Years ago I owned a L28R engine that was purchased from a bloke who had imported it into Australia in a 2 door R30 Skyline from South Africa. It became clear that this was no ordinary engine.

I asked Nissan’s Head Office if I could get the specifications and possibly a manual for my L28R engine. This was when it got interesting; They said they have never heard of such a beastie. I asked them to follow it up further. Two months past when they returned with an answer, well actually, it was a question: Where Did You Get This Motor From? I explained the history, to which there was a long silence at the other end.

The Engineer at Nissan Australia’s Head Office explained that this engine was in fact a racing motor and that’s what the extra R in it’s number meant. It was a limited release and should not be in the country. Yes, they were release in South Africa as there laws were more relaxed.

Apparently, the engine had the larger spec’d head, a fully balanced crank, larger bearings and flat top pistons producing 10.5:1 compression.

Just out of interest, has anyone else heard of, or experienced a L28R? I would like to know more about their origins, were they were release as Nissan Australia really didn’t want to talk about it.

Unfortunately, The engine and car have long since passed.

Also interested to see the oil pan / sump position ( front sump, or rear sump ) and the oil dipstick position in the block.

Good call, Alan. I missed that one. The sedan motors would be front sump and the S30 motors would be rear with the dipstick in the corresponding position. I should have reacalled that having owned both.

I will try and post photos as soon I get it back from the shop... if you notice, I have cropped my avatar to remove the flat bed tow truck it was sitting upon due to some electrical issue (maybe starter solenoid?) that caused the fusible link to overheat/white smoke and break. Once I get my car back, I will be happy to take photos and post.

I will try and post photos as soon I get it back from the shop... if you notice, I have cropped my avatar to remove the flat bed tow truck it was sitting upon due to some electrical issue (maybe starter solenoid?) that caused the fusible link to overheat/white smoke and break. Once I get my car back, I will be happy to take photos and post.

As promised Alan, see photos for engine number and oil pan position.

Edited March 28, 201113 yr by jirospy

As promised Alan, see photos for engine number and oil pan position.

Thanks for taking the time to do that.

Now that it's installed in your S30 body, it would of course have to have been converted to rear sump if it was originally front sump, so nothing conclusive there. I'd expect to see the original front sump dipstick hole plugged and the rear sump dipstick boss casting drilled to suit the rear sump position.

I still don't see how it can have been linked to an R30 Skyline just by its engine number though.....

Cheers,

Alan T.

Thanks for taking the time to do that.

Now that it's installed in your S30 body, it would of course have to have been converted to rear sump if it was originally front sump, so nothing conclusive there. I'd expect to see the original front sump dipstick hole plugged and the rear sump dipstick boss casting drilled to suit the rear sump position.

I still don't see how it can have been linked to an R30 Skyline just by its engine number though.....

Cheers,

Alan T.

Hi Alan,

Again, I am new to Z Cars and do not claim to be an expert whatsoever.

I was told by a parts company (name listed above) while inquiring about a starter that my engine number matched with an R30 Skyline. That is all I can tell you about this...

Yes, that's the thing I find most puzzling. I don't know what system, what data would link a remanufactured engine number with a particular model. Plenty of other models used the L28 engine block in both front and rear sump applications.

Has your block got a front sump dipstick boss that has been plugged?

Perhaps timing is the key? If the R30 was the last hurrah for the L28 in a production Nissan, the reference used may be simplistic and simply link the L28 part of the engine No. to the last use of this identifier, with the last vehicle series to receive an engine No. beginning with L28? Particularly if the block in question was sold/supplied sone years after production ceased. Some parts publications seen to trim information to the basics as years go by so maybe in the interests of print space they simply refer to the last known model?

Just a (convoluted) thought!

Perhaps timing is the key? If the R30 was the last hurrah for the L28 in a production Nissan

R30 (MR30 -Aus spec) had a L24e in them.

Nigel

R30 (MR30 -Aus spec) had a L24e in them.

Nigel

Yeah... I thought that after I read it back, but as my whole theory is a bit of stretch I thought "mmmmmayybee?"