Saw this on Craig's List here in the Denver area and thought it might be of interest to a member...... I'm not real familiar with these engines, can anyone fill me in as far as horsepower, reliability, etc is concerned?

http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/233437039.html

While not particularly rare, the price is right. The connections for the oil cooler tell me this was from an automatic(and will have a higher pressure oil pump), and therefor stands a better chance of being in good shape. It is missing a few pieces, but only few. The block is the same between the non turbo and the turbos in the same years.

These engines were every bit as reliable as any other L series-very reliable-horsepower was around 180. Plan on putting a cartridge in the turbo and be pleasantly suprised if you don't have to.

Will

With a new head gasket, larger turbo and an intercooler, how much is that block good for? $150 sure isn't that bad of a price at all.

with no other changes probably 200-220-the fuel system won't support any higher-needs more low for more go!

Will

That's a good price, about what I have paid for mine. Too bad it's not closer or I'd consider it myself.

wish I still lived in Denver. I would have a new engine.

The block is the same between the non turbo and the turbos in the same years.

I thought the N/A engines had flat top pistons, while the turbo blocks had a dish piston...is that not the case? The rods have the same part number from turbo to N/A according to carfiche, but the turbo oil pump is different. Also, the block had webbing cast between the cylinder bores on the turbo to promote cooling, while the N/A block was siamesed bore on 123 and 456-this is what the seller is describing as the "thicker casting and reinforced water jackets", but from what I have read, that webbing was for cooling, not strength, and may or may not actually make the block stronger. The concensus over at Hybridz is that the early N42 blocks are great for turbo, since they have a higher nickle content and already have the dished pistons with no webbing.

If you get this engine, and would like to modify it, Garrett76zt (the hybridz pinks driver) has his mostly stock internal L28et over 400hp now. He's got a thread about it over there, I'm sure he would be helpful if you wanted to ask him about it.

Max

I must appologize, when I said the block was the same, I ment the block was the same. All '81-'83 280ZXs came with an F54 block, not just the turbo versions. Pistons are actually not part of the block, they are part of the engine assembly, I should have been more careful with my assunptions.

The pistons are different, just as you said. The crank shaft is the same, as are most of the parts of the engine assembly.

to Quuote from Brian Little at http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/engine.html :

"So if you want to install the best motor in your Z, go for the last of the L28's, the 1981-1983 F54. It's cylinders are "siamesed" meaning that instead of coolant flowing between all the cylinders as on earlier models, they are connected between 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 with cast webbing for more rigidity. In addition, all Datsun did to make the F54 a turbo motor was to replace the flattop pistons with dished ones ( to lower compression), and add a turbo head with better exhaust ports and a goofy distributor. " Internally He is right except for two other things, There were actually two pumps specified for use in the turbo engines only, one for the standard shift cars, and one for the automatics-the cars that came with automatics also came with an oil cooler and the strongest oil pump was in those cars. The head bolts are also different. Car fische may or may not have that information, but Nissan Fast, the current Genuine Nissan Parts Program, does.

Will

I thought we were talking short block, not just empty block. But it was my understanding that the N/A F54 blocks didn't have the webbing cast into them-though it's possible I was confusing the earlier non-turbo N42 castings with the later ones. I know there was some sonic testing done on some of the blocks to see what it actually looked like, I'll have to try and dig up the threads and post them over here.

I know there was some sonic testing done on some of the blocks to see what it actually looked like, I'll have to try and dig up the threads and post them over here.

That would be interesting!

Will

They were on Hybridz, and it's locked out here at my job (guess they like you guys better ), so it will have to wait till later. I don't mean to come of as combative, by the way, that was just contrary to what I thought I knew (and I have been known to think a lot of things that may or may not be accurate) and thought I'd get some clarification.

hurmm ..