Hey I’m looking to build my N/A L28 a bit. I’m not looking to go to crazy with it right now it was my grandfathers car so I’m looking to keep the same engine in it. Some things I was looking into

• triple webbers

• ported and polished head and new springs

• flat top pistons

• street cam shaft

Any experience and help is appreciated thank

Edit - I see ZX in the title now so I'd guess it's one of the ZX's.

Does it run now? Is it EFI? Have you had an engine apart before?

The carburetors are a bolt on but the cam and the heads and the pistons will require complete disassembly, spending lots of money, and reassembly.

What kind of Z are you working with?

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Zed Head

2 hours ago, Zed Head said:

I’Edit - I see ZX in the title now so I'd guess it's one of the ZX's.

Does it run now? Is it EFI? Have you had an engine apart before?

The carburetors are a bolt on but the cam and the heads and the pistons will require complete disassembly, spending lots of money, and reassembly.

What kind of Z are you working with?

Yes I’ve had some engines apart. I’m looking to put some time and money into the car and im going to be pulling the engine this weekend. It’s a 1980 280zx with a L28e in it. It’s not running right now the injectors are clogged but I’m getting fuel to the rail. The car was in a barn for 20 years

The ZX engines came with flat tops, so that might save you some effort and money. Pistons don't seem to be readily available anymore, I don't know where people get them and the overbore sizes are limited, I think. So much of what you find on the internet might not be possible anymore. Might not be able to decide until you get the head off. 20 years is a long time.

There's a couple of good threads on Hybridz about head work. Good luck.

https://forums.hybridz.org/forum/90-l-series/

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Zed Head

Personally I would start with getting the engine running before you take it apart. That way you have a baseline and know it will run. Disassemble of a non-running engine may get you a non-running engine after you spend $$$$. If it runs before you know it will run after.

my 2 (no longer in production) cents worth.

If you want to take the engine apart and replace the pistons I would probably recommend also machining the block for slightly oversized pistons. This will probably result in a 2.9 or 3.0L engine. But then again what is your goal and budget with this engine.

It sounds like you want a reliable and easy to maintain car to last you years while also bumping up the power. I that case I would inspect the valves and cylinders first before taking the engine apart. If they look good then some bolt-ons like headers, a cam and a cylinder head port match and polish will probably grand you more result for the money than flat top pistons.

But I do agree with kickstand, get the engine running first before you touch anything. Even if it’s just briefly on starter fluid of brake cleaner.

If it's a US ZX that n42 and n47 are out of a 280Z, 1977 or 1978. The right motor combo would be f54 block and p79 cylinder head for 1980ZX. f54 block has flat tops but the n42s have dished pistons.

I'll send you some links tomorrow morning when I've got my laptop opened up.

Maybe it helps, i got a restoration of a euro 280zx 1979 on here it has a L28/N42block/N42head. engine.

At the moment the engine is stil out and has injection that worked perfect when i drove the car in 2020-2021, but if it makes any trouble i put it on 240z carbs and put in a camshaft with 475 lift and 274 duration.. (so called salom or slalom camshaft?) I got a original Nissan/Datsun cam brandnew in store for a long time now..

A big cam like that does not work with the injection system .. i have been told. So carbs and a big cam would make a lot of difference..

I hope this or next year to work on the car, have to finish paint under the hood and put back engine.. no energy for it now.. Last 2 years i put A LOT of energy in my garden and house.. they are almost finished so we'll see if we got time here to work/clean up the garage and work on the beautiful car!

STUPID me.. i had the link ready but forgot to put it here .. dummy me..

280zx 1979 2+2 slick roof restauration - Classic ZX - 2nd to 4th Generation - Classic Zcar Community

This is a good one to read if you haven't.

https://datsunzgarage.us/

Best "how to" book you'll ever find if you can find one. I completely removed and rebuilt my first car motor, N42/N47, with some common mechanical sense and this book, all by myself. My Dad was dying to get involved but I needed him for 1 hour when I dropped the rebuilt motor/transmission combo back in my '77. I was terrified of dropping that thing on my car by myself. Getting the hood off then back on would have been a little easier with some help but I figured it out. And the help of this forum was priceless. Make some friends by posting photos of your work and if you ask for help do what they say.