Nissan LZ race engine in the shop

Not zed related but for the datsun fans this engine is a real treat 

this engine is from the Dr30 LZ20 turbo , the owner got this for parts to build his LZ 20b race engine 

i will post pics as we build it up

Would it be too much to ask for some detailed shots of the cam drive gear train, to get an idea on the number of teeth on each gear ?

Plus a few measurements of the gears / bearings ? ( thicknesses in particular ) ? I would really appreciate any detailed info / photos you could get.

Basically, I'm just after a bit of a heads-up for someone who might be thinking of replicating the gear train themselves, perhaps to make an LZ "imatation" using a KA24 head with a home-cast cam cover

Also interested in your thoughts on the potential of the LZ head vs the KA24DE head, given that they are reasonably similar in design and layout.

While I'm asking questions, how do you reckon the gear train compares to a chain-driven cam ? Any real advantages ?

Hi Dave

mate we have a ka head that we do that we have just made a look alike valve cover , as the LZ is so rare we have been making a ka race engine so it looks like a works LZ there will be pics soon

also we have a belt drive LKA that looks better than any Nissan motor i have ever seen with built in dry sump pump drive has to be seen to understand ,

is the ka better hell yes about 40cfm up over the LZ turbo head , as the valves are so small in the LZ holding it back and the design is 40 years old now ,

so a LKA race engine is a killer combo and there are many ways to have them set up, Chain drive works very well and is so much cheeper to make , the Nissan gear drive is a work off art and would be so expensive to make , i looked at it the other day and was in Orr , its so delicat and has no slop in the gears what so ever , i don't think there is many shops in aus that would be up for the job off making them

hear is the gear set from the LZ there a work off art but a bit fragile this set is not well and we will be making a new set to replace it , it wont be cheep ,,,

That's porn Pete!

In other words...

One of the sprocet shafts is bent & it is most likely all the sprokets will be cracked when they get crack tested.

Les is looking into makeing it a twin chain setup & deleting all the small sprokets.

So what's the story with the DR30 LZ turbo? Was it a Homologation special? same basic engine as the  N/A LZ? Was it a stop gap before they brought out the FJ?  Very Interesting...

Cheers,

Hodgo

Wow not every day you see one of those engines. There was a LZ head for sale On trademe 3 or 4 years ago 10K.....and that was just a bare head, no valves, cam, gear drive etc

Hi,

Great engine you have there! I´m wery interested to get any information and pics of this. I have lz18 engine in my just finished 710 historic rally datsun. Head is very much the same, I have l18 based engine bottom end. gear train is same, exept my inner gear holder plate is 2cm shorter and chain is shorter.

My LZ engine is running and works well right now and I think its only current working LZ in europe. 

I have some set`s of special maden camshaft bearings for LZ for sale. Also I can offer cam sprocets and cam tower caps if needed. Also valve springs and retainers can be founded. We have planed to have made longer lifter cups from arrow/england, so if need more sets= cheaper price per set.

Any info/questions: janne.karppinen@luukku.com

Janne, Finland 

Wow, on this forum we have LZ engines, as well as FJ24 engine owners posting!

i didnt think LZ were that rare a mate has one sitting on his shed floor due to cracks in the bore, he just took it out of his 1600

Sure its an LZ ?

Proper LZ = factory race engine, extremely rare

Z-series (eg Z18, Z24) = Nissan's anti-pollution crossflow head on a bottom end that's derived from the L-series bottom end - most often seen in Z18 turbo form in 1600's.

People often refer to an engine built from an L-series bottom end that's been fitted with the single cam crossflow Z-series head as being an "LZ".

If said mate has a "real" twincam LZ with intact cam gear train and head, I'll start the bidding at a few grand (serious offer).

definatly was a LZ twincam and all he imported it from south africa when he moved over, the engine is now cactus though as is the head all that remains is the rods pistons and crank, i dont no what happend but it has cracks all through the block and all through the head. it now sits as a momento in his shed

Hi we are chasing a exhaust cam box for the LZ any help finding one would be great 

thanks pmc

ill see what i can do ill check on the weakend and see if he has a useable one

Your mate wouldn't have one of those genuine 432Z engine too would he, or how about one of those TB24 valve trick OS Giken heads too? I'd pay top brass for either! Just check all the corners of the shed would you

Cheers

some LZ pics as its going back together

It realy have had a great time building this engine , just so cool to bring things like this back from the dead .

That is sensational - You usually only hear 'rumours' of someone that might have known someone that had one of these, at sometime in the past...

But here is a real LZ, really getting rebuilt - opportunities like this almost never come up. This is a special engine people, enjoy seeing it.

Unreal Pete  1st class work as usual.

Some amazing engines and knowledge guys thank you! I’ve only really started learning about the older engines lately as i originally wanted to put a SR20 into my Datsun 120Y. But then my mate that’s a mechanic suggested the LZ or KA24de. I’ve gone the KA due to the rare LZ!

Only things is as you probably all know that a RWD navara KA24de are also hard to come by in Aus lol! So I went the FWD U13 bluebird engine hoping I could spin it... Through some recent research I’ve found out I can’t use the block but I can use the head lol. So I’ve now decided that I would like to go the LKA! I’ve see that Les Collins Racing has built an amazing one using the L18 block. I’m wondering if you can use an L20 block with the ka24de head? Or does it work better with the l18?? Any information would be great!

Cheers!

5 hours ago, 120yjoe said:

I’m wondering if you can use an L20 block with the ka24de head? Or does it work better with the l18?? Any information would be great!

Either will work.