Does the head have to be removed to pull the engine?

Definitely not

how do you pick it out, ie bracket mounts

5 minutes ago, ennisdavis said:

how do you pick it out, ie bracket mounts

Set some time aside and read. It's been gone over many times and you will learn the tricks/shortcuts.

Very easy with the right preparations.

https://www.google.com/search?q=280z+engine+removal+classiczcars.com+&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&source=android-home&source=hp&ei=WpdPYdLgGsKygge18KiwCQ&oq=280z+engine+removal+classiczcars.com+&gs_lcp=ChFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocBADMgUIIRCgATIFCCEQoAEyBQghEKsCMgUIIRCrAjIFCCEQqwI6AggpOgUIKRCgAToECCkQRzoFCCkQgAQ6BwgpEAoQoAE6BggpEBYQHjoECCkQCjoNCCkQxwEQrwEQDRCTAjoOCAAQ6gIQjwEQjAMQ5QI6BQgAEIAEOgsILhCABBCxAxCDAToICC4QgAQQsQM6DgguEIAEELEDEMcBENEDOgsILhCxAxDHARCjAjoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6CAgAEIAEELEDOgsILhCABBCxAxCTAjoLCC4QgAQQxwEQrwE6BQgAELEDOggIABCxAxCDAToICAAQgAQQyQM6BQgAEJIDOgQIABANOgcIABDJAxANOgYIABAWEB46CAghEBYQHRAeOgUIABCGA1CULljI3AFg0OcBaAJwAHgAgAHFAYgBwx2SAQQwLjI2mAEAoAEBsAEe&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp

I'll add don't overthink or get intimidated, just get a good plan after researching the previous posts.

It's really easy. I did my 1st one by myself after reading this book. It's the Z Bible if you ask me.

https://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Nissan-Datsun-Engine-Publisher/dp/B004X9A0OA

Maybe you should start a build thread instead of a new forrum post for each random question it is helpful to have it all in one place then it’s easy to reference.  

Normally the engine has some pick up points front and rear.. like this one.. (L28 of my 280zx)

A balancer and a hoist is very handy and don't cost a lot of money.. be sure that you fit them to a beam that is strong enough to support the load of the hoist.. (i got myself a giant H-beam that easely can manage the weight. (over a ton.)

Edited September 26, 20213 yr by dutchzcarguy

Thanks dutchzcarguy for the great pic and info. If I wanted to Goggle every question there would be not need for a forum. Think about that for a while. Not really excited about using the aluminum threads in the head to lift the engine. Was thinking of using on of the rear bellhousing bolts but that doesnt leave me an option for the front.

If the car has been worked on in its life, those lift tabs are often missing, Easy enough to make something similar. The rear one was on the last exhaust stud IIRC. 

I have even pulled a motor and trans out lifting from the engine mounts with a tractor. (parts car)

2 hours ago, ennisdavis said:

If I wanted to Goggle every question there would be not need for a forum. Think about that for a while.

Did you even bother to click on the link that @siteunseen politely posted? When you do a google search that includes classiczcars.com, the result are primarily focused on this forum.  A lot of times you get more focused results than by using the search button on this site. In Site's example you get the following, and if you click more results, you get 3 plus pages of relevant results from our forum.

 

I will also mention that if you search from our forum with quotation marks, ie: "engine removal". you will get results for the phrase in quotations. Which also gives a good list of results. I suspect you already know this, but by reading your blunt requests for help it doesn't appear that you have the time to search for yourself.

Maybe you should think about that for a while, oh and yes I do have better things to do.

Edited September 26, 20213 yr by CanTechZ

 

4 hours ago, ennisdavis said:

Not really excited about using the aluminum threads in the head to lift the engine.

You're in that weird area of talking like your "informed" but asking uninformed questions.  Basically, your comment says "not really excited about doing things the way the Nissan engineers designed them and used for the full lifetime of the Z.  I don't want to use the factory installed removal hardware that Nissan installs on every single engine that leaves the factory. "  

Think about that for a while.  (TATFAW)

Edited September 26, 20213 yr by Zed Head

Love TATFAW