[gannman]

Hey guys! got a slew of newb questions!

1st- WTF are you guys talkin' about when you say SU's? From context, I understand them to be something like carberatuers..

2nd- ACM and ECU?

3rd- Although Im the Znewb (that'd be a good name for the forum........heh), i can manage my way around a car. I've found a turbo Z in wrecked condition (you could buy Nissan for less than it'd take to get it running.) I'm guessing it to be an '83 280ZX Turbo, but im not sure (refer to 'newb statement', three lines up). It is the same engine config that my 79 280ZX has atm. Junk yard man wants $700 for the whole car, delivered by rollback truck to my house. I wanna get it bc the interior components match my car's, and it'd be a good parts car. Anyhoo... how feasible is it for a beginner to pull an engine, and put a new one in? The Turbo engine would have to be rebuilt (dunno how long it's been sitting there and don't know the total miles on it.) I've replaced many things AROUND the engine in other cars.. alternators, radiators, power steering pumps (stinkin' front wheel drive mini vans...). To sum all this worthless banter up, I just need to know if it is possible that a mechanically inclined 18 yr old can pull an engine, and what kinda special tools I'd need.

4th- Is there any difference in the connection to the trannie? my car and the 'donor' are both 5spd standards...

anyhoo, thanks for the input (and if you've read down this far) for your time

weylin

 

[Sparky]

gannman wrote:
>
> Hey guys! got a slew of newb questions!
>
> 1st- WTF are you guys talkin' about when you say SU's? From
> context, I understand them to be something like carberatuers..

SUs are indeed carbs....the are named SUs from the old comapny that first produced them "skinners union" the carbs on the Z are SU copys from hitachi.
the early Z got SUs from 70-72..than the flat top hitachis in 73 and some 74.

>
> 2nd- ACM and ECU?

ACM?...ECU= electronic control unit....this is the brain that controls your EFI it sits on the drivers side foot well

>
> 3rd- Although Im the Znewb (that'd be a good name for the
> forum........heh), i can manage my way around a car. I've
> found a turbo Z in wrecked condition (you could buy Nissan
> for less than it'd take to get it running.) I'm guessing it
> to be an '83 280ZX Turbo, but im not sure (refer to 'newb
> statement', three lines up). It is the same engine config
> that my 79 280ZX has atm. Junk yard man wants $700 for the
> whole car, delivered by rollback truck to my house. I wanna
> get it bc the interior components match my car's, and it'd be
> a good parts car. Anyhoo... how feasible is it for a
> beginner to pull an engine, and put a new one in? The Turbo
> engine would have to be rebuilt (dunno how long it's been
> sitting there and don't know the total miles on it.) I've
> replaced many things AROUND the engine in other cars..
> alternators, radiators, power steering pumps (stinkin' front
> wheel drive mini vans...). To sum all this worthless banter
> up, I just need to know if it is possible that a mechanically
> inclined 18 yr old can pull an engine, and what kinda special
> tools I'd need.
>
700$ and still needs a rebuild....well thats a bit much....if he could start it for you...and then you do a compression test on it and everythin turns out well...than thats not a bad deal....especially since your going to take the interior as well. the turbo ZX and NA ZX have two different EFI systems....the AFM (air flow meter) are different as well as the ECU. the trans in the turbo car is a borg-warner (US) five speed....very easy and cheap to find parts for...while the NA ZX uses and nissan gearbox. the BW is easy to get different ratios for while the nissan box isnt. depends on what you want. more or less its a bolt in thing...its just a matter of how far you want to get into it. as far as bieng 18 and swapping motors.....if you feel you can do it...and have access to mechanic friends....than by all mean go for it.......if you mess up than you only have you to blame.....and you to fix. youll need lots of 12MM and 14MM sockets....(for some reason ive lost lots of these in my conversion.) and a engine hoist (you can rent these for around 24$ for 24 hours. there is so much info on this its too much for me to go into right now....search the archives my friend....and do what you like.....its your car!

-Sparky
72 240ZT

> 4th- Is there any difference in the connection to the
> trannie? my car and the 'donor' are both 5spd standards...
>
> anyhoo, thanks for the input (and if you've read down this
> far) for your time
>
> weylin

 

[freez]

i can't help you with your ????'s but i bought a engine out of a 280z that was wreacked.after i got it in my car it start to leak coolant.i could not find out where it was comeing from.then i pulled the engine to find out the block was cracked on both side.so if i were you i would check this out.the car i got the engine out of was hit in the front.

 

[Caezar75]

hey, i am 20 and i rebuilt my z's engine last summer having taught myself everything as i went along. There is a book by tom monroe called "how to rebuild you nissan/datsun OHC engine" It is great, it outlines everything you need to know. Make sure you dont skimp on anything and take it to a machinshop to have the balancing and clearences checked....unless you have all off the micrometers, calipers, telescoping gauges, and all that jazz. I learned the hard way, while my engine ran fine, it wasn't as well build as it could have been. Ask lots of questions and dont get in a hurry (thats what i did ) oh, and chances are with these cars it won't fire right up, lol...it will be a punk for a few hours then it will decide to go. But just keep wrecnhing and you'll find a missed timing mark or something foolish. Good luck,


Jon.

 

[c81zxt]

Weylin,
Sorry I didn't write you back. Been busy. I think if the engine cranks fine and there are no noticable cracks or serious damage then flash $500 bucks. Most people will cave at least a little bit when they actually see real money. It sounds like there are a lot of parts on this car that you would use. I'm 20 and I just started working on cars. I have my turbo engine out and torn apart completely. It took about 12-15 hours from start to my current point. I'm swapping in a 5spd manual into the auto turbo and I'm just waiting for all my parts to arrive so I can take my motor to the machine shop. I have had help from friends, books, and everyone on here. Just take it slow, you don't want to break anything. It seems the easier it is to break the harder and more expensive it is to replace. Happy Z-ing.

C.Wade