>Just took my car off insurance today so no more roadster driving for me
>until next spring :( Anyway I want to make a few improvements to it this
>winter. My first project will be to replace the brakes, that's no problem.
>My second project I want to tackel would be to put in a different engine.
>So since it seems that a few people have done the L20b switch I would like
>to ask anyone who's done this before of any problems or modifications they
>ran into. I would just like to get an idea of what I should expect before I
>drop any money for an engine.
>
>Also, does anyone know of a good place to find a decent running L20b engine
>and trans? I'm going to call a few places locally when I get a day off but
>I don't know what luck I'll have.
Matt,
Although it might seem a bit strange for me to suggest it, you might
consider a KA-24 as an alternative to the L-motor. You can contact Bill
Kenyon (SRL311KA@aol.com) for info on that swap. He had his KA powered
(originally) 2000 at the Shasta Ski Park this summer. He and his son Mike
had previously dropped a KA in Mike's 510. Both cars are really
screamers. He can give you the pluses and minuses of both options. The KA
has size on it's side along with fuel injection. I think it's also a
crossflow head.
A popular option that many 510 types are using is to punch an L-20b out
to 87mm and use the crank, rods, and pistons from an LZ-22. For a street
motor this has the advantage of the increased displacement at very low
cost. However the low pressure cast pistons used in the LZ-22 don't like
sustained higher revs, but for a street motor that'll probably not be a
problem. It's also fairly simple to adapt the L-series head to the LZ
blocks (LZ-20/22, more difficult with the LZ-24). Problem using the LZ-24
is that the block is 3/4 taller than the L-20b/LZ-20/LZ-22 blocks which
are themselves 3/4 taller than the L-16/L-18. Neither is there an off the
shelf timing chain that will work with the LZ-24/L-head combo. You have
to roll your own. Putting the LZ-24 crank in an L-block would require
relieving the block, too. A lot of work. That's why most of us just stick
with use the LZ-22 pieces in either the L-20b block or adapting an L-head
to an LZ-20 bored to 87mm.
For a lot of info on L-series motors, and a lot of other related stuff,
check out Jason Gray's website (http://home.att.net/~jason510/). I'm in
the middle of building an L-18 to go in our E/Prepared 510. After that
car's up and running, I plan to build an L-22 for the '73. The VG-30 V-6
is also popular and there are a number of rotary powered 510's around,
too. A built 13b rotary should be impressive in a roadster.
FWIW, Ron
________________
Ronnie Day
rday@airmail.net
Dallas/Ft. Worth
'71 510 2-dr (Prepared class autocrosser)
'73 510 2-dr (Street Toy)
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