L28ET Minus the Turbo into 240z

[busted240]

Ok so this may seem like a weird question but my stock L24 motor has been giving me a ton of problems and is losing compression as well as the valve stem seals are leaking now.

I searched but found nothing of this sort, only people trying to run a L28ET on stock 280z N/A efi system.

I have a friend who has a complete L28ET motor sitting in his garage he will sell me for next to nothing. Less then a L28e would cost me for sure. My question is, can I take this motor, drop it in on my round top su's and run it as N/A for now? I want to do a full swap later on and run it on MegaSquirt, but don't have the money to drop on the EFI and all the other things needed to go from carb to efi.

I know compression would be low, but compared to a badly running / dying L24 I can't see it being a huge issue. Can I run it with the L28ET distributor? What would I need to change to drop it in other then putting m carbs on it?

Thanks for any help!

[240260280z]

Head swap would be faster and easier. Find an E88 cheap.

[busted240]

I understand a head swap would be easier, but my motor is losing compression aside from the head problems. Has been for a while now, so I will just have to swap over a new (long)block in the future as well. This is why I want to know about the turbo motor. I can get a L28 around here for $250 + depends since supply is limited with out going 300+ miles away. If I can ever find one in a junkyard it would still be $210+ and not knowing the condition.

The turbo motor I will be getting for free really since I have helped him with his Z so much, this is why I ask because it will be the cheapest and easiest to obtain.

[Zed Head]

I don't think that you'll be able to use the turbo distributor since the turbo ECU uses a Crank Angle Sensor (CAS) to control timing. No vacuum or mechanical advance in the turbo distributor, just spark distribution (and maybe the CAS, depending on year of L28ET). You might have to change the distributor drive shaft from the turbo motor oil pump also. I believe that it's different and fits the turbo distributor. Fairly simple to do, as I understand it.

The turbo engines work well enough with low compression when off-boost so it should get you by with the 240Z distributor and carbs. Tuning the carbs could be a challenge.

Don't forget to remove the adapter from the crankshaft if the turbo car was an automatic.

[busted240]

Yes, this motor has the CAS in the distributor. I had read the differences between the L28e and ET shafts, so as long as I use the 240z diz and shaft it should fit the turbo motor oil pump? Guess I can always use the L24 one if necessary.

Tuning I am not too worried about. It is a weekend / fun car not needing perfection right now. It will have the full efi swap in a couple months either way.

Thanks for the info.

[MotoManMike]

I would just source the rest of the components and go turbo from the beginning of the swap, why do it one way and then the other when you are already half way there after its bolted in? Just a thought. I pulled the hood off my 240z today and began draining all the fluids. I'm pulling a completely perfect running rebuild L28 to drop in a L28et running the turbo.

[madkaw]

Have you done a leak down test on the motor? You might be losing compression because of the head and nothing else. Time and money would be better spent on a head swap if the bottom is okay. These bottom ends are about bullet proof, so I would suspect it is all head problem.

If the motor is shot you might as well do the complete turbo swap and not break the motor apart and source out stock electrical to get you going. Then again you will spend more money than you think doing that. I think the turbo engine without the turbo will be a dud