Jump to content
HybridZ

RyanT67's 240Z


Recommended Posts

Cheers texas30O, appreciate it!  

Nice sunny day today, so I thought I'd attempt to perform my first valve adjustment.  Never done one before, but read up on it and it seems simple enough, just a little fiddly.  Popped off the valve cover, seems the threads on 3 of the allen bolt holes are partially stripped... joy... anyway, that's a problem for another day.  Pulled the plugs, all looked fine there.  

Took the opportunity to set the engine to TDC and check that the crank and cam timing at in sync.  The marks lined up perfectly, nice!  My 60-2 trigger wheel for the Electromotive HPV-1 was also correctly aligned with the magnetic pickup on the 11th tooth from the -2, so I know my timing should be accurate, which is great.  

I did the valves in pairs, turning the camshaft to the next pair as needed.  Almost all of them were out of spec by 1-2 thousands, and one was out by 4 thousands.  Adjusted the intakes to 0.008"  and the exhaust to 0.010", per the cold specs.  

Threw it all back together, and the engine is now running noticeably smoother.  The wideband gauge is much more steady as well, whereas before it had some wild swings going on.  

Tomorrow I'll be pulling the 44's, to give them a check over and clean up.  While I am at it, I am going to play around with the heatshield I made - reckon I can bend up the back of it a touch to gain better header clearance.  

post-29570-0-11722700-1430015686_thumb.jpg

Edited by ryant67
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Had the Z in with my mechanic as it was leaking a fair bit of oil and he suspected the rear main seal.  While he was in there replacing it, he found a spun bearing.  More money I guess.  On a positive note, we did confirm that my engine was indeed a stroker with the V07 crank - hopefully it's undamaged.  Heading back up there later today to tear some parts off the engine, to make it easier for him to pull it.  Will be interesting to see what's all in the engine, rod/piston wise, etc.  

Time to read up some more on engines...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trying not to go too crazy with the rebuild here, but since I am already running L24 rods and have a LD28 crankshaft, I guess I might as well take things a step further. 

At the moment I am thinking of going with the following:

E31 head - already ported and polished with enlarged valves (have)
Isky cam - thinking stage III?
F54 block (have)
L24 rods (have)
LZ24 pistons - 89mm
LD28 crankshaft (have)
Clevite bearings
1mm head gasket
BHJ damper

Misc other items I also have:
9qt oil pan
Electromotive HPV-1
Mikuni 44's
Fidanza flywheel
Centerforce II clutch


So, when it comes to pistons, are there any specific brands to seek out or avoid?  Presumably actual Nissan ones would be best, but I haven't been able to find any online so far.  Same question for piston rings I guess - I think I have read that ITM do the job just fine?

I'll be shopping around this week for a decent machine shop to do the rod/crank balancing and engine boring.  I know quite a few serious autocrossers, so it shouldn't be too difficult.  

Ultimately all of the above should leave me with roughly 9.5 compression ratio on a 3.1L stroker.  I was running a 3.0 stroker with what I suspect to have been very low compression (never had any ping, no matter how far I advanced the timing), and an unknown camshaft regrind, which I suspect was very mild.  Looking for a bit more grunt here - I drive the car purely for fun, hitting country roads and occasional track days.  

Any thoughts are more than welcome!  








 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Sad pics...   :(

17618190659_c40b7772d8_z.jpgDSC04337 by ryant67, on Flickr

 

17616621958_558fac483e_z.jpgDSC04335 by ryant67, on Flickr

 

17181959994_c686917bc3_z.jpgDSC04334 by ryant67, on Flickr


While the engine is out, I will be repainting the engine bay and tidying the wiring and such up quite a bit.  Lots of little brackets and such to POR-15 up too.  

Here is how the head looks, since it's now pulled.  Thankfully the valves have already been switched over to the larger L28 ones, and some head work appears to have been done.

