---
title: "Nissan Develops 240Z DOHC Upgrade Decades After the Car’s Retirement"
description: "Nissan's classic car parts program isn't just supporting the Datsun 240Z sports car, it's still designing upgrades."
date: "2024-02-23"
modified: "2024-02-23"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/nissan-develops-major-240z-head-upgrade-decades-after-its-retirement"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Nissan News"
tags:
  - "Nissan"
  - "sports car"
---

# Nissan Develops 240Z DOHC Upgrade Decades After the Car’s Retirement

![Nismo L-series engine with a twin-cam cylinder head](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22/nismo-l-series-dohc.jpg>)
*\<em\>Nismo\</em\>*

Nismo's heritage program is going the whole nine yards with support for classic [Nissans](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/nissan-news>), offering everything from [reproduction Skyline parts](<https://www.thedrive.com/guides-and-gear/nissan-made-a-new-batch-of-unobtainable-r34-skyline-nismo-gauges-and-sold-out-immediately>) to [factory restorations](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/37968/nismo-will-now-comprehensively-restore-your-r32-nissan-skyline-gt-r-down-to-the-last-bolt>). Now it's gone a step further by designing an upgraded cylinder head for the L-series engine used from the [Datsun 240Z](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29086/factory-commissioned-1972-datsun-240z-restoration-sells-for-over-100000-at-auction>) to the [Nissan 280ZX](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/33868/this-time-capsule-1980-datsun-280zx-hidden-for-decades-is-going-to-sell-for-a-whole-lot-of-money>)—more than four decades after the last L-series Z was built. Now that's what I call customer support.

The head debuted in a show car at Nismo Nostalgic 2Days 2024 after several years of development for Nismo's 40th anniversary, according to a post on [NissanZClub.com](<https://www.nissanzclub.com/forum/threads/nismo-40th-anniversary-heritage-parts-for-s30-and-r32.2396/>). It upgrades the L-series inline-six used from the 1969 240Z to the 1983 280ZX, swapping its single overhead camshaft for dual cams. [Nissan](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/nissan-news>) appropriately rechristened the engine to TLX, which I imagine stands for something like **T**win-cam **L**-series e**X**perimental.

> [View this post on Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/p/C3bdk4dpVH2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

> [A post shared by NISMO (@nismo\_jp\_official)](<https://www.instagram.com/p/C3bdk4dpVH2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

The engine itself seems to be based on the L26 or L28 from the 260Z or 280Z, but bored out to 89 mm for a displacement of 2.9 liters. Compression is elevated from the L26's 8.8:1 in the 260Z to 12.5:1, and the redline is lifted to 7,500 rpm. Power output is said to exceed 300 horsepower, and torque 217 pound-feet—both big gains from the 132 hp and 144 lb-ft of the naturally aspirated 1980 280ZX.

Obviously, an all-new cylinder head for a classic car would be a pricey part, so you'd imagine the only people that can afford one are deep-pocketed [vintage racers](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/9280/watch-these-vintage-racers-blast-through-monza-at-night>). Those clearly aren't big enough a market for [Nissan](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/nissan-reviews>), which told us it has no plans to sell this twin-cam L-series head. I'm sure it'd be willing to bend that rule if you wrote a big enough check, but if not, there's always [the Honda K-series-based aftermarket option](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/41805/nissan-240z-roars-with-honda-style-dohc-head>).

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com*

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)