83_maxima Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 I am considering a L28et swap into my 83 Maxima, but am trying to find more information on the oil sump modification that would need to be done to the L28 block for my car to accept it. Does anyone have any detailed info on this, or know of a resource? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 I am considering a L28et swap into my 83 Maxima' date=' but am trying to find more information on the oil sump modification that would need to be done to the L28 block for my car to accept it. Does anyone have any detailed info on this, or know of a resource?[/quote'] under gen 1 on maxima.org there is a few guys that have done this swap with great success. my guessing is that there shouldn't be any modification. then again, i haven't looked under the hood of a gen1 max in years. so i dunno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 15, 2006 Author Share Posted February 15, 2006 From what I have heard, the L24e has a front oil pickup tube and the L28 has a rear pickup tube. It is my understanding that in order to perform the conversion (L28 into the Maxima) you must relocate the oil pickup tube and presumably use the Maxima oil pan. I am looking for some more detailed info on the procedure. I am a member of maxima.org, but there just isn't much traffic on the 1st gen forum and I haven't found much infor regarding the specific procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
510six Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I think that would be a first class sleeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 16, 2006 Author Share Posted February 16, 2006 So the oil drain tube would be used for the dipstick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
znote Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 810 wagon owner here. Machine shop can handle it fairly inexpensively I would think. Oil pickup must be moved to front boss. Boss is present on all L-6s I've seen. It's just not drilled. Must be drilled for p/u tube and 2 attachment bolts. Here's the trick. Old oil p/u must be blocked w/npt plug. I'd block by drilling main oil galley oversize just past intersection for front sump and tap and insert plug there. ** IF THAT'S NOT A GOOD SEAL YOU'LL SUCK AIR NOT OIL AND ENGINE LIFE COULD SUFFER!! ** (smile) New dipstick tube must be drilled behind the plug. Sounds confusing. It is really pretty straight forward when you're actually looking at the block. Note: Clearance issues with turbo vs. Maxima steering linkage? Oh yea, you will have to use the maxima oilpan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallnet Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Take the link. I'm having to do all the same mods to the motor that you will have to but mine is going in an S13 coupe. The link has pics with no explainations. If you need any assistance just email me, i will explain it to you. http://groups.msn.com/pallnet/280sxproject.msnw?albumlist=2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I have a L28 block installed in my 1979 810 which also requires a “front sump” design, and I re-located the 810 oil sump pickup tube to the front of the L28 block. If you examine the six cylinder L-series engine blocks you will see that it is cast for either a front or rear oil pickup tube location. The factory then just drilled the corresponding “boss” out depending if it was going into a rear sump (Z cars) or a front sump (810, 1st generation Maxima ) vehicle. You drill and tap bolt holes in the front boss for the new front mounted oil pickup tube and drill a new passage from it to the pickup oil gallery in the block (which runs along side the block). You also have to block off the rear sump pickup gallery with a pressed-in plug and drill a new hole for the dipstick tube at the front of the block (being very careful not to drill into the main oil gallery). Lastly, you need to plug the old dipstick tube. All this cost me about $100 at a machine shop. If you go this route, then I would recommend taking both your L28 and a spare 810/Maxima block (the L24E) to your machinist. Your machinist can index off the L24E block in order to determine exactly where to drill the needed holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 16, 2006 Author Share Posted February 16, 2006 Thanks for the additional information. This is starting to come together in my head. I guess I am wondering whether or not this procedure will require a complete teardown to assure that no metal shavings from drilling, tapping, etc., end up in the engine and eventually tear it up. As far as steering linkage clearance...I have rack and pinion power steering which offers more cleance than the old recirculating ball but...I am trying to wring more info out of a guy that has done the L28et conversion in an 84 Maxima. That will be a question I pose to him. