steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) Ok, Bought this 74 Z from the original owner in 1999. Strictly a weekend car. Always wanted a Z in HS but never happened. So, at 32 years old I decided to buy one. Original owner was a couple in Austin who both taught at UT. They tended to drive "his" car to work and the Z was not driven too much. I turned it over to 100K on my test drive. So, an original owner car with an average of 4K a year. No mods what so ever, except for floor carpet as floor mats. No sunroof, no stereo no anything added or changed. Well, actually 3 separate re-sprays of original color paint on the exterior and round top carbs. After 8 years I got the upgrade bug and proceeded to read a ton and start buying parts. Here's the ongoing story. As I write this I've removed the old block and getting close to installing the new stroker. I give huge thanks to everyone on Hybrid Z for answering my questions and posting information that eventually helps me or someone else. Steve Here is the original window sticker to the car.. Window Sticker.pdf Edited November 25, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) My early 74 260Z: Tokico springs and struts. Lowered by about 1.5". Headers and Exhaust from MSA and electric fan. Edited November 25, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) The F54 Block which I purchased for $250.00 which included delivery to my door. High price but very easy. Also the V07 Crank (And the car it came out of). After searching the local junk yards and finding no Diesel Maximas, I bit the bullet and paid around $500 for the crank. Ouch....Turned out to be in very good condition. Machine shop did very little to it. My buddy had a gas Maxima in HS. Great car by the way. Can't say I ever knew anyone who had a diesel. Actually, can't even remember the car being produced for that matter.. Edited November 25, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 Here's the F54 Block after getting bored out. Machine shop is an absolute steal. Costs like $200 to clean, check and bore out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) I used the "240sx" Pistons and 9mm 240z Rods. Basically the same project detailed in this well known page: http://www.geocities.com/inlinestroker/index.htm Except for the fact I used a P90, shaved the pistons and used a thinner head gasket. Once the pistons are installed they rise above the deck by .6mm. The machine shop shaved the "ring" or "dish" off in a lathe. End result was .6mm below the deck. Wow.. perfect.. At least according to the above page.1st pic has the pistons installed before shaving and 2nd is after shaving. Block paint is a Ford Blue. Close enough for me. I've also attached an Excel which lists the piston weights.Piston Weights Grams4/15/2011Piston #1 4662 4663 4674 4655 4676 4662 not used: 465468 Edited June 25, 2016 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) After mulling over what head to use, I decided on the P90. Supposedly the best flowing or close to it, square exhust ports which will fit my headers from my E88 head and a non-open chamber design. Picked one up here on Hybrid. $100 bucks if I recall correctly. I'm using my Schneider Stage 2 cam from my 2.6L with springs, retainers and lash pads. Love how interchangeable all these Z parts are. The P90 arrived in great shape. No stripped threads and had not been shaved. Cleaned up great. Machine shop did a valve job, replaced a few valves, tested the springs all for about $100 bucks. The 1st pic is my E88 when I had it reconditioned a few years back. Note the open chamber verse the P90. Edited June 25, 2016 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) To get the quench correct, I opted for the .8mm Metal head gasket. Pricey item. About $300 bucks. I need to check the paper work. Its either a Kameari or Tomei..... It's a 90.5mm bore designed for the 3.1L stroker. Edited November 24, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) After doing all this I finally got around to taking the old engine out. Exactly, 1 year ago tomorrow I went to Habor Freight (F...ing junk) to buy the engine lift on Black Friday. $100 bucks. Within 11 months the jack was leaking, which had not been used and went back last month to buy the replacement jack. Another 50 bucks... But, I've never removed, overhauled or rebuit an engine in my life, so I was fairly proud of myself in removing the old engine completely Solo! (With help from Tony D and others on lift points) Edited November 25, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) After getting the head back I checked the wipe pattern on all lash pads. All are centered. Not all are 100% the same but 9 are nearly identical and 3 vary slightly...Not much. Instead of perfectly centered they are about 55/45. Edited November 25, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 (edited) After the engine work is done, my end result which I'm shooting for is something like this: Love this stance.... I'd buy this car if I could. Or the Green one. Love the chrome. Edited November 25, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelsonian Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Steve, Love what your doing with your car. Please take lots of video ringing out that engine when you are finished. The sound of a stroker rowing through the gears is music to my ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 Nelsonian, It will be to mine as well. I'm planning on it since I've never heard one before. I like the SU Carbs. Alot of talk about the sound of Webers...Its so humid and hot in SA that I'm thinking they just won't run well for 2 years until I get the tweaking dialed in with the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forchunet Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 (edited) I'm considering buying a 3.0 stroker + SU's setup from a guy down here in Va. Up til recently I've never heard a stroker before but compared to stock L28's that I've heard, this car sounds scary mean! It pulls hard from 1st to 4th and is a blast to drive. I think you'll love your little setup here. Take videos when it's done! Edited November 25, 2011 by forchunet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 (edited) After buying a bunch of parts from MSA...Among others I'll be installing a Centerforce Clutch, single row damper and new timing gear (Cool Japanese box btw). Edited November 26, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forchunet Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 If only you could buy them brand new now for $6,000... Any idea how much 6k was worth back then after adjusting for inflation? Awewsome build btw! You're inspiring me to start a restoration myself as opposed to buying a completed car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) Interesting that $6,000 in 1974 is equivalent to around $27,500 in 2011. Fairly close to the 370z. Edited November 26, 2011 by steve260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 Well the Holiday's offered up additional time to work on the project. I confirmed TDC with a dial indicator since I was installing a new Damper. Like some people have experienced, the damper is a bit tight. .001" of clearance. Jeez...I spent plenty of time sanding the damper bore down. Not to mention the timing marks are set on the opposite side. I believe the L4 engines have timing on that side but you would think MSA would have both styles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 After getting the damper issue straight I sprayed the .8mm metal head gasket with Copper Coat, let it get tacky, installed the head dowels and bolted up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve260z Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 I'm installing a new timing gear set even though my old one still looked good. The "How to Rebuild.." book mentions a gasket for the chain tensioning housing which was not in my gasket set so I made one from cork. No big deal. Next up is the front cover and Damper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arif Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Steve, That's a great project you've got! I think I've seen your car around town too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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