A&Q about 350Z
Q:
260Z was produced... known for a problematic induction system. Can you say 70's equivalent of feathering?
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1983 280ZX NA 2-Seater Cadet Blue, restored with Nismo suspension & brakes
2005 Saab 9-3ss Linear (daily driver)
A:
The 260 vapor-locked pretty badly. Was the first 280 fuel injected? That could be a reason they only made them one year.
continuous Z owner since '86
A:
October 2004 Z car of the month is a 260
continuous Z owner since '86
A:
All 280s were injected.
I cut up an early 260.
A:
I had 2 260z's. One was the 2+2 model. There were two versions. The early 74's had the skinny 240 bumpers. The 74 1/2 had the larger 280 style bumpers. Despite the higher displacement from 2400cc to 2600cc, the added weight and emissions control devises, hurt the 260 in performance. The interior was a little different as well. The dash was like the 280 and there was more carpet, and they did away with the wood steering wheel.
The flat-top su carbs on the 260, as mentioned above, were problematic. I rebuilt them 2x times over the years of ownership. Best thing to do was replace them with Webers or, as my 2+2 had, retorfitted the round-tops from a 72 240. They worked great. Also, you always had to carry extra fuel filters in the glove box. They were known to clog. It wans't too big a deal to crawl under and replace it near the rr tire. There is one in the fuel pump as well.
Ah the good old days. They were great on tires too. I put some Michelin TRX tires on one and I bet I got 80,000 miles on those. And that was driving the heck out of them. I still love the old 260. I put nearly 200K on the first one. Never had a problem, just changed the oil and regular tune ups. Most of which I could do my self on a saturday afternoon. Too bad it got stolen. I sold the last one in 85, but I still have the clutch alignment tool in my tool box - just in case!
Sorry I'm rambling. Maybe it's time to visit the 70-83 forum?
A:
Yeah the 260z gets a bad rap but essentially all you need to do is swap on the 240z carbs and it's perfectly fine. Also performance wasn't hurt at all as some think and as older mags seem to say. Take a properly well tuned 260z with the stock 260z carbs and it performs just as good as the 240z or 280z. The problem is getting those 260z carbs well tunned. Now do the swap of the 240z carbs and it should keep up, if not beat a 240z. Despite what people think hp did go up with the larger 260z engine, but so did weight. The thing people seem to not realize is that the 72-73 240z weight just about the same weight as the early 260z so the performance edge goes to the 260z being that it has more hp and torque. Same has to be said for the 280z. While their weight was a tad bit more than the 72-74 Z it was made up for by the increase in hp and torque from the L28. Basicly from 72-78 The Z's performaned about the same given condition, tune, and driver were all equal. Now it's the 70-71 240z that defy this becuase those Z's were really light at 2250lbs. Those Z's with everything being equal would probably edge out the older 240z, 260z, and 280z just becuase their weight gives them the advantage. Then again drop the a/c out of the 280z as well as the bumpers and the 280z is back in the running against it. Thats the great thing about the 70-78 Z is that parts swap and no one year has a strong advantage over another, it's more on how you build your Z.
1977 280z: Intake, exhaust, high flow cat, header, euro damper, cam, MSD, adj. FPR, 3.7 lsd, F+R sway+strut bars, 2580lbs
1984 300zx: intake, exhuast, high flow cat, headers, JWT ECU, F+R sway bars, F strut bar
06 WRX TR
A:
Thanks guys...great info on the the 260Z...I'm still learnin' Z history.
My SB ZR still feels like HEAVEN....what a wild ride!
A:
Thanks 280z/300zx for the education on 260Zs. I thought I knew a lot about it, but not near to the level you do. I always thought of the 260Z as the real dog of the Z car line. Since it came around when most all car makes were having tuning problems with carbs before transitioning from carbeurators to fuel injection. As discussed here. Because of the new (at the time) smog standards to a large extent. I did not realize the problemos could be so easily solved with a carb change for the 260Z.
A:
I too owned a 1974 260Z. I had 138,000 miles on it when I sold it in 1978. I had pulled all the smog devices off and replaced the carbs with a set of 1971 SU's and the car ran much better. I also had the second fuel pump installed to prevent vapor lock. Mine was an early 260 and had the smaller type bumpers. I purchased it new for $6400 out the door.. Yes.. they do exist..
Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY 32,741 miles since Sept 17,22002
30 year "Z Car" owner
A:
I could ramble on, but rwbest has already said it all. I still have my 1974.5 260Z 2+2 that I purchased new. I wanted a model with the the last of the carbs because I didn't trust that new fangled fuel injection. Over 30 years later and I still wonder what I was thinking!
74 260Z 2+2, 90 300ZX Stage2 #161, 90 300ZXTT Stage3