I have a 77 280z. The previous owner installed a salvage motor but never finished installing. I am wondering if there is any way to tell what it might be. There are three bolts holding down the thermostat housing, it has two sending units coming from it (thermostat housing). It also had a power steering pulley on the crank, which, by the way, does not allow the fan to rotate without major damage to it and to the radiator. Beyond these identifiers, is there any way to tell what I might have?

Thanks,

Leonard

Edited September 15, 200816 yr by IdahoKidd
It also has the E-12 style distributor

There are also a couple numbers that you can look at.

On the driver side, above the pan rail behind the engine mount there should be a 3 digit number, made of one letter and two numbers. I.E. F54

On the head near the front of the engine on the passenger side, just above the head/block mating surface you should be able to find a number made up of the same single letter and two number scheme. I.E. N42

From what you describe it is a ZX engine. The Z (S30) was never available with power steering. The 3 bolt thermostat seems to be a ZX deal only as well, Not sure when it was first used, but I have been able to determine that '81 to '83 all use the 3 bolt T-stat housing.

Thanks, I'll check the numbers in the daylight. Any advantages or disadvantages to having this motor? It seems to run out just fine once it gets warm. Put in new thermotime switch this evening so just maybe.........

Leonard

Also on the ZX motor the heads are marked either P-79 for a NA engine and P-90 or 90a for a turbo head. The turbo engine has dished pistons and he NA flat topped pistons. All the F-54 blocks are alike. Gary