Getting older Nissan/Datsun motors

[LA_phantom_240]

Looking harder and harder into what I would do with this 280z if I can score it... and I wanted to be a little more different than the typical V8 swap, and can get an RB25 off of a friend for relatively cheap because he's hard up for money and doesn't want to sell the motor, unless it's someone he knows... like keeping it in the family kinda thing.

Looked into what it would take to do the swap, and its a bitch. I thought to myself, "What about an SR, KA, or CA?"

Again, a bitch.

The only thing I can think of, though not original or out of the norm at all, is to source out an L28ET in good shape. The only thing is, those are dinosaur motors and a pain in the ass to even find. Its not like an RB or SR where you can find them on (what seems like) ever street corner, either in motorset or front clip form...

So any ideas where I could source one out?

[S13shaka]

yeah, its called searching.

[Mangudai]

Looking harder and harder into what I would do with this 280z if I can score it... and I wanted to be a little more different than the typical V8 swap, and can get an RB25 off of a friend for relatively cheap because he's hard up for money and doesn't want to sell the motor, unless it's someone he knows... like keeping it in the family kinda thing.

Looked into what it would take to do the swap, and its a bitch. I thought to myself, "What about an SR, KA, or CA?"

Again, a bitch.

The only thing I can think of, though not original or out of the norm at all, is to source out an L28ET in good shape. The only thing is, those are dinosaur motors and a pain in the ass to even find. Its not like an RB or SR where you can find them on (what seems like) ever street corner, either in motorset or front clip form...

So any ideas where I could source one out?

I thought this was going to be about the L28. There was talk about this a while ago in nico. I know atleast some people over there know where your best bet is if no one on here knows.


ot: Are 280z's heavy?

[Full-Lock]

throw that rb25 in there man.
i know nothing about those Z motors though, friends an expert on them.. seem much easier to learn than an RB.

my rb26 is like 20 years old and still kicks ass!

[fromxtor]

VH45 they can be had for cheap these days, and still get decent gas mileage.

[ericcastro]

DO NOT RB IT !!!

(unless its just for drag and a little cruising)

But if you want something to handle, then you wanna go SR20. The entire engine will sit behind the front wheels. I used to Auto cross with a guy that has a Z car of each. He said the RB just wasn't worth it.

[unlegendary]

VH45 they can be had for cheap these days, and still get decent gas mileage.

what the heck? do it.

[drift freaq]

put a VQ35 in that sucker. As light as the SR (except the trans) sits behind the front wheels like the SR and has the the torque and power of a 6 like was meant for the car.

[racepar1]

DO NOT drop a l28 in it!!! lame ass heavy ass friggin motors.

[Jaketenpointo]

I recommend checking out Hybridz.org

L28ET aren't bad, but finding one and rebuilding it could take quite some time. If I recall the L28et is basically the same motor as the L28. Only difference is the fuel injection/turbo. Find that crap and slap it on the motor you already have. Of course you should research it first.....

I'd do the SR. There is so much room afterwards you can have some sort of V-mount setup. Then you have a badass car with a stout motor, and can handle pretty dang well.

[s13 @ fullboost]

Dude my neighbor has the cleanest 280 I have ever seen he is really old and the original owner the motor only has 30,000 miles shit looks brand new the interior is immaculate all factory if you are a serious buyer I could P.M. you pics. He really doesn't want to sell it but he did say if someone pays the right price he will let it go. ps you could eat off the engine bay that's how clean that shit is.

[silviaguy240]

I recommend checking out Hybridz.org

L28ET aren't bad, but finding one and rebuilding it could take quite some time. If I recall the L28et is basically the same motor as the L28. Only difference is the fuel injection/turbo. Find that crap and slap it on the motor you already have. Of course you should research it first.....


all l28's are fuel injected. l28t's can be done for massive cheap for some decent power gains. alot of guys that want NA power go for the 3.1 stroker and some triple webers but thats not good for dd. i'd say keep some sort of inline 6 in it. a 4 cyl wouldnt be bad but idk it kinda looks stupid.

[SexPanda]

I'd say sr20. Cheap, easy, reliable... If you do it right. And with that weight distrobution, and the aftermarket... It'd be a sweet little car.

Besides that... You can get an LS1 for pretty cheap. Not some weak ass 82 caprice sbc 350. an LS1.

[LA_phantom_240]

Only problem about the VH45 is that I know next to nothing about it beyond technical specs.

Not all L28s (From what I read) are fuel injected.

