back form the mechanic

[bippu z]

Hey guys, I just got my 260Z back from the local shop the other day. It was a basic diagnostic, since she didn't run in the first place, and the guy had some very bad news for me. He said that at some point the engine got really hot and the rings collapsed, she's got very bad compression, there's no fuel getting to the cylinders, which probably means that my carbs are gummy (as well as my fuel lines). "If you want, I could do a ring job, but I don't touch carbs."

Would it be worth it to get the engine rebuilt? Because there's a '74 260Z motor on craigslist that I've had my eye on, that comes with a 5-speed, for only $300.

Better to keep the original? Or more value in a different motor that runs?

[Zs-ondabrain]

Get the other motor for now. $300 for a running 2.6 and tranny is a good deal. Then rebuild the original numbers matching motor? and set it aside till you can afford to put it back in.

Truth is, the numbers matching block can be bored out and built up and no one wil be the wiser cause the numbers are still matching, and that will help when selling the car to someone looking for a numbers matching Z.

Dave.

[beandip]

Since your ''mechanic'' wont touch the Carbs, and the engine is not running . It could be a number of things . First of all has this Z been setting for a long time? If so you may just have gunk in the fuel system . Change the fuel filters , they may be clogged. Again , if the engine has been non running for a long time the rings could be the problem , however , squirt some ATF into the spark plug holes . Like about a teaspoon full in each one , and with the plugs out turn the engine over and let her set for overnight. I am assuming the oil and filter has been changed already. Do you have flat top carbs or round Tops, SUs? If flat tops, replace them with the earlier round top SUs. Do a compression test again after the oil has set overnight and see what it is. Auto Zone and several other parts stores will loan you a tester. Harbor Fright has them for around $15.00. Usually if the engine has overheated the head suffers and could be warped , or the block could be cracked. If the block is cracked , it is junk now. As to the numbers matching thing, if you alter the Z with a 5 speed or other mods the car is no longer original any way. Keep the intake manifold but you will need the linkage that fits between the carbs if you do the carb change. Keep us in the loop on what you find. All the best. Gary

[sblake01]

First of all, if I were you I'd find someone other than the 'local shop'. I don't think I would let a 'mechanic' who is afraid to touch the carbs have anything to do with rebuilding my engine. That, to me, says that he doesn't know these cars. You need to find someone who is more familiar with these cars to have that type of work done on it. What good would it do to have 'ring job' done without tending to the carbs? I also don't think a $300 motor (even with the trans) is really the answer. What makes you think that it's any better than yours? If it were a strong motor I think the asking price would be higher than that without the trans. You've done a couple of other threads about this car and you've talked about fuel cells and fender mirrors so I don't think you really know what you want to do with the car so I'm not really sure any discussion about originality or value realy goes with any of this. Many suggestions were made as potential solutions to your car's problems similar to Gary's post above. Did you try those? See if you can hook up with someone maybe in a local Z club or find a shop that has the knowlege to work on these cars. Otherwise your naivety will likely end up causing you much frustration and expense. I'm not trying to kill your enthusiasm, I just hate to see people overspend on their cars and not accomplish what they're trying to accomplish. A certain ruby red 77 in Nor Cal comes to mind.

[Six_Shooter]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the mechanics abilities.

Just because someone "doesn't work on carbs" doesn't mean that they don't know how.

A friend of mine, who also happens to be a mechanic, stays away from working on carbs for customers, even though all of his race vehciles have had or are equipped with carbs.

It comes down to a time spent vs profit choice.

For most mechanics they can make more money by doing other jobs than working on something liek a carb, and so they choose not to do it.

Back to the topic at hand.

As long as the other engine runs, I'd grab it and drop it in. $300 will be less than what it would take to rebuild or even just re-ring yours.

Then you can put it on a stand and if you wanted to, rebuild it yourself, even build it for more performance if you wanted.

[sblake01]

If he could rebuild it himself, he wouldn't need the mechanic.

[Six_Shooter]

If he could rebuild it himself, he wouldn't need the mechanic.

While there may be some truth to that, in his current abilities, anyone can learn. And best to learn on a vehicle or engine that is not primary transportation.

Also I know a few people who have the skills, just not the place to or tools to work on thier own vehicles due to various reasons.

[m4xwellmurd3r]

Six_Shooter, that's my problem. I'm confident enough in my mechanical skills to rebuild my engine (I've helped my dad build many VW engines, and after skimming through my FSM, i think I can rebuild my Z's engine) I just don't have a place for it, or many of the tools for it (lift, stand, various tools to disassemble, etc)

In his situation, if that 300 dollar engine is in good running shape (as in, bolt it in, hook it up, and drive away) I'd say get it. doing an actual rebuild does take quite a bit of money to do it properly.