I have been offered a motor out of a 280C which was a Datsun Sedan around the early 80's vintage.

Can this motor be done up for maximum horsepower for a Z.

Thanks

Biker

Hi Biker,

Should be no problem at all, as long as you are prepared to swap out pistons, cam and valves where necessary.

Check out the block casting number and the head casting number. It will probably be an N42 block if its from a fairly early 280C. The N42 has always been the choice of the Japanese tuners for the bigger bore conversions ( over the later F54 ). Head casting could be anything - depending on the year and model it was fotted to.

Main thing you have to watch out for are the Sump / Oil Pickup - Strainer / Dipstick positions. The L28 was fitted to MANY domestic models, with a lot of applications seen only in Japan. Therefore you have to have the parts on hand to make one of these engines fit in a Z body. That should not be too difficult though.

Check out the compression ratio if possible. There was quite often a low compression version of most domestic engines available as an option ( even for the S20 twin cam ). You might need a piston swap to correct this, and watch out for small valves and very conservative camshaft specs. Again, this depends on what it was originally fitted to.

Japanese tuners have traditionally robbed sedans / wagons / municipal vehicles of their L28's, and as long as you pay attention to 'convert' it to Z-type fitting then you have something just as worthy of tuning as any L28 fitted originally to a Z. However, they usually tear them apart completely and start from scratch - so it's probably not wise to expect it to give much power unless you increase compression and pep up the breathing a little.

Good luck,

Alan T.

Thanks Allan for the detailed info.

It 's a F54 block and looks good under the valve cover. Can't test it as it is not in the car.

I want it mainly to tweak it up anyway

Regards

Biker

Must be from a fairly late 280C then, which means its probably not so hampered by some of the possible snags of low compression and super-conservative camshafts that some of the domestic sedans, wagons and pickups had.

If you're going to tune it, then you don't have to worry about all that anyway.

Good luck!

Alan T.

F54 in a 280C?!

Interesting, never seen one in them before, all I've ever seen is N42, check for flat top pistons in your F54 block, might have got lucky there!

I dare say you should be OK for valves, all 280C I've seen had the complete N42 package with N42 head (44m inlet valves).

Alan is right about sump/oil pick up; I had to change mine to suit a front oil pickup and it was a pain in the @#$%!

James

Alan do they choose the N42 for big bore's due to the F54 having the webbing around each cylinder?

I am just wondering I have 2 F54's and a N42 at my house and don't wanna throw them out but space restrictions may mean i have to.

However I was gonna go a max of 30 thou overbore so it might not be so bad.

The 280c may have a F54 because it was fitted later in it's life it's hard to know in these old cars. Their history anyway.

I am with Alan about the engine though if you don't wanna just put it straight in and will be doing some internal work it should be fine.

It is an L6 after all.

Gav,

2 F54 blocks hey? Flat top pistons?

Interested in trading your flat tops?

Check your PM, James

James just saw the post after I wrote you a PM.

I know I have 1 set of flat tops in my n42 motor in the other 2 F54's I am not sure so as I said in the PM will let you know however it may not be for a while.

Gav,

Just found a 280C today with an F54 block and N42 head at the wreckers.

Check for flat tops, no luck, damn!- dished pistons.