240z rebuild tips?

[HxC240z]

rebuilding an engine for the first time... any hints or suggestions?? its a 73 240 with roundtops. Also whats the average time it takes to finish, just wondering

[JimmyZ]

Get Tom Monroe's book about rebuilding the L series. Research the misinformation in it's pages as there are a few things which are incorrect. This site has a few references to this.

Don't take it apart until you have or can afford to buy all of the parts which will get it assembled.

Be careful where you take the engine for machining. The good places sometimes have a long wait for them to get around to your engine. One shop in Orlando used to have an extremely long wait time but rumor had it that it was worth it. Inspect the finished work, especially on the head.

My nightmare was sending the head off and requesting a three angle valve job and getting a two angle job back! They also claimed to have replaced a few valve guides but instead merely knurled all of them.

Place a mark on the outside of you head to verify that you get your head back and not an exchange. Write down your block serial number since it does not match the VIN.

Visually inspect parts and have them magnafluxed/zyglo'ed where applicable. Don't skimp on this!

I bought the pistons myself but found that the shop that did the work could have gotten them cheaper. (Worth looking in to)

An engine stand is a very nice thing! I did my first rebuild with no stand using pizza boxes spread over the living room floor! (Apartment)

Do your own assembly unless you have taken it to a good shop who cares about what they do. Such a shop will do a better job since they have superior tools and experience. It is fun to do it yourself though.