"Jenova" '79 280ZX

[Jenova]

Hello everyone! I thought I might as well document everything that I have done to the car/planning on doing. LONG POST!

Backstory: Sixteen years old and I wanted(NEEDED) a car- managed to find a 1979 280ZX N/A located somewhere in Texas. Being that I live in California, there was no way I could go and look at it. Luckily  my mother lives out there and decided to go check it out. Yet, she didn't know much about cars, so I didn't know how well this would play out.

Nevertheless, a few days later I receive a call stating "You got a car!" I was in complete disbelieve that she purchased it, without me even looking to see if it was running correctly/rust/etc. Managed to ship the car out here to Cali within a few weeks and I finally had my hands on a Z!

Now, my father's been a mechanic his whole life- even owning his own shop for some 20+ years, so I felt that I was in SOME good hands. First thing I heard when the car is dropped off at my house is "the engine's missing". I freakout thinking the engines "GONE"- but it was barely running. and I mean BARELY. After a few weeks of doing the basic tune-ups (sparkplugs/oil/cap&rotor) it was running okay-but just okay.

Present: Over the past few years the car has had it's difficulties - such as a the alternator belt blowing up on the way home one day, and the alternator itself crapping out. But other than that, it was wonderful. Yet as I continued to drive it- more problems slowly crept up. The timing was off, and I mean WAY off. It was at fifteen degrees after TDC, so I was amazed that it was still running. After weeks of trying to get the timing to work- we could only get it to five degrees after top dead center. After reading, I thought the oil pump might of been in incorrectly- and sure enough I was correct. Put the oil pump in correctly and BAM! Perfect timing! I spent money here and there fixing small parts. But once I hit around nineteen and had some money in my pockets, I started to spoil her!

First, I replaced the entire exhaust system cat-back (Cali. SMOG Wooo!) with some 2 1/2 inch piping and it kicked up the power a little. Then I put on some KYB struts to help with the suspension a little bit- but it did NOTHING. Guess I need to replace the bushings to really get a big difference in ride quality. I bought a MSD Blaster II coil to help with the cold starts, as well as some 8mm spark plug wires. Then I made some aesthetic changes, such as taking of the rear louver(also, does anyone want a rear louver?), and blacking out the trim located everywhere on the car(chrome only looks good on Harley's IMO), as well as blacking out the stock wheels.

Anyway: future modifications are where the real fun starts. I plan on getting a set of S13 coilovers to get some REAL ride quality changes as well as replacing the bushings w/ polyurethane  I'm planning on running an oil cooler on the engine to help keep it as healthy as possible, as well as mount the oil cooler to the front of the bumper to give it a little of the "shakotan" look. Then eventually putting some 10 inch wide wheels all around with the big-ass ZG flares. Once I have a garage big enough I want to eventually put in a L28ET, and enjoy all the fun that comes out of that decision. 

Since I have two jobs/going to college full time, I only have time to work on her doing the weekend, so progress is verrryy slow. I daily-drive her each and everyday, and the engines clocked at around 270k miles but runs fantastically  This weekend I plan on replacing the transmission fluid as well as running some Amsoil Power Foam through the engine to blow some carbon out. Being a Cali. car, I am limited to a large amount of modifications, such as aftermarket ECU's, header changes, changes to the intake manifold, and pretty much EVERYTHING ELSE. But I will get away with as much as possible!

As of right now, that's pretty much it! I love this car to death and I feel lucky that this car was my introduction into the automotive field. I will continue to update this thread every weekend with what I have done/will be doing to it as to keep a log of everything!

 

[BluDestiny]

At 16 and in CA, why were you looking for a car in TX? I'm sure you could have found one locally for cheap, and checked it out. If your mom lives in TX I would have tried to register it there lol.

 

Cali sucks. My 280zx wouldn't pass smog, so I said "F*** it, I go to school in FL so I'll register it there". Does your car pass smog now? 

 

As for suspension, bushing make probably the second most noticeable difference right after a full set of NOT OEM shocks and springs. The KYB's are OEM and I bet your shocks weren't blown. S13 coilover conversion is very straight forward and simple, just get decent quality coilovers. 

 

Good luck with your project, and I'd suggest to do the turbo conversion as soon as possible. It will make the car much more fun. 

 

Edit: You're like the 3 person I've seen this week post a brown ZX

Edited March 15, 2013 by BluDestiny

[Jenova]

I actually couldnt find a good running one anywhere near me, and it was cheap as hell with a "rebuilt" engine in TX.

 

As for passing smog, I just have a spare AFM that I throw on with the leanest setting on it to pass smog. Hasn't been a problem yet.

 

Thanks for reading it man! I appreciate it!

