Not much power :(

[TomoHawk]

Sorry, I meant to say it's missing the L26 engine, which has an extra 200cc of displacement, not cylinders.

Edited December 25, 2010 by TomoHawk

[ozconnection]

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That makes perfect sense to me, but I don't think anyone else will know exactly what you mean.

Could you rephrase that please?

[Co0kieduster]

From what i understand the L26 is exactly the same engine just stroked...might be nice to have a bit more displacement...Like i said in my first post, I'm eventually looking to swap it out for an L28 anyway. I just want to see what I can do with what i have for not much money...time is not an issue (im a high school math teacher)

Thanks for all the advice about tuning it up. Knowing where to start is what im looking for.

To reply to ajmcforester. I knew someone out there would tell me that my car should have a bit of power:) One of my first thoughts was compression and two people have already mentioned that. My brother is attending UTI in Mooresville NC. Drove out there last weekend thinking he could run the tests for me but havn't had a chance just yet. Havn't pulled a single plug out. Clutch is good. There is a loose U-Joint i discovered that was hopefully causing the disturbing vibration when i let off the gas around 65mph. The list of things to do when im back in NC. (with the fam in NY for xmas till the 3rd):

Valve timing

Compression Test

Change oil/oil filter

Attempt to fix small oil leaks (oil pan i think)

Change or clean air filters

Check spark plugs and wires....might just change unless obviously brand new

fix U-Joint

Ordered a set of 215/60/14's to install....actually bigger than the 185s on there now...but i wanted wider tires

Dont know anything about carbs. How much if any power could having a set of dual webers add? Can carbs be tuned for more power? allow more fuel? or are they just tuned or not tuned?

Also curious about properly timed valves....intake valves closing to early sounds like hindrance on hp.

All a learning process for me....looked up some prices on performance cam kits i little more expensive than i thought but seems like a good idea for more power without being excessive.

[Co0kieduster]

May have made myself sound like an idiot on that last sentence....I doubt i will replace the cam, but here is my thought process with what limited understanding of engines i have. Most people with these "tuners" I see everyday that sound like crotch rockets. Have just thrown random performance parts at their car without considering the "big picture". Turbo kit, intercooler, three inch pipe, etc. My thinking is if i start with the cam shaft then that would help me determine what type of exhaust and intake system i would want to go to that would work in harmony with the cam allowing for just right amount of overlap. Depending on how much power this actually adds to just the engine that would determine the upgrades to the drive train, brakes, suspension, etc.

Correct me if this bad thinking.

[ajmcforester]

Your going at it the wrong way just like these tuners. First off figure out what you want the car to do. Daily driver, drag car, track, weekend driver, street racer . . . This includes looks, power numbers, speed, braking, safety . . . Then ask can this car meet what I want? If yes then what is needed to meet my needs? Make a starting list then do research to figure out what would be needed. Lay out the car before you even start to modify, otherwise you will half arse the car or even cause damage or even make the car unsafe. Look at the budget and make a list of what can be done first and what order things need to be done. You might not get everything perfect off the bat, but you have a direction and a plan that will guide you on the development of the car. The guy that starts with a role cage and frame stiffening when building a car is the smart man the bones of the car need to meet the needs of the car first, and drive the slow car with the role cage. Not the guy that starts with engine mods, and ends up dropping the transmission or twisting the body or what ever else he damages on the way.

Besides what head do you have on that L24 block the e31 head modified on a L28 block can make some serious power. The e31 head is the best shaped head and can be retrofitted to fit 280 valves to make a start of a great NA engine. These are the things you might want to think about first, would I like to go with a triple carbs or fuel injection . . .

[ozconnection]

There has been some very solid advice given to you already, well done people.

Your job now is to read....read....and read.

Understanding what you're trying to achieve is critical to the correct order of operation. Spending some money now on a tune up OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE is a fantastic way of learning how everything works together.

Modifying a car can be/is a rewarding exercise but to do it now without actually optimising what is already in front of you is a mistake IMO.

If the car was in a very good tune already, I might suggest that you could try your hand at tinkering but your car needs some work and you need some experience. There you go, a good match already.

Consider a medical officer. He wouldn't be able to necessarily perform the more complicated procedures without actually doing a stint as a general practioner first, gaining first hand knowledge and experience. As a Maths teacher I'm sure you'll understand this concept.

