Quick engine removal & refresh

[Seanh]

I moved this from the Tech forum, posted it there by accident...

I was just wondering how long it takes to pull the engine out of my 72 240z? I'v never done it yet, but its developing a nasty oil leak on the front main seal, so I would like to freshen it up with some new gaskets and oil pump. I usually have school 5 days a week, but next 3 or more day vacation/weekend I'm wanting to do this. This engine is stock, dual carbs, all that good stuff, so it shouldn't be very difficult to do this would it? Only thing I'm worried about is exhaust. Where do I unhook it easiest? Thats the only think I hate about pulling engines is the damn exhaust, its such a pain! Thanks

Also, what do you reccomend for oil pumps? I heard the L28 ZX oil pump is a high volume one, is that right? Thanks

[Seanh]

Also, I have an E88 stock head on it now. Is there anything I can do to it? I will probally port it out myself, and probally a valve job and maybe new valves. Should I go with new spings and retainers also or are they nesessary? Is there a reasonably priced more agressive cam for this motor? Perhaps I could put a different head on there to yield more compression/better flow. What would you reccomend?

[Seanh]

Originally posted by Daniel

There is no correct answer to your question except 'its done when its done".MyselfI remove all the carb/intake stuff and exhaust.They share a gasket so if you take the exhaust from the engine you have to remove the intake to freshen that gasket.I don't know why you want to replace the oil pump.I've never known one to fail.If it did the same shaft runs the dist. so your car would stop.Your engine has the oil tube that runs across the valves.THAT is the L24 killer cause they split.

I want to replace the oil pump with a high volume one just for added insurance. I always use high volume oil pumps on all motors I build in the past. No, Mine hasn't failed yet, but I just want to be sure its in good order so I might as well replace it now since I have the chance. Is this oil tube part of the head or what? I'v never heard anything about it. Is it replaceable, if so, where can I get one? Thanks

[Daniel]

When you remove the valve cover you'll see it .On each end it has a rectangle about the size of a domino.They split there and cause poor lube to the cylinders past that point.L28 engines oil thru the cam itself.It is replacable you just have to order one.I would spend my money there instead of the pump.

[kmack]

Like Daniel said, I would check out the "spray bar" on top of the cam. (that's the oil tube he's talking about) It has little holes above each cam lobe and they can get glogged over time. The bar also splits at the "boxes" where it mounts to the cam towers. A little JBWeld fixes that nicely.

As for pulling the engine, I have gotten the engine and tranny out (in one piece) in about 50 minutes by myself. Figure it'll take 1-2 hours. There are not many wires to disconnect and the biggest thing to remove (besides the engine itself) is the hood.

If you still have the stock exhaust manifold, then the down pipe going to the muffler disconnects at a flange on the bottom of the manifold. There should be 3 nuts on studs coming off the manifold itself. I'd soak these real good for quite awhile before attempting to remove them. I broke one before and had to drill and re-tap it. Everything else should be straight forward.

Good luck.

[Daniel]

Although the JB weld could be a bandaid fix.Myself I would always wonder when will it split again?This time I will be crushing up bits of JB in my valve springs and filling those tiny oil holes with that sediment.Fix it right and move on.Band aids ALWAYS require work at a later date and they NEVER require that work when you have ample time to do it.It didn't take me but a few decades to figure that out!!:stupid: Have fun!! Daniel

[Seanh]

Just getting perpared to pull the motor next weekend, so i thought I would ask. Where did you people bolt the chain to in order to lift the engine? Just curious so I didn't see any obvious locations. Thanks

[kmack]

You should have 2 "loops bolted to the sides of the head. One should be located just above the fuel pump and the other on the last exhaust stud on the back of the engine (opposite side from the front one).

If you don't have these "loops", then either just bolt the chain directly to these lcoations or get something that'll work.

[Ed]

I hope you are not planning to do this in just 3 days. You should be able to do the tear down in one day but, experiance has it that you will always find something that needs to be replaced that you will not have. Then you will be stuck waiting for parts. Last thing you want to do is use the old parts just to get it back together. Then you will just have to do the work twice. Get as many new parts as you can predict you will need. If you don't need it then you can always return them for a refund.

Good luck. And Enjoy:classic: