VG30DETT reassembly part two

She's all go at The Lab right now with lots of stuff going on but I found enough time to get on with slapping some bits n bobs back on the VG30DETT from the blue Z32 slick top.
There are still plenty of little traps we are finding as a result of the previous disaster of a rebuild but we have got as far as having an assembled long block!
#Z32
#300zx
#VG30DETT
#enginerepairs
#TheLabLImited

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

good work may man be blessed stay greasy

[@aussie1926]

Keep an eye on the mls gaskets. I had nothing but issues with them. Cosmetics would leak through between the steel layers. Most use the stock gaskets in high power applications.
They dont look like l19 head studs. They way the bolt is undercut it looks like 8740 set.

[@TheLabLimited]

Stock gaskets fail also, been there done that. People have problems with metal gaskets mostly due to poor surface preparation IE: incorrectly machined giving wrong surface finish. Or not cleaned correctly.
L19 head studs are also undercut - but thinking about it should be a slightly lighter colour. The clowns who messed up the previous build didn't refit the ARP main studs. It's possible I've been caught out and they swapped the L19s for standard ARP studs - something I didn't consider TBH - we could be ordering some L19s if that's the case.

[@aussie1926]

@@TheLabLimited i had fully fresh surfaces each time i tried mls. Cometics lasted a little bit before it leaked and tomei is just a waste of time. This was only a 800whp stage. Went back to a composite gasket that we get made here in Australia and no problems.
Now with more power i use a composite with aluminium bronze fire rings. Devil z and mike jacksons 1000+ hp car run standard gaskets. Just give composite gaskets a spray of copper spray.
Those head studs aint too bad i ran them at 800whp but must be a old kit the arp kit now is 2000s.

[@TheLabLimited]

@@aussie1926 "fully fresh surfaces" but machined to what surface finish on what type of machine? I've seen and heard and discussed this all before many times.
For this particular build it's actually completely besides the point because without sourcing a fresh block and heads to return dimensions within spec we have no choice but to use aftermarket gaskets and going 75thouh on a composite gasket is going to end badly. As mentioned in the video and as discussed some people don't like the Cometic gaskets, I've never had any issues caused directly by the gaskets.

[@TheLabLimited]

For what it's worth upon checking the head studs this morning it appears for what ever reason the previous engine wreckers have removed the L19 head studs and replaced with the cheapest ARP studs, not even the 2000s :(
So I've ordered replacement L19s and will install them prior to fitting the plenum etc.
With so many stuff ups in the build I always said it would be hard to not get caught out somewhere - my bad assuming they were the head studs I had fitted - bad call.

[@aussie1926]

@@TheLabLimited they were basically mirror finish surfaces. Good ra we get machining done by a shop in Sydney that does alot of race engines.
When getting a thickness we take in account the squish of the composite gasket. The ones we use now start off at 2mm.
The heads bolt down onto the rings any way to seal combustion so gasket only seals the water and coolant. Also run 625 head studs now so keeps it clamped good.
For the blocks genrally only get bored to 87.5 then change them out. Run the risk of cracking bores if go bigger. Also run f65 blocks not the standard 30p 300zx ones.
Your only human mate, simple things just like the studs can be easy to miss. I just picked up on the undercutting from using them before. Never had the L19 but used the 8740 2000s and now 625+.

[@fstnfurz]

23k for rebuild that’s ridiculous

[@timwhalan6417]

🍺👏👍🏻

[@pretendorossi]

check the specs as per the Manufacturer?? what the... That Canadian fella said that's like cheating.

[@aaronhall7740]

👍👍

[@andreybobrovsky5069]

👍🏼