Dude my neighbor has the cleanest 280 I have ever seen he is really old and the original owner the motor only has 30,000 miles shit looks brand new the interior is immaculate all factory if you are a serious buyer I could P.M. you pics. He really doesn't want to sell it but he did say if someone pays the right price he will let it go. ps you could eat off the engine bay that's how clean that shit is.

I'd love to have it... but I'm pretty sure a 280 that clean would cost me a left nut. Any idea what his price range is? I've been in love with the S30 Z's since I was a kid.

put a VQ35 in that sucker. As light as the SR (except the trans) sits behind the front wheels like the SR and has the the torque and power of a 6 like was meant for the car.


Yeah... but I'm hoping to get it running decent and looking decent to take and drive on the weekends and nights and such, and a VQ35 is pricey.

[s13 @ fullboost]

I can ask him tomorrow for you if you would like =]

[xplicit240]

ahh dont get a 280. if you can help it get a 260 or 240z. much lighter and better looking IMO. i had one plans was to do a L28 all motor ITB set up. its so nice. HybridZ (http://www.hybridz.org)

[silviaguy240]

Only problem about the VH45 is that I know next to nothing about it beyond technical specs.

Not all L28s (From what I read) are fuel injected.
pretty sure all us spec l28's are fuel injected. quick search came up with 280's being fuel injected but the l28 also cam in the cedric, gloria, laurel which those may have not been

[racepar1]

280z's are teh suck! I would go for a '72 240z personally. There are only 3 motors that I think you should consider.

1- RB20det
The RB20 would have plenty of power potential to make that z FLY and it would be cheaper as it is less desirable of an engine. Also it is an inline 6 so it will look right in the engine bay.

2- RB25det
This motor would be a bit overkill as a well set-up RB25 would overwhelm that poor z-car, but it would still be a good choice.

3- SR20det
The SR is technically the best engine for the car IMO, but it just doesn't look right in the engine bay. If I built a s-30z I would drop an sr in it and make a v-mount set-up to help fill the giant void in the engine bay (not to mention the whole better cooling thing).

[LA_phantom_240]

I can ask him tomorrow for you if you would like =]

That would be grand. I'd like to see it just cause they make me happy in the pants :D

280z's are teh suck! I would go for a '72 240z personally. There are only 3 motors that I think you should consider.

1- RB20det
The RB20 would have plenty of power potential to make that z FLY and it would be cheaper as it is less desirable of an engine. Also it is an inline 6 so it will look right in the engine bay.

2- RB25det
This motor would be a bit overkill as a well set-up RB25 would overwhelm that poor z-car, but it would still be a good choice.

3- SR20det
The SR is technically the best engine for the car IMO, but it just doesn't look right in the engine bay. If I built a s-30z I would drop an sr in it and make a v-mount set-up to help fill the giant void in the engine bay (not to mention the whole better cooling thing).

Well... I can't find an affordable 240z that's really worth me trying to put time into. Interior and underbody rust are the two things I cannot deal with.

The RB, from what I hear, needs a little modification to the sump... or something to that effect... to work properly in the engine bay.

And If I end up getting this car, it comes with the 240z front dam, bumper, and modified brackets to make it work on the 280z. I'd also replace the hood (which has a couple holes rusted through near the vents) with a carbon fiber 240z hood (which doesn't have the vents), being that it fits right up (from what I've read). I'd also shave the rear bumper to give it that smooth ass.

[Flicktitty]

www.hybridz.org (http://www.hybridz.org)

that should answer any and all questions

[JRas]

280z's are teh suck! I would go for a '72 240z personally. There are only 3 motors that I think you should consider.

1- RB20det
The RB20 would have plenty of power potential to make that z FLY and it would be cheaper as it is less desirable of an engine. Also it is an inline 6 so it will look right in the engine bay.

2- RB25det
This motor would be a bit overkill as a well set-up RB25 would overwhelm that poor z-car, but it would still be a good choice.

3- SR20det
The SR is technically the best engine for the car IMO, but it just doesn't look right in the engine bay. If I built a s-30z I would drop an sr in it and make a v-mount set-up to help fill the giant void in the engine bay (not to mention the whole better cooling thing).

I'd go SR, who cares about how it looks.. engines were designed to preform :bigok:

v-mount would be a cool idea

[racepar1]

I'd go SR, who cares about how it looks.. engines were designed to preform :bigok:

v-mount would be a cool idea

Ya but it is an s-30, it will never function like a newer car. It does have to look right as it is a s-30. With a v-mount it would not only look right, but also perform better!

[Antihero983]

As a 280Z owner, you guys can kiss my ass.

L28s are not bad motors at all, so stop talking out of your ass racepar.

are they heavy? yes. but theyre reliable as all hell, and can take/make some decent power reliably.

also, the 3.1 strokers arent bad DD engines either.

