Wierd Engine combination in 280ZX

[stevegee]

Hi All, I recently purchased a restorer 1982/02 Mark 2 series 280ZX 2+2. The engine was out and was picked up at a later date by a friend and when unloading it from the trailer I noticed it did not have the traditional square rocker cover normally fitted to series 2 engines, further on examination of the paper work that came with the car, I discovered that the engine number was prefixed by L24 and not L28. On examining the engine sure enough I had a "dead ringer" looks like an L28 but was an L24 bottom end complete with odd offset oil filter mounting and wait for it " a bypass oil cooler hose". What I need to know from the experts is what am I likely to find with this engine??? I will explain further.. The head is an N42 complete with new welsh plugs.. The injection manifold is Mark 2 280zx for sure. I went to the kiwi website where they have a neat engine "what if " play thing and punched in all the numbers (check site is http://www.zclub.org.nz/links.htm) the engine calculator is reallty neat and allows any combo of head/pistons/block L24/L26/L28. So what am I likely to find in my L24 hybrid?? What car did it come from seeing it has an Enzed Oil hose high pressure inlet and outlet (bypassed).. How can I fit an oil cooler to take advantage of this mod. To asses the engine capacity, How do I measure stroke and bore without taking head off. FYI the car runs on LPG and ULP dual fuel and I am told th L24 block N42 combo is the best there is is a really clean, quiet high reving engine with very smooth harmonics.. Any comments thanks or have I bought a LEMON?? :dead:

[280zx Fever]

Hmmm well thats strange... never heard of such a hybrid..

Not know anything about it i cant really help you out

Oh topic, i finally got myself a car for parts locally for the sum of $50 complete with a p90 head SCORE hehehe Thanks for your help though

[stevegee]

Great on the acquisition, better than running to the WA/SA border for sure Tell me about these heads then?? Where are the identifying marks and what should i look for in all me mottly collection?

So far have an N42 on an L24 an N42 on an F54. What is likely to be on the mark 1's?? Where are the cast marks located?? The head on Zedman pictured was reconditioned in 1999 so maybe I got a good head? The rebuild runs ULP/LPG and I suspect it is high compression and set up for LPG and ULP. I got all the gas cyclinders in the deal and the LPG is compliant plated..so I will be able to own the car and drive it on LPG at 35 cents per litre

[sblake01]

That engine sounds a bit like the L24E that was used in the USA in the 77-79 810 and the 80-84 Maxima. I have a 79 810 2dr. with that engine. It has the offset oil filter angling up and forward but no provision for a cooler. It has an N47 head and the 280z/zx type fuel injection. It's all stock and the engine has never been out of the car. It only has 80000 miles on it. Though it is some 400cc smaller than my 78 280Z engine, it's tough to notice any performance difference between the two. In fact I think the L24E in my 810 is a tad quicker through the gears than the L28 in my Z.

[stevegee]

Over here in Australia we had 240Z 240C and 240K. Maybe the 810 was that type of body. As for EFI L24's unknown if any are here. STeve do you happen to know what to look for on the block casting? I will try to get a part number.. The oil cooler pick up and return ports seem to be tapped into the metal block just above the head gasket and to the left of that offset Oil filter you mention.. Casting mark on block below exhaust ports N42 followed by number 23228.

Casting on a spare L28 engine I have a mark 1 also with offset oil filter is N42 followed by 9601D also an N42 head.

My zedman has 8X23A casting after the N42 so these are casting serial numbers.

Yes I think the L24 might rev more be short on torque but will turn in good miles per gallon especially on LP Gas.

[stevegee]

ENGINE

CASTING CODE

L24 ('70-73 240Z)

#P30 (flattop pistons)

L26 ('74 260Z)

#P30 (flattop pistons)

L28 ('75-80 280Z)

#N42 (dished pistons)

L28 ('81-83 280ZX)

#F54(flattop/dished pistons, siamesed cylinders)

SO by having an L24 with flat top pistons and an n42 head I have higher compression.

AN engine chart is available at... http://www.zclub.org.nz/links.htm

the calculator allows you to play what if I changed this...

see ya.. thanks

[bula_rav69]

Hi, just a thought but maybe this engine was built with high compression to take advantage of the LPG? This is a common this to do if it is LPG only but with dual fuel it can cause some problems. here is a link to datsun nut who built up a skyline with a 2.4L Turbo running on LPG you may find it of some interist??

http://www.picknowl.com.au/homepages/wardr/Default.htm

[280zx Fever]

steevegee - the block casting is under #6 cyl to my knowlege

2.4 EFI came from early Skylines

Maybe you got a 2.4 EFI from a skyline.. They might just use the 280zx top end ....

While your head ride height for 280zx's from fender lip to centre or the hub. ? mine reads 14.5 Inchs on the backs and 15 on the front. and 14.5 all around on the new 280zx.

[stevegee]

OK on 2.4 E, I wonder if that explains the oil cooler outlet. Maybe GT?? Ride height for Zedman front and rear is exactly 14.00 inches give or take a tenth front and rear. Tyres are 225x50 or 55 series x 16. MArk 2 uses 225x65x14 Eagles, no engine so cant tell ride height but my MArk 2 I just sold had same "stance" enclosed pic..

[stevegee]

Mar 2 280ZX 2+2

[stevegee]

Closest pic of Simmons on ZEDMAN I understand these wheels were a special order with the correct tower to tyre offset of 22mm. These wheels dont quite fit a Mark 2 strut for some reason they just touch the springs, did Mark 2's have wider spring sets in the front maybe??

[stevegee]

Nope its not a skyline engine, at least not the late model, I checked one in the wreckers today and it has L24 prefix, E30 head and a apin on oil filter. Ours has elbow shped filter and that damn oil line for a cooler. Must be after market import froma skyline GT. only answer.

The injector top set looks like 280zx so E24 injectors would be interchangeable as would the neat set of metal header pipes on the skyline, why didnt 280s have neat exhasust systems instead of the cast srap??