Catalogs
TorqueList Garage Reference Series

Volume 1 · Nissan

Engine
Reference Catalog

Factory specifications, architecture, key variants, engineering notes, racing history and the stories that made Nissan's most important engines matter.

Technical reference•Historical context•Builder notes•Print ready

Edition 1.0 · September 2026 · Published

Public preview · first 3 engine profiles unlocked

15

Detailed engine profiles

15/15

Commercially cleared photos

30

Source references

V1

9 engine families

Publication notice

Independent TorqueList reference

Independence

TorqueList is an independent automotive reference publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or authorized by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. or any other vehicle or engine manufacturer.

Trademarks

Manufacturer names, model names, engine names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification, commentary, historical reference, and compatibility information. No manufacturer endorsement is implied.

Copyright

© 2026 TorqueList. Original editorial text, compilation, selection, organization, layout, and TorqueList-created graphics are protected by copyright. Underlying facts, specifications, and manufacturer-identifying terms remain the property or factual subject matter of their respective owners.

Accuracy

Specifications can vary by model year, application, option code, market, and production revision. Verify critical service, purchasing, racing, and installation information against the exact factory documentation for the specific vehicle or engine before relying on it.

Media policy

Third-party photographs appear only when their commercial-use basis is recorded. Creator, source, and license information is retained with each approved image. Engines without an approved third-party photograph use TorqueList-owned original technical artwork.

Contents

Nissan Engine Reference — Volume 1

Profiles are organized by engine family and pull from the same published TorqueList Engine Library used by the web experience.

L-Series Inline Six

2 profiles
Nissan / Datsun L241969–1978 core passenger-car era
146 ci
Nissan L28E1975–1984 core era
168 ci

FJ Performance Four

1 profiles
Nissan FJ20ET1983–1986
121.4 ci

SR Performance Four

1 profiles
Nissan SR20DET1989–2002 core production era
121.9 ci

KA Truck/Passenger Four

2 profiles
Nissan KA24E1988–1997 core era
145.8 ci
Nissan KA24DE1991–2004 core era
145.8 ci

VG V6

2 profiles
Nissan VG30E1984–2004 family/application era
180.6 ci
Nissan VG30DETT1989–2000
180.6 ci

VQ V6

2 profiles
Nissan VQ35DE2000s–2010s depending application
213.5 ci
Nissan VQ37VHR2007–2020 core era
225.5 ci

RB Inline Six

2 profiles
Nissan RB25DET1993–2002 core turbo era
152.4 ci
Nissan RB26DETT1989–2002
156.7 ci

VK V8

2 profiles
Nissan VK56DE2003–2016 core U.S. era
338.8 ci
Nissan VK56VD2010s–2024 core era
338.8 ci

VR Performance V6

1 profiles
Nissan VR38DETT2007–August 2025 R35 GT-R production era
231.8 ci
15/15 profiles include reference sources.
Every engine has artwork; rights-cleared real photos replace TorqueList original technical art as they are approved.
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01

TorqueList Technical Reference

L-Series Inline Six

Full web profile

Nissan / Datsun L24

The 2.4-liter OHC six that launched the 240Z and helped establish Nissan's global sports-car reputation.

Nissan / Datsun L24 engine

Nissan / Datsun L24 enginePhoto: Ypy31 — public domain — via Wikimedia Commons · source

★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

The L24 gave the original Z its smooth, durable straight-six character and proved itself internationally in rally competition.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
SOHC inline six
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Aluminum
Valvetrain
SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Carbureted

The L24 used a cast-iron block, aluminum SOHC head, and an oversquare 3.268 x 2.902-inch bore/stroke layout. Its relatively short stroke helped it rev freely for a late-1960s inline-six while twin-carbureted road versions gave the original Z a smooth, responsive character.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

Datsun 240Z / Fairlady 240ZNissan Skyline 240K in selected marketsNissan Cedric/Gloria applications

Strengths

  • Strong iron block
  • Smooth inline-six layout
  • Excellent classic Z parts support

Watch-outs

  • Carburetor synchronization on multi-carb setups
  • Age-related head and cooling-system issues
  • Limited stock airflow compared with later engines

Common upgrades

  • Triple-carb induction
  • Performance camshaft
  • Header and exhaust

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

2.4 L / 146 cu in with 3.268 x 2.902-inch bore and stroke.

02

Cast-iron inline-six block with aluminum SOHC two-valve cylinder head.