 

17804867941_52e78f550d_z.jpgDSC04339 by ryant67, on Flickr

17801639662_753554cf19_z.jpgDSC04340 by ryant67, on Flickr 

 

17618174999_a4fa7851d8_z.jpgDSC04338 by ryant67, on Flickr

Should be hearing from the machine shop this week, and once I know the status of my short block, I can get things rolling.  The sooner the better too, since I am obsessing over details way too much already, idle hands...

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Bought a fully built engine over the weekend.  Was going to build another stroker, but it's Summer and I want this thing back on the road ASAP... besides, rushing a serious engine build is probably not the best of ideas, so the stroker can wait... for now.  

I'll be switching to a well built L28 with flat top pistons and a ported N42 head, running about 9.5:1 compression with a 1.5mm thick Kameari head gasket.  It currently has a pretty mild Crane camshaft in it.  I am planning to run it as-is for now, but since I do have my E31 sitting here I am tempted to slap a more aggressive Isky cam into that, switch to a 1mm head gasket, and shoot for 10:1 compression with some valve reliefs cut into the pistons.  Could work well, and the quench from the flat pistons and E31 head should keep detonation from happening.  

Anyway, that's all speculative since I don't pick up the engine for another week or two.  For now my attention has turned to having the engine bay sitting perfect and ready for that new engine.  The paint on the body of the car looks pretty great still, and the underside is solid, but the engine bay is looking pretty sorry.  Quite sure this is still the original paint, and I have a little bit of battery area rust going - now is the perfect time to take care of this.  

Stripping everything out of the engine bay now, but still have to do the area by the master cylinder.  I'm shopping the repaint out to a local shop, I know my limits and want this done properly.  It will be getting painted white to match the rest of the car.  

 

post-29570-0-26219500-1433303457_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-61102400-1433303473_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-07065100-1433303489_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-79707700-1433303503_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-30190600-1433303520_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Done all I can, so it's off to the body shop for paint.

 

The frame rails are rock solid, which is good. Thankfully the rust by the battery tray doesn't seem to go too deep either, just surface stuff.

 

Excited to see how it turns out. Big re-wire job is next up. Did a re-wire last year, learned a lot in the process too, but I think I can do a much better job this time - especially with no engine in there!

post-29570-0-38015000-1433382250_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-80666500-1433382315_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-58392100-1433382347_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Checking over things from the old engine, killing time in limbo...  

My E31 head:

18284274089_6ede182d74_z.jpgDSC04427 by ryant67, on Flickr

At the very least, those old aluminum valve retainers will be needing replaced.  

18472225481_ac84bbfb5d_z.jpgDSC04432 by ryant67, on Flickr

--------------------

The camshaft has obviously been reground, but there is no stamping on it besides the factory "K".  Mystery cam!  The car was pulling very hard from around 4k rpm up to red line at 7k rpm.  I set the rev limiter to 7k rpm due to the unknown internals, but this thing wanted to keep going at 7k...  

Measuring the lift with vernier calipers:

Find the smallest lobe measurement

18472231981_021ac762e7_z.jpgDSC04430 by ryant67, on Flickr

Then the largest lobe measurement

 

17847801804_1b29b2263f_z.jpgDSC04429 by ryant67, on Flickr


So 1.5" - 1.15" = 0.350"

Rocker arm ratio on these cars is typically 1.5 I believe, so 0.350 * 1.5 = 0.520 lift.  

So that helps explain the powerband a little.  Skinny looking lobes though.  

----------------------------

Checking on the Centerforce clutch and Fidanza flywheel, all looks pretty good to me, aside from all the oil from my rear crankshaft seal leak - still though, I guess my shifting isn't THAT bad...

18284325449_b11701e64f_z.jpgDSC04412 by ryant67, on Flickr

18448215886_0e2059dda1_z.jpgDSC04411 by ryant67, on Flickr

 

18444076286_09fbc1e03a_z.jpgDSC04413 by ryant67, on Flickr

 

----------------------------

Cleaned up my Mikuni intake manifold.  

