MickyG Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Long time reader - 1st time poster. Given the traffic here over the last few days, I wish I had a basic grasp of english & a V8 Z to sell so I could start another war... What I do have is a '75 260 2 seater which is stock apart from an auto to manual swap, (a previous owner had swapped the auto for a 4 speed which I swiftly swapped for a 5 speed), relatively inoffensive 80's alloys & the addition of really crap metallic grey paint over the original "gold". The car has been sitting in the shed untouched for many years & I now have the cash & enthusiasm to get it back on the road without the necessary time, knowledge or experience to do the work myself. Starting point is the engine as it hasn't even been turned over in years. I'd like to keep the original L26, (car has matching #'s), but I'd like it to be far more enthusiastic than it once was. (Think ported head, new cam, valves, springs, carbs, flattops, lightened crank, etc.) I'd like to talk to someone in Melbourne who knows L series engines inside out & back to front & can be trusted to give good advice & do good work. Any suggestions gratefully received. Thankyou in anticipation, (& my apologies if this info is already on here somewhere - I looked but couldn't find it.) Quote
C.A.R. Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Welcome Mick Firstly, can you please fill in your Location as it makes it much easier for us to answer your questions Please feel free to start another War - the members on here without a sense of humor would REALLY enjoy it... There's a couple of guys on here that have had & that are having engines built atm. Pageing 'Glen'... Quote
Toecutter Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Hi Mick, Welcome. I'm in the same boat looking to have some work done on an L28 over the coming months. There is an informative thread a member here has on his L26 build lightening and rebuilding with a set of tripple Mukini carbs to achieve 125rwkW. The car is a green 260 2 seater owned by Alan Fields. I'm keen to see who gets recommended in this thread... Cheers, Sulio Quote
260Coupe Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Mick The rebuild options are many and varied howver if you wish to retain your L26 then you may wish to follow the path I went down with my L26 rebuild. http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,2415.0.html Alan Quote
Glen Posted January 16, 2009 Posted January 16, 2009 Depending on your time frame is a main factor to recommending Len. Len's building me a L28, he's good but depending on his business work schedule he can be slow. My motor has been with him for 2 months, he's not quick but he doesn't charge the normal rate either. He knows the motors inside and out plus i don't mind the anticipation. I was in the same boat as you i wanted to keep my L26 but finding some Flattops for it i had no success. Motor being built will have the following Flattops 10/1 comp Lightened and balanced crank and fly. Crank, fly and clutch will be balanced together. Conrods weighted and balanced Head work including inj chambers welded but no porting. 72 degree cam Special 8 inch harmonic balancer going on. Block and head hot bathed Block went in for shot peening and checked for straightness along with the head. Also (don't quote me as I'm not 100% on my wording) something about an adjustable cam gear to get the cam exactly right with the valves. Aiming for 130rwkw and the overall build im looking at around 3-4.5k Thats including 40mm dellortos and exedy ceramic clutch. If you do the math he doesnt charge that much for his labour. Quote
MickyG Posted January 16, 2009 Author Posted January 16, 2009 Lurch - Thx for the welcome. Stop picking on newbies. (i.e. me.) Thought I'd added my location as I'm aware "some members" have an issue with this, but I clearly stuffed it up. Wouldn't want to annoy anyone... Sulio - Think I saw your car on the ring road just after Xmas. Must have been something wrong with my tool of trade falcon because I couldn't seem to keep up? Alan - I think I've read your post about a dozen times over the last few months. Thanks for at least 90% of my inspiration! Was Datsota the main contributor to your engine work? Glen - Thanks for the overview of what sounds like a very similar project. I had a $5k budget in the back of my mind so it's good to have this reinforced. This might be a dumb Q, but who's Len & how can I get in touch? Quote
Glen Posted January 16, 2009 Posted January 16, 2009 I shall PM you his number, tell him Glen told you to ring to discuss a possible motor build. http://www.len-brennan.com.au/ Edit, i only have his home number atm and i wont spread that around. Gimme a day or 2 and i shall get his mobile for you. Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted January 16, 2009 Moderators Posted January 16, 2009 I'll be finding out about Datsota over the next few months..just dropped off a L24 to be re-built. Nothing over the top, just a balance and screw in plugs and a freshen up. I'll let you know how it all goes! Quote
C.A.R. Posted January 16, 2009 Posted January 16, 2009 Lurch - Thx for the welcome. Stop picking on newbies. (i.e. me.) Thought I'd added my location as I'm aware "some members" have an issue with this, but I clearly stuffed it up. Wouldn't want to annoy anyone... My my my... over-reaction much? All I asked was that you fill in your location - there was nothing sinister implied Have I offended you in some other way? Dimitri, do you mean screw in welsh/freeze plugs? Quote
