76 to 81 n/a swap

[afbrian13]

I'm taking my 76 280z/5speed and putting an 81 n/a in it with all the 81 sensors wiring etc.

Why? Because I have had engines in and out, stock, turbo, this wiring and that. Right now my toy has just been sitting and i want to put it together daily driver. My stock motor should have been ok but the harness is questionable. I think it's part of why it wouldn't run right. Along came a stock, untouched though very rusty 280zx with a blown rear. Starts right up, runs better than mine has for a looonnggg time. So swap here we come!

 

I pulled the engine,trans and all wiring attched to the engine out and bolted into my 76. The idea was to not even break the electrical connections to the sensors, injectors, etc. It ran fine when I pulled it, no excuse not to run fine again.

Plus i get a regular, easily sourced relay instead of that old combo deal no under dash transistor unit and no ballast by the coil!

 

The only place that I've come to thats a little hairy it the coil wiring, tach etc.

 

The ecu power is easy. Just take the fuse links from the 81 by the batt. add terminal ends and voila. The drop resistor brackets swap and then bolts in stock location.

 

Looks like a larger black wire by the ecu plug that should just be a grnd. much better than the case ground on the older ones. theres a 2 wire plug that the diagrams say isn't used (gee nissan-than why is it there?)

 

I found a good write up here(I DID NOT MAKE THIS) on swapping a zx dizzy into a 240, but some wires are a little different. http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/electrical.htm

Theres some other very good info on that site.

 

Looking at the 2 diagrams (76 and 81)I took:

 

81 Ignition unit wires to the + and - on the coil.

76 Blue from the neg on ballast should go to a resistor and on to the tach;hook to coil neg

76 black/white from ballast pos term ( on and start 12vlt+ from ignition sw.); hook to + on coil

 

Here is the part I may need double ch'd:

 

looks like theres is a terminal on the dizzy that should hook to a condensor then to the wire between the coil + and the ignition sw. Is this correct?(should just be for "noise reduction" so thats why it wasn't even hooked up on the 81 and the radio buzzed like when you have a bad alternator condensor-just a thought.

 

Also-the 81ecu looks like it gets a signal off the neg coil to pin 18 on ecu( a yellow with bullet terminal.)Looks like this is the standalone wire with the one wire plug. it turns from yellow to blue at this plug.

Over by the battery there is a 3wire plug coming out of the harness right by the fusible links. What are these for? can't find this plug on the diagram.

 

I just need to hook up a new fuel pump relay since my 76 was rigged with a on off sw on the console - not really a good plan.

 

If anyone has any insights, ideas, suggestions or opinions please let me know. I'll will post if my proposed wiring works as planned!

 

 

 

 

Other plans for the parts car:

I plan to take the electric mirrors and add them to my 76. I think they'll look good once i get my msa type 2 kit. We all know that once your sitting and strapped in there isn't any reaching the pass side to adjust mirrors!

Also going to take the relay pack and rewire my headlights to use relays instead of melting wires on my column! novel concept.

I plan to use the a/c compressor, condensor and dryer along with a 78 evaporator to add some A/C.

I think i can modify the power window mechanics to work in my 76. my passenger regulator in BENT anyway and doesn't work right.

Use the marker lights with black mounts on the 76 because i want to black out my chrome so why not just take it off the corners?

 

If anybody's interested in a good hatch, ttops w/bags and other misc stuff pm me. I love to trade stuff better than $$. I need some 76 interior door panels even that need recovered. My car didn't even come with crappy ones.

Edited May 28, 2011 by afbrian13

[afbrian13]

so i got it to run, but only after jumpering the efi relay. just need to figure out why the efi relay isn't being energized when i turn the key. Either way, the kids and i went back and forth in the driveway and into the garage under its own power! progress.