Guest Anonymous Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 This is to anyone with past experience with turbo charged l28's. I was wondering roughly what it would cost to build a 350hp l28. I plan to get a 240z, but can't decide what would be more cost effective, turbo |6, or to just go with the V8 swap. Any info. is welcome and appreciated... Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 Whatsup dude, i was in palmdale last week with my buddy and his turbo L28z. Anyway, yea its cheaper to go V8. The problem with a turbo motor is that you can go overkill in alot of areas and it runs up the bill hella fast. Plan to spend about 5000 bucks to build a totally bullet proof 350+hp turbo motor. I know some will say thats high but that is about what I have spent on my engine. However, the v8 is a good idea also. They are just not my style if ya know what I mean. Cool, but not my bag. I think it will be cheaper to go this route. Dont expect major numbers from a basically stock crate motor though. I saw dave booths car run on the dyno in lancaster and turn out like 200hp wheras the motor is rated at 330 or so.... It needs some tuning for sure and I think he will be happier. I dunno dude, its your bag. Chances are both are going to be hella expensive. However, you will be happy with either motor. I dont have a TON of experience with this, im just relaying information. Evan PS.. email buetow@gte.net his name is ron, a good freind of mine. he has a turboed 240. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 Thanks for the reply... The reason I was leaning more toward the turbo l28 was because of weight savings/handling, and also, I like the sound/power curve of turbo engines. You said you were at LACR, what did you run, and what are some of the basic things you have on your car, ie turbo size, boost, compression etc.. Again, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 Err.. It was your friends car. Well, do you know any of the specifics on his car by chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 weight savings?a ford 302 with aluminum heads is lighter than l28t and can be movved back farther in chassis.a guy i talked to who installed a cheavy in to 240z said he ended up with 100lbs more on rear wheels.i know from personnal experience i can carry a 302 ford block.i cant carry a l28 block.i just run a l28t in basically stock form cause i get parts cheap from local pick&pull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 Wow, I didn't realize that the l28 was so heavy. I would go V8, but an l28 seems like it would be easier, and less time consuming. This is going to be my first car after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 3, 2001 Share Posted June 3, 2001 I can pick up an L28 block (granted that's without the crank or anything installed and it is definitely a heavy bugger) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted June 4, 2001 Share Posted June 4, 2001 Hey dude, email my buddy bout LACR. He will be more than happy to show you his car i am sure! Evan PS.. the reason i went turbo was for the challenge of good numbers out of a smaller motor. I dont work on my z to drive it, more to improve my skills! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 4, 2001 Share Posted June 4, 2001 I just went to my old neighbor's house today, and he used to be into old z cars. He bought Bob Sharp's #33 240z wrecked, and fixed it up and restored it. He said if I got a 240z, he would help me build it up. He also said if I got one, he would have to get another one. He recommended that I keep the stock l24 for a while and first work on the suspension and wheels. Then after all thats done, decide whether to go turbo l28 of V8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 4, 2001 Share Posted June 4, 2001 Hehe, I picked up my L28 longblock, with front cover, head, valve cover, oil pan, oil pump, water pump etc. Its no lightweight, thats for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 4, 2001 Share Posted June 4, 2001 I can seriously pickup the long block for my Geo Tracker. I've got the old one in my garage with the thrown rod I'm planning to pull apart one of these days just to take the mangled #1 Con-Rod out for a conversation piece. Needless to say I've had to move it around a few times and while it's probably 200 lbs it's definitely doable. Having an alloy block helps alot though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 Thanks everyone. If I do infact end up with the 240z, I will probably go with the turbo engine eventually. I think turbo appeals more to me. Another swap I thought would be cool was the SR20DET swap. It is a relatively light engine, turbo'd from the factory, and can be coaxed into producing 350 hp for little more than a loaf of bread, and some Benjamins That engine would move the center of gravity back towards the rear wheels, and would probably remove 100 pounds from the car. Plus it is a modern, 4v, DOHC engine, and would get decent gas mileage. If anyone has done this swap, I'd like to hear how it went, and the ammount of work involved(not as much as a V8 swap I would imagine.) Thanks alot. [ June 04, 2001: Message edited by: Essinem4130 ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 Hasn't Stony done the swap? His car is a BEAST with that Turbo engine from Japan. Hoover also has a strong 600+ hp turbo engine in one of his many Z's, but I'm not sure which one it is. Jeromio: The cost of many V8 related parts is dirt cheap in comparo to the 6. Many mods I would do to both regardless of which engine I would run: bigger radiator, urethane engine mounts, R200 or R230 rear...Some costs stay the same: A single exhaust for example is fine with a V8--I've already bought one for mine. Not dumping on what you said, but there's so much to consider, I'd be hard pressed to say a V8 conversion is more expensive. As Evan said: "it's whatever