L24 or L28??? Help!

[Danish 240z]

Hi!

I am wondering what engine to put in my 1971 240Z - i want a L-series non turbo.

I want to get 200HP at the wheels.

Should i go "original" with L24 and build and stroke it up for performance?

Or choose the L28, that I have been told not revs so good as the L24? But maybe is more easy (and cheaper) to get up to the wanted 200whp?

Hope you will help!

[FastWoman]

As far as I'm aware, it's the same motor, except that the L28 is bored.

[Danish 240z]

As far as I'm aware, it's the same motor, except that the L28 is bored.

Okay - anybody confirm???

[ChrisZ]

Sebastian, it's not all about displacement, use one of the L26 you have and put your money in to the cylinder head, what is the stamping on the heads you have?

Oh and welcome to the club

[ChrisZ]

I forgot to ask what behavior you wan't from the engine, do you wan't a high reving or a low torque? i assume you wan't it for street and not track and in that case i would aim for the L28.

[FastWoman]

What Chris said. Also if you're going to get 200 hp to the wheels, you're going to have to use some form of forced induction, and I don't think a motor from a ZX turbo will get you there.

[d240zx2]

I dunno. My old Z puts out roughly 185 rwhp and it's got a mild head re-work, headers, some sort of performance cam and triple Mikuni carbs. Stock block.

It'll run faster than my old gonads can handle, i.e. ~135 mph +. With a light car as the Zs are, it's likely that any choice you make will be quite sufficient for most driving situations.

[IdahoKidd]

A turbo ZX motor "can" get you there, but not in stock form (working with this project as my 3rd down the line). The old line, the only thing that replaces cubic inches is cubic dollars applies here. By and large it seems, getting 200hp out of the 280 takes a bunch of money and to my mind, the difference in 180 or so horses compared to a motor with another 20 isn't worth the several thousand dollars and thus I went with an turbo motor swap from an 83 zx. Not all that complicated ( not done yet, running, but yard sale ugly under the hood) but you did state you did not want a turbo. I've no experience with a stroker, but if you can afford it, it may be the way you have to go.

[Danish 240z]

Thank you, everybody. :-)

[Walter Moore]

As far as I'm aware, it's the same motor, except that the L28 is bored.

Actually it has both a larger bore and longer stroke. The L24 and L26 share pistons, and the L26 and L28 share crankshafts.

Either way, to get to 200+HP you need to talk to someone like Rebelo who can pump up the engine a lot. (and bring money.)

[gnosez]

We got just under 200whp in our race 240 with a dual 50mm throttle body intake on an L28, a mid-range cam, little if any head work and 30 over pistons. Ignition trigger via megasquirt, Town and Country coilpack and Aerostar ignitor.

Same engine with Jim Cook supercharger made over 220whp. New engine w/BSR race head should make over 240whp. But the costs from 150 to 200hp are $$, from 200-230 $$$$, and over 230 are $$$$$ (I have one of those NA 314 crank hp Rebello motors that make over 250rwhp and if I had to I couldn't afford to buy it again if it blows up).

Go turbo, save a few dollars and make over 300rwhp....

[cygnusx1]

200 crank power, is achievable with both engines, and with some dollars. You will need them to rev pretty high, and may lose some street driveability/low torque in the process.

The L28E Turbo can make you 200 hp at the wheels very easily, quietly, and maintain excellent street manners. However, I did read that you want N/A power. I understand. I have both methods, and enjoy both equally well. However, the turbo will scare most passengers.

If you want to keep originality, use the original 240Z motor.

Edited January 5, 2011 by cygnusx1