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Tony D

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Posts posted by Tony D

  1. #1 Compression stroke is easy to verify: remove the plugs, bump the starter with your finger over #1 spark plug hole, when it blows, you're starting compression stroke. Manually advance it to TDC and start from there.

     

    Your previous (most recent) photos show the position of #1 while #6 is on the compression stroke (180 out).

     

    Likely, distributor out 180, rotor should be the 'other way' at that point of cam rotation.

     

    Cam will 'Rabbit Ears' on #1 when in compression stroke, one valve will point up to the left of the car, the other up to the right.

     

    Finger test and you will never be wrong. Observe distributor rotation, and apply wires appropriately 153624 and it will be in the correct firing order, regardless of where the rotor points. Just start at #1, and minding rotation install wires accordingly.

  2. You totally missed what I asked.

    Your reply gave what you thought the gauge was telling you.

    In reality, you have no clue whatsoever if that 'spike' is 160F or 230F.

     

    You need to verify the temperature with an independent gauge to determine if anything is wrong.

     

    The gauge in an S30 is as useless as teats on a boar hog. I wouldn't trust it as far as I can throw one! I have been driving in cars which were almost 'pegged' while an i'nfra-red scan showed 160F on the thermostat housing (and only slightly higher at the back of the head.)

     

    A Meat thermometer in the filler neck confirmed the I-R shots.

     

    Find out if you are truly 'spiking' or if you just have some dynamic in the response of the sender/gauge. My 260Z does this when I run the heater on COLD days. Yeah, it's 'overheating'...not! Time to time, not all the time. IR gun says 170 when it's 'spiked' and 160 when normal. Running the highway at 110F ambient, the same gauge spot is 210 (actual) should I cover 3/4 of the radiator with a plastic bag from the freeway updraft...

  3. I dont think I was giving him a hard time, either. People thinking this have obviously never underwent peer review in college. That's not giving people a hard time, it's inquiring if they thought out their hypothesis and it's end result.

     

    On the face of it, the claim of 'taking less horsepower to drive the compressor' for instance... You have a set BTU load in, a set BTU load to reject, and you must compress X gas to X pressure to get the expansion required. He's using a large sanden compressor. Sure it's 'more efficient' than a york, but not much if any different than standard sandens from the 70's. The work needed to compress the gas and expand it will be the SAME based on BTU input. He's palaying with ideal gas laws, and compression physics. Using the same style compressor, 'efficiency' I'm laying money will be a wash. They don't sell lysholm screw compressors for AC service in Automotive Applications, nor do they sell Centrifugals, so the largest possible efficiency gains in the biggest power user (the compressor) are ruled out. Most people put sandens on their york AC systems long ago when the originals crapped a seal. That's when they converted to R134A as well. I know that's when I did it. The sanden is quieter, and makes more CFM than the york, but the york never needed an idle speed dashpot to keep the car from stalling at hot idle either...

     

    So yeah, it's more 'efficient' but that means it's pumping more. And in most cases the difference between a 1 cylinder, 2 cylinder, or 7 cylinder reciprocating compressor is the smoothness of delivery and less pulsation. That's about it. Drive horsepower remains the same as they are one-step compression machines, not multi-staged. That means similar efficiencies in compression.

     

    These are physical laws. You have to be pretty sneaky to get them to bend on a shoestring budget. It's coming down to semantics as usual. An 'airflow increase' may be a goal, but if the airflow is now 15 F hotter than a lower flow with a lower temperature....is there and improvement.

     

    There's no free ride... It will just take some time to confirm this. Buy a Kestrel and take good measurements. Static pressure stations underhood will help as well. Like I said, 'been there, done that, interested to see the result but suspect I already know it!'

     

    ^_^

  4. You have to get a snug fit with the dowel in the pilot bushing, and give a concerted WHACK with a healthy hammer to build sufficient hydraulic pressure. No pilot bushing will resist hydraulic shock, it will come out with a few whacks.

     

    Only time I had to cut one out was when a roller pilot took a dump and welded to the input shaft on the tranny. In that case, I had to cut the cage carrier out. Solid bushings respond nicely to tight fit and thick grease pretty well. If the grease is shooting out all over your hand, you have a poor fit, and a bushing that needs replacement.