Man, where the fuck do you people get your facts from?

and yes all US spec 280Zs/L28s came fuel injected.

Any other quetions?

[DOOK]

I say fuck it.... go big or go home... cut the floorboards out and flintstone that bitch...

[sac]

^^^ hahaha..
DOOK's suggestion is full of winn it gets my vote..

[LA_phantom_240]

I say fuck it.... go big or go home... cut the floorboards out and flintstone that bitch...

Fat guys don't flintstone it lol.

[Flicktitty]

Fat guys don't flintstone it lol.
LOL

Truth

[sac]

^^ bs to that!
Fred Flinstone himself was a fat fella... As was short and stubby Barney Rubble..

But back to point i would say go with the inline rb series if a street car.. And if a track machine go with the sr.

[LA_phantom_240]

I dunno. I may just keep the L28E and clean the car up and leave the engine be... for the most part.

[drift freaq]

As a 280Z owner, you guys can kiss my ass.

L28s are not bad motors at all, so stop talking out of your ass racepar.

are they heavy? yes. but theyre reliable as all hell, and can take/make some decent power reliably.

also, the 3.1 strokers arent bad DD engines either.

Man, where the fuck do you people get your facts from?

and yes all US spec 280Zs/L28s came fuel injected.

Any other quetions?

Actually as a former Z owner and having owned 10 of them I can honestly say Racepar is on the money here.
L28's are not shitty engines, unless you like a engine that revs smoothly up to redline and has a decent RPM redline. All of which a stock L28 does not do.

Its the K24DE equivalent. Lots of bottom end power, not a high redline and no power up top. The only way to change that is to spend big dollars massaging the daylights out of it. Fact is the stroker engines suck as well in that department. By the time you have spent the money on a stroker setup you could saved yourself quite a bit and put in a RB,SR or even a VQ30DET.

Oh and for facts, early 280z's in 75 actually did have carb's. Fuel injection did not come in, till later in 75.
Trust me I have seen these cars.

If you like driving a engine that ancient, that without lots of money actually hits a HP wall. A engine that does not rev and power falls off after 5500 rpm, go run a L28.

Oh and do not start about strokers and building them because like I said earlier that winds up costing you a lot of money to do right. I.E. at this point in time unless your an absolute purist a L28 is a waste of money.
Oh and if you go down the road of being a purist then you might as well just leave your engine stock, because that's what most vintage car purists do.

If you really want to run a L series? You should be building a L24, or actually a disregarded engine, by all but the smartest SCCA guys, a L26 with a L24 closed combustion chamber head. Why? Because the L26 actually uses the L28 crank and rod but retains a L24 bore size which actually gives it a broad flat torque and HP band.
Result is because it is not pushing larger pistons it actually does rev decently. Power does not fall off at 5500 rpm and its a pretty damn fun engine. Again though its a L series and while nice for its day, it costs to extract a lot of HP. Most tuners of L series engines hit a wall HP wise on L series. Its why you see so many Z owners dropping in other powerplants.
Like I said its ancient technology and unless your trying to build a accurate representation of the stock car its a waste of time and money IMO.

Oh and Redevil why are we even going over this subject again. This subject has been covered ad nausiem in the past. You and your New Hampshire buddies have usually been the ones doing it as well.

[Antihero983]

Oh and drift freaq go fuck yourself.

Typical post, "oh hey I'm old and know shit, let me talk down to you cause I'm a jaded prick with nothing better to do".

My Nh buddies? The only "buddy" I have with a 3.1 stroker lives in mass. And All of what i've posted is based off of info from HybridZ.com, and call me crazy, but I think the majority of them over there know their shit.

The L28 is not a bad engine. End of story. Bite me.

Why haven't they put you in the geriatric ward yet?

[DOOK]

so does that mean foot power is out of the question then? How about a custom mounted sideways honda gsr drivetrain? Actually though, the S2K F20 would be kinda cool, but for the most part gutless... it revs to the moon though.

[drift freaq]

Oh and drift freaq go fuck yourself.

Typical post, "oh hey I'm old and know shit, let me talk down to you cause I'm a jaded prick with nothing better to do".

My Nh buddies? The only "buddy" I have with a 3.1 stroker lives in mass. And All of what i've posted is based off of info from HybridZ.com, and call me crazy, but I think the majority of them over there know their shit.

The L28 is not a bad engine. End of story. Bite me.

Why haven't they put you in the geriatric ward yet?

Wow your an insolent punk. I posted factual info. You posted pure speculation your part. Based on other peoples likes, that you are using as facts, based on your opinion.
You tried to talk down someone else that posted facts and I called you on it. You call that talking down.

