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Everything posted by Miles
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Hardline routing at master cylinder
Miles replied to RDuff's topic in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis
The 240z uses a tandem MC. It doesn't make any difference which line goes where. As far as the tanks go, the front circuit has a larger tank. Just switch position of the tanks. -
Advice on radiator and fan for LS3 swap
Miles replied to 280Z-LS3's topic in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board
This is interesting. Please remove the thermostat, take the car for a drive and report back what the temperature is. -
Advice on radiator and fan for LS3 swap
Miles replied to 280Z-LS3's topic in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board
Too cold? Remove thermostat and install a flow restrictor. Try Moroso flow restrictor. Start with the mid size (blue) restrictor. Install a thermal switch that turns on fan at a higher temperature. Or turn your fan off with a switch. With the components I listed in my earlier post, once my engine temp a reaches steady state of 185 deg (center of temp gauge) on cold 65 deg days or hot 110 deg days the needle just stays dead center. You just need to tweak things a bit. -
Advice on radiator and fan for LS3 swap
Miles replied to 280Z-LS3's topic in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board
SBC 350 carbed 240z Arizona Z Car aluminum radiator + shroud + 3000 cfm Volvo fan + 185 Degrees On/170 off thermal switch + 70 amp fan relay + no thermostat = 185 deg indicated temperature during long idles in California central valley heat (100 to 110 deg). Volvo fan is two speed, but is wired to run on high speed at all times. Other: high volume water pump Works. 185 deg all day -
Advice on radiator and fan for LS3 swap
Miles replied to 280Z-LS3's topic in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board
This is the cooling system I came up with for my SBC 350 240z. It keeps the temp gauge exactly centered (approx 185 deg F) on hot (109 deg) California days even during long stops. The shroud plus the Volvo fan did the trick. -
Buy this book it will save you hours and hours researching 240z restoration issues. How to Restore Your Datsun Z-Car: How to Restore Datsun 240Z, 260Z and 280Z by Wick Humble https://www.amazon.com/How-Restore-Your-Datsun-Z-Car/dp/1931128022
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https://zcarsource.com/door-rod-outside-handle-240z-260z-280z
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Compared to the old worn out rubber bushings urethane noticeably improved handling. Much stiffer. Before replacing the steering rack bushings my car used to wander and track grooves in the road. All of the bushings fit. I did have a fitment problem with the Energy Suspension (ES) bushing metal inner sleeves that fit over the spindle pin for the rear outer control arm bushings . The ES inner sleeve was manufactured with the inside diameter too large resulting in a sloppy fit when slid over the spindle pin. I carefully measured the spindle pin and the inside diameter of the sleeves. I called ES and explained what I found and they admitted to a manufacturing problem and sent me new sleeves. The three things I did to improve handling of my daily driver: replacement of all bushings with urethane, stiffer springs that maintained stock ride height and Tokico shocks. The ride is stiffer, but not harsh or bone jarring. Just right for a sports car.
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I did mine 14 years ago and experienced the same confusion. I bought a spindle pin puller from an Hybridz member and then did the whole suspension. The only sleeves I didn't remove were for the mustache bar bushings. Some of the best posts about bushing replacement were made back in the early days of HybridZ.
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Wrong? How so? The original owners of Ztherapy were Z car freaks.
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Buy the Street Racing Suspensions video from Ztherapy. Shows how to install a complete polyurethane bushing kit. https://ztherapy.com/
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Here are some really big ones you can look at. https://www.zcar.com/threads/hacksaw-and-energy-suspension-bushing-installation.293838/ https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/12008-rear-control-arm-bushings/ https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-260z-280z-brakes-wheels-suspension-chassis-126/rear-control-arm-bushings-9279/
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Here are some posts from other Z car sites: https://www.zcar.com/threads/hacksaw-and-energy-suspension-bushing-installation.293838/ https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/12008-rear-control-arm-bushings/ https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-260z-280z-brakes-wheels-suspension-chassis-126/rear-control-arm-bushings-9279/
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Searching old posts will set you free. Do a search and then read posts in reverse order. Why because most 240z issues were resolved almost twenty years ago. Think of HybridZ as an encyclopedia. Turn the page......................
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Wanted: S30 stub axle/companion flange. Or two.
