DaZed & confused in Portland

[Mark Maras]

I bought a project 260Z a few months back and I'm sorting out what I have and I need help with harmonic balancer I.D. Now for a little background. The previous owner bought the 74, not running, with a reported blown head gasket. He pulled an engine from a 75 Z and installed it and couldn't get it running. I'm now discovering why. The original engine came as a spare with the car. Here's where it gets interesting.The original engine [spare with the blown HG] is a L26- #072285 P30 with a E88 head. The engine in the car, pulled from a 75, is a L24 #125191 with a E88 head. Back to the balancers, The balancer on the L24 is a three sheave pulley and has 5 timing marks. The 2 inner sheaves are 5" OD. Outer sheave is 5 3/4" OD. It has a 1/2" setback looking at the front and the bolt is recessed in a very tight hole. The balancer on the L26 is a 2 sheave pulley with 1 timing mark. The inner sheave is 5 7/8" OD and the front sheave is 5 1/4" OD. with a 1 1/4" setback and the bolt head is exposed. My alternator has a 3" OD sheave. My choice is to drive the alternator with a 5 7/8" pulley or a 5" but at this time I don't really know if either is correct. And just to confuse you a little more, I have a Series 1 available for parts. Mark in portland

Edited January 26, 2014 by Mark Maras
left out information

[psdenno]

Triple pulley to accommodate A/C?

Dennis

[Stanley]

My '73 has a triple pulley for AC and smog pump. Since I don't have or want that stuff the triple is useless. Worse than useless since it causes problems removing the shroud, fan clutch, etc. Also looks like not enough clearance from the fan. I think the outer pulleys are removable. I tried but guess I had the wrong wrench or something.

[Zed Head]

Z cars are notorious for poor idle voltage. I would run the bigger pulley if you can. But the timing chain cover on the L24 engine that you're going to use is probably set up with a single pointer, to be used with the multiple mark pulley. The L26 with the bigger pulley (probably bigger to fix the voltage issues) and one mark is designed to be used with a degreed timing marker. Timing read from the marker versus timing read from the pulley. If you can put the L26 timing marker and damper/pulley on the L24 engine, that would be the way to go, I think. The timing marker on the cover might be a simple swap. Swapping dampers might take some work, although it looks you already have one removed.

[Mark Maras]

Your advice makes perfect sense. I remember the poor idle voltage in my first Z. Using the larger pulley really is the right way to go. The radiator is out of the car, easy access, Now I have to track down a thin wall socket to remove the crank bolt. My impact sockets are too thick.

The timing markers are a potential problem, I don't have the timing tab that goes on the L26. The front cover tab on the L24 is a pointer and the pulley from the L26 has one timing mark. Either I track down a L26 degreed timing tab or after making sure that the 2 marks line up on #1 top dead center, file new timing marks in the pulley. Anyone got a timing tab from an early L26?

Thanks for the advice, Now I'm off to find a socket.

Mark in Portland

[Bonzi Lon]

I didn't have a 27mm socket that would fit either, however a thin wall 1 1/16th inch will fit.

Bonzi Lon

[Mark Maras]

Update on pulley swap I changed the pulleys. I now have the larger 2 sheave pulley on the L24. With the engine on #1 TDC the single mark on the pulley is about 1/2" to the right of the pointer on the cover. Not a big deal. Same plan as before, either find a degreed timing tab for the front cover or re-mark the pulley for the proper timing.

Mark in Portland

[grannyknot]

Mark, is this of any use to you? If so, it's yours for shipping cost.

[Mark Maras]

It very well could be the one I need. Or I can adapt it to work. I think that my front cover has 1 screw hole but I'll check tonight when I get home. Right now I'm thinking that I could drill and tap the front cover and locate the degreed tab in the proper location.

I'll get back to you tonight. Thanks

Mark in Portland

[grannyknot]

You won't have to drill and tap, Nissan has made it simple by adding a spacer that goes between the front cover and the degreed tab.

so this is what I'd send you if you need it.

[Mark Maras]

It's perfect, I'll take you up on your generous offer, Thanks.

I had given up on the dumb idea of drilling & tapping the cover. This tab makes it easier than notching the pulley. I'll be in touch. Thanks again

Mark in Portland

[Mark Maras]

grannyknot, I got the timing tab. Thanks again for your help and generousity. One more thing I can cross off the evergrowing to-do list. The repairs are going slower, this winter, than originally

planned but being from Toronto you don't want to hear my petty rant about occaisional snow in Portland. I do miss not driving a Z in the snow, It was so much fun and they don't use salt on the roads here. Next year I'll be enjoying the snow from the inside of my Z.

Mark in Portland