18466228722_6708608821_z.jpgDSC04408 by ryant67, on Flickr

18284350669_2a20446782_z.jpgDSC04407 by ryant67, on Flickr

17847866894_9696a24a31_z.jpgDSC04410 by ryant67, on Flickr

18287341230_4f4e6a8c9b_z.jpgDSC04407 by ryant67, on Flickr

Who is Jack?   :P

I measured up the manifold:
Carb side: 44mm
Intake side: 35mm

So the ports all match (for better or worse..)

Probably going to soda blast my Mikuni 44's  this weekend in an effort to clean up the outside of the casting.  I have a damaged body to test on first, but this method looks simple enough, and the results look spectacular!  

Link:  http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks like you have too many options and it will be hard to choose-not a bad problem I guess.  I would think the e31 with 1mm gasket on a stroker will be at the edge of the CR limits. Sounds like you have full spark control so that will be an advantage to control detonation. 

Mikuni manifold looks familiar!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Not a whole lot of major progress to report.  The car is 100% going in for the engine bay repaint on Monday, and I picked up the new engine last weekend.  

Right now I am just stuck in decision mode as the new engine had a lot of nice parts that are duplicates of aftermarket goodies my old stroker motor had. 

New:  Kameari-style cast aluminum oil pan 5.5qt
Old:  Custom high capacity baffled oil pan 9qt  [x]

New:  123 Ignition programmable distributor
Old:  Electromotive HPV-1 crankfired ignition 

New:  Clifford Research 6-2-1 header w/ 1.5" primaries into 2" exhaust line
Old:  MSA 6-1 header with 1.5" primaries into 3" exhaust line  

New:  SK Racing 40's on a cannon-style manifold
Old:  Mikuni 44's on a Mikuni manifold  

New:  Crane .450 lift 262/272 duration camshaft
Old: Unknown .520ish lift with unknown duration  

And duplicates of the same 83 ZX gearboxes, centerforce clutches, and fidanza flywheels - reckon I will just inspect, pick the best condition ones, and sell the spares.  

It's a nice problem to have so many good choices when it comes to parts though, and once I sell off the spares I will just about break even on the new engine I bought, huzzah!!! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some pics...  

Took it upon myself to improve the aesthetics of my Mikunis.  Tried the old sodablast technique and it didn't really do enough for me, so I got ballsy and bead blasted the carb bodies.  Following the blasting, I blew them out with compressed air, rinsed the insides out with carb cleaner, then blasted the hell out of them with the high powered water gun at a coin-op car wash before once again blowing them out with compressed air.  Pretty sure there are no beads left in these suckers now.  Finished them off with some of POR-15's "Glisten PC" to keep the clean finish protected - I wish I was a little less heavy handed with the coatings though, got a couple of minor runs, but on the whole I am pretty satisfied.  

18849947699_e5afa60ddd_z.jpgDSC04460 by ryant67, on Flickr

19039254361_b0963d10dc_z.jpgDSC04461 by ryant67, on Flickr

18848447688_300ffdc41b_z.jpgDSC04463 by ryant67, on Flickr

18848475658_9b0db011c4_z.jpgDSC04459 by ryant67, on Flickr

Tore down the old stroker engine and now I have 2 V07 cranks in my living room.  

18413547824_94ba7a306d_z.jpgDSC04466 by ryant67, on Flickr


Pulled these L24 rods and unknown pistons from the engine too.  Dual valve reliefs, hmm...

19030604942_cb0d3702ce_z.jpgDSC04470 by ryant67, on Flickr

19009929856_3f534fba11_z.jpgDSC04469 by ryant67, on Flickr


Some pics of the custom 9qt oil pan from the stroker motor.  Quite like it actually, and it's bottom sits perfectly level with the crossmember.  