There are those who'll disagree with me arguing that experience will only be gained by modification. Most of those people probably live at Hybridz. When it comes time to modifying your ride, you should take a look over there as well. However, be warned, if it appears that you haven't done your homework and researched the topic and ask a 'dumb' question, you'll be slammed. This site, IMO is much more tolerant of people asking 'noob' questions.

At the end of the day, good luck. Get yourself a factory or aftermarket service manual and study that too. Give yourself small tasks and perform them as well as you can. That's how you will become familiar with your car and the world of mechanics.

All the best mate.

[ajmcforester]

Math and cars go hand and hand as you learn more the students that are into cars you can learn how to engage their interest in cars into math. To determine the right cam and its timing uses trig and calculus, with basic physics of flow dynamics. Even calculating carb size and fuel injector size is critical for a well operating fuel system, you go to big or to small the car does not run optimally. What idea of power do you want out of the car, do you even have an idea yet?

The L24 is a good motor, I like it. However you need to see what you got first. My first Z when I got it, it was so badly tuned the rear carb had gas pooring out of it after the test drive, timing was off, clutch wasn't adjusted properly . . . the guy told me it's a little slow these z cars aren't fast (I must of had the weirdest look on my face hearing that). I guess he was right the car had been running on two cylinders regularly and occasionally on three, I was surprised it ran. Well the first thing I did when I bought the car was go around the corner and adjust the rear carb's fuel adjuster so it would not flood out the rear carb. Guess what more power That car needed a lot of TLC to get it road worthy, but when I was done I was happy.

Learn the car first learn what you want, who knows maybe this is not the car for you even. It is what I like and I can tell you about Corvettes all day also, but I rather have a 240Z over most Corvettes;)

[FastWoman]

Cookie, as Arne wisely pointed out, standards for acceleration/power have increased substantively over the decades. Before you get into this project any deeper, you should ask yourself what you want the car to be and what your budget is. If the body style and heart-pounding acceleration are both important to you, you'll have a lot of work and expense ahead, in the form of engine mods and/or swaps. If you just want a fast car, I'd suggest starting out with a more modern one.

When I bought my '78, several of my stepson's friends commented that the car was probably really fast. I responded that theirs are probably even faster, but that mine is really cool! That's the context in which I drive and enjoy my car.

[ajmcforester]

I love well handling cars, and the Z was that at one time I know I could buy a new car and get better handling, but then I'd need to go faster to get the same enjoyment. While with the Z it holds the road well enough that it won't flip easy, but the hardness of what it can take in the turns is less so I can push it without doing speeds that get all the cops in NJ chasing me. I also like the simplicity of the engine, and the car as a whole, the only newer car that comes close it the S2000 and I thought about getting one when my first Z was destroyed, but they are a tight fit and the Z looks cooler.

[EScanlon]

Now that you've been told what you could do, the first thing you should do and that is EVALUATE the worthiness of the vehicle.

It doesn't matter what you want/wish to do if the car is about to fall out from under you because of RUST.

Once you know or have assessed the rust problem, and I've yet to see an East Coast car NOT have some if it wasn't a trailer queen, then you can determine what you want the car to be/do for you.

Then if you're going to keep the car on the road, address the SAFETY components first. Then once you're safe and sound, THEN you can determine what to change/modify.

FWIW

E

[Co0kieduster]

Thanks for all the sound advice. I am looking for a daily driver that has some decent power, more than 151, idk...somewhere between 170 and 200? Don't know how reasonable that is. Just looking for a little extra power without having to go through all the steps to strengthen the frame and make it into a race car. I don't want a drag car or a race car. I want it to be comfortable, fun to drive, have a good sound system, and look freakin good. Also would like to get as much power from the engine to the wheels. I don't know if an engine producing 151 but only getting 100 to 120 of that to the wheels is good or bad? What kind of reasonable steps can be taken to get more of that to the wheels? I would be happy with only small hp gains in the engine if i could just get more of it to the wheels. Again i dont know what numbers are reasonable. I hope i've been able to clear up my goals.

If i just drop in an L28 at some point will that mesh good with the rest of the car as is?

[Co0kieduster]

Oh and ajmcforester....love the S2000 also, that and the BMW Z4 Coupe are on my wish list.