Brisbane Engine builders

[74zzz]

Hey hey

 

Was only weeks away from getting my engine rebuilt by a brilliant mech. in brisbane north but have recently found out the poor bugger has cancer and is looking to sell up. Does anyone have contacts or know of good L series engine builders in Brisbane?

 

Cheers!

[dat2kman]

What degree of "built" do you want?

 

Most engine repairer/reconditioner shops, can put together a basic engine.

Something a bit more purposefull, a few on here have used Smart Automotive in Stafford.

 

If you know the sequence of process, you can farm out the individual machine work, and diy it.

 

For top shelf stuff, may need to look at MIA in Sydney, or Peter Mc, on here, but i hear he has around 15 to put together.

[260DET]

Geez, I'm agreeing with Jason for once.

[grimlynsan]

I had my engine built by a mechanic friend at Stafford. It goes like a shower of shi... Shut your mouth! I recommend him thoroughly, he has been building dattos for years. If you want I can take you for a drive so you know exactly what you get for your money. Cause it ain't cheap. You can get more power cheaper with a swap as you will know but then it wouldn't have the sound :-) oh, and I'm not dissing the other recommendations, they are practically legends.

[dat2kman]

Geez, I'm agreeing with Jason for once.

Nnnooooo!

You got a temperature or something!

I'll be around with the Panadol.

[acf321]

I can certainly recommend M.I.A Engine services in Sydney run by James Flett. He is the current Group S historic racing car champion, and has been in the lead of the Porsches for literally years, on standard brakes, standard R180 LSD and standard transmissions (as that's all the rules allow him in period class). His engines are phenomenal, and I am lucky to have one in my car (that I am yet to start, mind you!). For shear excellence in terms of engineering solutions over and above standard, however it seems to me that it would be hard to go past Peter Mac on this forum.

 

I would first call Peter and James and assess exactly what you want. If you go nuts, you'll need to consider brakes, transmission, etc etc etc. You might, in the end just want a warmer L motor, or go to beserck with Peter Mac. In both instances get your money ready, but be prepared to be impressed. A third to consider with seriously long experience is Stuart Wilkins Motorsport in Sydney. He is well regarded by many on this forum and is well worth a call too. 

 

Just my two bob's worth. 

 

Adam

- the Brown Hornet -

[dat2kman]

Adam, too much talk like that, you'll give the bloodnut a big head!

 

74zzz have a think about what you would like to achieve, work out what you can afford to spend.

What do you have atm?

Maybe a set of 240z rods, a set of 60 thou flat top pistons, a bit of shaving off the head, a nice gentle port job, and fresh valves and springs.

A nce 72 deg cam, run the stock carbs,

Nice low budget, but it will transform the car!

If you can pick up a L28 engine, do the above, keep it sensible, you will have a nice streetable tractible all round motor.

Mate that to a clise ratio box, i can help you with that, and a lsd rear end, mate that with a set of liwered King springs, a set f fresh firm shocks front and rear.

You've got a simple easy to look after fun machine.

Cost for above?

Between $6000 to $9000 for the full transformation.

[74zzz]

Thanks for the info lads!

 

I would like to keep it local as the more distance I feel less in control of cost and whats being done! but i will check out MIA haha

 

Dat2k it already has triple 45 (not matching so am getting new set) very shaved head port matched manifold, billet cam (not sure what specs though-smart Auto did this) l24 rod with flat tops. The head has too much taken off it was 10.20:1 compression - Jim at smart decided to put a head saver kit on it to be safe (i'm not sure what this does to durability. currently has 160 at the wheels. was thinking considering the head had 2500 work of work before i bought the car and then I spent a further 2500 reconditioning it and the billet cam- I think the top end is done......hoping to take it to 3.0 or at least 2.9 so more bottom end work.

 

Maybe I should take it back to JIM at Smart he seems to be the pick in bris. have budgeted 6000 total considering money already spent. Many have tried to convince me of the rb25 swap which I have really considered recently in terms of reliability, tunability and potential HP however have never been able to get a real picture on total cost to make this happen (the purist in me wants to stay carbed and asking cost is asking how long is a piece of string) but i guess the weigh up is cost as i wouldn't tackle a conversion DIY style.

 

cheers all for the advice and if anyone has done a final costing for the rb swap I would like to see it!

 

[74zzz]

forgot to mention has a standard gearbox with heavy duty clutch and a standed ratio clutch r200 lsd and hilux front conversion and lowered kings already.

 

have been out of the z loop for a number of years due to being OS so would love to meet and chat with brissie z owners whenever your free or on cruises!

[dat2kman]

Sounds like you are well on your way!

Leave the head as is, it may need the fully adjustable twin sprocket timing chain tensioner setup.

Jim has fitted these, i can supply him with them, or you get one from my stock.

 

Stick with Jim at SMART, you already have a relationship there, he knows what you have etc.

Re the triples, when you say "unmatched" what are the model numbers?

I can check my Weber model books to see how "unmatched" they really are, it will be, mostly, slight differences in the internal progression passages, which may not be an issue.

 

The bottom end! A decent harmonic balancer, if not already, a set of longer forged rods, a set of shorter height pistons, balance the lot, maybe knife edge the crank a bit, a bigger capacity cast alloy sump, a Turbo 280ZX oil pump, ( got thosenew, here too!)

Be mindfull of not upping compression, a 280ZX distributor, if not already.

The block will need to be sonic tested to see what you can punch the bores out to.

Any more than 80 thou, they get awful thin in places!

Bigger capacity involves a Diesel crank though, jim has done a few of these.

He farms out work for balancing and machining to the right people!!

 

Sounds like you may need a close ratio gearset swapped over into your box, cheap, or, a c/r set fitted to a later RB type box, a bit more expensive! When you are ready for that, i can get you going.

[C.A.R.]

$6k ?

If that's your total budget, don't send it down here to Les.

That wont even cover the cost of labor...

[260DET]

Sounds like the Z Car Club Q is for you 74zzz, they organise some very good runs, have meetings plus there are heaps of Zeds involved in motorsport http://www.zcarclubq.org.au/contact.html

[PZG302]

If you are looking for some bits and pieces I have a L28 sitting here that would be perfect for rebuild as wella s some 133mm long rods that came out of my last motor, that Jim also rebuilt.

 

I also have a bare N42 head that is currently standard so very good as a base to get work done if for whatever reason your head is not suitable.

[dat2kman]

$6k ?

If that's your total budget, don't send it down here to Les.

That wont even cover the cost of labor...

And don't i know that!!

But the finished result IS VERY GOOD !

 

74zzz if you're ever over West Brissy area, welcome to call by and bounce ideas etc, can show you some bits and pieces. Just need to give me couple days notice.

 

[74zzz]

Yeah the 45s need replacing.....one of them has had the progression holes drilled out and jim had a bugger of a job on the dyno. After putying new aux vents and jets he advised to start again if i had the coin. Already started building a parts list....has the elect dist already. have grabbed a kameari oil pump and a alum radiator....looking at the baffled alloy sump from azc at the moment.....taking anything out of the bores u would recomend testing? 2.9 is pretty standard isnt it? Ideas on rod piston combos?

I have a stock n42 aswell just incase things go south and need to start again.

I was looking at the ati damper I hear they are pretty good?

I took an educated guess and crossed pmc off the list my pockets arent that deep although his builds look incredible.

And will call on you dat2k for sure

Thanks heaps for much needed advice