Mr240z Posted January 16, 2009 Posted January 16, 2009 Unleash the fury......................!!!!!!!!!!!! It not good holding it all in. (i.m the devil sitting on your shoulder) Only joking Quote
MickyG Posted January 16, 2009 Author Posted January 16, 2009 Ahhhhh Lurch. I've been a member less than 24 hours & yet it has already brought me so much joy. Anyway - what about my list of engine builders? (Thanks for the name & pending mobile # Glen.) Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted January 16, 2009 Moderators Posted January 16, 2009 Dimitri, do you mean screw in welsh/freeze plugs? Nahh, this L24 looks like its been apart for at least 5-10 years so when the block is stripped, all the oil gallery plugs that are in the block will be removed so they can be flushed and cleaned properly then screw in plugs will be installed. Cheap insurance! Quote
260Coupe Posted January 18, 2009 Posted January 18, 2009 Micky G My engine was built by Lou Mondello in Moorabbin Ph 9555 9591 (around the corner from Datsota) Lou is a U series Roadster race engine specialist who also builds the odd L series (he also built my L24 Group Sc race engine in my old 240z) , he also works with the guys on the engine dyno with tuning (he is the guru with Mikunis) He now has a source for 83mm flat tops if you wish to retain your L26 Quote
MickyG Posted January 20, 2009 Author Posted January 20, 2009 Thanks for the contact details guys. I'll make some phone calls & post some details when I've decided how to progress. Finger crossed there should be another Z back on the road in coming months. I was tempted to share a current photo of my car under 5mm dust, stuck behind 2 motor bikes & the lawn mower & used as storage for camping gear but the image is probably too sacrilegious for many of the purists on the site. Can anyone confirm if suitable flattops for the L26 are part number RY2516? I've seen new/old stock of these on ebay & a Co. in NZ appears to make an equivalent. Some catalogues list these as a L24/L26 part which makes sense? (L24 & L26 bore were the same @ 83mm?) Although if Lou Mondello has a source, I guess he could confirm or deny for me or sell me his pistons. Quote
C.A.R. Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 Pull it out, give it a wash & post some pics! Quote
Lynton Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 Not sure what he is doing now since I moved up here to Qld - Lynton Datsun Performance Centre 1/3 ELMA ROAD, CHELTENHAM VIC' 3192 Phone (03) 9553 5309 Fax (03) 9553 5436 Email datcar54@hotmail.com With a total of 36 years preparing Datsuns, 30 of these on the race track, DATSUN RACING TEAM Chief Mechanic for four years, Datsun Performance Centre propietor Gordon Dobie is probably the worlds most experienced Datsun race engineer. Now retired from racing Gordon devotes his time to building and maintaining standard and hot road/race cars. http://www.datperform.com/ Quote
luvemfast Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 Not sure what he is doing now since I moved up here to Qld - Lynton Datsun Performance Centre 1/3 ELMA ROAD, CHELTENHAM VIC' 3192 Phone (03) 9553 5309 Fax (03) 9553 5436 Email datcar54@hotmail.com With a total of 36 years preparing Datsuns, 30 of these on the race track, DATSUN RACING TEAM Chief Mechanic for four years, Datsun Performance Centre propietor Gordon Dobie is probably the worlds most experienced Datsun race engineer. Now retired from racing Gordon devotes his time to building and maintaining standard and hot road/race cars. http://www.datperform.com/ You could try, Gordon is an old friend of my parents. But, from my understanding he doesn't work on cars anymore. Quote
C.A.R. Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 You could also give these guys a try (formally DatRally): www.powerplay.net.au Quote
MickyG Posted January 20, 2009 Author Posted January 20, 2009 I drove past the Datsun Performance Centre in Elma Road about 2 weeks ago & there were still signs on the building but everything was closed up & no one answers their phone number. I wasn't sure if it was just closed for Xmas but the place looked like it hadn't been opened for months. Not too surprised to hear it's no longer a going concern. I was wondering what happened to Datrally - thx for the heads up. Pull it out, give it a wash & post some pics! Yet more inappropriate comments from Lurch? Or have I taken this out of context? Quote
C.A.R. Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 Bwahaha! Micky, I meant you Zed If I wanted to see your 'wang' I would have PM'd you asking for a dinner date... Quote
260Coupe Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 83mm bore pistons can be found here also (Genuine Nissan stock are extremely rare) Not sure of the part number, I will have to check on the box of genuine Nissan pistonsI have in the garage http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-260Z-piston-ring-kit-pistons-new-NIB_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33623QQihZ022QQitemZ350155010240QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW Quote
Mr240z Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Bwahaha! Micky, I meant you Zed If I wanted to see your 'wang' I would have PM'd you asking for a dinner date... The old Lurch is trying to get out "Yahoo" it was getting boring Thanks MickyG for pulling the right strings, Keep it up Quote
MickyG Posted January 21, 2009 Author Posted January 21, 2009 I just call it how I see it Pauly. Quote
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