[Jenova]

Alright, last weekend I ended up changing out the transmission fluid. It was black as hell, I don't believe it's ever been changed- or if it was, probably around a decade ago. Smelled HORRIBLE. Filled up with some 80W90 GL-5 oil as much as it could take then put it back together. It shifts a little bit easier, but not really noticeable. Still getting a "clunk" when shifting into second, but that's not coming from the transmission so I don't care that much.
     Then I remembered I was smelling gasoline while driving so I looked on the intake manifold, and sure enough there was a leak on the hose for the cold start valve. I got some new tubing and put it back in. Smells gone now!
     I need to order a new emergency brake cable because it's completely broken on the drivers rear side. For now I only have the rear passenger wheel using the emergency brake, which makes me nervous parking on hills. Also, the driver side rear brakes are SO LOUD. It's constantly screeching even if I am not on the brakes. I replaced them a few weeks ago so they're not going bad, but they make have glazed or I may have gotten something on the rotor. I'll have to check it this weekend.
     I might throw my old AFM on which is tweaked to give it a little more air because I know I am defiantly running too rich and I've tried everything to put more air into the system. I guess I'll see how well that works out.
Also: Wooooo! I managed to "drift" her around a corner this weekend and controlled it! First time I've done that!

 

[BluDestiny]

I use Redline MT90 in my tranny. A little harsh, but once it warms up its good.

 

I would also delete the cold start valve to clear up the engine bay.

 

I've been driving without a rear brake for about a year and a half now. I just put it in gear when I park.

 

If you're "drifting" on your open dif, your more than likely damaging it. Go get it welded for cheap or find an LSD.

 

Put up more pics when you post

[Leon]

Put GL-4 fluid in your transmission. GL-5 will slowly kill your syncros.

[Jenova]

Put GL-4 fluid in your transmission. GL-5 will slowly kill your syncros.

 

The old GL-5 fluid(20-30 years ago) used to do that, the new additive in the modern GL-5's have fixed that problem. That's why it says on the bottle you can use it on manual transmissions, being that all manual transmissions use the brass syncros.

[Jenova]

I use Redline MT90 in my tranny. A little harsh, but once it warms up its good.

 

I would also delete the cold start valve to clear up the engine bay.

 

I've been driving without a rear brake for about a year and a half now. I just put it in gear when I park.

 

If you're "drifting" on your open dif, your more than likely damaging it. Go get it welded for cheap or find an LSD.

 

Put up more pics when you post

 

Emergency brake is more of a fail-safe for me. There's always a possibility my brakes could go out (hose breaks), and if I was on the freeway or on the street I'd like to know that I could slow the car down in an emergency with the brakes. Also parking on hills makes me nervous by just leaving it in gear.

 

And I daily drive the car so welding the diff wouldn't be the best decision haha, especially in the rain. As for LSD, I didn't know you could have one for the 280ZX? And yeah I'm thinking about getting rid of the cold start valve but I don't know how to plug up the fuel line leading to it. Also I would have a hole in the intake.

 

[BluDestiny]

I've parked on plenty of inclines with my car just in gear, but I also carry a wheel stop in the car that I use in serious mountain areas like San Diego. 

 

I know plenty of guys that daily with a welded diff. Not my cup of tea (I would never do it) but its possible.

 

As for the cold start valve. I had a plate cut out of steel and just used rtv as a gasket. For a while I just used a rubber line with a screw in it to block the fuel line, but I did this knowing I would be getting a fuel rail. 

[Leon]

 

The old GL-5 fluid(20-30 years ago) used to do that, the new additive in the modern GL-5's have fixed that problem. That's why it says on the bottle you can use it on manual transmissions, being that all manual transmissions use the brass syncros.

 

Not quite, but suit yourself. Current GL-5 oils may not corrode the brass, but they will wear it out at an excessive rate.

 

Read this before commenting: http://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf

[Jenova]

Yeah i read that a while back. Theres no citations or references to where he got his information and theres no publish date. So i just took it as a grain of salt. If I do notice difficulty shifting, then I'll switch oils, even though it'll probably be too late.

 

Anyway! This last weekend I just cleaned and waxed her. I got a new parking brake coming this week along with an oil cooler adapter! I just took it easy this weekend and spent the time with my father instead of working on the car.

 

Also; I continue to get completely random stalls while driving. As far as i can tell, its completely random with no precursor. I'll be driving and then the car will slowly drop its RPMS until it dies. I have to wait a few seconds until it starts up again and then its fine. I believe its electrical in nature but i cant pinpoint whats causing it. While the RPMS slowly drop, My throttle has no effect on the engine; almost as if doesn't exist. I've replaced the AFM, coil&wires, and ignition module. Theres been no change in the problem. I am STUMPED! It's even got my father stumped as well, and he knows EVERYTHING about these cars. I'll post some pictures later today of the car and an engine shot!

[Jenova]

All nice and pretty! I got this tire foam stuff and it works really well actually, shined them up perfectly.

[BluDestiny]

That sounds similar to a problem my friend was having. Basically his car sat forever, I got it running and back together, and it ran fine for a while, then two weeks later, whenever it would rev to 2000rpm UNDER LOAD ONLY it would just act like someone took their foot of the gas peddle, and idle to death. This would have in any gear and was scary as hell first time it happened when I was going down my street because I didn't believe my friend. Do the Pin tests for the ECU. 

 

It didn't help that he had a JDM fairlady, and it was more cost effective to put the money for a new ecu into an aftermarket ecu. Rather have new technology, then old tech that can fail again. So he got an SDS. 

 

Edit pic looks good, but get some better wheels and lower it a little. 

Edited March 29, 2013 by BluDestiny