Hello Everyone, I am looking for a bit of info. I ordered a remanufactured L28E engine 2 weeks ago from ATK. They put me on backorder and told me that the engine would be in at the end of July. I called to follow up today and spoke with the purchasing manager, totally by accident I might add. He told me that there was no shipment for the end of July but there were two engines coming in three weeks and I was backordered for one of them. They are coming from Japan and will arrive in California in three weeks. Mine will be shipped at that time and will not arrive here in NC for another week.

I have read several discussions on this board about different heads on the L28E. Do you guys know what head could possibly come with this engine? I also have a question about strut bars that connect to the bell housing. When I ordered they asked me about this. My '83 doesn't have those and I have never seen them on any other 280zx before. Can someone fill me in??

Thanks in advance,

Colin

 

No 280ZX in the US had anything remotely similar to a strut tower bar that connected to the bell housing so I'm not sure what they were talking about.

Most likely it'll be a P79 head. Possibly an N47, but the P79 is the most likely.

 

I have seen several L28 that had little metal braces that connected the engine block to the bell housing. They aren't really a big deal though. I never put them back on when I swapped in my engine. I believe they only came on the F54 block. So if you told them you didn't have them they may send you the N42(?) block which would have the N47 head. Dont worry though, they all bolt up to each other so it shouldn't cause problems.

 

Here's a pic of the braces I was talking about. I don't remember exactly how they mount but its pretty simple.

 

Thanks Guys,

What is the difference in those two heads - the P79 or N47??

 

well, those braces are not strut braces. The struts are part of the suspension. Those just bolt from the transmission to the engine block.

 

Yeah I figured that was what he was talking about.

The difference between the N47 and P79 heads is the size of the combustion chamber. An N47 engine has a smaller combustion chamber and dished pistons, a P79 engine has a bigger combustion chamber and flattop pistons.

 

Thanks for the info. Sorry about the wording, I was just using what that guy at ATK called them.. Which head is the preferred one. Is the displacement the same??

 

The displacement is the same for both. Which head is "better" is all a matter of opinion. It really depends on what kind of engine you want to build. As far as stock engines go, the P79 engine is supposed to have 10 HP more than the N47. Also, the F54 (P79) block has siameesed cylinders which I've heard makes the engine more reliable.