I need cam tower shims

[jmortensen]

I think you should just run the shims. The only hiccup you might find is the need to run longer bolts.

A lot of people do a mod to the P heads where they shave .080 and run 5 sets of shims stacked up, and it causes no problems. Here's a writeup on that: http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/head.html

Just stack em, get some longer bolts, and call it good.

[78 280zcar]

That is the same site I was just looking at about the P79 mod! thats crazy, but yeah If I cant find another head for cheaper I will go with the shimming. My longer head bolts are 6/16" longer than the shorter bolts so it would work for shimming it, I am just worried about how long the cam tower dowels will go up?

[jmortensen]

I think you'd have to try it and see if the longer bolts are long enough. The cam towers only get torqued to something like 12 ft/lbs so it's not like you really need to crank down on them, but if only the first 2 threads engage, then you'll need longer bolts.

[78 280zcar]

I am thinking about doing it but I wanted to see if I can find a head for cheaper thats in good shape. I alsofound this place that has different size shims available.

http://www.datsunparts.com/Engine

[jmortensen]

I think those are all Roadster parts. Part number 1152 is for a U20 engine not an L series engine.

[78 280zcar]

oops, I didnt see that, I will keep looking though. Thanks

[Arne]

Got back from Danny's, he has several N47s, at least one bare head that are shaved (but not as much as yours) that he said he could make you a good deal. Email him at dannye@mcsi.net

Or if you want to wait until I get my spare motor rebuilt, I'll make you a deal on my P79. But I don't think I'll be ready for several months.

[jmortensen]

That P79 of Arne's with a dished piston bottom end is going to be 7.3:1 compression or whatever the turbo engine is. Not enough for a NA engine. Forget about P heads unless you just end up getting a whole engine from a NA ZX that has the flat top pistons and the P head. Go for either the N42 or N47, but stay away from the P79 or P90 unless you put a different block in the car (or different pistons in the block).

[78 280zcar]

Thanks for the info jmortenson, I didnt know that good to know. Arne I think I may have found one from 240zman. But I will email Danny and see how much he wants. Is it totally bare, it does have valve guides and cam towers on it?

[Arne]

The one I saw (and he has several) had guides, but I don't think it had towers. Had the head thickness marked on it by each cylinder. The were all in the 4.23 range, as I recall.

[78 280zcar]

That sounds good to me. I already emailed him and am waiting for a reply, I'll see what happens. Thanks arne