     

    That is also where the 'wet toilet paper' previously mentioned comes into play.

  5. What temperature in the thermostat housing corresponds to '3/4' on your gauge (everybody seems to have a different number).

     

    Verify the temperature, realize that cracking a thermostat (especially if you have your heater on in the morning) gives a RUSH of coolant through the back of the head and out the thermostat housing. You likely are seeing nothing more than the result of latent heat being taken out of the back of the head and the rest of the engine after the thermostat opens and REAL flow is established through the system.

     

    Up to that point, it's really only recirculating through 2 10mm bypass lines, and whatever you have hooked up going 'round' the back of the block! Thermostat opens and flow rate through the system skyrockets. Heat is removed in a rush.

     

    Sticking thermostat can do it as well, but you saw what changing a thermostat did... :P

  6. I encourage xnke's experiment, I don't know where it got misinterpreted that I didn't like it, I just wanted to make sure we could get quantifiable results.

    As you gleaned from some of the writing, when I had a non-travel job I could do 'experiments'... One of which was fitting the larger parts of a complete Geo Metro HVAC system into an S30 under the premise that it was the most compact and efficient modern unit available which would have similar greenhouse cooling requirements and internal volumes.

    I couldn't instrument well enough for my satisfaction (not enough probes available to me after I left the analytical place I was working) to quantify if the result was worth it. I basically was driving a 240 with no dashboard and Geo Vents taped and angle-ironed aroudn the front of the dash. To my subjective appraisal of the change it seemed to get colder than an ARA/Frigiking, but by no means was it as cold as my 75 Fairlady Z with the JDM cooler in it. That got me thinking further.... and you know where that leads. :huh:

     

    It was a LOT of work, and to get the geo stuff, small as it was, into even a stock 240 or 280 dashboard (you CAN fit the evap into the stock place for the early S30--it WAS available with factory in-dash air in JDM!) for a more efficient blow-through setup...in the end what I found was even utilizing the stock components (be they 260/280 in-dash or ARA-FrigiKing under-dash) the KEY was a blower that gave sufficient air exchange.

     

    Almost above all else, THIS SINGLE POINT made the BIGGEST DIFFERENCE in cool down times, and the ability of a passenger or driver to 'feel cool'... IMO the 280 and 240 fans are not up to the circulation job. Marginal at best. The JDM cooler for the tropics had a considerably different flow system in it and I wish to hell I had photos of the setup as it looks a lot like the modern stuff. Like I said, I had to 'dial it down' to keep from freezing inside the car in 33C Tropical Humidity. It seemed to have a bigger fan, but likely it was just a 280Z style blower.

     

    I went through a lot of work, determined I was going to reinvent the wheel with the Geo System in the car, but really it felt no better than the ARA it replaced. I just didn't feel like I wanted to continue and hack up behind my dashboard on an early S30 dash to accomodate the geo parts, or adapt the geo evap to a configuration that would fit as a slip-in sort of conversion in a 240 setup.

     

    Really, the 240 in-dash setup was very similar to the 260/280 setups, the evap was in the exact same place. The vacuum diaphragms are unobtainium, so venting would have to be either manual wires or something you make on your own. The new electromagnetic heater control valve Vintage Air makes gives interesting possibilites with linear pots for actuation if you want to retain the stock 'lever look'... but it's a thankless task IMO.

     

    Like I said, my ARA keeps the interior of my car at 70 F going 110mph on a 103F day with 85% R/H and I don't think I can ask for much more than that. I guess you could get it to 65 and that would be an 'improvement' but how much work will someone have to do to get that 'improvement'? Is this the point of 'diminishing returns' at some point? That is where I got with the Geo Metro project.

     

    Hell, the back axle from that damn donor car is STILL in the back yard!:lol:

  7. If manila folders are good at 6500 rpms to seal grease in a centrifugal compressor coupling with an 8" O.D., I think it will handle some static sealing duties.

     

    A Coke Carton (Or Budweiser...the stuff with the metallic paint on it) works wonders as well.

