Thinking about a new engine...

[CarCrazy24]

Hey guys...some good news/bad news for my 71 240Z. Apparently cylinder 6 is chewing oil...some blue smoke out the rear and the spark plug looks sooty. I'm wondering what my options are if I want to keep running the engine as is...I imagine everything will run OK if I just keep checking the oil level and replacing the spark plug every oil change or so. Your opinions on that.

As for the good news, I'm willing to dish out a decent amount on a new motor...the Z shop I go to normally (ALT Z) is asking close to $5500 to rebuild my engine top to bottom. Seems a bit high, some guy told me he could help me put a skyline motor (RB25) and transmission in for that price. However I'm leaning more towards something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Accessories___DATSUN-Z-240Z-280Z-L24-Block-E31-Head-Rebuilt-Engine_W0QQitemZ400029606764QQddnZPartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQddiZ2811QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item400029606764&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A3|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Seems pretty fair on the price, just wondering if the E31 head on this new motor is superior to the E88 on my L24 right now. Also how much do you think is fair for an installation of that motor? Any and all opinions are welcome

[JonnyRock]

Stay away from that seller!!!!!

Check out this VERY active thread here with 150 postings, all about avoiding 'datsun-parts'.

Terrible Vendor - Datsun Parts

[rdefabri]

Make sure you identify WHY the engine is burning oil. A Datsun L-engine has an almost bulletproof lower end. Assuming nothing catastrophic, at worst you need rings. Likely culprit is head or head gasket - pretty easy to have the head removed and reworked on these cars.

Save yourself the cost of a new engine (especially if this is a numbers matching car) and definitely DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM THAT VENDOR!!!

[ChrisZ]

I agree with rdefabri, new rings and valve steam seals will most likely do the job, it can be done while the motor is in the car, still it is easier to do it with the motor on a engine stand.

Chris

[hls30.com]

The previous two posts are great advice!

If you are drawn to this seller, make sure you get the details of his warranty in writing-no exchanges or refunds means his warranty will more than likely require that the engine be shipped back to him-around $300 to quote him, and you can bet he will not pay to have it shipped back to you, so in all likely hood you will be out $600 shipping, plus the cost/time to remove, crate and un-crate and replace the engine, and the time with the car inop.

That $2000 selling price worded to sound like shipping is free-it isn't(add around $300) and filled with contradicting information as to what was done on the engine is there to sucker you(just like "the call me for details" ) in. It is your choice to buy from a person who makes sure his ads are confusing so that he cannot be held accountable. This means, what ever he says on the phone, unless you get it clearly and concisely in writing and as an original signed, dated notarized, and legally admissible statement, do not assume he will be a man of his word.

$2000 sounds good until you realize it will be $2300, and there are flaws in his descriptions that will cover the flaws he knows are in his work. Think of having to spend more than $600 and the time it would take if you have an issue that might actually be covered by his 90 day warranty. The devil is in the details-and that is why he makes sure they are not clear.

Realize too he recently sold a truck with an engine he rebuilt in it that was having problems after only 8000 miles-more than likely he didn't rebuild it again because he knows what he didn't do the first time-he got burned by one of his own engines!

If a man proclaims to be a professional, but can't rebuild a comparatively simple Four Cylinder engine for his own use such that lasts more than 8000 miles, what about about that makes you think a more complicated engine he rebuilt would do better for you?

Spend your money where you want, but at least get a better understanding of what you are buying than he is offering. He will not want to put the details clearly into a court admissible document-even though he constantly offers engines for sale, and it would only take one document to cover all most all of them. If you don't have the details, he can change them to thwart any circumstance at any time.

His lack of documented accountability is what you should examine closely, it is the basis of any warranty, guarantee, promise or statement he may make.

If he can't take care of details he wrote in in an ad, do you really believe he will take care of details where you probably will never see them?

Review the thread noted above for the proof.

Will

Edited February 6, 2009 by hls30.com

[Mike]

After looking at that engine on Ebay, I think you should probably stay away from it. The the oil filter area is painted over including the threads and valve. The title of the ad says E31 head, but, the description inside says E88 head.

Call the guys at Rebello for an engine rebuild. You should see their banner pop up every so often.

Mike

[rtaylor]

I use a guy in Pomona that Stephan Blake referered me to. $5500 is way to high. I got my entire motor redone, including installing a head job and a new clutch for $3600. I work in Newport, I see you live in Newport. I can bring my car to work one day to let you see what kind of work he does.

[CarCrazy24]

Guys, the information is GREATLY appreciated! I knew that my guy was overcharging, but I didn't know just how much bad rep that Datsun Parts store has...I'm going to avoid them. As for putting an L28, I'm going to stick with my L24 now that I've just done the Ztherepy carbs for it.

RTaylor, I definitely want to see your car and the work your guy did! Let me know when we can meet up, I can meet up either today or next week, whatever is convenient for you.

I had a feeling that I might just need a valve job done,which I can't imagine is too much. Do you think it's worth the effort to just do the head and see how the car runs? I suppose I can always have someone redo the bottom afterwards if that doesn't solve the problem. Let me know guys, thanks again for all the great info.

[rtaylor]

Sid. I sent you a PM

[MikeW]

I had a feeling that I might just need a valve job done,which I can't imagine is too much. Do you think it's worth the effort to just do the head and see how the car runs? I suppose I can always have someone redo the bottom afterwards if that doesn't solve the problem.

A standard leak down compression test will help diagnose the problem. It will tell you if you're losing compression via the rings, past the intake valves, or past the exhaust valves. You don't want to go through the trouble of a valve job that doesn't fix the oil consumption only to have to pull the head again later. You should determine up front what needs to be done and do it right. A competent shop like the one Randy mentions should be able to easily handle this.

[peterc]

. Thanks Will. The minute I read the E-Bay listing I immediately thought of our friend "Terrible Vendor - datsun Parts" and wondered if this was one of his offerings.

My understanding is that he trained under Bernie Madoff, but was fired for not being sufficientfully deceitful, .

Cheers

p

[rdefabri]

I use a guy in Pomona that Stephan Blake referered me to. $5500 is way to high. I got my entire motor redone, including installing a head job and a new clutch for $3600. I work in Newport, I see you live in Newport. I can bring my car to work one day to let you see what kind of work he does.

Wow - too bad there's not too many Z specialists in NJ, or I'd be there tomorrow!

BTW - from your avatar, your car looks like Arne's in yellow (similar rims and air dam).