Miles replied to XplosiveLugnut's topic in Parts Wanted
One of the problems with the stock stub axles is the mounting flange can become bent/warped. Not so much of a problem with drum brakes, but drove me nuts after I did the rear disk swap. One caliper got hot and the other caliper was barely warm. I finally set up a dial indicator and measured the face of the flange. Both flanges were warped so they would cause the rotor to rub on the brake pad. I tried having the flanges machined, but it didn't fix the problem. I ended up installing the stub axles from Chequered Flag Racing. No problems since then. I have also had a stock stub axle shaft break where the threads end (common) just pulling away from a stop sign when my Z was all stock. I see that MSA is selling "refurbished" stub axles. -
Wanted: S30 stub axle/companion flange. Or two.
Miles replied to XplosiveLugnut's topic in Parts Wanted
Try Chequered Flag Racing if you can't find good used axles. I had problems with used axles so I caved and bought these: http://www.chequeredflagracing.net/Datsun.html -
I do whenever the car is up on jack stands. Ok so far. I have seen that center mounting bolt pull out of the crossmember and cracked crossmenbers.
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"Also meant to say in last post will check the stub axle nut torque but wrote "gland nut" by accident." Torquing that nut beyond specs won't help unless the nut has actually loosened up. I torque mine to 180 ft lbs and quit. Be aware that the stock nut is staked down and turning the nut without removing the staked part with a Dremel grinder will destroy the threads on the axle. You can substitute a 280XZ nut which is self locking. The splines in the companion flange (connects half shaft to the axle) can become worn creating some slop, but not a clunk. Lock the wheel and move the half shaft to see if the splines are worn. There is always a bit of play. You should pull the differential and inspect for worn parts. Also check the three nuts (top of tower) for the insulators and the nut that attaches the shock to the insulator. All R180 and R200 differentials were a bit playful even when new and will clunk unless you engage the clutch smoothly. My junk yard R200 has clunked for the last 10 years. Check that the shock has no vertical play which could indicate the wrong shock, missing spacer or loose gland nut. Be careful around the threads that the gland nut screws into. If the threads get screwed up or the tube gets bent in the threaded area you will be looking for a new strut. Note that the spacer is unique to each manufacturers shock. The stock front differential mount flexes. I replaced mine with a solid mount (MSA) 20 years ago. No problems with a SBC 350 or you can do the Taylor mount. Example of cause of clunk in a R200 differential:
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There is still air in the system. Could be the MC. Have to get all of the small bubbles out and be sure you are pushing the piston full stroke. Take your time so the bubbles can form up between bleeds. Speed bleeders installed on the MC help insure that bubbles don't get suck back into the MC. Plug the outlet ports when transferring the MC to the car to prevent fluid leaking out and air getting in. Could be some air in the caliper still. You are very organized and methodical. Just keep at it in a logical step by step way. Don't mean to scare you, but I have stopped using the Wilwood 1 in. MC. I got three bad ones right out of the box. Two leaked internally and the other one had the bleeder screws smashed. That is bad quality control. I am now using a 79 280zx 15/16 MC that I bought from Dave at Arizona Z Cars. Now back to your push rod. If I recall correctly, the push rods came in two lengths. As I mentioned before, measuring from the tip of the push rod to the face of the spacer should be around 14mm to 15mm as a starting place. Too short = long pedal. Too long = brake lock up after 2 or 3 applications due to blocked return port. You mentioned that you added a spacer to the push rod to get the length you need. Not sure what you did, but adding a spacer to the push rod may not be a good idea.
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Agree with Newzed.
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Had to replace the 240SX rear calipers on my 240Z this week. Had a brain fart idea that worked. Bench bleed caliper method: Bench bleed the calipers before installing them: While prepping the new calipers I noticed my MC bench bleeding kit on the bench. The fittings used for the MC will also fit the caliper. I used the fittings/hoses from my MC bench bleeding kit (O'reilley's) plus a huge syringe I found at a grocery store. Connect the syringe with hose to the speed bleeder. Screw in a plastic push-on hose fitting (from a bench bleeding kit) into the inlet of the caliper with a hose to a bottle to catch the fluid. Push fluid into the caliper with the syringe being careful not to push any bubbles in the hose into the caliper. Once the caliper is full, and no bubbles are seen, close the speed bleeder and plug the inlet with a M10 x 1.0 bolt. I was amazed at how much air flowed out of the caliper. It took about three full syringes of fluid to get all of the fine bubbles out. After installing the calipers (see procedure below), and doing one side at a time, it only took three pumps to get a firm pedal for each caliper. Steps: Bench bleed calipers being sure to tighten the speed bleeder and install a M10x1.0 bolt in the caliper inlet when done to keep the caliper sealed. Fill MC reservoir with fluid. Push brake pedal with your hand and block it in place with a stick between the seat and the pedal. This blocks the fluid return port in the MC so fluid will not flow out of the MC. Remove old caliper leaving the flex line attached and hang it from the spring with some wire. This keeps the brake line sealed and prevents any fluid loss while installing the new caliper. Install new caliper and pads. Move the flex line from the old caliper to the new caliper. Since you blocked the return port in the MC there should be almost no fluid drips from the open flex line. Attach hose and catch bottle to the speed bleeder. Open the speed bleeder and pump. The first pump will go to the floor because the piston will move out taking up the slack between the piston and the brake pad/rotor. The second and third pump will firm up the pedal. I just did this this week. It was the quickest brake bleed I have done with Maxima/240SX calipers. No wasted fluid too. MC bleeder kits are available from O'reilley's. They contain a variety of plastic MC outlet fittings, but for some reason only one M10 x 1.0 fitting so I buy two.