     

    But manila folder is a standard gasketing material. Like you said, the stock stuff is a bit thinner (vellumoid) but unless you have access to it, you are kinda limited. Manila folders are a great gasket material! Everybody seems to be able to get them. The heavier brown ones are good for carb top gaskets, etc...

     

    To Paraphrase Dogbert: "Better Racing through theft of Office Supplies"! :D

  8. That all depends on how much a windshield costs to replace...

     

    Without the front triangulation (and lacking a roll bar) hooking hard in a corner resulted in a cracked windshield for me...

     

    Didn't occur after the strut bar install, and with stickier tires and more rear grip to boot! The front really feels 'tied together' with them up there. One triangulated to the firewall is even a better feeling.

     

    It's hard to sell stock save on crispness of turn in, but push some torque and you can literally feel the front end twist around when you're on the power hard coming off a corner! (Kaaa-RAAACK! :blink: )

  9. Is fuel starvation even an issue with the stock fuel tank?

     

    Absolutely, it will starve with a stock L24 and SU's given the right circumstances on the track. With EFI it's even more acute as any drop in fuel pressure registers immediately as an 'engine cut'---not what you want on the power exiting a turn!

     

    None of the stock S30 tanks are acceptable for serious competition. Even Nissan recommended a surge tank setup for triple mikuinis in their competition preparation manual for the Japan Market racing series. They even had a part number!

  10. To jump in and be redundant, that sounds like a classic case of a plugged filter. Fine as long as there is no demand on the system, perfect pressure. But put some load on it, fuel pressure drops and as soon as you lift your foot it returns. Insufficient flow on the pumping end to keep up with the demand side (injectors)---usually a plugged filter.

     

    The question is, when you boost stone cold, are you saying this does NOT happen (you mention it only happens when hot?) During warmup, this filter issue should be even more pronounced as it's on the 'warmup loop' with slightly higher pulsewidths.

  11. crap, I was supposed to call art back now that you mention it, he needs an R200 moustache bar and is willing to pay....

    crapcrapcrapcrapcrap!

    Maybe I can drop it by on Tuesday, Marcus can wait!

     

    They ALWAYS seem busy when I stop by there. That is probably a good sign.

  12. No, the larger the gap you run the smoother the car will idle.

    Your gap is NOT based on the PLUGS, it is based on your ignition systems capabilities.

     

    Small gaps were for points-style ignitions. When they went to HEI (transistor standard in 1975 on) then the gaps got bigger.

     

    A turbo car may run gaps as tight at 0.018" due to spark blow-out issues, but an NA should be in the 35-45thou range with a decent ignition system. If you still ran points, then 25-30 would likely be the biggest you could go and get reliable fire from them.

     

    My 73 240 with a pertronix setup and flame thrower coil runs 0.045" without any problem whatsoever.

    I have another with a crane xr700 and it's gapped similarly.

    Even my VW has large gaps, and it's got one of the first per-lux ignitors in it!

  13. The cold start injector only functions when cranking, and an easy check as stated was 'just shut it off'---the STARTING will happen off the 'cold start enrichment' delivered through the regular injectors. All that cold start valve is used for is the initial firing off. When you crank, it's just spraying fuel into the manifold, not unlike some pit man spraying nitro down the stacks on a hilborn injected dragster. Really high-tech!

     

    An easy way to check it is to unplug it. That electrically isolates it. You can also use a small clamp or vice grips and clamp off the fuel line to it depriving it of fuel source.

     

    If you are still fouling out, my bet would be engine temperature sensor connection has fallen off or is loose, or dirty. That will make the engine run pig rich! In some cases wet-fouling the plugs!

     

    And of course, FPR... BTW you mention a 1973 240Z and that someone else did the conversion. Your symptoms are CLASSIC for using the stock return line for the fuel system. If this is the case---the fuel return is going to the stock 3/16" line---before you do ANYTHING ELSE move the line to the other side of the engine compartment, and connect your return to the 1/4" vapor recovery line. At the back of the car, connect this line to a vent in the top of the fuel tank. Then see what you get. This is a COMMON mistake when guys do the conversion. They think it is fine to use that dinky line, when in reality you need a minimum of 1/4". Yes, 1/16" makes that much of a difference! At idle it will run rich and stumble, but will run FINE on the road and under boost. But go back to idle or low speed low load operation and the thing just keeps loading up.

