Rev is almost back!

[reverendzed]

Hey guys just thought I'd throw in a quick update with a few pics to follow later! The gearbox conversion has happened and the new motor was dropped in yesterday!  I heard it running for the first time today and it was nothing short of AWESOME, I didn't know an L28 could be that lumpy! it sounds like a V8 (craig might disagree!).  Would have driven it home today except there was a bit of a fuss about how hot everything was getting so the radiator was sent away to get 'flushed', I'm told that I should have it back on the road for the weekend.  I've got it running on the SU's cause my Mikuni's are stuck in customs! (maybe they're worried I'm smuggling in bibles!)  they should get a run next week....can't wait! it's been 5 weeks since I've driven the Zed and life hasn't quite been right! 

P.S I am in need of a decent valve cover if anyone has one!

Rev.

[C.A.R.]

Awesome stuff Dave! 

 

Perhaps start a build thread/dairy in the members project section, that way all your updates are in one place

[620Z]

Well done Dave can't wait to see and hear it. I hope you can make the Apollo Bay run.

In regards to the over heating issue. Make sure it stays relatively cool for the first 1,000 klms or so. On a fresh engine you don't want to be glazing those fresh cyclinders. Got to bed in those rings properly before any extreme temperatures. So if the radiator flush doesn't fix the problem then I wouldn't drive it till you put in a bigger one before it does much work. You don't want to undo your good work.

[reverendzed]

Thanks Lurch! Craig I hear what you're saying about it not getting to hot, where would I get a bigger radiator?  when I took it to the 'flushing' guy he said mine had already been redone and was a 3 core! or someting like that.  Would appreciate any ideas in this area as I'd hate for this to be the last sticking point.

Rev.

[dalee]

Just an idea,

 

My l28 came with holden v8 radiator in it, 3 core from the hq to hz models, bolt holes line up perfectly. Had it recored for $350, now the temperature does not go past 1/4 even sitting in a traffic jam on a 37degree day.

 

http://www.viczcar.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastupby&cat=0&pos=4&uid=474

 

Dale

[620Z]

Yeah Rev I don't actually have a contact for Radiators. My Car has kept good temperature the same as Dales. It's always comforting to see the guage at a quarter sitting in traffic on a hot day or on the race track. I figure you can almost never go too big. I'd rather be on the cool side than the hot side. Do you have a thermo fan set up or just a straight fan on the motor?

Mind you I would love to go Alloy one day. But I figure if mine ain't broke I won't mess with it, yet. 

Search around I am sure you will find something. Or ask around at our meeting next week. I know heaps of people will be able to steer you in the right direction. My brother will have some answers I am sure.

[Enzo]

Hi Rev,

        I use Redline water wetter in my radiator. This reduces temperatures in the engine. Check out the redline website to explain why it works. Regards David.

[24OZ]

the price of alloy rads has come way down lately,be very suprised if you had to pay over $400 for one to suit the Z

aluminium is much more efficient for cooling purposes and heat transfer,about 25% more

also make sure you are running a thermostat,or a restrictor plate if not otherwise water may be flowing too fast to allow adequate heat exchange

[Scando]

My car has always had overheating issues even with a 3 core radiator.  I recently had a 4 core one built from a Torana core and it made a huge difference.  On an N/A L28 I think your 3 core one should be fine once flushed as long as the core is still in good condition.

[reverendzed]

Thanks guys....I drove the car for the first time today, after the radiator had been done and it still went over 1/2 way on the guage....I'm going to try a thermo fan tomorrow to see if it helps.  Would it be running hotter because everything is so new? 

[Toecutter]

I run a 3 core. Works well, never heats up.

 

Sulio

[warrenz]

Hi

 

Don't overlook the thermostat, maybe it does not open fully ?

 

 

Warren

[Zedman240®]

Might be a good idea to measure the water temp more accurately rather than rely on the gauge for now. With a genuine Nissan thermostat, mine used to hover just over half way on the gauge. I checked it with a infra-red pyrometer on the thermostat housing and it read 86C. I'm using a alloy 3 core radiator and a single 12" thermo; changing it to two 8" later...

[reverendzed]

Thanks Dimitri, do you have your thermo fan mounted in front or behind the radiator as I've seen both. I can't see how I could fit it behind though?

[Zeddophile]

Thanks Dimitri, do you have your thermo fan mounted in front or behind the radiator as I've seen both. I can't see how I could fit it behind though

 

This depends on the type of fan used - some suck, and some blow (through the radiator).  If you use one in the wrong place it won't work much at all, for obvious reasons.

[Zedman240®]

Mine is behind the radiator. At first, the studs that hold the original plastic fan on the water pump pulley used to touch and rub on the thermo fan under brakes.....took me a few goes to find that out! replaced them with some button head cap screws and that solved that problem! I have those davies-craig fans which are low profile and fit without any issues. When you wire one up just make sure you use a relay, as they suck the power down!

[C.A.R.]

Dave, one thing I didn't notice is what Rad. you have - the shallow or deep one.

Fancy getting a pic?

 

Also, as Enzo said, Redline Water Wetter is AWESOME stuff.

And check the thermostat too.

 

[reverendzed]

Man that water wetter is like liquid gold $30.00 per bottle!  if it helps it's worth it!  Also bought a thermo fan which gets fitted on Monday.  Drove the car again today and stalled it at the lights....forgot it was now a manual!

[Toecutter]

David, what did you have done to the motor? How is it running compared to the L26 you had before?

 

Sulio

[benny]

Hey Sulio,

 

The L28 has the following specs-

 

*5 speed conversion

*f54 Block

*n42 head

*balanced and blueprinted

*intake and exhaust ported/cleaned up

*flattop pistons

*big lumpy cam cant remember specs off the top of my head and lashpads to suit

*3 core radiator

*thermo fan to go on monday

*will have the muikunis next week running on su's at the moment

 

 

Think thats it when im back at work on monday ill get the list

 

 

Ben

[Add]

Correct me if im wrong, but arn't fresh rebuild motors supposed to run a little warmer. This is due to the fact that things are wearing in eg. rings against cylinder walls and so on. Although could be possibly be tuning, just to confuse you and throw it in the mix

[Toecutter]

Hey Sulio,

 

The L28 has the following specs-

 

*5 speed conversion

*f54 Block

*n42 head

*balanced and blueprinted

*intake and exhaust ported/cleaned up

*flattop pistons

*big lumpy cam cant remember specs off the top of my head and lashpads to suit

*3 core radiator

*thermo fan to go on monday

*will have the muikunis next week running on su's at the moment

 

Think thats it when im back at work on monday ill get the list

 

Ben

 

Hi Ben,

 

Cool, hopefully Mukini's are on and running before Thursdays meeting, although even if they are I'm tipping it'll take a couple of weeks to get the right jets etc to have em running right.

 

Hows it pulling with the SU's compared to the previous motor?

 

Sulio

[benny]

the timing is retarded stacks just to wear it in so its still got a long way to go..

the su's are running yuk as at the moment full of junk..

once its all run in and mikunis on should pull hard...

 

Ben

[620Z]

Well with all that work done to the motor I think you answered your own question as to why the motor is running hotter than it did before. Another trick which I did to my thermostat was to drill a couple of holes in it to make sure to keeps some water flowing even when it is shut off. This helps to keep the car run cooler. If I was you I would be getting a cooler thermostat for starters.