Fast240Z

hey all, I'm going to be doing a complete engine rebuild, since I froze my motor (spun a crankshaft bearing, scored the crank and piston rod, to get just the crank fixed is $400, and I can get a whole lower end and head for $200 from Zparts.com). I'm trying to make sure that I've got all of the parts I need to rebuild my motor. I am changing out the crank and piston connecting rods for all pistons. For the block, I am going to need: crankshaft main bearings, rod bearings, piston rings, crankshaft rear oil seal, oil pan gasket, water outlet gasket, and a front cover gasket set. For the head, I am going to need: a head gasket, intake/exhaust gaskets, and a valve cover gasket. If anyone knows of anything else that I am going to need to finish this rebuild, please let me know!

Oh, and I want to get a new radiator, maybe even an aluminum radiator (my Z loved to overheat before I froze the motor), any suggestions of a good company to go with?

Also, what is the name of the tool that I need to use to "hone" out my cylinder before I put the pistons back in?

theramz

You can't put new bearings on a used crank. Since you will have to regrind it anyway you might as well grind your old one. Same with the head, yours is an E-88.
MSA 3 row radiator $200, I have one and my car never gets hot.
Engine rebuild gasket sets on eBay.
Cylinder hone.

Fast240Z

local engine shop said that I could get the new crank micropolished and then used new bearings on it...any idea how much a micropolish would cost? By new, I mean replacement.

TEDS280Z

I'm having my 280 completly rebuilt for $1350.00 at a local machine shop. I am using a 260 crank for replacement but found out that the 240 crank is in a class of its own. That amount is if everything is rebuildable. Only the crank whent bad on mine. Youwill need machining done and this is cheeper then me doing it myself.

Rotten Robby

Hey Fast240Z, Why not run out to PickandPull in Rancho Cordova and pull yourself a 2.8 from a ZX ditch the EFI and head, have the bottom freshened up with rings bearings and put it back together?
It sounds like your doing at least some of the work on your own??? What machine shop have you talked to? What part of Sacramento are you in?

Fast240Z

I live in Sacramento, right on the line between Sacramento and Elk Grove. I was thinking about going to Pick N Pull on Recycler Road, but I had to make a decision: Blow $170 dollars on a motor, or spend 170 on my girlfriend for her birthday. She's telling me to spend it on the car (yeah, I know, I'm lucky), but she's a priority in my life, so she gets the money instead. I decided to stick with the original block that I've got from my Z, because I really like the way that my Z used to run, and I want to have that back. I know I could just drop in a ZX motor and get more bang for the buck, but I've got this weird obsession with staying stock. Hell, my buddy has a full race '67 Corvette engine (283, I believe) with dished pistons and the works, and he was going to GIVE it to me to do a V8 Swap, but that's still not something I wanted to do.

Oh, and the engine shop I talked to was Crackaway Engine in Elk Grove. They just gave me a rough quote, but I'd rather rebuild it myself for $400 than have them do it for $1300 or so. I like the feeling of fixing my car and knowing that I fixed it myself.

Fast240Z

hey, if all goes well, I'm going to go pull a motor tomorrow, my dad said he'd pay for it!

Rotten Robby

Let me know if you need it. Makes it easier to build.
Rob

Fast240Z

thanks for the offer, but I didn't find a Z motor in any of the 3 Pick N Pull's around here. I'm going to have to go with my original idea of buying a short block from Zparts.com, but I've got to find some money in order to do that. My bitch *** neighbor who has a stick up her *** just called in the tags on my datsun since they were expired, and now I have a $240.00 parking ticket on top of my speeding ticket I will be getting in the mail...god I'm screwed.

DoTheDrew888

Buy an engine rebuild gasket set and you will need a new water pump. Also, while you are in there you should replace the timing chain. Take the head, crank (dont forget the mains and main bolts), and block to a machine shop to get polished and cleaned. My engine rebuild is costing about $500 for non-modifacation stuff. Good luck.