MadMaxDallas

Taking the oil pump out your probably dropped the shaft down and didnt get it back in the same place. There are a few problems with this, there is only about 30 deg of adjustment in the dissy at the top. So this can take a few steps. First you need to see where the button is pointing while your at TDC of #1 Cyl. There are a few ways of checking for TDC (Top Dead Center) of the #1 cylinder, one way is to bump the engine, and look through the oil fill hole, look at the #1 cam lobes, (may be hard to see) watch till they are at the 10 and 2 position. Look then at the timing marks on the crank. Try and get it close to 0. Then remove the distributor, and where the button is pointing at is firing for cyl #1. Then just put the spark plugs in order (counter clockswise direction the actual firing order) 1-5-3-6-2-4 Another way to find TDC is to remove the spark plug in #1 and put your finger over the hole, crank the engine till you feel the pressure blowing out then align the crank to 0. Then look where the button is pointing to. Suggest while doing either that you remove the plug wire from the ignitor to the distributor so you will not get surprised. Now when you get to setting the timing, if you cant get enough rotation on the distributor to set the timing correctly, YOU WILL have to drop the oil pump again, slide the shaft down, and rotate it to another tooth. Then try and check the timing again (as above getting #1 lined up again) *Have somebody help you by marking the button before dropping the shaft, and rotating the button while you push the shaft back up into the distributor. I have done this more than once ... so dont feel bad. Then, when you are sure thats right, get a timing light and get the timing set correctly.

Phill quick question maybe you can answer, I have a decent looking 81 zxt. Has only a few small problems I have worked through, and now feel its up to par, other than a slightly pinched off fuel line (plan on upgrading one size anyways). Since they swiched from CAS in 82, was there a real technical reason they did that? To me it would seem to be more accurate without any slop through the shaft, impeller and distributor. I know they are electrically equvelent. But maybe somebody could put a difinitive answer on that, couldnt find any on the forums saying one way or the other. This weekend I happened to look at a jeep motor, think it was a 06. And they have a 3 coil wasted spark system, with a nice rail for coil on spark plug, looks like it would be a bolt on except for the injector cooler hose. (no big deal). Then use one of the systems I read about here to control it. I believe it will be compatible with the stock ecu until I get ready to go full MegaSquirt. Rod

Love the information in this thread, I have a 81zxt and it has the stock crank angle sensor. Would this work with the EDIS system or is there some compatibility problem.

Dont know about where you live at, but here in Texas, my 27 yr old 1981zxt doesnt have to have the emissions checked. In fact, had to do a bit of cleaning on my cat converter today (cough cough), clearing out the cat made the turbo spool up quicker, and you can tell it breathes much better.

My son and I started the same way this year. We bought a Non Turbo, and two weeks later it threw a rod. We bought a motor from a wrecked car for 100$. Then we spent about 400 and rebuilt it ourselves. You can see pictures of our effort here. I took of a Friday and on Sunday night, we were driving it around at 6:00 pm. That was a very exciting time for us. Then I enjoyed it so much, I decided to hunt for a project car. I bought a Turbo with T tops that was not running for 800$. One week later, after striping all the alarm junk off of it. It was running on the street. It needed alot of restoration in the interior, but my son loved the power so much, he just had to have it. So then I said ok, and said I would find another, when I did and showed up at his work, his jaws just dropped. Then while watching craigslist, we found a 2+2 turbo, that somebody had stuck a battery in backwards, and didnt run. We bought that for 400$. Then we stripped the car, and I mean stripped it. So we have so many parts, wiring harnass, turbo motor, trans, front and rear suspension (the 200 rear end is stronger than the 180) and the front suspension too. We even took the complete dash out with all the gauges. We can now also rebuild those sections fully and still drive our cars, and use them to swap out when their painted, updated and ready. My suggestion is as others, if that body and interior is so good, buy a donor car, take the things you will need for the conversion, and get it on! It will take you more time. But you will truely enjoy doing it yourself, get your fathers advice every time, and take your time, dont be in such a hurry. While you have the engine out thats a good time to get the painting done and add the body kit, there was a complete kit on craigslist here awhile back for 1K front and back and sides, just wish it wasnt Christmas and I would have had the cash...

Think after wrapping Christmas gifts, and coming back and doing a bit of editing, it is finished till somebody else makes it better. Thanks

Well this is just a modified one I found on the web, tailored to the Z, and I think, made just a bit better. Merry Christmas to all.

