OdinZ

Featuring our very own @gav240z

After the BBQ, Les Collins Racing was able to squeeze me in for a look over and maybe a quick tune up. I was able to sit (stand) through the whole process as Josh went through balancing, changing the floats and we changed over the main jets a couple of times. The initial bench jetting (based of Les' recommendations) was close, but in the process of getting the Z driveable, another mechanic had gone to rich on the mains to combat the float levels being out. Lambda sensor attached, we went for a few drives trying to iron out the lean spitting down low, and sorted out the richness up top. Les jumped in for the final adjustments, changing the idle jets a couple of times and got it as close to perfect as possible. One of the downsides to OERs is sometimes they can be a bit lean on very slight throttle. Further modifications to the carbies will be needed, but that will be for another time and perhaps when we change from the HM style headers to the SWM headers. Aside from the above, Les/Josh didnt comment on the difference between them. Main positive is that the OER carbs I ordered are set up with Weber Jets, which makes tuning easier if you carry as many spares as LCR do. The downsides to Mikuni's these days is availability of spares, and some hardware are just complete odd ball sizes. And now for the first video after tune, as Les calls it: "An angry L28" *Note: this engine was NOT built/refurbed by Les Collins Racing, only the carbs were tuned there

After a couple of small set backs and trying to find the time to get some things sorted, new rocker cover gasket, replace the brake master and re-do the fuel hose path as we got it wrong the first time, finally got the Z for an alignment and also just made it to the annual Z BBQ at @Gordos. This car has not missed it since I have owned it. It made the drive from Berwick to Lilydale and back, with coughing and lean spitting, it still needed a good tune and the floats adjusted out of the carbies (OERs have float adjustment screws).

And now the crown jewels, the triple OER45s on the Kameari Harada manifold:

Engine & gearbox in: Engine bay wiring harness off to the auto elec From this: To this:

Time to start putting everything back in, I have to say, I am very glad we decided to zinc plate the hardware and paint the block and anything else that needed painting. Next post, the engine and gearbox will be installed in the bay

Do it!

The vapour honed rocker cover and the 71B gearbox reassembled:

And now the paint prep

Some more making parts look nice: *mechanical fuel pump to be removed

So to carry one from the last the post, the boys at @C.A.R. suddenly had some space in between some of their bigger restorations to get the V8, the engine bay tidied up, painted and the L28 in, mind you our conversation a week prior was, let's book this in for next winter. Any way, off the boys she went. Didn't take them long to get the donk and box out of the bay and the rest of the hardware. No rust was found, just a bit of surface rust needed cleaning up around the battery tray of course. Also my 71B box from my last Z was disassembled to bevapour honed with the new rocker cover. Clean up of a set of headers I had hoarded too:

Just saw this posted in NSW with carbies https://www.facebook.com/share/1EeCiWSqMM/

If you are going to the trouble of rebuilding an engine, I would encourage looking at rebuilding an L28 if you can find one for a decent price. I did spot an L28 block (no head) for under $500 on facebook marketplace in VIC. I would also recommend speaking to Pearl Automotive Engineering in Montrose and go from there. A few of my mates have had their engines built (L28 to 3Litres), and the price was pretty reasonably from memory. Might be out of the budget, but I am sure they can do a standard rebuild for a good price. Then maybe even look at buying these triple webers from Lindsay if there is room in the budget: https://www.gumtree.com.au/web/listing/engine-engine-parts-transmission/1337873285

I found this on facebook & youtube:

1976 260z - RS30010114 https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1976-datsun-260z-1