I call it you're ignorant and can't stand being proven wrong.

Oh and as far as your comment about Hybrid Z goes people over there do all kinds of things. In fact not all of them are on the I Love L28's bandwagon. Now you base your info off of someone elses likes and opinions. Without your own real world experience. That does not make you accurate or right.

Oh and as far as my posting goes. This has nothing to do with being jaded with nothing better to do and you're an idiot if you think it does.

You tell me to go fuck myself you tell me to bite you? Wow you just lost this discussion hard because that's the only comeback you have because you were just proven wrong.
Oh, and the reason I posted, was because I get tired of ignorance and people like you posting mis information and bad advice.

Of course ignorant people like you usually respond like you did because you resent being told your wrong and you resent someone older actually correcting you.
Oh and the geriatric comment hahhahaha ya call me in about 45 more years on that one. I probably look younger than you.

[Antihero983]

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it.

So instantly because you're posting, it makes YOU right? Please.

I also fail to see how liking a particular engine is a bandwagon, because if that is the case....man there are ALOT of bandwagons.

I like how you go after looks now all of a sudden, what are you a desperate housewife or something?

I could care fuck all about how I look when I'm your age, at least by then hopefully I'll have a life, and not just on Zilvia calling people insolent. Insolent.....yes because you're some sort of authority on here right? HAHAHAHAHA

And just because you've owned 10 of them (which I don't really believe because no matter what car thread it is you always pop in and say "OH I'VE HAD ONE OF THOSE AND YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING INVOLVING IT!") does NOT make you the final fucking word on it, much like myself owning ONE doesn't make me the final word on the car or the drive train.

You'd think after all these years you would've learned to be a bit more humble, perhaps something more for the younger generation, but apparently as days go by you become nothing more than a miserable, ornery, old, know it all of a cunt.

Ah Dave, if we could be so knowledgeable as you, we would all be so awesome. Or not.

[racepar1]

As a 280Z owner, you guys can kiss my ass.

L28s are not bad motors at all, so stop talking out of your ass racepar.

are they heavy? yes. but theyre reliable as all hell, and can take/make some decent power reliably.

also, the 3.1 strokers arent bad DD engines either.

Man, where the fuck do you people get your facts from?

and yes all US spec 280Zs/L28s came fuel injected.

Any other quetions?

WOW! You need some midol, PMS is a bitch.

L series motors suck, comparatively speaking. The L28 is the worst of them all. The head sucks balls. If you wanna build an L-series motor you should hybrid it. Use a ported L24 head on an L28 bottom end. The L24 heads flow better, and that is FACT. A turbo L28 is just stupid heavy. I can appreciate the torque output of the L-series motors, but they don't rev for shit. It is an archaic engine design and any modern engine would be far better. If you seriously want to argue with the points in my post here you are completely retarded.

[Antihero983]

Aw cute, another one with cheap jokes.

L series motors suck, comparatively speaking. The L28 is the worst of them all. The head sucks balls. If you wanna build an L-series motor you should hybrid it. Use a ported L24 head on an L28 bottom end. The L24 heads flow better, and that is FACT. A turbo L28 is just stupid heavy. I can appreciate the torque output of the L-series motors, but they don't rev for shit. It is an archaic engine design and any modern engine would be far better. If you seriously want to argue with the points in my post here you are completely retarded.


comparatively speaking, every engine sucks and no engine is perfect, so why even compare.

I agree with the facts about the head, but again sr20 heads suck too, that doesnt mean it's a shit motor now does it? no.

Every engine sucks and is great in its own right.

[LA_phantom_240]

Aw cute, another one with cheap jokes.



comparatively speaking, every engine sucks and no engine is perfect, so why even compare.

I agree with the facts about the head, but again sr20 heads suck too, that doesnt mean it's a shit motor now does it? no.

Every engine sucks and is great in its own right.

Actually, I personally dislike the SR for having such a poor head design. Cam on bucket is where it's at, along with actually being able to flow.

I honestly want to put a CA18 into a Z.... but they're weaksauce in stock form... and it would look ridiculous inside that monster engine bay LOL.

[jdizzy204]

vq35. do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIgM4ctbSlU

[LA_phantom_240]

vq35. do it

YouTube - VQ35DE Powered 240z (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIgM4ctbSlU)

Soooo tempting.... Yet soooo expensive.

[dorkjoey240]

either u get kade and turbo that bitch or get fuckin l28 like some people said.

[Leetheslacker]

13b.

do it.

[LA_phantom_240]

13b.

do it.

20B or bust lol.