Hey I'ma new guy

[Moto]

Reposting since I accidently stepped on someone elses post...Sorry

Hey Guys, the name's Daryl. Been an American V8 guy all my life, but was looking for a project car for my 15 year old son and I to fix up and drive around on the weekends. Came across a 72 Z on Craigslist that claimed had been sitting and needed the carb adjusted. I show up it runs.....barely. But it was good enough for me. Paid the guy, towed it home and me and the son got to work.

After doing some homework, the block and the head both say N42 meaning it's a 280Z engine.Correct? However it has a points style ignition leading me to believe that at least the distributer was from a 240z. The intake manifold says E88 and has a bunch of smog'like looking attachments like hoses and valves that are all plugged with bolts, nails, and wooden dowels. I would like to install electronic ignition, and put an intake manifold without all the smog junk on it.

OK enough rambling. I should probably post this question elsewhere here, so maybe someone can point me in the right direction.

By the way this site is great.

Daryl

[conedodger]

Welcome...

N42 heads were found on '75-'76 280Z 2.8 engines. It would not be unusual to see one migrate to an earlier car. Not much in the way of smog stuff for it except the EGR which IIRC was attached to the exhaust manifold? The E88 intake could possibly have some smogish connections. I wouldn't know. I have a spare stock intake and SU set up but I am not sure what year it is. I can check it to see if I see smog stuff... Main smog issues came into play with the '73 flat top carbs.

[d240zx2]

Hello, Daryl, and welcome.

Let's do some basic info gathering. First, there is an engine plate on the passenger fender well under the hood. Check the numbers you see there against the numbers you'll find stamped on the head and block, passenger side. Do those numbers match?

If the block stamping says L28-XXXX, you've got a 280 block, if it says L24-XXXX you've got the 240 block. Heads can be and have been swapped from L24s to L28s and vice versa, so the head number doesn't necessarily tell you what engine is in the car.

[LeonV]

After doing some homework, the block and the head both say N42 meaning it's a 280Z engine.Correct?

The block is N42 as well.

[Moto]

Welcome...

N42 heads were found on '75-'76 280Z 2.8 engines. It would not be unusual to see one migrate to an earlier car. Not much in the way of smog stuff for it except the EGR which IIRC was attached to the exhaust manifold? The E88 intake could possibly have some smogish connections. I wouldn't know. I have a spare stock intake and SU set up but I am not sure what year it is. I can check it to see if I see smog stuff... Main smog issues came into play with the '73 flat top carbs.

Thanks Conedodger. I have the stock SU carbs, but I don't know if they are 72 carbs, or the carbs that came off the 280Z. I would prefer the carbs and intake with the least amount of hoses and such, for a cleaner look. Also what is involved in swapping out the points ignition in favor of an electronic set up from something like a later model Z or Maxima from the early 80's.

By the way when I get over this serious case of lazyness I will most pics of the manifold/carb set up.

[Moto]

Hello, Daryl, and welcome.

Let's do some basic info gathering. First, there is an engine plate on the passenger fender well under the hood. Check the numbers you see there against the numbers you'll find stamped on the head and block, passenger side. Do those numbers match?

If the block stamping says L28-XXXX, you've got a 280 block, if it says L24-XXXX you've got the 240 block. Heads can be and have been swapped from L24s to L28s and vice versa, so the head number doesn't necessarily tell you what engine is in the car.

The fender well tag prefix is L24. However according to the guy I bought the car from the engine did come from a new Z. The newer Z engine came from a 280Z/5speed. I can also tell you the block is painted blue.

[conedodger]

No carbs on the 280Z so those were from an earlier car. Bruce Palmer is our resident expert on carbs. Basically, they were round top or flat top, and had different numbers of screws in the tops. Most would say you don't want the flat tops. They are easy to identify. They have flat tops!

Blue is the stock block color...

[Travel'n Man]

Daryl,

Welcome! I have a N42 block and head - - - - LOVE IT! I am running points and have great success with the dual carbs. I takes a little bit of time to read up and learn the settings - fuel mix and so forth but once you get them dialed in with the heavier horsepower of the L28 you will love it. PM me if I can help you and your son with your project.

There are a few of my engine shots in the "garage" area.

[Bruce Palmer]

Daryl,

In order to get up to speed on the carbs we sell a DVD that'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about SUs.

ZTV09 is the part number

[Moto]

Thanks Bruce. After viewing the ztherapy site I am considering core charging my carbs and buying a set of carbs and an intake outright.

Here is the frankenstien set up currently on the car

[Travel'n Man]

Daryl,

I would have to think your first purchases for your car would need to include one of Bruce's CD's. They offer two different ones and they really detail the complete breakdown - rebuild - fuel adjustment - float adjustment - part replace - of the Hitachi carbs on our cars (excellent way to thoroughly educate you and you son on how these carbs work). Trust me - after reviewing and practicing you will be the go to guy in your community for dual carb set up.

Another item I would strongly recommend is a Datsun Parts manual (you can find these on e-bay every now and again). I purchased mine from Kuwait and it has helped me save a small fortune in parts. If you do your own research with part numbers your local Nissan parts manager can order them for you on his orders and you will not have any freight charge and no mark up for eBay....big savings. A lot of parts are N/A but a lot of parts are out there in the Nissan system - you gotta have the Datsun number to find them and the parts managers do not have a way to reference in their new system unless you give them the part number.

For the parts book use this link and send the Saad a message - he may have some more left.........http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-1200-240Z-280ZX-510-Bluebird-SSS-key-type-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45f8567d37QQitemZ300519161143QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

MSA (Motor Sport Auto) does offer us a discount - you will need to supply them with your CZCC member number and they will tag your account with a discount when you order parts from them. We do have sponsors that do help support the site - their info is in the upper right hand corner and does change on every log on

Best of luck with your project!

[Gary in NJ]

Welcome to the site. An L28 engine swap is fairly common. The L28 came with Bosch J-jetronic EFI. Retaining the carbs on this swap was the correct way to go.

Looks like you have the wrong tube going from the carb float chambers to the nozzle. The one on the aft carb looks like it could pinch with the choke engaged. That is a special tube. Bruce can hook you up.