your bag is, baby." I like turbos, but I'm impatient to learn all that stuff and I can figure out n/a V8s very easily; I'm so comfortable with them. Jeromio, you've done a heck of a job on your car and have a great website; you'll do fine in whatever upgrade you choose--I'm sure David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 Davy, I think the engine Stony has is the RB26DETT, which is from the Skyline over in Japan. It is a 2.6 liter |6, and would be my prefered swap, but the price of those engines over here is quite high. The SR20DET can be had for a mere(?) $2000, in decent condition. The SR20 is a |4 and comes in the Nissan Silvia(think 240sx) in Japan. It is a RWD car, so I figure it couldnt be too hard to make work with the 240z. Also, isn't there companies who make custom drive shafts that can be had with any couplings? I would think that would simplify the swap, but would probably cost a few bucks. Oh well, just some food for thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 Duh! Yeah, now I realize that...The 4cyl turbo actually sounds good if it can be made to go to 350hp easily. I like V8's, though. Heavier than the 4 cyl for sure, but lotsa torque and decent hp. I'll have about $1800 in my 350-375 hp V8 (realistically) when I change the heads. It should move a 240Z very easily IMO. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 I would say that 350-375 hp would move a Z quite nicely... I like the SR swap idea because of the cost(of the engine-don't know about the install) and it would improve the balance, and overall weight of the car. The only problem with the SR20DET is that it was never put into any production car over here, although the SR20DE was put into the Sentra SE-R and the NX200(0?) I am not sure if the parts are interchangeable, but if they were, that would be good... Very good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 Heres something I found that I thought was quite interesting... Wouldn't mind having that car. http://www.hotrod.com/editorial/article.jsp?id=22838&viewtype=text [ June 04, 2001: Message edited by: Essinem4130 ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Adkins Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Essinem4130: Heres something I found that I thought was quite interesting... Wouldn't mind having that car. http://www.hotrod.com/editorial/article.jsp?id=22838&viewtype=text This car is owned by a guy who owns a company that builds NASCAR engines and he has 20+ years experience with reworking cylinder heads, so he has all the facilities and skills to make this much HP from the Honda engine. But what would it cost for someone who doesn't have the knowledge and equipment needed to do the cylinder head porting and other custom machine work needed to duplicate his efforts? In the story the owner estimates he has $6000 in the engine but what if Joe Average built it? Just something to think about.... [ June 04, 2001: Message edited by: John Adkins ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 Well, honestly turbo vs. V8 is a tough choice. I am more than willing to bet I will end up getting rid of the L28t motor within about 5 years for either a grand national motor or some hardcore V8. The only reason I did a turbo swap was that I was getting bored. I ran outta stuff to do, and actually considered putting it up for sale to start a new project. Sick thought.. also considered a lexus LOL. Anyway, the real reason I chose turbo over V8 is because I am still a purist of sorts at heart. I have come to grips with the V8 in a z, however, I look under the hood and am generally not too impressed.. I like them but I also really enjoy learning things like turbo. Now a turbo V8 is a totally different story!!!! What can I say, I am a total nut. I like to do things the hard way. I also like to take little things and attempt to do impressive thigns with them. What can i say, shooting for large numbers out of an L28 just cause I can. I also compete SPL in my s10 standard cab with one ten inch sub. I am at the VERY bottom of my class, however i routenly place in the top three. I am completing with some big boys, but cause my stuff is setup extremely well I do well. What can I say, im eccentric i guess LOL. Enough yammering from me- Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 I knew he was a nascar builder, he also built some awesome pro-stock cars which dominated the class, and set records which took years to break. His knowledge of cars is beyond me. if you go to www.theoldone.com, you can see a supercharger kit he is making for Hondas. The kit he had on a B16 made 200 lb. ft. of torque at a little over 2,000 rpms, and peak hp is over 400. That kit too will be totally streetable, according to him. Just imagine if he decided to build a Z car... As for you being a purist at heart, I can totally see where you are coming from, I mean, it is challengin to build up a hi-po V8, but extracting that level of performance out of a small displacement engine, which has a limited aftermarket, is another thing. Realistically, I don't thing a 240z would be the greatest car for me to have as my first car, because it seems to be more of a project car for most of you. I will probably end up getting a 1992-1995 Civic Si (I know, let the flamin' begin... ) or a Sentra SE-R and go turbo. I just think one of those would be a better option for me as my first car, unless ofcourse some of you can sway me... After I get the other car built up and gained more technical knowledge, then I will get a 240z and start that as my project car. I'm kinda' torn between cars right now, and it sucks. I need something reliable with a strong aftermarket following (probably because I'm lazy.) I will continue to post on this forum and spread my vast knowledge of all things automotive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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