03

Naturally aspirated and carbureted in classic Z applications.

04

Documented Fairlady 240ZG output: 150 PS and 206 Nm.

History & context

The story behind the engine

The L24 gave the original 240Z the engine personality that made the car famous: smooth straight-six power, useful torque, and enough rev range to make a lightweight sports coupe feel genuinely special.

Racing history

The L24-powered 240Z won the East African Safari Rally in 1971 and 1973.

Legacy

The L24 established Nissan’s classic Z-car straight-six formula and became the starting point for the larger L26 and L28 engines that followed.

Documented motorsport results

Famous Race Wins

01

1971

Overall winner

19th East African Safari Rally

Driver

Edgar Herrmann / Hans Schüller

Datsun 240Z

Edgar Herrmann and Hans Schüller won the 1971 East African Safari Rally overall in an L24-powered Datsun 240Z competition car.

02

1973

Overall winner

21st East African Safari Rally

Driver

Shekhar Mehta / Lofty Drews

Datsun 240Z

Shekhar Mehta and Lofty Drews won the 1973 Safari Rally overall in an L24-powered Datsun 240Z.

Verification

Reference sources

Nissan Heritage — 1972 Fairlady 240ZG

manufacturer history

Nissan Heritage — 1971 Safari Rally-winning 240Z

manufacturer history

Nissan Heritage — 1973 Safari Rally-winning Datsun 240Z

manufacturer racing history

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

02

TorqueList Technical Reference

L-Series Inline Six

Full web profile

Nissan L28E

The 2.8-liter fuel-injected evolution of the L-series six used in late S30 and S130 Z cars.

Nissan L28E engine

Nissan L28E enginePhoto: Michael Barera — CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons · source · license

★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

The L28E added displacement and electronic injection to Nissan's proven L-series platform, becoming the defining six-cylinder engine of the 280Z/280ZX era.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
SOHC inline six
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Aluminum
Valvetrain
SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Electronic fuel injection

The L28E enlarged Nissan’s L-series straight-six to 2.8 liters with a 3.386-inch bore and 3.11-inch stroke. Electronic fuel injection replaced the earlier carbureted approach, improving drivability and making the engine better suited to emissions-era 280Z and 280ZX models.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

Datsun 280ZDatsun/Nissan 280ZXNissan Cedric/GloriaNissan Laurel

Strengths

  • Strong torque
  • Simple EFI
  • Large classic Nissan aftermarket

Watch-outs

  • Aging EFI hardware
  • Cylinder-head selection matters for compression and quench
  • Heavy compared with modern aluminum engines

Common upgrades

  • Performance camshaft
  • Ported cylinder head
  • Turbo conversion using L28ET-style hardware

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

2.8 L / 168 cu in with 3.386 x 3.11-inch bore and stroke.

02

Cast-iron block with aluminum SOHC two-valve cylinder head.

03

Electronic fuel injection with naturally aspirated induction.

04

Documented Fairlady 280Z-L output: 145 PS and 226 Nm.

History & context

The story behind the engine

The L28E carried the Z car into the fuel-injected era without abandoning the proven L-series architecture. More displacement and EFI made it smoother and torquier than the early Z engines while preserving the familiar straight-six character.

Legacy

The L28E became the defining naturally aspirated engine of the 280Z and 280ZX era and remains one of the most popular classic Nissan sixes for restoration and modification.

Verification

Reference sources

Nissan Heritage — Fairlady 280Z-L

manufacturer spec

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

03

TorqueList Technical Reference

FJ Performance Four

Full web profile

Nissan FJ20ET

The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-valve DOHC engine behind the R30 Skyline RS Turbo.