     

    If you got a fuel pressure gauge, check that first. But I can tell you for positive, if the return line is using the dinky stock return line in the 240, it's going to do exactly what yours is doing, and you need to use the line I said, or run another properly sized return line.

     

    For a quick check, a piece of FI hose from the bottom port on the regulator straight to the vapor line (without the check valve assembly, please!) on the left fenderwell will allow proper fpr operation with no restrictions whatsoever.

     

    Good Luck, post back with what you find!

  14. Using superheat and various other measurements this can be done. Measuring cycle time under standard conditions (say before/after) and charting heat removal in the cabin is also a rough measure of efficency increase.

     

    I was involved at Parker-Hannifin in testing HVAC systems in Ford Vehicles and am suspect of most claims of 'improvement'---yes even of older stuff. Your comment of 30% larger R134 Condensers is about right, but the 'old' condenser was about 50% oversized to begin with which is what I was getting at, if you propose the new condenser returns this same margin using R134A---while technically an 'improvement' it still falls within the original parameter of a 50% margin.

     

    Excess margin which usually isn't used.

     

    I'm not saying I don't like it, I'm asking what the proof will be that you will end up with anything quantifiably 'better' as you claim. My contention has been that likely you will at BEST equal the original system performance.

     

    I've been down this road, remember I mentioned Geo Metro earlier? Look at the compressor on that baby. About the size of a Z's AIR pump. Matter of fact, it mounts nicely there....

     

    Relative heat loading and greenhouse similar....

     

    Powered by a 1.0 three cylinder so HVAC system must be superefficient....

     

    Lot of work, got the same relative results as with the 'old tech'---it's where my statement that 'newer usually just means smaller with less margin and working harder all the time'

     

    Really, you want the best thing for your efficiency? Ditch that huge Sanden style compressor, go get one off a Geo Metro, and get an Accumulator/Dryer fabbed that is HUGE---say 12oz or 24 oz. This will give you sufficient liquid side reserve to let that little Metro compressor cycle on and off when under full head load in the cabin. Storage means less horsepower is required during transients.

     

    Otherwise, BTU's in and BTU's out won't change. Compare a York to a Sanden, yep more efficient. But if you already had an aftermarket with a Sanden... you're going to be hard pressed to show an 'efficiency increase'...

     

    35 years of HVAC hasn't changed much. I've been doing it about that long now and the automotive stuff is really simple compared with the industrial stuff out there. It's FO system in most cases! You can change that... but is the added complexity and service hassles that may be encountered worth it?

     

    I'm just asking questions, send the maths along, it's interesting experiment but measurable differences will in the end (I'm betting) will be nil. (Airflow across the exchangers will increase...but BTUs are BTUs and that is what will impact your radiator as much as airflow!) I'm interested to watch, but you made a STATEMENT instead of an "I hope to" so whenever someone states 'this is better' I have to ask why they are saying that. RIght now there is no proof. It's a hypothesis, not something that can be stated factually. I look forward to the progress, but until then it's all conjecture. All the best calculations in the world make something look great until you put it on the test bench and get sorely disapointed. Lets at least get to that point before making statements that it's better. That is what I was getting at.

     

    Remember, I NEVER said I didn't like it. I just didn't like the statement that it was better without any proof of that fact.

  15. IMO that setting is way too high. Ask KTM what he found out about thermal runaway at a stoplight after running on the freeway.

     

    If you use a 190 fan switch, you best be running a 20 or 24# radiator cap!

     

     

    I used a standard Hayes (there is another brand out there now with something identical) electric switch that puts a sensor in the radiator fins. Set to come on 10F above the car's temperature on a 110F day in Palm Springs when driving at 30mph in 5th gear. Worked great. I run a 160F thermostat, and have done so for decades.

  16. Simple:

    1)Take the locking ring off both tanks.

