JMortensen

Well that puts a damper on things, doesn't it. Jon

Doesn't the Mazda engine run around 25psi boost? That's why I think a turbo wouldn't work well. You need some rpms to get that kind of boost from a turbo. A drag only car might be able to use a turbo, but probably not a street car. I'm sure if someone wanted to try it you could get the cam profile from a Millenia and make a pretty good guess on the cam. I like Drax's idea of a DOHC motor though, because you could tweak the cam timing easier. Jon

I know this is going to be unpopular, but might I suggest something other than a Fel-Pro gasket? These have a nickname in my cirle of Datsun friends - Failure Prone. Everyone I know personally that knows Datsuns runs a factory or Stone gasket. This includes a Nissan master tech and quite a few weekend warriors. Seems like on all the internet lists I've been to everyone is concerned with head gasket issues, and everyone talks about using Fel-Pro exclusively. Maybe there is a connection??? I changed the cam in one of my L engines without pulling the head, and was told that I was going to have gasket problems by people on the internet who use Fel-Pro. Never happened. That motor ran for another 40K before the front crank pulley came loose and damaged the snout of the crank, and I autoxed every month and ran as many days at the track as I could, probably 8 on that head gasket. I'm not blaming the gasket for your current failure. Obviously driving around with no coolant caused your problem. I'm just trying to help you out for the future. That's my experience, take it for what it is worth, Jon

One reason I just thought of - LAG! Jon

Just realized that the overlap thing won't work. You apparently want the intake open late, but not the exhaust. Jon

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/Geek/geek000320.html I've always been interested in the Miller cycle engine. I got a ride in a Millenia S when they first came out. Pretty spunky for a big car with a 2.3L engine. It looks like the efficiency comes from not having to compress the air/fuel from the bottom of the compression stroke??? I wonder if a large overlap cam on a high pressure turbo would do basically the same??? Never heard of that being a good combo, but maybe the cam timing needs to be just right... Jon

Seems like there are a couple of people who like stiffer front springs, I think 260DET is one also. The general consensus seems to be stiffer in the rear. FWIW, I started with 250's all around and went down to 200's in front because of the unbelievable plow. I think a LOT of this has to do with the driver. To each his own! Jon

That looks like the biggest, most bad @ss oil filter wrench ever!!! Jon

You and ON3GO should be in soap operas or something. So much drama! Replacing the water pump was a 20 minute job the first time I ever did it with no Z experience whatsoever. I doubt you warped your head with minimal driving on the engine. Just get a good pump with a cast iron blade (Paraut sp? makes a good one) not a sheet metal blade and you'll be good to go in 1/2 hour. Jon

The Honda blower moves a lot more air than the original. The key to getting a Z heater to work is to make sure the hoses going through the firewall are in good shape, make sure the heater control valve is working (you can usually take it out and clean it if not), and make sure the cables are adjusted. Adjusting the cables is a PITA, but once it's done its done, and you shouldn't have to mess with it for a long time. I've never seen a Z with a bad heater core ever. Not to say it doesn't happen, but they don't seem to be prone to leaking. Jon

If you register the car as anything pre 74 then you are exempt. If you register based on the newer drivetrain then you would have to smog. The confusion comes in because it is legal to install a newer engine in an older car in CA (even a swap), but you have to smog based on the newer engine's requirements. If you don't specify the newer drivetrain, you should be OK, and I don't think that you are even technically breaking any laws since the year of the vehicle itself makes the car smog exempt, and they don't ask about the drivetrain anyhow. Jon

What problem are you trying to fix? Mine works great, but I hated the fan. I installed a fan from a late 80's Civic and it blows much better. Bolts right in, just have to make 2 short wires to hook up to the stock wiring. VERY EASY. I've also gotten the same blower fan from late 80's Integra, BTW. Are you also having a problem with airflow, or were you trying to fix something else? Jon

Thanks Joe! I'll make a note of that. Jon

Toyota went from solid rotors to vented in '86. If you've got solid rotors, get pads for an '83 Toy 4x4. For vented, get pads for a '93 and you should be fine. My understanding is that the size of the pistons was changed at least once after '86, but the pads are all the same. Jon

There should be a brass lever looking thing which is bent out so that it touches the copper ring on the steering wheel. Grease the copper ring, and bend the lever thing out so that it touches. Jon

Did you pay by cc? If so, dispute the charge with Visa or MC or whoever. The BBB can pressure the shop, the cc company can give you a refund. Note to ALL: If you pay by cc the cc companies will be your advocate if something goes wrong. If I ever buy anything expensive and have any question about it, I stick it on the card just for that reason. BUT - don't just dispute anything you put on the card because you don't like what you bought, because it costs the merchants money to fight it, and if you were wrong the merchant still gets screwed. Jon

"It's better to ask forgiveness than permission." I don't know who said it but they were right. Some women don't understand and never will. When I was selling diff parts I sold a lot of parts to guys who COULDN'T tell the wife. Luckily for me, my wife actually understands my Z thing. She has even autocrossed and been out on the big track a couple of times. She likes to race the car when you can drag her ass out there. If you ask her about racing in advance she is not interested at all. When she finally gets there and does a run and gets out of the car and her hands are shaking and she's got the ear to ear smile and her voice is quivering and she says "What did you DO to that thing since last time???" then she will admit that she enjoys it. Personally, I'm not real fond of the idea of embezzling money from the bank account to pay for Z parts. Especially since you are not married yet, I would sit down and have a talk with her about the Z, and possibly other hobbies you may have. My wife understands that I want my Z "done" before she gets pregnant. I'm smart enough to know that unless I start making a pile of money if we have a kid my adjustable control arm money is going to be Pampers money in no time. Don't be like all those guys I sold parts to and build your marriage on lies. Talk to your woman and set up a budget for you to spend on the Z. Jon

I am still confused about why people want bronze shifter bushings. You would figure the bronze ones would transmit more vibration into the stick, and I would think that they would wear faster, and probably cause a loud rattle when they do. I seem to remember people charging $50 for a set of bronze bushings. Sorry I can't remember who was making them, but I know I've seen them listed on the zhome.com list. You might want to ask there if you've got your heart set on them. I haven't priced the stock bushings out, but they gotta be $10 or less... Jon

I've heard of a guy who does media blasting in Marysville. I don't know the name of the shop, but media blasting would be the best. Jon

Thanks again. Jon

Just hook it up the normal way. I have never heard of, or seen in the previous posts, a way to hook a timing light to the distributor directly. Jon

Aux, he DID say he was looking for parts in the area... Jon

Let's not forget that those farms employing illegal workers are probably also collecting subsidies... Jon

Thanks, all responses are appreciated. Here's a more direct question related to the bearings. The kit I have came with Nachi bearings. Any opinions on Nachi. I've never heard of them... Jon

Good luck. I hope it hauls balls and doesn't smoke after all you've been through. Jon