smackhq

Check out this CL post: https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/d/datsun-engines-trans/6628649294.html Prices are steep

I hear ya and tend to agree. I'll search but still work on this. If I hit a wall quick I'll change course before I drop $20k on a lost cause!

hahaha I like how you think brother man so thank you for the comments and suggestion. The engine swap was of course not my choice and came that way but it doesnt mean I cant swap it back out for stock motor. At this point I'm going to give it a shot on this l28et motor, Megasquirt ecu, complete rewire and such. Yes I do know how big of hill stands in front of me. ? I'm not a mechanic by trade but have wrenched on motors and mainly motorcycles for long time. This is the biggest car project I've taken on though. I'll make some mistakes, learn and move ahead. Maybe I'll make it, maybe not but I'm going to try and learn something along the way. The way I see it is that I'm kind of at the bottom now. It's not getting rustier (in garage now drying out), engine not getting worse, wife cant hate it more, etc. All I have is up! ? (quit laughing.....haha). To your point though, I'd look at a parts engine so I'll setup a CL search for Zs parts and see if I can find that project that someone else gave up on! ? Anyways, I appreciate and email and thoughts. Thank you Rob

Wowza....that's impressive! Love it. Do you have link?

hahaha I hear ya! I'd adjust priorities immediately if that were case.

lol ya I have no desire to keep it but for now the "ZHawk" decal stays until I can get engine running. Just think of another incentive to get engine done. ? I think it was just a local Datsun dealer marketing ploy and not given to any players. Doesn't really matter. Its gone someday. At least its a "hawk" though and not "Z-Patriots". That would bump it up on my priority list to remove.

Thanks. I'm up for it and have been digging into their docs and videos nightly now. Nothing too bad technically yet but I know this wont be easy. I have the MS board, seems complete and installation done correctly with exception of a few wires which I'll correct. I'm soldering up the car simulator board now to give it a test run so I'll keep you posted. I like a good challenge and learning something new so this is good for me. cheers

hahaha Agree but a little history that I heard was that this car was given to a Seattle Seahawks player when they signed. I'm having trouble coming confirming it and the original owner name doesn't come back with a hit from any Seahawks roster so I'm not sure its true.

Crud...thanks. I just grabbed all the photos in a bucket and didnt see that. Not good. Deleted. Megasquirt to replace ECU, I get that. AFM not needed why? Not sure yet.

Better question for this group. What would you do if you had this car? Best steps from your experiences in rebuilding them or swapping in l28et? Again...much thanks. Excited to prove my family wrong and someday enjoy driving her.

More loose parts from box. Any thoughts? I feel like rookie for asking but pic2 is like a flapper almost like MAF but not. Why is it opened? I've read some thread about transferring parts from the L28et engine to the 280z when swapping but I thought it was when trying to use original wiring harness. Not sure. I have 2 ECUs. I have 2 wiring harnesses. Assuming one from 280z and one from the 280zx. Not sure.

I think so....rust worries me but again, it looks more more body for most part. Not sure until I get into it. I'm really trying to figure out what to plug and fix on engine even before getting to wiring. I have a lot to learn....but I'm in.

Working on soldering up the MS simulator right now in garage but I have to run to sons soccer match. ? I'll let you know how it goes on MS.

Roger that. I'm compiling a list a best as I can now. Again....much of this is new territory so bear with me brothers (and sisters). ? Ya not sure on the distributor. Why a rebuilt and why a oil pump shaft?? Any thoughts? I can take more pics. Engine looks complete P90 head L54 block ( I believe). Thanks for help.

Worth the challenge? Is she worth saving? I've seen worse rust and yes I know the story of rust and there is probably more but the frame looks fine, amazingly the floor is surface rust but solid.

I know....hate them but its what I have to work with. Somewhere on the ginormous list maybe I could remove and replace it but man, that's way down there. For now its more of "Stop any water intrusion and get it into my garage". Need to stop rust where I can.

New member. Middle aged guy who's always loved Z's. I remember trying to convince my mother (million years ago) that I needed that 1972 240z. Needless to say that discussion ended quickly. Life moves on, get a career, my lady, 3 kids and years pass by. Dreams of a Z aren't the highest of priorities but as many know, those dreams come back and I for one am a bit of a believer of "fate". Fate is that at work my Technical Project Manager came to me one day and said "Say I hear you like car projects". I chuckled a bit but then I heard that it was a Z and that old dream file cabinet in back of my head was dusted off and opened back up. He just wanted it to "be gone from his driveway" but of course its not that easy so a very small amount of money ($500) was exchanged to let it go. Wife hates it, kids hate it, family is laughing but what I said about fate for me is real and I like this dirty rusty girl. She's my Z now. I'll bring her back or so I hope. Here's the bad: Engine. Swapped in L28ET. I have NO idea if it runs, has compression, etc. Wiring harness pulled off, intake manifold has much of the emissions parts pulled but not plugged. Wiring. ECU and harness all pulled. Nothing connected. Rust. She's got some common rust holes around her that I'll need to get to eventually. Not too worried about that and the main structure seems ok. Good: Engine. Well it does has a swapped in L28ET with 5spd transmission and connected. I mean...at least I have that. Megasquirt. Came with Megasquirt 2, wiring harness. Intercooler kit. Came with new in box JDM intercooler kit. Has rebuilt in box distributor and oil pump shaft. Body (dont laugh) seems straight. Doesnt appear to have any physical damage, doors and hatches close solidly and clean. Hood is different story but not worried. Priority: Megasquirt. Verify its put together correctly. I have simulator, relay board, wiring harness on order. Wiring. Megasquirt tested I could move on this for basic setup to engage engine. Intake manifold. Gotta plug the plethora of holes left from equipment missing (that I dont have in box). Engine. Get running. Test compression. Everything else to is secondary. That's my starting story gang but I'll admit to everyone that I'm no expert and this project is a bit more than I've take on before but I think with this groups support and help I'll get her back. I'm going to search the forums for people that might have tackled this same situation and are hopefully in the area. Seattle Metro. Thanks for any suggestions, help and support. Here I go.... cheers Rob Pics in my album My Album