    2)Remove the sending units.

    3)Install the 240Z sender into the 280Z tank.

    4)Wires are now correct for the chassis, no cutting required. (You do not have a 'low fuel' capacitance sensor to light the light that is not in your 240Z dash anyway.)

     

    Comprende Amigo? :mrgreen:

  17. Both diagrams are identical. The part is the AAR and is shown on the EFI schematic breakdown. The AAR has power when the key is on. After the car has run a while, heat from the coolant line under it keeps the bimetallic closed to stop fast-idle. The Electrical Connection is to provide power and ground to a heater element in it to heat the bimetallic strip controlling the shutter bypass around the throttle plate to give fast idle speed.

  18. If you have a MIG or TIG (or even OxyAcetylene) making patch panels that 'lay over' the openings and bridge the radius to the 'low spot' are easily cut out of an old hood or door. Tack welding them in place after completely welding the holes behind will allow them to be skim-coated with filler and always allow easy removal come some future time should a new owner wish to reinstall the bumpers.

     

    Of course stitch-welding the cover patches can also be done---but with the caveat that the holes in the low spots have to be plugged as anything getting up the backside of your new panel will sit there, and rot the panels from the backside. Even in SoCal, dust will get up inside there, and retain moisture.

     

    I have seen people get round plugs (like for the floorboard) to plug the round holes, and hten weld in the top cover.

     

    Last thing you want is 1/2" thick of bondo or tiger hair stuck in there to lift out and crack when you get bumped!

     

    Personally, I'd be loath to fill the bumper mounting holes/recesses on the back panel. They work great as tow-recovery points. I have seen some nice 'accent' panels like on an old corvette (mini bumper guard looking things) installed over them with everything else smoothed, and they look really cool. And allows you to keep the tiedown / tow attachment point.

     

    They look nice all filled in, but those two little 'bullet' bumpers back there set off the back end and give it a 'finished look' IMO---they draw the eye up to the tail light, instead of down to the color/black line where your gas tank inevitably is showing. Overspray, dents, and all! ;)

  19. The whole crux is the following statement:

    " and you can get BETTER performance."

     

    Simply state your quantifiable goals. If the stock system, or even an aftermarket system delivers 37 degrees center-register what more 'improvement' do you plan on getting? How do you plan to quantify a contention that it will be 'better' performance.

     

    The condenser core may well be more 'efficient' but it's heat rejection will be identical in terms of BTU's as the previous unit. It's based on load on the refrigerant system. What have you done to 'improve' that? You have added 'margin' on the liquid side...was it needed?

     

    If the original systems were incapable of producing 37 degrees center register (the industry standard) then I would say someone aiming to improve and give 'better' performance would be a simple, straightforward matter.

     

    But since the original systems when properly installed and maintained GIVE the benchmark...exactly what are your goals to meet in order to quantify 'better'?

     

    I see the possible improvements are in airflow and air-exchange within the cabin (not anything related to the refrigerant side, but the ventilation-fan side). Both OEM and aftermarket systems have responded to massive increases in flow across the evaporator core with MORE 37 degree center register airflows---meaning the components have ample reserve capacity.

     

    I am just getting at your contention you are going to make a system 'better' yet have offered nothing more than 'you can get these parts easier' or 'possibly cheaper'---but that doens't go towards improving the systems performance.

     

    If you are going to tell us you are going to make a good functioning system 'better' then you need to tell me at least what your empirical goals and benchmarks are for an impartial review.

     

    If you start with a car misfiring with fouled plugs on three of six cylinders, are new spark plugs, or different spark plugs 'making it better'?

     

    If the plugs are fouling from bad rings and oil depositions, is the replacement of hotter range plugs an improvement and 'making it better'?

     

    In both cases I would say it's not, it's simply a normal maintenance procedure, or band-aiding another situation undiagnosed by someone.

     

    So goes it with 'improvement' of the A/C system. There are touted 'efficiency improvements' for this component or that...but if the stock system was amply capable of cooling the cabin easily (when functioning properly) how are you quantifying 'make it better'?

     

    Or are you simply putting in hotter plugs?

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