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Anything made before about 1992 will have had R-12 originally. The 280Z had a different body than the original 240Z. They shared many elements but to meet the 1975 collision standards the front end needed to be beefed up and 5mph bumpers added. If I recall, the change actually happend mid year in the 1974 260Z.
The inline 6 L-28 engine in the 280Z is one of the strongest built engines ever put in a passenger car. It came stock with a forged crank with 7 main bearings, forged rods, forged pistons and a full skirt block. There are tons and tons of hot rod parts available for them.
The 240/280Z owned SCCA racing from 1970 to 1979 winning the C production championship 10 consecutive years. They won many many other championships.
In the late 1970s I had an opportunity to work on a project with John Knepp of Electromotive. They built the Z cars Don Devendorf campaigned in C production. At that time John claimed to squeeze over 700 HP out of a 280Z engine using the stock block, stock crank, stock rods and stock rockers. It's likely he got more than that but didn't want to tip his hand.
It's a great car with a nearly bulletproof motor if you just keep oil and coolant in it. Anyone that swaps it out for a small block Chevy is a fool.
- Pete
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