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This may be your problem: You wrote: 7. I then removed the spacer and adjusted the push rod to almost touch the master cylinder plunger. The brake pedal still went to the floor with no stopping power. So you adjusted the plunger with the spacer removed? And then you put the spacer back on? That would move the MC away from the push rod by about .75 inch which would increase the gap between the push rod and the MC piston such that the piston would move a small amount if at all. If I recall correctly, for my 280ZX and Wilwood MC I adjusted the tip of the plunger about 14mm/15mm as measured from the face of the spacer. You can also fine tune the push rod once the car is on the road for testing. Just be aware that if you adjust the pushrod out too far you will lock your brakes up because the MC piston gets pushed past the return port in the piston preventing fluid from returning back into the MC from the calipers - kind of like a line lock. Opening the MC bleeders will relieve the pressure. Picture is for using a 280ZX MC, but the math is fairly close for a Wilwood 1 inch MC
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I have used both the Maxima and 240SX rear calipers on my Z cars. The problem is that the bleeders do not point straight up such that air remains trapped in the cylinder. Wasted lots of time and fluid. Remove caliper with flex line connected method: You can remove the caliper while leaving the flex line connected. Block the piston so it can not move otherwise when you pump the brakes you will just blow the piston out of the cylinder and you will be very very sad. Hold the caliper so the bleeder points up and shake the caliper while your accomplice pumps the brakes. Repeat. Repeat etc. Speed bleeders (type with spring and plug inside or check ball inside) make this job easier. Bench bleed caliper method: You can try what I came up with this week: bench bleed the calipers before installing them. While prepping the new calipers I noticed my MC bench bleeding kit on the bench. The fittings used for the MC will also fit the caliper. I used the fittings/hoses from my MC bench bleeding kit (O'reilley's) plus a huge syringe I found at a grocery store. Connect the syringe with hose to the speed bleeder. Screw in a plastic push-on hose fitting (from a bench bleeding kit) into the inlet of the caliper with a hose to a bottle to catch the fluid. Push fluid into the caliper with the syringe being careful not to push any bubbles in the hose into the caliper. Once the caliper is full, and no bubbles are seen, close the speed bleeder and plug the inlet with a M10 x 1.0 bolt. I was amazed at how much air flowed out of the caliper. It took about three full syringes of fluid to get all of the fine bubbles out. After installing the calipers (see procedure below), and doing one side at a time, it only took three pumps to get a firm pedal for each caliper. Steps: Bench bleed calipers being sure to tighten the speed bleeder and install a M10x1.0 bolt in the caliper inlet when done to keep the caliper sealed. Fill MC reservoir with fluid. Push brake pedal with your hand and block it in place with a stick between the seat and the pedal. This blocks the fluid return port in the MC so fluid will not flow out of the MC. Remove old caliper leaving the flex line attached and hang it from the spring with some wire. This keeps the brake line sealed and prevents any fluid loss while installing the new caliper. Install new caliper and pads. Move the flex line from the old caliper to the new caliper. Since you blocked the return port in the MC there should be almost no fluid drips from the open flex line. Attach hose and catch bottle to the speed bleeder. Open the speed bleeder and pump. The first pump will go to the floor because the piston will move out taking up the slack between the piston and the brake pad/rotor. The second and third pump will firm up the pedal. I just did this this week. It was the quickest brake bleed I have done with Maxima/240SX calipers. No wasted fluid too. MC bleeder kits are available from O'reilley's. They contain a variety of plastic MC outlet fittings, but for some reason only one M10 x 1.0 fitting so I buy two. With your brake set up your brake pedal should feel about stock. I will post some pictures later today.