[Interesting Oil Pressure Experience]

Oil Level dropping any?

[Rings, Compression Test, and smoke]

typically 500mi under 3500rpm

[Advancing timing]

If he caused it to ping/detonate, yes he could have damamged the rings.

[Rings, Compression Test, and smoke]

And the reason being for that was the engine was never broke-in in the first place. His is broken in already.

[Advancing timing]

You'll have to re-set the timing obviously, but no the setting wouldn't be any different because we believe it was an attempt to compensate for chain wear. Number three is just way to far advance for chain wear though. If it's that bad off then you need to put a new chain kit in quick.

[Rings, Compression Test, and smoke]

Sounds like it's time for a refresh no matter which engine you use.

["I think I'll keep it."]

A well tuned stock Z has lots of get up and go. My 81ZX NA hasn't let me down and it pulls strong from 0-110. One of the first things most people do on a turbo is the 240SX throttle body upgrade, intercooler and 2 1/2"-3" exhaust. The 240SX throttle body doesn't help HP, but it makes the engine a little more rev happy and responsive. All these upgrades are easily found with plenty of back up information if you search on here and zcar.com.

[need some help]

Download the manual at http://www.carfiche.com. You can also use the microfiche there to look up parts and I believe there is some electrical diagrams there as well.

 

EDIT: The closest manual on the site for you is the 77.

[Advancing timing]

Your vacuum advance should not be pulling at idle. It's connected to the ports on the bottom of the throttle body that only draw when the throttle plate is opened.

[Advancing timing]

I would back it up the number two position and try it there. Three seems a little much for taking up slack to me.

[im smoking]

Did you blow the engine or head gasket that prompted the rebuild? You could have oil left in the exhaust from before that's burning off.

[Silents Custom N-47 build up….]

Nice, brightened the colors up a bit. It looks good.

[any ideas who rebuilt my head?]

Where did the head come from? There is a machine shop in San jose California called CMF Machine. Could have been them.

[question about my set up]

Good point about the valve length, I forgot about that.

[question about my set up]

No it wouldn't create too much compression. You sure are getting around. The only thing I would be concerned with is the valve size, which you said over on zcar.com that you would be using valves from the ZX head which are larger. You can get some nice stainless valves from arizonazcar.com that might be better suited. But, as I said before, use an aftermarket engine management and you can tune everything to work together properly and run like a raped ape.

According to the Z Calculator (which isn't entirely accurate, but gives a round about number) the resulting compression ratio would be 8.28:1, which is more than manageable. You go with flat top pistons and it's up to 9.8:1 which is getting more into the high octane area and watching clearances very carefully.

 

BTW, welcome to hybridz.org and zcar.com. Never did give you a proper welcome over there either.

[Killed another tranny...]

That's a sweet deal, but I drive this car everyday and really need that over drive for gas mileage.

[Killed another tranny...]

Well, actually the tranny wasn't well when it went in, but I wasn't aware of that until after I got it on the road. It at least shifted and moved which was more than my last tranny. Anyhow, this one is about to go, the main bearing is screaming in 1-3. Is there anyone in Eastern NC or close by that has a 280ZX 5 speed they would be willing to part with? Thanks.

[Average Idling Vaccuum?]

Oops...Yeah that was suppose to be 18-22 in. Sorry about that.

[source for metric studs?]

I would talk to pallnet on zcar.com. He has some nice studs for the intake and exhaust. I used them on my ZX when I did the manifold gasket. They worked perfectly and came with brass nuts so they don't rust.

[wasnt sure where to put this so i threw it in here]

On the 240z there shouldn't be any smog stuff to pull off. I believe they were brought out before the smog regulations.

For the exhaust stick with some 2 1/4 or 2 1/2" pipe. You have a naturally aspirated (N/A) engine that is going to need some back pressure to run properly. If the car runs good then I would start with rust removal and prevention.

[valves]

I can check for a brand on the Arizona ones, but I don't know off the top of my head. I have a full set at home.

[Average Idling Vaccuum?]

18-22 PSI at idle. Not sure what that is in Hg

[valves]

Arizona Zcar has come nice SS valves.

[280zxt HG/Oil Problems - Help assess the situation.]

Clean it, clean it, clean it. Make sure all the holes line up on the new gasket as well. The scoring on the number two piston is a little odd. Looks like something fell in the cylinder and sat there for a while to do that. Otherwise, if you clean it up and make sure the oil passages are clear it should be fine.

[Low 2 no oil pressure]

Could be a bad temp sending unit as well. I would change the Thermostat first to be sure. Cheap easy fix if it works, if not, you don't have to worry about it later.