George Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 Even though the decision for me is a few months/years(?) away it has been on my mind so I wanted to gauge the general opinion. I do have a fair idea which way I'll go, I'm just curious to hear your opinions and experiences. Quote
d3c0y Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 Why isn't there an option to store it and build a stroker? Quote
George Posted June 5, 2014 Author Posted June 5, 2014 Why isn't there an option to store it and build a stroker? Hehe, well, if it's being stored then all bets are off. Quote
sydney mike Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 George, you have been there done that with the drag strip V8 zed, and now that you have found an early girl, I understand that your ethos for this car is to keep it close to stock. Now, you drove my zed a little while back with the triples, wasn't it fun? Keeping it L series and triples would still be pure S30. I voted store it and use another engine. cheers, Mike Quote
luvemfast Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 My matching numbers engine is awaiting rebuild in storage. While the car is running PMC 3.0L You spend a bit of $$$$ on working an engine. You want the option to keep it if you sell the car. Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted June 5, 2014 Moderators Posted June 5, 2014 George, I'm using my original matching number engine in it's slightly modified state in my early (121) zed now. The odd sprint and Sunday drive and its been fine for many years. I don't over rev as the limiter is set to 7k and shift is around 6.3. If you are going to be working it hard, by all means store the original and build another monster. But if it's a stocker, you're best throwing the cash at the original L24. My 2 pesos. Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted June 5, 2014 Administrators Posted June 5, 2014 Not enough information....to cast a vote for me. 1. If you don't use the original motor, what would you use? Engine swap or L28? 2. What do you want from this car? From the sounds of things you're making it original. But are you building a concourse car or a 'period correct car' with subtle mods? Resto mod? 3. Do you have a specific HP goal in mind or what will the car be used for? Track days, club events, show n' shine, weekend car? 4. What kind of modifications are you willing to make? Convert to electronic ignition, fit triple carbs, fuel injection? You clearly wanted an early car, and you're clearly building it to be correct in terms of early differences in interior trim etc.. so from that perspective I'd vote for the original motor, but if you're looking for Horse Power, well there's no replacement for displacement as they say and a 3.0L L-series is the way to go. It's funny you started this thread as I'm having a similar dilemma, but my problem is more to do with budget constrain than staying original. I'm trying to decide if I do a refresh on my motor or build a stroker....decisions decisions.... the difference is $5k - $15k budget. I am kinda waiting to see what kind of tax return I get from Ireland + Australia (got 2 going on right now). *Edit Dimitri replied before me, I went for a ride in Dimitri's L24 240z - granted it's stripped out it still went well (better than my L28 powered Z) and had the smile factor. Torque was more than I expected also . Quote
d3c0y Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 L24s are just slow L28s. Everything equal, any money you spend on an L24 will make more power if spent on an L28. Quote
GK510 Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 I would tend to agree with what many others have said based on the fact that you seem to be heading down the path of keeping the car original. If the car is going to be used as mainly a weekend cruiser with maybe the occasional spirited drive, I would vote use the original engine to make the car complete. Particularly if you are ever planning on having the car on display at shows etc. When your standing there beside your pride an joy, and someone comes and asks you about the car, how much better will it feel to say that it's all original, matching numbers etc, rather than saying, "it's all original except for the engine, but I do have that hidden away under a bench somewhere at home." If you plan to regularly give it a hiding on the track,then I would go with an alternative engine, but it would have to be L series of course! Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted June 5, 2014 Administrators Posted June 5, 2014 "it's all original except for the engine, but I do have that hidden away under a bench somewhere at home." That's the other problem, storing the bloody thing under a bench somewhere. I've got mine for the 72 240z, but to be honest it's been sitting there taking up space for the last 7 years. Do you want to be hanging onto a motor like that? Keep in mind that a high power L28 may require additional upgrades to drive train, like gearbox, diff, replace uni joints with CVs etc.. and that's no longer original. Not saying I disagree with it mind you, but it's more to weigh up. Quote
d3c0y Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 Particularly if you are ever planning on having the car on display at shows etc. When your standing there beside your pride an joy, and someone comes and asks you about the car, how much better will it feel to say that it's all original, matching numbers etc, rather than saying, "it's all original except for the engine, but I do have that hidden away under a bench somewhere at home." About a solid 0 out of 10. I'd rather have fun driving it and i've never had anyone go, oh you put an L28 in it what a shame... Looks like you didnt listen to Ja Rule or Fast and the Furious... Quote
GK510 Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 Oh, my bad Mandela. But I kinda got the impression that this build was going down the path of being an original restoration. I'm sure George could get plenty of jolly's out of an L24 on the street anyway so why not use it. But by all means, as I said in my previous post, go for a different motor if the aim is to have more fasts! And no, definitely no Ja Rule here. Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted June 5, 2014 Moderators Posted June 5, 2014 I'm sure my slow L24 would hold up well against some healthy L28's Quote
d3c0y Posted June 6, 2014 Posted June 6, 2014 But you are just proving my point. You either: a) spent more money than they did to get the same amount of power and less torque or b) if you go $ for $ the L28 will make more of both. It's not like an L28 even looks any different. Tell people it's an L24 and 95% of people will believe you, unless they check the engine number on the block or the casting. Quote
George Posted June 6, 2014 Author Posted June 6, 2014 Thank you all for your opinions and votes. Even though I'm no nearer to a decision, it has helped. :-) Quote
DreamZproject Posted June 6, 2014 Posted June 6, 2014 +1 for L28. Preserve the original block for sale time, get bonus power + torque for next to nothing. Yeah basically no one would be able to tell it's not the original engine. Especially if you switch the rocker cover! Quote
chris240 Posted June 6, 2014 Posted June 6, 2014 +3...I put an 1984 L28 in mine that I scored as a good runner, the original L24 is nicely preserved. George, how can anybody go past approx 1/2 a litre more capacity for such a small upfont $ outlay for a L28 rebuilder. Would you look to buy a 302 vs a 351 , or a 253 vs a 308 as basis for a rebuild ? Point Im making is the cost of a rebuilder is neither here or there, so why not upsize. Quote
GK510 Posted June 7, 2014 Posted June 7, 2014 Looks like you didnt listen to Ja Rule or Fast and the Furious... Haha, just flicked over to channel 7 at the perfect time to catch the line above from F&F That must mean you need to forget everything I wrote in my previous post and make with the 3.1 stroker George, stat! Quote
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