Just ordered my Rebello 3.0, now what

[Kurbycar32]

I placed the order for a Rebello 3.0 so at some point a mostly complete motor will be brought home to swap into my running car. I have done motor swaps on other vehicles but I am not a professional mechanic, what could I be forgetting? Heres my current list in no particular order:

• Have gaskets on hand for valve cover, water pump, intake/exhaust
  
• Lots of engine brite for cleaning empty engine bay and transmission
  
• label wires and tubes
  
• fluids for new motor
  
• clutch?
  
• oil change for manual transmission
  
• repaint engine bay
  
• replace battery tray
  
• New fuel lines
  
• Beer, bbq and weekend with friends
  

I have left off the plug wires, cap/rotor, belt and water hoses because they have already been replaced this year. Rebello is also going to work over my SU carbs. Any recommendations?

[Captain_Zeros]

Camera on hand for the momentous occasion!

New engine mounts?

[madkaw]

Brake job for WHOA moments. Suspension up to the task of more power. Driveline in general----U-joints on all drive shafts.

Any specs on the motor? CR and cam specs.

[Zed Head]

Clutch kit and flywheel. Make a list of the installation steps, in order, and you'll realize what you'll need to replace or upgrade at each step.

You might need/want to recurve your distributor also, or at least check that the curves are right. A Rebello motor probably likes different timing than a stock motor.

[Kurbycar32]

You might need/want to recurve your distributor also, or at least check that the curves are right.

I did specifically ask Dave at rebello this question. He said that because i already have an electronic 280 series distributor I should be good to go.

• motor mounts
  
• Clutch kit
  

Clutch kit seems like a good idea, ill take recommendations on type. The car right now is running and driving though it feels like its rocking about 50hp. The suspension parts are all there and the rubber actually looks pretty new, the alignment is even straight. Because of this and about a dozen other reasons I think this car had a caring owner as late as the mid 2000's, though it was never restored. The brake system has been rebuilt end to end to stock specifications and while upgrades might be happening in the future it wont be part of the motor project.

[Zed Head]

I did specifically ask Dave at rebello this question. He said that because i already have an electronic 280 series distributor I should be good to go.

That seems a little bit vague and general. If you have the 260Z distributor it's set up for carbs, if you have a ZX distributor with the side module it might have a high advance vacuum system designed for emissions engines. If you have one of the 280Z distributors there are essentially two sets of advance curves, high vacuum, low centrifugal for the EGR systems and vice-versa for the earlier non-EGR. Just saying, it seems like there could be more attention there. It's all part of the fun though.

[spitz17]

Answering the "now what?"

Stay on top of Dave. They are great guys over there, but things don't happen quick. With most quality things, it takes time. It took probably half a year or so for me to get my engine, but you won't see me complaining! Nothing but smiles . Just make sure you stay on top of them, and call in once in awhile to give soft reminders.

[grannyknot]

SU's on a Rebello? I see triples in your future.

[Kurbycar32]

SU's on a Rebello? I see triples in your future.

Perhaps, but not today. Lets get this thing driving first

[gnosez]

My first Rebello was a 3.0L with 2-inch SUs and it was fine until the need for (more) speed invaded my brain (what brain my wife asks).

[Travel'n Man]

Tell us about the build - block / head - - flat top pistons? expected compression? - specs - cam - carbs - headers - gearing - transmission.............need more info. While the engine is out it's a great time to have the engine bay painted - review your brake lines and the male ends near the wheels.........you have room to work. Great time to clean up any wiring issues and run Dave's light upgrade in the wiring harness along the front frame. With the added power you need to think about brake upgrade......vented rotors in my opinion are a must...the solid one's warp like hell with any any heat for an extended period IMO. I'll never go back to solid rotors.

............the sky is the limit with enough money.

Be sure to think about the diesel crank for a stroker..........you're almost there.

[Kurbycar32]

wow you guys are junkies for engine porn

The motor i went with is the Rebello "Standard" build. I made it clear that I want drive ability and reliability over performance. Frankly I was happy with a 200hp motor and when Dave said his entry system was 240hp out of the box, and 300 with some custom head work and triples I was pretty stoked. From Dave:

Longer 240 rods

ARP rod bolts

Crank stroked from 79 to 80mm

89mm Nissan KA24E pistons

63DI cam kit

turbo oil pump

clivitte rod bearings

SU reconditioning and modification

After restoring a car and a few motorcycles already I have become a big fan of what I like to call a "rolling project" The goal is to keep the vehicle operational as much as possible to keep from losing interest or parts. I accomplish this by only taking apart one system at a time, focusing on it, and putting it back together as quickly (and correctly) as possible to prevent losing parts or forgetting things. It results in some duplicate work: The brakes for example. I completely refurbished the stock brake system despite the fact that I want to upgrade it. On the plus side ill start that upgrade with zero frozen bolts and a known working system, minimizing potential problems when the upgrades come time. It also allows me to spread the cost of the car's projects over an infinite time span since I rarely "need" expensive components, and I never need a huge pile of expensive components. I rescued this car from its certain doom less than 2 years and I have been driving it for over a year. The initial restoration of stock functionality only cost me a few hundred bucks and I got to enjoy the car while I upgraded one system at a time.