Tuboing the L26

[MickieB]

Who here has done it? I'm interested in doing it to save money on an engine conversion.

Will the L26 take the being bored out and what not? Also if i'm going to do it what other mods would i be looking at?

[hls30.com]

Your question would be better asked at HybridZ.org. Most members here keep their cars essentially or absolutely stock.

I would buy an L28ET out of a 280zx turbo, and do the transplant-all of the parts, none of the headaches.

Will

[Alfadog]

Only problem being we didnt get the 280ZX-Turbo!

[260Zed]

I haven't done it, but id say that I'd would be smart to upgrade to EFI, which (should) include a new baffled tank or surge tank. Then if you've gone and tracked down the EFI manifold and bits, then there is prolly an L28 attached to it :nervous: .

I'd say that it depands on how well you want to do the turbo set up. Yeah you prolly could just "throw" one on a L26, but finding turbo manifolds in Aus will be difficult.

So there is all the cons, someone tell him the pros!

Luke

[260DET]

Seen turbo setups for sale before, they seem to come up fairly regularly on sites like Ozdat. Unless you have 'the knowledge' buying a factory or other pro turbo setup is the only way to go.

To do it properly it won't be cheap, the L engines are ancient now :tapemouth

[MickieB]

True. Would it be cheaper and easier to get an RB25DET conversion done?

[drunkenmaster]

Probably the same.

Look to an RB20DET, they can be had for $1200 or so nowadays, but they are getting old too.

Seriously though, if you budget doesnt allow for expenses to add up toward the $10k mark on the enigne alone, I wouldnt bother with forced induction. Do the math first. Everyone thinks they could do it cheaper including myself, but its never the case, and those who do, even up paying more in the long run fixing short cuts.

L28E is probably the most cost effective option.

[Mr Camouflage]

More than likely the turbo bits would be attached to a L20ET in australia. I know a guy with 6 of them lying around in his shed.

Go the L28E with a big cam and extractors. With the instant power you'll leave the turbo boys at the line waiting for their turbos to spool up onto boost.

[Ripper]

If you would like to turbo your L26, Id say go for it! Don't listen to everyones excuses as to why it won't work, why it will be too expensive and why the parts are hard to find.

Go visit ebaymotors and search for an L28 turbo manifold, they are sold all the time, buy yourself a nice t3 turbo (the expensive part), and plum it through an intercooler and then into your su's (240z kind).This setup will work, I have seen it done. Yes EFI will be better, however if you tune the carbies right (and upgrade needles and jets) the power will be sustantially higher than stock.

I have a mate with an L28 turbo, it uses a custom exhaust manifold, a 45mm weber, and a t04e turbo. The setup is a suck through design (not the best in my opinion) and runs water injection. It uses a $^!# load of fuel, however it propels his 260z 2+2 into the mid 11's. Make no mistake later model motors may be more reliable, however every man and his dog is using them.

An rb20det, despite good right ups, has absolutely zilch torque, sure u can get a decent 220rwkw, but what about the torque?

[drunkenmaster]

I had all the bits including motor for my L28ET setup, problem was all the parts were approaching 30 years old and needed a good reco.

So I went with the RB30DET which I worked out to cost around the same, as if you are rebulding a motor, you may as well rebuild a newer one as it will cost around the same.

Either way it costs a small fortunes to do it properly, but at least this was I will have more power, better economy and a world of off the shelf new parts.

[Murph]

Using SUs in a blow through setup is generally a no no. AFAIK it's to do with some issues of sealing, also you'd need to pressurise the fuel bowls, which means a high pressure fuel pump and a rising rate regulator.

Suck through would be a better option, although not all turbos are suitable for this.

Mickie: Depending on what way you want to go, well have a spare RB25 turbo when we get the big turbo on Danny's R32. Should be soon.

[datfreak]

give paul on

acanthophis@dodo.com.au

an email

He has a few turbo setups(with manifolds) for datsun 6 L's