Hello,
I have a letter size catalog for the U.S. 240Z "copyright,1969,
by Nissan Motor Company,Ltd"
There is a shot for the engine,it got 3 Mikuni Solex carbs.
The discription says "...The powerful OHC,2393cc, 6 cylinder engine generates 175 hp at 6800 rpm..." 175 hp
175 hp
This catalog is very very early stage made,so the tings happened I think.
I would like to tell some "general understanding" about S20 engine in japan.I do not mean they are 100% right,or true or fact.
Simply many japanese owners and journalists have been saying about these.You may find something,its up to you.
They are,
#1 S20 engine is very sensitive,it is difficult to keep its condition
#2 Some journalists said S20 engined car(Z432,Skyline GTR) was so hard to get its catalog performance. Some japanese car magazines tested S20 engined car during 1970's,they were always under powered.Finally, factory racing tuned car was brought to the track,it proved catalog performance.
#3 Mr.Nanba(team manager of safari rally 1970's also he was a test driver of S30 prototype) said the reason of safari car has L24 is duarable,simple,easy to maintain.He said S20 engine is so nervous,it was easy on the track but it was not suitable for much severe condition like the rally.He also mentioned S20 engine was regarded as a memorial featuring of Prince R380 in the company.
He said like this,"as an engineer,the L24 is the best for racing "
#4 S20 engine is very heavy,heavier than L24.Not mentioned severe vibration from GTR,but Z432 had that problem.Some times racing Z432R blowed its mission and gear carrier.
S20 engine was good for GTR chassis,not good for S30 chassis.
If you look closely at engine mounting of S20 in the Z432,you will fined mounting struts are stressed by heavy S20 engine.Mr.Nishi (proffessional restorer)said so many Z432s were brought in his factory,their mounting struts were always cracked.He siad nearly 90% of them.
S20 engine was made for GTR,this is true.Because when S20 engine was born,S30 was not born yet.
And Mr.Uemura(test driver of 240Z in the U.S. also he was a engineer of S30's suspention and chassis)
said that first they did not expect to install S20 into S30,suddenly the top of Nissan ordered to do that.All the engineers had to rearrange chassis for S20 engine.
I think if S20 engine was planed to install from the bigining of developing S30,engineers could design for mounting engine much better.If it could done,other chassis lay out could be much different from now.
Japanes race seen,S20 engined Z432R was faded out gradually
due to its vibration problem and factories found L24 engine car was easy to handle and has a good perfomance.
I like S20 engine,it is a romantic for me.Very high technical compornents and sexy sound.If I have a lot of money,I want to buy Z432.
kats