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 and oh yeah, If you can get your hands on an LD28 oil pan, it already has an oil drain tube (for the alternator!!), is front sump and has expanded capacity. might be worth trying to track one down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 16, 2006 Author Share Posted February 16, 2006 Ok...clear now...was getting a little confused. That's a big if...I guess scouring the junkyards once a week might produce an LD28 diesel oil pan. Pretty rare car though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 ...I am trying to wring more info out of a guy that has done the L28et conversion in an 84 Maxima. That will be a question I pose to him... One of the car mags (Road and Track, I think) did a L28 turbo swap on an early (1st gen) Maxima back in the early eighties. It's worth a look if you can find it in your local library. I have a photocopy of the article somewhere. I'll see if I can find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 16, 2006 Author Share Posted February 16, 2006 One of the car mags (Road and Track' date=' I think) did a L28 turbo swap on an early (1st gen) Maxima back in the early eighties. It's worth a look if you can find it in your local library. I have a photocopy of the article somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.[/quote'] That would be interesting to read. I think R&T also sells backissues, but I would need to find out the volume and issue # to get the copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 16, 2006 Author Share Posted February 16, 2006 So I am thinking about the oil pickup relocation, the drilling and tapping involved and whether or not the excess metal shavings so close to vital engine components and oil galleys is going to warrant a teardown at minimum and a rebuild possibly? Even being careful, or done at a machine shop, I don't know if it's possible to avoid contamination. I was hoping (assuming I do this swap) to do the necessary mods, button it up, and bolt it in without having to do a teardown or rebuild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleachZee Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Since the L24 and L28 blocks are the same deck height, why not just have the L24e block bored out to 86mm. Install the L28eT crank, pistons, ect. Then stick the P90 head on there and go. unless you're trying to do this super cheap and not rebuild the engine. With the bored out block, no oil pickup or dipstick modifications would need to be done and you'd have your bottom end rebuilt and at 2.8L Chris Grey has an L24 turbo in his 1st gen Maxima. That's how he solved the problem. Keep the stock block and boost it. If its not already, don't forget to do a 5-speed swap and take out that 3.36 R180 and put in a 3.54 or 3.7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 ...I was hoping (assuming I do this swap) to do the necessary mods, button it up, and bolt it in without having to do a teardown or rebuild.... Another solution would be to just extend the length of the oil sump pickup tube of the L28T engine by sectioning it and adding an extension piece. I have heard of people doing this. This would avoid the metal contamination issue. However, positioning the extended tube correctly would be a concern and you may need some additional support (a brace) for the longer pick up tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83_maxima Posted February 17, 2006 Author Share Posted February 17, 2006 Since the L24 and L28 blocks are the same deck height' date=' why not just have the L24e block bored out to 86mm. Install the L28eT crank, pistons, ect. Then stick the P90 head on there and go. unless you're trying to do this super cheap and not rebuild the engine. With the bored out block, no oil pickup or dipstick modifications would need to be done and you'd have your bottom end rebuilt and at 2.8L Chris Grey has an L24 turbo in his 1st gen Maxima. That's how he solved the problem. Keep the stock block and boost it. If its not already, don't forget to do a 5-speed swap and take out that 3.36 R180 and put in a 3.54 or 3.7[/quote'] The limiting factor is funds. I have a lead on both an L28 NA and an L28et. Either could be had for less than 500 bucks. I can do all of the work myself, but might source it to a machine shop (haven't made up my mind yet). If I am going to bore it out and put in L28 pistons and crank, I might as well rebuild the head too, then the $$$$ really start stacking up and I am not trying to make this a continuing project. The ultimate goal would be to pick up a good-running engine - be it NA or a turbo, make the necessary modifications, which in all actuality are not that difficult and can be done w/out contaminating the engine by taking certain precautions I have been made aware of, and bolt it up using the stock harness and ecu for engine management. I am trying to contact Chris Gray, but I was under the assumption that he was using a "stock 280zx turbo engine" not a modified L24. I have done a tranny swap and a rear-end swap with an 86 200sx (4.11) which will need to be changed if I turbo the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 One of the car mags (Road and Track' date=' I think) did a L28 turbo swap on an early (1st gen) Maxima back in the early eighties. It's worth a look if you can find it in your local library. I have a photocopy of the article somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.[/quote'] Found it! It was Car and Driver, August 1983.... However, the article does not get into the details of the oil tube mods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxl28et Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 Using the oil pan from the max and cuting and moving the pick-up tube .you have to use the wiring and ecm from the z . fuel pump relays and pump. its a lot of work!!! If you have any questions on anything PM me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilC Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Did you get the motor in and running? I would love to see some progress pics and info. Clive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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