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L18 block questions


Giljr2

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I don't see the injector notches. Maybe they were on the earlier heads?

 

Wayno those troughs on the intake ports are common. I have them on my L20B and the have them on the matching intake also.

 

Yea, them troughs are weird, I have only seen them on W53 heads in number one and two intake runners and they are notched all the way to the mating surface, but I have not been looking for them either, and the A46 intake manifold I have has the thoughs in number 2 and 3 runners and they end right before the intake mount surface where the intake mounts to the head, very strange.

You can see the troughs in 2 and 3 runners.

 DSCN7435.jpg

You can see how the trough ends before the mating surface on the intake.

DSCN7432.jpg

When the head intake runners are port matched to a dual SU intake manifold them toughs are basically gone, very little is left.

DSCN7437.jpg

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I don't really know myself what perfect is, maybe the guy telling me what I need to do only sees perfectly set up as the only way.

Flat top pistons and closed chamber head appears to be 10.9 to 1 compression ratio, when I told my machinist that number he made a face, that cannot be good as everything he has ever told me was true, he used to do mostly racing engines, and he would squeeze in work for me when he had the time, now he is doing normal machining for the public and when he retires the shop will likely close.

There is another thread on here, here is a link below, look at post 35 specifically, the guy made list in that post that mentioned everything I needed to do, and I basically replied with I didn't understand half of what he wrote, un-shroud the valves, time the cam at 107/108, re-curve the distributor, also lighten the flywheel which I did understand, I also understood some of the other stuff but likely don't really understand the extent of the work needed.

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/72985-z20-build/

The L18 has been said to be a revver, but the fact is unless your on a race track it is not likely that any of us would drive it like that on the road, therefore we would not use its true potential and the only reason to have it is for bragging rights.

I built mine just to see if I could get it to run, I had just about every part needed in my parts bins, I am only out time and a gasket set, plus I intended from the start to use this engine to mock up a frame/chassis for my work truck, I want everything ready so I can just transfer everything without having to modify anything as that part will already be done(motor mounts specifically), I have done this a few times so I know what is going to need to be done.

Thank you!! i will be doing some reading and i really want to make this engine as best as i can, 

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Well Wayno yours is a long rod z20 motor ... I know from calculating my cr even small changes to numbers in the equation changed things....

Bigger cylinder and long stroke will all effect that final number...

 

The flat tops just take advange of the quench area the peanut head w53 has..

 

I'm at 10.8 - 1 running 93 it's fine, i found anything 11-1 and under is ok

 

Giljr2 out of all the stuff Wayno mentioned I always believed the distributor is the key to having that setup run good...

 

It would be good to calculate your compression ratio specifically so you know... maybe datzenmike will calculate it for you, but if the head was milled that number will be a little higher...

i believe my engine has flat piston out of a 280z? I'm going to take my crate to be looked over to make sure that everything is true, but id like to be able to know how to and which distributor is the way to go?

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who cares  what its out of. Most likely a 610 if it had a 200mm flywheel

 

hope that stripped spark plug hole dont go bad again.

 

you got a nice head and look like a 272 duration cam.  hope the lash pads are correct for the set up  as it s best guess for the wipe pattern.

 

non turbo 280zx had flattop pistons and the W53 Head is a good match for it(best ported to 1.5 to a 15 incha manifold). to get best power I would run Mikunis sidedrafts.  Persoanlly I would do a L20 and the W53 if giving a chance again but all I had was L16/18 and I really can tell the difference between the 2 when equip with a weber 32/36 downdraft

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Or it could have been imported from Japan.

Mike, you have any idea what all cars/trucks it was used in over there?

 

I recently came across an L18 that was rebuilt in Japan, and shipped here by a Japanese company that was doing it on a large scale.

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As stated earlier, the M2 blocks were usually Japanese takeout engines. The one's you would buy from Jetco (or whatever their name was) back in the 80's and 90's.

 

If you're looking for originality, then you're out of luck. If you're just interested in the application to make sure you get correct parts, then the info from others is accurate and should be what you need.

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As stated earlier, the M2 blocks were usually Japanese takeout engines. The one's you would buy from Jetco (or whatever their name was) back in the 80's ...and 90's.

 

If you're looking for originality, then you're out of luck. If you're just interested in the application to make sure you get correct parts, then the info from others is accurate and should be what you need.