19036051045_76dd444ec0_z.jpgDSC04473 by ryant67, on Flickr

19009810456_d158deda97_z.jpgDSC04475 by ryant67, on Flickr

19039188291_ce60088a86_z.jpgDSC04471 by ryant67, on Flickr

 

18849866059_d5edd111c9_z.jpgDSC04472 by ryant67, on Flickr


My little hoard of rods and pistons.  

19036085755_91b952c742_z.jpgDSC04467 by ryant67, on Flickr


Spent a couple of hours trying to straighten up the fins on my Griffin radiator, not a fun job.  Tweezers and lots of patience.  

18849909759_ecfc775b38_z.jpgDSC04465 by ryant67, on Flickr

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back from the paint shop, boy did they ever do a great job matching the paint!

 

So good a job that I'm now getting them to repair the cracks in my fiberglass front air dam and repaint it as well.

 

23 unused holes were welded up. Battery tray was removed, and I'll be putting a battery box behind the passenger seat.

 

Happy.

 

Now to get the harness sorted out and install it in a couple of days time, then the engine.

post-29570-0-74789900-1435361739_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-08074500-1435361766_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reworked my engine bay harness today.  

Modifications done:
- Removed stock alternator wiring as I am running an internally regulated Ford 3G alternator.
- Removed distributor wiring as I am running crank fired ignition.  
- Added fused power wire for fan controller.
- Added wires for ignition and accessory relay triggers.
- Added lines for Electromotive HPV-1, cd player, and fuel pump.  
- Sleeved wiring in braided nylon (techflex F6) and heat shrinked ends.  

All in all, pretty pleased with how it turned out.  I just need to sleeve the relayed headlight harness and water temperature gauge line now.  

post-29570-0-82105000-1435477171_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-14149200-1435477196_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-31993700-1435477221_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Getting close now, just a couple of small odds and ends to finish up, then the engine can be dropped in.  

I'll need to fab up a bracket for the bussmann fuse/relay box, mount the bus bar for power connections, and run the wiring for the power and ground wires to the battery behind the passenger seat.  

Chomping at the bit to drive this thing again!  

post-29570-0-93975500-1436326035_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-36818200-1436326051_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Egads, how time flies!  

Engine is in, and running.  Just a few odds and ends to zip tie and secure, and some clutch adjustments to be done.  Looking pretty good though!  

I was pretty bummed out that my AN fitting fuel lines sit too high for the Cusco strut bar, and the T3 triangulation rods to clear.  Reckon I can solve that be adding an extra 90 (or 45) degree bend so they angle down again.  I'll also be switching to a throttle cable for the carbs, as there really isn't sufficient clearance for the rod by the firewall.  Lokar seems to be the way most people do this, so I just need to DIY up a bracket.  

post-29570-0-63632200-1439593672_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Some finishing touches:
- Added some 45 degree AN fittings to my fuel lines for the carbs, which lowered things just enough for the Cusco strut brace to clear.  
- Installed T3 triangulation bar. 
- Hacked off one of the clips on my ITG air filter for clearance.  
- Converted to Lokar throttle cable.  Made a basic bracket for it that attaches to one of the heatshield support arms at the side of a Mikuni.  MUCH improved throttle response now, loving it.  
- Re-routed the brake vacuum line to avoid any clearance problems with the throttle linkage.  To form the shape I rammed 3/8 copper tubing inside 3/8 rubber line, wasn't easy, but it went.  Then I carefully bend the tubing to shape.  Brakes still work perfectly, easy job.  
- Rerouted the braided fuel line slightly to be more direct.

Not much left to do at this point, just some fine tuning to the carb jetting.  Very happy with how things are looking under the hood, and how well the car seems to be running.  

 

post-29570-0-29711800-1441504656_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-11356500-1441504683_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-64959400-1441504699_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-83603000-1441504719_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-52104800-1441504782_thumb.jpg

post-29570-0-30131500-1441504802_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...