeff G 78 said:

Don't do it!  L-Jetronic EFI and bigger cams do not play nice.  I tried to put a Web Racing #91 grind street cam in my L28 and it ran like crap.  After some research, I learned that L-Jet relies on proper engine vacuum and the cam reduced the amount of vacuum created.  The car idled poorly, had no power through most of the rev range and at best, had a bit more power up top.  I pulled the cam and went back to stock.  I then installed the same cam in a L28 with very similar compression, but fed via SU carbs and it runs great.  I couldn't be happier with the performance.  

Thanks Jeff.....I don’t know why, but I always assume people dropping a performance cam in an L series Motors have carbs. How do you get power in a fuel injected Z if you can’t use duration and lift? 

Guy

[Patcon]

3 hours ago, Jeff G 78 said:

Don't do it!  L-Jetronic EFI and bigger cams do not play nice.  I tried to put a Web Racing #91 grind street cam in my L28 and it ran like crap.  After some research, I learned that L-Jet relies on proper engine vacuum and the cam reduced the amount of vacuum created.  The car idled poorly, had no power through most of the rev range and at best, had a bit more power up top.  I pulled the cam and went back to stock.  I then installed the same cam in a L28 with very similar compression, but fed via SU carbs and it runs great.  I couldn't be happier with the performance.  

I thought this was the case

28 minutes ago, Diseazd said:

Thanks Jeff.....I don’t know why, but I always assume people dropping a performance cam in an L series Motors have carbs. How do you get power in a fuel injected Z if you can’t use duration and lift? 

Guy

You don't!

Unless you go aftermarket EFI or turbo and aftermarket EFI