[brian944t]

I looked at a 1972 240 this morning, and practically fell in love with it. I'm 18, and this is the first car that Im buying myself. Anyway, the current owner says that the last owner dropped a 280z engine in it. However, it still has the 4 speed. How can I tell if it really does have the 280 block? I know there are #'s that should be printed somewhere, but where and what should they read?

Im sure I'll have many more questions in the following days and weeks, so thanks in advance to those of you that are willing to help a rookie z fan!

 

[JR]

If the motor is fuel-injected, it's an L28 out of a 280Z. If carb'd or you want to know what era block/head, the block # is on driver's side, to right of motor mount. Head # (easier to see) is on driver's side toward the rear of the head. If head reads N42, N47 or P79, it's an L28. Read more about the various head and block combos and the years they were used at Datsun Z Garage (http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/z.html). Welcome to the club, by the way. The 240 is one of the greats and you have an excellent resource here to keep it running in top form. One bit of advice: get a factory service manual (NOT Haynes, Chilton, but the manual originally sold by Datsun for the '72 Z) as soon as possible. It is light years better than the aftermarket manuals and will save you acres of grief.

 

[zphreek]

make sure it isnt a rust bucket before you buy! i made that mistake.(

 

[71240L28]

If it is a 280 block, the engine # will read L28XXXXX. It is stamped on the passenger side of the block (assuming left hand drive) toward the rear of the block. If it is a 240 block it will be L24XXXXX and if it is the original block the XXXXX number will also be stamped on the plate on the strut tower in the engine bay.

Have Fun!

 

[Skip]

As Zphreek said...

Beware the rust. These cars were RUST MAGNETS in any place but the Sahara.

Also... doublecheck the Previous Owner mods. Make sure that anything not original does in fact WORK. PO mods can make or break your Z car experience, if well done - wonderful. If half-assed done...