My '83 NA engine blew a head gasket 175K,and i found a good price on a '79 rebuilt NA. Will this engine plug and play in my '83 or are there issues such as sensors in different places or different sensors etc?
Thanks

 

N/a to n/a and along as they are matching block and head (f54 and p79) I wouldn't think there's a problem... And even id there is, it can be made to work

 

...sensors bolt on. No problem swaping it over. Go for it

 

That 79 could have the coolant temp sensor instead of the CHTS. It also may not have an O2 sensor.

I'd just reuse 83 intake and exhaust... new gasket and done.

 

Yes my 79 had no chts the wireing for that was in the thermostat housing. I say this to everyone same block swap the intake to the car its going in and presto. Now since your not running the chts sensor you need to extend the wires from the back passenger side of the head to the 79 thermostat sensor. So in your case you would keep your thermostat housing change the intake manifold and exaust manifold "o2 sensor" vs none in the 79. Now I don't recall which one is which on the thermostat housing 2 clip ins one is for the temp gauge the other is coolent temp sensor. So were backwards the 81 engine in 80 body

 

The sensor itself is the same on the housing as on the head?

 

So does this mean my '76 L28 from a 280z will swap with my '79 L28 in my 280zx?