Fuel Injection conversion?

[Driftin John]

Can anyone let me know whether it is reasonably possible and advantageous to install the Bosch fuel injection system off of a '76 280 ZX onto a '73 240 Z? I've got a decent degree of mechanical aptitude and good access to any equipment that I might need, but am I better off to just set my sights on a set of round top SU's and manifold from a '70-'72? I can pick up the ZX for $100 and use other parts anyway, just wanted to know if the FI is worth the effort.

Thanks,

Driftin John

[MicksZ]

I am also after info on this subject so if anyway wants to comment....

What info i have from Gav240Z is that it can be done using the e88 head (I am looking at getting the whole FI setup/PC/wiring from an R30 Skyline - I have an L24 with big valves, cam etc.

Looking foward to anyone else's opinions... :classic:

[Dtsnlvrs]

I have done this conversion before...many times...but we always used a 2.8L w n-42 head for the conversion. The only negative aspect is that if you corner real hard to the right with less than 1/3 tank of gas the fuel pump will starve and the engine will die. Check out my web site at www.geocities.com/superb60ce to see photos of a converted 72 240Z

[MicksZ]

any ideas on how you would fix the fuel starve problem? Great Site by the way. Thanks for the info.

[Dtsnlvrs]

I have seen where a guy stuffed a 75 fuel tank under his 240....the only other options are to get a 75 tank and a 240 tank and have the baffles in the 75 tank relocated to the new 240 tank the other is a resevoir of sorts...never looked into it much but you basically have to use two fuel pump, one to fill the resevoir and the other to provie the final fuel pressure. Talk with someone at SDS or TWM or TopEnd ( www.racetep.com ) I am sure they have a better answer for the problem...me I just always kept the tank better than half full, and BTW I was meaning a really sharp / hard right hand turn, like hauling arse out of the parking lot turn.

[Zedrally]

You would need to modify the tank outlet.

Possiblly by adding a multi point pickup to the fuel outlet or baffle the tank or use a collapsable fuel cell.

[MicksZ]

Baffling was what i was thinking of actually... do you know if foam filled tanks are Ok for road use??? I know my old man has a HORNET foam filled tank in his Sprts Sedan 510.

[Dtsnlvrs]

I am not sure on that one....

[Zedrally]

Can't see why not, might decrease you're capacity somewhat but I guess you're circuit racing anyway. Wouldn't reccommend it for Rally purpose or general driving.

Best use would be motorkhana that I can see.

If capacity is a problem look at modiying the fuel outlet to multi pickup, it is infinately easier to do than to baffle.

[MicksZ]

Sweet - I will look into it. Thanks for the help ZedRally.

[drunkenmaster]

Originally posted by MicksZ

any ideas on how you would fix the fuel starve problem? Great Site by the way. Thanks for the info.

Fit an off the shelf surge tank under the car.

Use the stock 280zx fuel pump to feed the surge tank and and pick up a nice new bosch pump or 2nd hand vl turbo pump etc fed from the surge tank to supply the injectors. The surge tank will always have fuel as it is tall, thin, and the pick up is at the bottom.

This should all cost only ~$200-$300.

Sorry if i misunderstood the problem.

[JEFF]

I installed a '78 N47 head/FI and electronic ignition on my 2.4L block - All things considered - it was easy. The wiring was completly adding to the existing. Made starting perfect! made for a very fast revving engine. I love what it did for me!

- Jeff

[MicksZ]

Now all I need to do is get a fuel injection manifold and computer... hehehe

[drunkenmaster]

It might be cheaper to by a stuffed 280zx.

[280zx Fever]

Originally posted by Driftin John

Can anyone let me know whether it is reasonably possible and advantageous to install the Bosch fuel injection system off of a '76 280 ZX onto a '73 240 Z?

there was no 76 280zx maybe a 280z

I thought all the heads and manifolds where the same from 240z to 280zx well not the same but interchangable

[baddriver]

The surge tank/resevoir is a good fix, or you could have a sump welded (by a professional) to the bottom of the tank. Tank must be dropped for this. Summit has a sump that would work for this.

I'm going with the resevoir, using a small pump to fill the resevoir from the big tank, and then running the main pump from the resevoir. I got the resevoir from summit as well (it's actually a filter/water seperator, but it's large enough to hold about a pint (1/2 liter) of fuel.

[ZmeFly]

are the 75 and 76 280Z tank, no other tank will fit. it is kind of stuffed in there as well.

something else you will have to do is change the fuel lines as well. its pretty easy concidering all you would have to do is the same anyone that has done a turbo conversion has already done.

search some other sites for turbo conversions and you will find all the information you need to do this

[speedyblue]

How does the fuel injection go performance wise, against the twin carbs though? I was thinking about this change also, but the fuel injected engine in the 280zx I got doesn't seem to have the throttle response of my 240z with th4e l28 and twin carbs. Both have a 2.5 inch exhaust, while the 280zx has a pod filter and the 240z has the stock orange filter and cover setup.

I can't compare performance wise because ot the extra weight of the 280zx, but the engine just doesn't seem as angry.

[JEFF]

The bore and stroke are the differance ... the 240 has a shorter stroke and smaller bore diameter so it will rev up much faster than the 2.8L on the 280ZX. In my opinion ..... a well tuned set of SU's are equal in power and performance to a fuel injected engine.

If you want the best of both worlds ( reliability & fast revs )

put the fuel injection on the 240 block.

- Jeff

[speedyblue]

Both of them have the L28 engine in them. Same block and head numbers. So they are the same engine, just different intake.. The old L24 did seem to rev harder, but I got rid of that over 18 months ago. Sorry for any confusion.

I was wondering it it had something to do with the carbie butterflies being closer to the head than the throttle body on the fuel injected engine.