You can save some time and money on your Datsun Z restoration by learning which 280ZX parts will fit your classic car. Using the right parts, you can make your car perform better while keeping that vintage look everyone loves. You just need to learn what makes each generation different and work out how things mount up.
The right 280ZX parts can change how your Z drives for the better. I'm going to tell you about five main systems that work well together. They include parts for your suspension, options for your transmission, and ways to make the electrical system better. You also need swaps for your differential and various engine and drivetrain pieces. For each one, you should choose parts that match the period and help your car drive better. Think about what you want from your car and how comfortable you are with tools before you start swapping parts.
If you're thinking about which 280ZX parts will make your classic Datsun feel like new, consider these upgrades. They might just give you the perfect mix of better performance that still keeps the classic charm of your Z.
Let's get started with some options!
Table of Contents
Upgraded Suspension And Brakes
The 280ZX front struts are popular with people who own the earlier Z cars. You can bolt them right onto your 240Z, 260Z, and 280Z with just a few small differences.
These struts are a little shorter than what came with your car originally. They'll actually give your classic Z a slightly lower look when it's all done.
The brakes from the 280ZX are something that Z owners say takes some time to put in. But it's worth doing. You get bigger rotors with vents built into them. That helps your brakes work much better when you're driving on winding roads or taking your car to the track. Heat is a problem for braking power. The vented rotors let that heat get away much faster than the nice ones your car probably has now.
I was talking to this guy, Mark, who loves Z cars. He took his 240Z to a track day with the regular brakes it came with. His brake pedal started feeling soft after just a few laps because the brakes got too hot. After he changed to the vented rotors from the 280ZX, he could drive around the track all day long without any problems. He told me it made a giant difference!
You can add the 280ZX brake calipers to your old Z car, too. They fit right onto the original spindles without much issue. You might have to make some small changes to your brake lines to get everything to fit just right. The more you want to stop quickly, the happier you'll be with these changes.
The springs from the 280ZX can be a bit tougher to work with. You might need to trim the coil springs to make them fit in your older Z car. Some owners just choose not to manage this headache. If you're already working on your suspension, aftermarket coilovers are probably a better way to go.
Once you've put in these 280ZX front end parts, make sure that you get an alignment. The changes to the suspension can affect how your steering feels and make your tires wear out in strange ways. Almost any shop can do this adjustment for you. Your car will probably sit at a different height too. That can change how it handles when you're driving.
Transmission Swap
Swapping a 280ZX 5-speed transmission into your older Datsun Z is something that Z car fans enjoy. The pleasant news is that the 280ZX transmission (FS5W71B) bolts right to the L-series engine without any weird mods. You don't need to use adapter plates or custom work for the basic hookup. The bolt pattern matches your old 4-speed transmission well.
You'll need to use the 280ZX clutch and flywheel together as a set when you do this swap. Your original parts won't match up with the newer transmission. The mover also sits in a slightly different place. You might need to make some small adjustments to your floor pan to fit everything nicely.
Your old driveshaft won't work with the new setup. It needs to be made shorter to fit with the 5-speed's different length. Most people either modify their original driveshaft or find a shop that can make one the right length for them. That's probably the hardest part of the whole job. For mounting everything, you can use the 280ZX transmission mount and crossmember or modify your original parts to make them work. You might also need to switch out the speedometer cable (depending on what year your Z car is). The reverse light switch works differently, too, so you'll need to adjust the wiring to get your backup lights working again.
The best part about driving with the new setup is the improved gearing. The 5-speed can give you some lower gearing, which makes driving on the highway way more comfortable. Your engine won't be running so fast at higher speeds anymore. The gaps between gears are smaller. That helps quite a bit when you're driving hard or taking your car to the track!
Space can be a problem since the 5-speed is longer than your original transmission. If you have an early 240Z, you might need more work on the tunnel to make room for everything. You should measure everything before you start cutting. Z owners say this change makes their car feel like something you can take on long trips without getting tired.
Alternator Upgrade Path
Putting a 280ZX alternator in your older Z car is like making your classic car a bit more modern. The 280ZX alternator has a few plus points compared to what you'd find in a 240Z, 260Z, or early 280Z. These newer ones come with the voltage regulator built right in, which helps clean up your engine space. You won't need that separate regulator box stuck on your firewall anymore.
These newer alternators put out way more power too. Your stock one probably gives around 40-45 amps. But the 280ZX version pumps out 60-65 amps. That extra power makes a real difference if you've added any new devices or better lights to your car. Z owners say their headlights are much brighter and their batteries stay charged better after they make this change.
Installing it is pretty easy because it fits right onto the brackets you already have. You might need to get a different length belt. But that's usually not a big deal. The wiring is where you need to start to get everything working right. You'll be working with three wires during this job - the exciter wire, the output wire and the ground connection.
