Project 280z

[project280z]

https://www.facebook.com/project280z

[project280z]

280zx turbo exhaust manifold

[project280z]

Beginning of L28 turbo conversion: Rebuilding 280zx turbo.

Photos:

1 & 2: Before / After rebuild

3 & 4: Before / After rebuild

5 - 7: Before / Sand blasted / Painted VHT Flameproof flat black with satin clear

8 - 10: Disassembly / Cleaned parts with new hardware / Old vs new bearing and seals

[project280z]

New wheels with included goodies from RS Watanabe.

RS Watanabe R-Type 16 X 8.5, -6mm offset.

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[project280z]

MSA Performance Exhaust installed.

Installed Walker Mega-Clamps for joining the exhaust pipes.

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Since the EGR components were removed, the small water inlet is not needed anymore.  Swapped the 280z lower radiator inlet housing for a 240z version, which doesn’t have the small inlet nipple.

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EGR components have been removed, and an EGR block-off plate installed (left part of the intake manifold).

[project280z]

Added heat shielding to a couple of parts to deflect heat away from the intake manifold/fuel rail and PCV hose.

Photos:

1 & 2: HP Sticky Shield applied to the bottom of the stock steel heat shield.

3 & 4: Old and new PCV hose.  Old one is deteriorated due to the heat.

5: HP Thermalflect Sleeve over the new PCV hose.

6: Bottom view of the engine bay showing the heat shield and PCV hose installed.

[project280z]

MSA header installed: Old vs new.

Left-most exhaust bolt was broken into the head.  It had had to be drilled out and new Perma-Coil thread was installed.  All intake/exhaust manifold hardware and gasket was replaced with ones.  Radiator outlet housing and distributor support also received new bolts and gasket.

[project280z]

New full exhaust system replacement.  Old intake/exhaust manifold gasket was broken and leaked out many of the ports.

MSA 3-2 TBC (thermal barrier ceramic) coated header, no smog fitting

MSA performance exhaust

[project280z]

Replaced rear oil seal of the 280z transmission since it was leaking.  The old stock oil seal (made by NDK), has the dimensions of 35x50x11mm, while the new one (stamped “HTCR”) is 35x50x8mm, which means it is thinner.  Technically, it should seal fine due to the inner and outter dimeters being the same, but not sure if thickness will affect it.

Also replaced driveshaft with a new one made by Powertrain.  The new driveshaft comes with replaceable U-joints, unlike the factory one.  The new driveshaft does not come with the dust cover like the one on the factory, which is spot welded onto it.  The old driveshaft yoke has metal sludge inside of it, possibly due to constant vibrations. Transmission found outside of the yoke didn’t seem to have metal sludge though.

Photos:

1: Old stock driveshaft and new Powertrain driveshaft.

2: Metal sludge within yoke.

3: Old stock oil seal and new aftermarket seal

4,5 & 6 (left to right): Old stock oil seal, oil seal removed, new seal installed.

[project280z]

Replaced worn rubber sway bar end link bushings with new Addco polyurethane set.

[project280z]

Replaced the oil pressure sender unit once again because the one that was installed was not accurate (kept reading oil pressure extremely low to zero).

The new unit (right in photo) is made by Beck Arnley which reads much more accurately (needle points in the middle on the stock oil pressure gauge during highway speeds).

[project280z]

New 240z Cusco Type OS rear strut bar (part number 246 541 A).  This bar is made only for the early 240z, and needed to be modified to fit the 280z.  The 240z had strut tower distances farther apart than the 280z, so the bar needed to be shortened (cut and rewelded).

Photos:

Rear bar before modification.

Rear bar after modification.

Closeup.

Matching front bar.

[project280z]

Replaced old brittle door front rubber seal (both left and right) with new one made by Precision Parts.  Also replaced the old hatch outer-lower rubber seals for both sides.

Photos:

Old brittle door front rubber seal.

New door front rubber seal.

Old and new hatch outer-lower rubber seal.

[project280z]

Replaced dome bulb with a 6W LED board.  The lighting output is extremely bright (probably double the light output than the original bulb).