engine for sale - assessing value

[mperdue]

I've got an L28 for sale and I'm trying to figure out how to assess the value. If I take the cam cover off, what shoudl I look for exactly? I was told by the previous that it was rebuilt. What signs would there be under the cam cover? Do most aftermarket cams have a manufacturers marker and if so where shoudl I look? What can look for on the head to see if it has been re-worked? Thanks for the help.

MIchael

[mperdue]

Here's the auction link by the way: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=8046484173&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT

Can anyone tell me if that's a stock or aftermarket dizzy? Looks too clean to be original but I really don't know!

[Arne]

Michael, the dizzy is from a ZX, same vintage as the engine. The ignitor box mounted on the side of the distributor is the key. I can't tell from your pictures if the ignitor box is the good one (E12-80) or the not-so-good one (E12-93). If the pair of terminals on the top of the box are all there are, it is the good one. If there is an additional terminal on the side nearest the vacuum pot, it is the less desirable one from '82-83.

Don't know if you would be able to tell much by looking under the cam cover, the Nissan cams are quite durable, so even if the engine is rebuilt it could still have the factory cam in it.

All in all, it looks much like the '83 ZX mill in my car right now. Hopefully it is in better shape than mine - while mine has good compression, a whole lot of oil gets past the rings and it fouls plugs. The F54 blocks are the better ones to use for a hot motor, they have flat top pistons and are more rigid with their siamesed cylinders. The only problems with a P79 is the round exhaust ports, which probably isn't all that horrible for a street motor.

I'll be curious to see what you get for it, mine will be surplus later this summer. (But I'm keeping my ZX alternator and dizzy.) I wish you were closer - I could really use the engine stand. :classic:

[Phacade]

Damn. I wish I knew this was going back up for sale, I'd love to have my old engine back again. I probably spent $3k building that engine. The SU carbs alone, which according to Scott at Z-therapy, were '70 specials; set me back $800 alone. I had that block worked over down at Custom engine rebuilders, a 5-way angle job done on the head with just a bit shaved as a result. The pistons were damned expensive as well, forged rods, and lets not even talk about the pain those Felpro gaskets were.

I spent about 3 months rebuilding that engine. Do you have any more pictures of it? I'd love to see some more of it.