Found a 240...how much for engine install??

[mally002]

Well.........

THE GOOD:

I found a great 73 with minimal to no rust and very original. Interior is like new, 2 owner car, perfect body, rails, floors, etc. Current owner has had it since 1979.

THE BAD: (Here is what was written)

"The timing chain had stretched a little and I decided it was time for a replacement. The head is off and was completely checked by a local machine shop as well as other component parts. The pistons and rods were removed and the cylinders were honed and inspected with a micrometer, no noticeable wear. When I reinstalled them, they were hand cleaned/polished and new rings and rod bearings were put on. I decided to check everything else as well as hand clean, polish, paint where necessary, etc. Every nut and bolt was put into it's correct spot for easy reassembly"......

Soooooo,

What kind of cost would I be looking at in having the engine "put back together" I'm not much of mechanic, and wouldn't even attempt this, or should I???? Alot of you have much more experience than I do so your thoughts would be appreaciated.

Thanks guys,

[Arne]

Well, if you aren't much of a mechanic you probably won't want to try to learn by jumping in the middle of a partially assembled motor. As I see it, you have a couple of viable options:

One would be to take it as is to a shop that is very Z-knowledgable. You don't want to take it to just any shop, since neither you nor they will be familiar enough with the L-series engines to easily pick up were the prior assembler left off. Find a good shop that knows Zs and let them get it done. You're going to have to trust them, if they say you need 'such-and-such' you'll need to get it done. And don't be surprised if they want to disassemble and/or re-do some of what has already been done, since the only way they can be sure of their work will be to find out for certain what has already been done.

The other option is to bag what has already been done, find a complete and intact motor from another car, rebuild it as necessary and install it. In some respects this is the easier task, as you will be starting from scratch - there will be no question as to what has been done, or what yet needs to be done. But you won't have your original, numbers-matching engine in the car when you are done.

[BD240Z]

Randy,

It sounds like you'll have one sweet car once the engine's sorted out. I recently had my engine rebuilt. I had the head and block done separately because I wanted to put it back together. This saved some money and it let me do at least some of the work myself. I've done a bit of mechanical work in the past and felt comfortable following the instructions in the book, (How to Rebuild Datsun L Series engines).

This is what I'd do if I had just bought this car and (this is just me); If you don't know the quality of the work done on the block, I'd take all the parts down to a rebuild shop and have them check things over. Have them insure the bores are straight, (no taper), tolerances are correct and all the other parts have been assembled correctly. Then I'd have them install the head with a new timing kit. I can't comment on what it would cost or whether this is something you could do yourself.

If you're comfortable with the quality of the machining, you might have a friend or relative that could help you with putting things back together.

Good luck with your car.

Bruce

[mally002]

Thanks for the advice guys, I haven't pulled the trigger on the deal yet, but thinking real hard. I'll let you know if it works out and send some photos.

[Carl Beck]

Sounds like a lot of hassle for you - but "might" be worth it - IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

If you can buy the car for $2K or less.. then spend another $1,500.00 to have it put back together... and when you are done - have a car that's worth $5,500.00 to $6,500.00 it "might" be worth it.

How much spare time do you have - and can you spend that on the car?

On the other hand - do you really have the time during the week, to deal with a professional shop.. get the car and all the needed parts gathered up and transported to that shop, then stay on top of the "repairs" to see that they get done in a timely manor?

Can you afford the "risk" that someone will make a stupid mistake (it happens to the best of them), which will result in a second trip to the shop.. and perhaps a second tear down of the engine?

I really don't think that $1,500.00 would be out of line, for a professional shop to do the needed work - using your Parts... if you can find one. Does it need a new water pump, how about a new oil pump and a rebuilt starter and/or a rebuilt alternator - need new motor mounts?... might as well do the clutch while the engine is out... Now all new hoses/belts and a battery....

Too bad the block wasn't boiled out - to clean the water passages and oil passages... you might want to have that done before you start putting it back together.

You could wind up spending as much on this car in total actual dollars - as what you could have bought a clean, good running car to begin with.

Keep shopping until you find a nice car you can drive home and enjoy... you don't need a project at this point from what you have said...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[mally002]

Thanks Carl and everyone else,

I have decided on NOT getting this one, the price was......$6k for everything, that's quite alot for a non-running Z, however the body and interior were perfect, everything looked like it just rolled off the lot.

I actually went ahead and bought a 73 today that I have been eying for awhile, so I'm holding my breath until the transport company arrives.

It's a very original 240 that runs very well and looks nice. Small surface rust, rails and fenders look good, as does the battery box and half the price as the non-running one. Hopefully will be here in the next 7-14 days. I'll post up some pics when my new addition arrives.

Thanks for all the advice guys, and keep it coming because I'm sure to have more questions.

Regards,

Randy Mally

[BRE-240Z]

Randy,

Excellent! Get that car into shape and I'll meet you up on the 'Tail of the Dragon'! That's about halfway between us.....

Brian

[=Enigma=]

I hate to burst your bubble or harsh your buzz, but where there's surface rust on an older Z........... Hopefully it's just that but you can read the horror stories here if you search a bit. At any rate, welcome the fray.

[ezzzzzzz]

You can contact the Smokey Mountain Z Club or call/visit Roger over at The Z Barn. He's right there in your immediate area. Either choice will put you in touch with a bunch of knowledgable guys and very likely an assist to maintain what you have purchased.