drowz Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Hi, here I am, fairly new to hybridz... My last thread got shut down because I didn't do research before asking stupid questions. This time I did, so now on with my stupid questions. I have a 73 240z, I'm not a mechanic, and don't pretend to be, but my boss who seems to like me enough (or just my car) is always offering to help out. He is mechanic, and has been working on cars forever. As fun as my 91 hyundai excel might sound to drive I'd like something faster. Something fun and reliable when the weather is nice, and I'd also like to autocross it. Should I keep the l24, or should I look for an l28? I was thinking a cam, header, exhaust, the su carbs, and I've taken off all of the smog stuff. And I don't have any problem putting in premium fuel, if that matters... If I just did that stuff to the l24 would that be enough? Or would it just be a waste of money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badjuju Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 As fun as my 91 hyundai excel might sound to drive lmao, that's great I would (and did) just swap an l28et in. For the amount of money you'd spend swapping one in ($500-600 plus wiring and lubes and shtuff like that), and the amount of power you'd get out of it, there's no question. If you really wanted to go wild you could put a megasquirt system in (ANYTHING you need to know is available in the MS forum here), for around $1k said and done. That's a bigger engine, with a turbo, and independent engine management, for around $2k +- depending on what else you do along the way. I've spent about $4600 on my car so far, including the $1300 initial for the car, and that's estimating a high $1000 for the motor (hard to estimate, cause I stripped it out of my own 280zx) And basically, after another $1000 or so, I can reliably run 300 horsepower to the wheels. In a car that weighs 2500 pounds, that should be a lot of fun, and to get that for $5600 is something special. Plus, it's my daily driver, so I get hot moms checking my car out all day (it was the hot car in their hay-day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 I think you helped me on my last thread, thanks again. I'll tell my mechanic boss guy the new plan and see what he has to say. btw, your car is bad ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badjuju Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 lol well thank you. no problem with the help you don't need to just take my word for it though, if you want to go naturally aspirated, there are great things afoot as well. v-8s are a great way to go, so i'm told. I just don't think (in all of my vast experience, ha) that going high power naturally aspirated is worth it with these cars. pm me if you have q's about megasquirt or the turbo swap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 Well, I think I want to go the na route, because I don't want to deal with efi. Because where I'll find an engine is probably a junkyard, then I'll have no idea what is wrong with the computer if it was driven to the death and so on. here's a quick question, will my e88 head work with an l28 block? And is it any better and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nizm0Zed Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I wouldn't discount a tough NA engine. I have driven a LOT of different cars, and part of the enjoyment of driving IMO is the feel and the noise. Yea, turbo's sound hot, and can be extremely powerful, but too much lag can ruin that experience, especially in a daily (Till you rip someone a new one at the traffic lights) then on the other hand, having an engine with a nice broad torque band, crisp exhaust sound, and awesome induction noise from some tripple carbs will still make your crotch itchy in all the right ways. if you want to do a cheap build (and learn and build on it for later) then go with a decent exhaust system, good cam, and either a set of properly jetted 2" jag SU's or the standard round top SU's. All of that on our standard L24 would be cheap and fun. for a bit more power do it on the L28 block. For different block and head combinations (and other things) check this site out. http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/enginedesign/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nizm0Zed Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 oh, and head questions, look here!!! http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=127521 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 thank you... What is IMO? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 In My Opinion (IMO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Well, I think I'll go hunting for an l28. But seriously, I live in Boise Idaho... Where am I going to find one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSM Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Craigs list is your friend! http://boise.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=datsun and http://boise.craigslist.org/car/445096301.html or http://boise.craigslist.org/car/448303703.html $400 Turbo car sounds like the winner to me!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravRMK Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Good to see another Idaho Z-car guy. That 280ZXT looks like a good donor to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 Hey thank you so much. I'll be going to look at the zxt soon. Maybe he'll let me just take the engine for less... Or would I be able to use anything else from the car for parts? Again, thanks a bunch I really appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Go to nampa, Idaho and talk to Kim at Idaho Z car. 2913 Garrity Boulevard, Nampa, ID 83687(208) 466-0004 Best place on earth!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Might as well pick up the whole car if it's cheap enough. If you don't have the cash to do the whole after market EMS right now you can at least pull the EFI harness from it and run the stock injection for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 what are the odds that the computer is working on the zxt? good, bad? If it didn't work and I didn't want to deal with the efi, would I be able to use the block for a na engine? Is that Idaho Z Car place a junkyard or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nizm0Zed Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 chances are the computer is probably fine. especially if its completely stock. and if the computer is blown, just plug a new one in and away you go. someone will have one, after they have converted to megasquirt or something. If possible (call them first) do a compression test on the engine when your there, to make sure the cylinders arent down on pressure, that could indicate a dead or dying engine. pull the inlet off the turbo, and check for oil in the compressor, and the pipework. feel the shaft of the turbo for side to side movement, and back and forwards movement. if there is lots (more than about .8mm), the turbo is stuffed. while you have one of the spark plugs out, and one of the pistons at its full travel at the top of the bore, look at it, and possibly gently feel it with a screwdriver to see if the pistons are flat tops, or dished pistons. If they are dished (which they should be for a turbo) then it wont really be so good for a NA block, as the comp ratio will be getting pretty low. It would still work, just wouldn't feel that powerful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 do you have any idea which head would be on the 81 280zxt? If the computer and turbo didn't work, I'll be rebuilding the engine anyway, so I could put flat top pistons in just fine and what not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 P90 would be the head casting number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drowz Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 Thank you all so much for helping me out on my thread. I'm so glad my z is coming together! I found it on craigslist, but not when i searched for datsun... I searched datson, hoping someone wasn't paying attention. It had been there for over a month, then when I called him he said I was the first person (stupid of him). So I got it for $350, and I'm all kinds of excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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