Cylinder head info

[GCSS]

Hi folks,

I am a newbie,was a Mopar nut all my life and except for the 73Z I had when I was 21 yrs old...all MOpar.

Anyways, I now have a 1972 240Z and just want to learn more about this car.

How does one ID the type of head on this motor?

I have read that there are different heads out there some better than others. As far as I can tell my motor is 100% stock and original. What head should be on this car and is it a desireable one?

Thanks

GCSS

[DeesZ]

Welcome!

To ID the head type, check out the casting number that is found on the head just below and between plugs #1 & #2. See the picture attached of an E88 head. There are different heads out there, and a lot has been written up on them and the debate about which ones are better. Give us a production date and engine number and someone will likely be able to verify if it is what belongs on the car. The engine number is found on a flat cast into the block to the left and a bit below where you find the head casting number. My guess is that an L24 in a 1972 came with an E88 head. To verify if the engine is original to the car, check the block number against the data plate engine number found on the right hand strut tower in the engine compartment.

I hope this helps.

Attachment:

[Ronaldo1973]

this site contains the info you need to know:

http://datsunzgarage.com

[GCSS]

Welcome!

To ID the head type, check out the casting number that is found on the head just below and between plugs #1 & #2. See the picture attached of an E88 head. There are different heads out there, and a lot has been written up on them and the debate about which ones are better. Give us a production date and engine number and someone will likely be able to verify if it is what belongs on the car. The engine number is found on a flat cast into the block to the left and a bit below where you find the head casting number. My guess is that an L24 in a 1972 came with an E88 head. To verify if the engine is original to the car, check the block number against the data plate engine number found on the right hand strut tower in the engine compartment.

I hope this helps.

Attachment:

[ATTACH]32289[/ATTACH]

I looked at the Zgarage website and saw the head info also....

I looked at the numbers....it's a numbers matching car L24 with the E88 head.

I guess the answers my questions. Looks to me like the motor is 100% original and unmolested. Thanks for the input !

[Carl Beck]

this site contains the info you need to know:

http://datsunzgarage.com

I talked to Brian a few weeks ago about that page. It needs some revision.

1. The E31 Heads came on all 70/71 Model Year 240Z's. There were some 45,000 of them not 10K as written. The E31's suffer from cracking in the exhaust valve seat area - have any head you acquire checked carefully for cracking - BEFORE - you start putting money into it.

2. There are really three different heads cast with E88 for the 240Z's.

The first, although rare - is the head that came on the very early production 72 Model Year cars - it has the same combustion chamber design and size as the E31. 42.4cc

The Second is the head that was most common on the 72 Model Year cars. Combustion chamber design is the same as the E31, just a couple cc's larger volume - but the E88 due to improved flow produced the same HP as the E31. 42.4cc vs 44.7cc

The Third E88 is an emission head that came on the 73 Model Year 240Z's - the combustion chamber design is intended to reduce emissions - not provide the best performance. 47.8 cc

3. There is one E88 for the 260Z - same design and function as 73 with a larger exhaust valve. 33mm vs 35mm

The only way to know which E88 you have is to inspect the combustion chamber, and observe the exhaust valve size. There are a couple poor pictures of the E88 combustion chambers here:

http://ZHome.com/ZCMnL/tech/E31andE88Heads.htm

Nonetheless, if you have a matching number engine, and the car seems to have had good care - it is reasonable to think it still has it's original head - - but many were changed over the years due to blown head gaskets..

FWIW,

Carl B.

Edited October 23, 2009 by Carl Beck

[DeesZ]

Great.

Now we need some pictures to look at!

We really like pictures here.

[Arne]

Carl, I'll add that some of the very late '71s appear to have come with that early E88 as well. My 7/71 car (engine L24-048366) came with an E88. It's never been off the block, so I can't confirm the chamber size or shape, but considering the build date I'm going to assume it has that rare earliest type E88.

Both of my previous '71s had the E31, as noted.

[DeesZ]

I recently had HLS30-023609 (engine # 030185) mfg. 02/71 that had an E88 head. I assumed it to be original, but that was, as I said, an assumption.

[Arne]

HLS30-27602 (4/71) had an E31.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Arne:

Yes - the 71 to 72 Model Year transition is an interesting time. Nissan lists the 72 Model Year as starting with HLS30 46000. However we have several cars that had "most" of the 72 features and which were sold as 72 Models - with build dates of 08 of 71 - mixed in with cars that were indeed 71 Model Year cars.

It "seems" that if the car got the newer Type B tranny and rearward mounted differential - it was sold as a 72. Of course the early 72 Model Year cars did not get the self retracting seat belts, nor did they even have the pocket in the floorboards for them. They still had the vertical rear window defroster lines and on the center console they did not have the red seat belt warning lights...

At the Dealership - we were getting both Late Model 71 and early 72 Z's on the same truck load..

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Ronaldo1973]

I talked to Brian a few weeks ago about that page. It needs some revision.

1. The E31 Heads came on all 70/71 Model Year 240Z's. There were some 45,000 of them not 10K as written. The E31's suffer from cracking in the exhaust valve seat area - have any head you acquire checked carefully for cracking - BEFORE - you start putting money into it.

2. There are really three different heads cast with E88 for the 240Z's.

The first, although rare - is the head that came on the very early production 72 Model Year cars - it has the same combustion chamber design and size as the E31. 42.4cc

The Second is the head that was most common on the 72 Model Year cars. Combustion chamber design is the same as the E31, just a couple cc's larger volume - but the E88 due to improved flow produced the same HP as the E31. 42.4cc vs 44.7cc

The Third E88 is an emission head that came on the 73 Model Year 240Z's - the combustion chamber design is intended to reduce emissions - not provide the best performance. 47.8 cc

3. There is one E88 for the 260Z - same design and function as 73 with a larger exhaust valve. 33mm vs 35mm

The only way to know which E88 you have is to inspect the combustion chamber, and observe the exhaust valve size. There are a couple poor pictures of the E88 combustion chambers here:

http://ZHome.com/ZCMnL/tech/E31andE88Heads.htm

Nonetheless, if you have a matching number engine, and the car seems to have had good care - it is reasonable to think it still has it's original head - - but many were changed over the years due to blown head gaskets..

FWIW,

Carl B.

Thanks Carl for those very detailed info, but still zgarage website gives a nice and good general overview about Z engines for newbies and other cheap mechanics like "Me".

BTW, you guys got a wealth of Z info, keep it up!

[GCSS]

WOw....A lot of info out there!

I did notice mine has the differential that has the axles coming STRAIGHT out. and not angled like the earlier models did.

I guess since mine has a Dec 71 production date, it most likely would have the ?? smaller valves??

I am not going to pull the head off unless it needs to be. I am not looking for the horsepower either. If I wanted horsepower, I would have stayed with Mopar products.

Now... If I can just get that rear brake drum off...........