This morning, I felt like creating a Z Christmas parody, look around the web, found something close and tried to improve on it. I wanted to share my joy of getting bit by the Z bug this year. And I'm thankful for all the wonderful information found here on the HybridZ site. MadMaxDallas Twas the Z Night Before Christmas.... 'Twas the night before Christmas, and in the garage, there was not a trace of a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. The presents were wrapped, and the lights were all lit, so I figured I'd mess with my Z just a bit. I popped the release and I lifted the hood, was checking the oil, when a deep voice behind me said "looks pretty good". As you can imagine, I turned mighty quick, and there by the bench, stood ol Saint Nick! I stood there a bit, not sure what to say, then Santa said "wanna trade for a sleigh?" I said "No way, Santa" and started to grin, "But if you got time, we could take a spin!" His round little mouth, tied up like a bow, turned into a smile as he said "Close that hood and lets give it a go!!" So as not to wake the kids, or disturb all the neighbors' retreat, we pushed the little Z out into the street. Then, taking our places to drift down the hill, I turned on the key and let the blow off valve squeal. The sound that erupted took him a bit by surprise; But he liked it a lot, you could tell from his eyes. With Pirelli’s a' crying and exhaust tips aglow, we headed on out where all the hot rodders go. Santa's grin widened, approaching his ears, with every shift up as I went through the gears. Then he yelled "Can't recall when I've felt so alive!" So I backed off the gas and asked "Do you wanna drive?" Old Santa was stunned as I threw him the keys, he touched the side of his nose, and "poof" I was in the passenger seat. The Datsun roared to life as Santa laid into the gas, the Garrett spooled up, never this fast! Power shifting into second, and then into third, I sat there watching Santa with a total loss for words. St. Nick turned to me with a gleam in his eye, And said “Lets add another turbo & then let’r Fly!” With a wave of his hand and a prayer to the Lord, There were twin turbos & methanol injection aboard! We passed Hemi’s, Cobra's and Veyron's that night, and punched fifth gear and blasted out of sight. Back to the garage we had to fly. St. Nick turned to me with a twinkle in his eye, he threw back the keys to my little Z ride. He jumped back in his sleigh, with a large smile on his lips; and said "I will watch your project progress on HybridZ lists." As he sped out of sight, one last cry could you hear “Merry Christmas Z man, and a Happy New Year!”

Don't know if it's the same, but I do have the complete front end from underneath the 2+2 (as in the whole enchalada). Looks like it could use some new seals in the power stearing unit, and boot's for that. But it might be easier to rebuild and then swap out. Leave me a message and I will send you my phone number. Na I was talking about the club that meets in Carrollton at the Buffet. (http://www.zcluboftexas.org/) I am not a member yet, December is big expense time for me, but plan on maybe joining in Jan.

Firm, I am in Dallas area too. Awhile back, I purchased a 2+2 turbo for parts from craigs list, for my Turbo car (spares) and son's N/T. It was white and red interior. I took out almost everything. I was planning on keeping the turbo motor to rebuild and build out next year, and swap out my Turbo motor (runs good) but wanted to build a fresh motor for it with some performance mod's. My point is. I have a complete 83 wiring harness, complete turbo dash, and all the stuff that goes on it. I am pretty new to the forums too here, and have enjoyed all the information. But I plan on joining the local Dallas Z club, just so I can get together face to face with other Z lovers. I am sure its a great place to get together and find sources for items we want, or get suggestions on projects and who has done what, and actually get a chance to look at the results. They meet once a month, I didn't get a chance to go last month due to working out of town. Maybe catch ya there?

Funny thing, went to our local nissan distributor this past weekend, and purchased the newer style connector as seen in that link, complete with new boot and pig tail wiring for 6.95 each. Big plus is being able to squeeze the bail wire and release the connector over the older style.

Duh, didnt read you had a 5 speed in it. Here is a link that will help you in figuring out what you need to get the rpm's down (Rear end wise) http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/differential/index.htm http://www.geocities.com/inlinestroker/ratio.html Somewhere I have a link, that will let you enter in your gears, and it will tell you rpm vs speed in 5th. If I find it I will post it.

Nice car Niku, very similar to mine. I felt the same about needing taller gears, but actually they will do 120 from my calculations. But all is not lost, I have a friend who is a transmission specialist, and does alot of the race cars here in Dallas. He is going to put in a a Jatco L4N71B for me. I will have to shorten the drive shaft a bit, which is not to expensive, but having the Over Drive will be really nice. Maybe drop 70 mph from 3500 rpm down to 2800 rpm. Probably not be done till February, but I will keep our S130's friends with auto transmissions informed.

Sounds like a nt swapped to a turbo. If you post the vin number for the car ill run it through my fast system and tell you what it came with originally.

Well I have a few Z's now. Will put all my pictures here after they are all gathered up: http://www.longhofer.com/index.php?set_albumName=album04&name=gallery&include=slideshow.php The nice one is my 81ZXT. Has 155K miles. Exceptional interior, exterior and engine. Of course have a few rust spots to take care of. But this one is my love. Also have 1983ZXT, and 1983ZX non turbo, i purchased for my son. Pictures of the motor rebuild of our 83 nt. This was our first time, so its really cant be to hard!. Wife thinks I am regressing back to my teen age years..