sdm9785 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Hi, I'm looking at buying a 75 280z. Talked to the owner today and he said that he rebuilt the engine a couple years back, he said he put later model pistons in it to bump the compression ratio? I'm guessing flat tops possibly, dunno what stock was...anyway he said it ran great until per his words " a cam shim slipped and it bent a valve" how accurate does that sound? I'm no engine slouch but I've never dug into an L series, just wondering what I was getting into before buying the car. Any help would be great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Assume that the engine is no good (poorly built and already failing), and value the car as if it didn't have an engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Assume that the engine is no good (poorly built and already failing), and value the car as if it didn't have an engine. I'll second that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luseboy Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Sounds like either the head has been shaved and had shims under the cam towers, or he's referring to the lash pads as a "cam shim". I'd just assume the head is scrap now. So I third that you should value it as if it didn't have an engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdm9785 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 I appreciate the help guys, if I'm lucky it didn't ruin the piston to that cylinder and I can throw a head on it... If not I've got an f54 block needing to be used anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luseboy Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Im sure you can find a decent head for pretty cheap, i think i saw a couple selling in the classifieds here. If you do the work yourself, i strongly reccomend getting the "how to rebuild your nissan/datsun OHC engine" book, it's the most useful 15 bucks i've ever spent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdm9785 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 I definitely will. A lot of guys still turbo with flat tops and a p90 head don't they? Would my compression be too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luseboy Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I definitely will. A lot of guys still turbo with flat tops and a p90 head don't they? Would my compression be too high? Good call, these engines are pretty easy to work on. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions or anything! Some have, but I have heard of bad detonation. I know L series are pretty sensitive to detonation, especially under boost. If you used a 3mm headgasket, I'm sure it'd be fine. Just make sure you don't get a P79 head, or any others with exhaust liners if you plan to use a turbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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