was the Z motor the one that was in the us 1980's datsun trucks with the 8 plugs. I'm thinking of building a mini-stock 210 rwd in pa. My dad had one of the 8 plug trucks and that thing was way faster than a production 4 cyl mustang. Any help would be great. Second ? is if I would build a LZ20 or LZ22 with a L20B head what kind of horse/torque and rpm range could I expect. the mini-stocks fords normally run around 7,000 to 8,500 rpm. Or possibly putting L16 crank and connecting rods in LZ motor.

Try the search function on www.ozdat.com they have bundles of this info.
cheers, d.

Or in the US, try http://forum.ratsun.net.

I hear that the Z head is best for a streeter, but certain L-series heads have more race potential. Don't know how true that is.

LZ motors are works dohc motors based on either an L motor or a Z motor hence the name, you will probably never see one, insanely expensive. OS Giken also did exotic dohc conversions for L and Z
L motor is sohc mounted in bolt on towers (design borrowed from mercedes?)
Z motor is sohc with cam caps, comes in 1.8,2.0,2.2,2.4 litres some 8 plug some 4 plug
KA single cam similar to Z but has 12 valves
KA dohc similar bottom end to single cam but different head
some L and Z stuff interchanges as the Z was based on the L
and the KA was based on the Z
now your really confused huh!
dazza

I'd suggest get a KA24DE, & run it, these were a refinement of the Z engines, which were a redesign of the L series. It appears you're in America, & all the drifters are dropping SR20DET's in the 240SX's. I've been told they rev to 7000 rpm & in a small car you don't need to hot them up too much, so it keeps them reliable. Always good to pick up somebody else's discards & make it work. There's no capacity limit on you're class,is there?

no drifting here I race stockcars on clay circle tracks. The mini-stock class we have is lb per cc. No alum. heads or roller cams. stock appearing bodys. most guys are using 80's mustangs with built 2.3L that are pushing around 170 to 185 hp. We aren't allowed turbos, supercargers, nitro, no injection either (not in rules but commonly excepted rules of class.) I know my dad had a 1982 datsun pickup with a 8 plug motor in it and it had a z on the valve cover and that this would fly down the road. thanks for the input so far.

Quote:Then you can't use a L or Z engine...they only came with aluminum heads.

Hey thanks. Do any of you know if datsun or nissan built a 4 cyl. motor with a steel head that i could make some power out of.

Yes, the J13 engine from Datsun 520 pickup I think has cast iron head. Also the E12 from Datsun 320 pickup. These are 1960s models and put out about 50 horse power, so you'll get some power out of it, but not a lot.

only way to have a cast iron nissan engine is to find a u20 which
are now rare but can make over 180hp in race trim.
Youll find them in old trucks, vans, forklifts and rare fairlady
2000 convertibles.
These are the only petrol cast iron head engines Nissan/Prince made.
Unlike Ford and others like Chev, Nissan has been using alloy heads
in production cars 25 years before them.