Most people get a bit worried about changing the wiring. It's not as hard as it looks. You'll need to work around the old external regulator by hooking up the wires to the new alternator. The yellow wire is usually the exciter connection, while the white and red ones work with the output. Make sure your ground wire is connected because a bad ground can give you weird electrical problems.
Some Z owners say they needed to add a small diode to stop the battery from draining when the car is parked. It'll depend on which model you have and how it's set up. But it's something to remember if you see your battery going flat. The diode stops electricity from flowing backward through the system when the engine isn't running.
The benefits of this upgrade go beyond just having a new alternator. Z fans find their whole electrical system works way better after making this change. The voltage doesn't jump around as much - that helps keep your electronics safe. Your lights won't get dim when you're sitting at a stop light and your battery stays charged more reliably.
R200 Differential Gear Ratios
The R200 differential from the 280ZX is what early Z car owners usually choose when upgrading. Many Z owners put in this bigger unit because it manages more power than the original R180. The R200 is made harder from the factory and can give you extra options for gear ratios. This upgrade makes sense for people who race on weekends and for those who drive their car every day. They want something that lasts longer.
With options for picking gear ratios, Z owners can spend some time figuring out what's a good choice for them. For example, the 3.90 ratio hits the right balance. You'll get much faster pickup without losing too much top speed. If you go with the 4.11 ratio, your car will feel even quicker off the line.
You might not be as happy when driving on the highway. Some drivers actually like the less aggressive 3.70 ratio because it can give you a great combination of peppiness and practicality. A thing that catches first-time swappers by surprise during this swap is that your axles need to match your differential. Your driveshaft might also need some changes depending on what kind of Z you have.
These little facts tend to cause problems for people new to working on cars, even though the swap seems pretty easy. You'll probably use more gas with the more aggressive gear ratios like 3.90 or 4.11. Your engine needs to spin faster when driving on the highway.
One of my friends with a 240Z told me he lost about 3 miles per gallon after changing to a 3.90 ratio. He says that the big smile he gets when he pushes the gas pedal is worth it. It more than makes up for having to spend a bit more on fuel!
The way you drive should help you choose which gear ratio to go with. If your Z spends most of its time on twisty canyon roads or at the track, then you'll probably like the quick acceleration you get from lower gears. If you use your car mostly for driving and commuting, you could be happier with the more laid-back feel of a 3.54 or 3.70 ratio. You'll see the difference when you're stuck in traffic versus flying down empty back roads on a Sunday morning.
Wheel And Engine Swaps
With these wheel compatibility options, you can put 280ZX wheels straight onto older Z cars without too much issue. The bolt pattern stays the same at 4x114.3mm across all Z models. There might be a few small differences in how the wheels sit, though. 280ZX wheels usually have a higher offset than the earlier Z cars. This means they might look a bit different when you mount them on your older Datsun.
The engine parts between these Z models have quite a bit in common - especially on the inside. The L-series engines in these cars share a bit of matching parts. Z fans can combine and match pieces from different L-series engines to build what they want. The L24 connecting rods are a little longer than the ones in L28 engines. This small difference can change how you need to put your engine together.
A faster car is achievable because these parts give you lots of options. You can use the L28 crankshaft with older rods to get more power. Some people even use pistons from different engines like the Z24 or KA24. These changes can give your old Z more power without spending too much money.
The standard (non-turbo) distributor from the 280ZX has become a popular upgrade for earlier Z cars. It can give you better timing control and liven up an old engine. Swapping transmissions is also something Z car owners do. The five-speed manual from a 280ZX can work in older models with some adjustments. Most people like to try the close-ratio version from the 1981-83 models.
The R200 differential from the 280ZX is another part that fits well in older Z cars. It's stronger than what originally came in 240Z and 260Z models. The 3.90 ratio version can give you nice acceleration while still letting you drive at normal highway speeds. This change can help your car feel better compared to other setups on the road.
Build Your Dream Car
But picking the right parts to switch out helps you create a car that looks better and drives better, too. I've watched Z car fans combine and match parts from different years with wonderful results. There's something satisfying about making these classic cars your own. It feels great when you find just the right combination of parts that makes your Z look better than the rest.
Planning ahead and doing your homework helps you avoid problems when you work on these machines. If you're thinking about upgrading your suspension, swapping your transmission, or upgrading your engine, take some time to learn about which parts work together. This can help you avoid trouble later. Keep in mind that you might need to make small modifications to get parts to fit together. That's actually one of the fun parts of working on these projects!
With these tools for making your ideas come to life, we have what you need if you love Datsun cars. We have lots of custom parts made just for Datsun Z cars, so they'll fit well in your restoration or modding project. We make everything from bumpers and aluminum door cards to center consoles and spoilers that help with airflow. Each of our products shows how much we care about making quality parts for these classic cars.
If you're ready to move forward with your Datsun project, get started at Skillard.com to see our Z car parts. It doesn't matter if you have just started fixing up your car. It also works if you're adding the last few touches to something you've been working on for years. The perfect Datsun is waiting for you to build it, and we're here to help you make that happen!