Nissan FJ20ET engine

Nissan FJ20ET enginePhoto: Ypy31 — public domain — via Wikimedia Commons · source

★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

The FJ20ET returned serious twin-cam performance to Skyline before the RB era and became one of Nissan's most technically ambitious early turbo fours.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
DOHC inline four
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Aluminum
Valvetrain
DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Aspiration
Turbocharged
Fuel delivery
Electronic fuel injection

The FJ20ET combined a heavy cast-iron block with an aluminum four-valve DOHC head, turbocharging, and electronic fuel injection. Its robust bottom end and advanced cylinder head made it unusually sophisticated for an early-1980s Japanese turbo four.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

Skyline 2000 Turbo RS / RS-XNissan Silvia/Gazelle in selected markets

Strengths

  • Very strong iron block
  • Four-valve DOHC head
  • Excellent period turbo performance

Watch-outs

  • Rare and expensive parts
  • Heavy for a four-cylinder
  • Older turbo/EFI hardware requires careful restoration

Common upgrades

  • Modern turbocharger
  • Standalone ECU
  • Improved intercooling

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

2.0 L / 121.4 cu in with 3.504 x 3.15-inch bore and stroke.

02

Cast-iron block with aluminum DOHC four-valve cylinder head.

03

Turbocharged and electronically fuel injected.

04

Factory output progressed from about 190 PS to 205 PS in intercooled form.

History & context

The story behind the engine

Before the RB and SR engines became Nissan performance icons, the FJ20ET was already proving that Nissan could build a serious turbocharged twin-cam four. In the Skyline RS and RS-X, it represented a major technical leap.

Legacy

The FJ20ET became a cult engine because of its strong block, advanced head, and role as one of Nissan’s most important pre-RB turbo performance engines.

Verification

Reference sources

Nissan Heritage — Skyline 2000 Turbo RS

manufacturer spec

Nissan Heritage — Skyline Turbo RS Intercooler

manufacturer spec

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

End of public preview

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All-manufacturer workshop tools

Nissan Workshop Companion

Builder utilities and edition 2.0 reference sections. Calculations use your entered measurements; empty or unverified interchange, machining, power and torque data are never represented as confirmed specifications.

Public preview: workshop reference content remains limited until this volume is unlocked. The compression calculator is a general educational utility.

Engine geometry & static compression

Starting values are examples only, not specifications for any engine. Use measured dimensions. Dish and valve relief add clearance volume; dome subtracts it. Deck means piston below deck at top dead center. Calculations are for one cylinder except total displacement.

Geometry
Compression inputs

Static compression

9.63:1

Displacement

349.8 ci

Displacement

5.733 L

Mean piston speed

3,480 ft/min

Rod-to-stroke ratio

1.638

Clearance volume

83.02 cc / cyl

Static compression = (swept + clearance) ÷ clearance. Mean piston speed = 2 × stroke (feet) × RPM. These calculations do not predict fuel octane, dynamic compression, safe RPM, engine strength, horsepower, or whether a combination will clear mechanically.

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Attribution record

Image & License Credits

Only photographs recorded as approved for commercial use appear in this edition. TorqueList does not claim ownership of third-party photographs; all fallback technical artwork is TorqueList-created original material.

Nissan / Datsun L24

Ypy31 — public domain — via Wikimedia Commons

Public domain

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:L24.jpg

Nissan L28E

Michael Barera — CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons

CC BY-SA 4.0

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014_Rolling_Sculpture_Car_Show_32_(1978_Datsun_280Z_%22Black_Pearl%22_engine).jpg

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Layout adaptations of this photograph remain subject to the same indicated CC BY-SA license.

Nissan FJ20ET

Ypy31 — public domain — via Wikimedia Commons

Public domain

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FJ20ET.jpg

TorqueList is an independent automotive reference publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or authorized by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. or any other vehicle or engine manufacturer.