....maybe attarco?
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You're right. One other thing I noticed (hadn't looked at the pics in the link until now), the crank isn't fully counter weighted like the early L18 cranks were. The fully counter weighted cranks are obviously a better crank.

 

If the motor's in good shape, use it, but drill a new dipstick hole and plug the old one. If you're planning on any type of exhaust header, you'll have to cut the angled boss off under the two center exhaust ports.

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He gave the link his whole album in post #7.


Just click on it, you will go right to them.


 


But here is said dip-stick, and the other side has the casting, but it's not drilled.


Simple to plug one, and drill the other.


 


Love those aluminum spring retainers on the head.


Had several sets that I sold on eScrew (eBay), then they dried up in Japan, so I ended up without any :)


 


A3D4Wwh.jpg


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Non USA 'Z' motor with an 'L' head?  Take a pic of the block serial #, it'll show the engine family.

the Serial # is

 

L18 490560 W

 

its on the passenger side of the block on the top on the rear on the engine on a flat piece almost below where the ID of the head is

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He gave the link his whole album in post #7.

Just click on it, you will go right to them.

 

But here is said dip-stick, and the other side has the casting, but it's not drilled.

Simple to plug one, and drill the other.

 

Love those aluminum spring retainers on the head.

Had several sets that I sold on eScrew (eBay), then they dried up in Japan, so I ended up without any  :)

 

A3D4Wwh.jpg

 

thanx! I'm new to building datsun and i don't really know what material they are made or anything, but id love to know! I'm starting to love this truck more and more with all your guys input

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You're right. One other thing I noticed (hadn't looked at the pics in the link until now), the crank isn't fully counter weighted like the early L18 cranks were. The fully counter weighted cranks are obviously a better crank.

 

If the motor's in good shape, use it, but drill a new dipstick hole and plug the old one. If you're planning on any type of exhaust header, you'll have to cut the angled boss off under the two center exhaust ports.

what do u mean by fully counter weighted? and it is! took it all apart and took it to an engine shop and they said its bored 40 over with 280z flat top pistons

and why move it? it has headers already and it was left in the same place

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who cares  what its out of. Most likely a 610 if it had a 200mm flywheel

 

hope that stripped spark plug hole dont go bad again.

 

you got a nice head and look like a 272 duration cam.  hope the lash pads are correct for the set up  as it s best guess for the wipe pattern.

 

non turbo 280zx had flattop pistons and the W53 Head is a good match for it(best ported to 1.5 to a 15 incha manifold). to get best power I would run Mikunis sidedrafts.  Persoanlly I would do a L20 and the W53 if giving a chance again but all I had was L16/18 and I really can tell the difference between the 2 when equip with a weber 32/36 downdraft

so what i have found out is the block is boared 40 over with flat top pistons out of a 280zx? the head was decked and the cam has spacers to raise it up the amount that was decked?.. and it has headers

i want to paint the block and head also can you guys guid me in the right direction on if i should spay paint or powder coat it? the head is aluminum like you guys have said anyway to paint them? that won't fake and look bad? haha

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I don't really know myself what perfect is, maybe the guy telling me what I need to do only sees perfectly set up as the only way.

Flat top pistons and closed chamber head appears to be 10.9 to 1 compression ratio, when I told my machinist that number he made a face, that cannot be good as everything he has ever told me was true, he used to do mostly racing engines, and he would squeeze in work for me when he had the time, now he is doing normal machining for the public and when he retires the shop will likely close.

There is another thread on here, here is a link below, look at post 35 specifically, the guy made list in that post that mentioned everything I needed to do, and I basically replied with I didn't understand half of what he wrote, un-shroud the valves, time the cam at 107/108, re-curve the distributor, also lighten the flywheel which I did understand, I also understood some of the other stuff but likely don't really understand the extent of the work needed.

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/72985-z20-build/

The L18 has been said to be a revver, but the fact is unless your on a race track it is not likely that any of us would drive it like that on the road, therefore we would not use its true potential and the only reason to have it is for bragging rights.

I built mine just to see if I could get it to run, I had just about every part needed in my parts bins, I am only out time and a gasket set, plus I intended from the start to use this engine to mock up a frame/chassis for my work truck, I want everything ready so I can just transfer everything without having to modify anything as that part will already be done(motor mounts specifically), I have done this a few times so I know what is going to need to be done.

is lightning the flywheel a good idea? i want to make this build as best as it can, as its out of the car i want to do this build right

also i need bolt because i believe the head-bolts are torque to yield? and are one time use?

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