Guest Mr. Big Business Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 After over a year of sitting in the garage, I finally got my ZZ4 hybrid started the other day! I did a little dance, and went and shouted it from the mountaintops, I was so happy. However, I have a few questions for the experts. For reference, this is my setup: ZZ4, everything is pretty much stock, with GM HEI distributor, and an MSD 6AL. I'm using a Holley Street Avenger, with vac. secondaries, and haven't touched an adjustment screw yet. I had the vacuum advance disconnected, and plugged off at the carb. 1) It was 'idling' at about 2000 rpm, and the timing was reading 10 degrees. At that speed, is the mechanical/centifugal advance coming in to play, thus screwing up my timing? 2) After running for a minute or two, my headers (hooker block huggers, ceramic coated) were starting to glow dull red. It that normal? 3) After leaving it sit overnight and a day, it wouldn't start last night. It'll crank easily enough, and tried to sputter a few times, but no dice. The fuel pump is running, and I haven't re-wired anything, so I assume it's still getting spark. Any suggestions? Thanks, Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 350zgto Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 I am planning the zz4 into 240z jtr swap. chevy d-port heads, Do you have the d-ports and if so, do the Hookers fit ok? Do the headers match up to to d-ports ok and seal properly? Hooker part # 2100 type? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr. Big Business Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 Yep, those headers fit. I got the ceeramic coated, to help with the underhood heat, and make them hopefully last a bit longer. I have whatever aluminum heads come from GM on the ZZ4, I think D-ports, definitely with angle plugs. I wasn't all that stressed out about the ports not being exact, since I'm not drag racing, not running super wide tires. I think I can afford to lose a few HP or ft-lb and still be able to smoke tires at will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 My friend dropped a ZZ4/700r4 with 3.55 rear gears in a similiar weighted vehicle as the early Z and runs 12.5's at 109. Very nice choice in motors! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Perry Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 I've seen the glowing headers before. it was timing. we advanced it some more and let it run for a while cause we were trying to keep revs up to break in a flat tappet cam. Assuming you've got fuel etc... advance the timing a bit more to get it started. Sorry i can't remember which way (clockwise or counter) was advance, maybe someone else can chime in here. I recommend getting the idle down to about 800-1000 then set timing without the vac advance hooked up to whatever you want to use, 8 or 10 should be fine, then plug in your vac advance. that should fix the glow and make it start easier. then assuming it seems alright don't worry about it until you start driving it and are ready to really tune it up. I have done a few first starts on new SBC's so I only have a bit of experience... but this worked for me, hope this helps you out. Oh yea leave the vac canister plugged in unless you are checking timing. Perry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 <amateur opinion>You're either running too lean or too far advanced or both</amateur opinion> Assuming your marks are accurate, I don't see how 10deg. adv. is too far - seems like it ought to be more like 13-15. So that leaves mixture. Now you're talkin carbs and I hate carbs, so I can't help you. Pull a plug and see if it's white - ought to be tannish brown. My own personal experience with mysterious no-starts is that it's always ignition. Either a blown coil, bad wires, fouled plugs or a disconnected, broken or shorted wire. Put a timing light on the coil wire and it should flash when you crank, put it on all the other 8 wires and it should also flash. Check your front bowl and make sure it's full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 350zgto Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 Henry new engines run at much higher temps until they are broken in, but the red glow is lean mixture since your initial timing is close enough. Yes vaccum advance is coming in at 2,000 RPM. You are correct to run the engine at @ 2,000 RPM after first start up for a while to oil the cam. aviod allowing the engine to idle for several minutes anyway. For the no start condition, make sure there is fuel in the bowls and it is squirting with a slight opening of the throttle. Check your spark w/ timing light. If you have fuel and spark it should go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HICKL Posted September 24, 2003 Share Posted September 24, 2003 If your distributer is not tight enough, it can and will retard itself when running (happened to me). Counterclockwise at the distributer will advance it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr. Big Business Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 WOO HOO! It runs. I had the distributor off a tooth, which meant I could never get enough advance. After fixing that, it fired right back up. I also discovered that I was idling at 2000 rpm because my throttle cable didn't have enough slack. duh. I now have it dialed in to about 10 degrees at 800 rpm. It sounds so sweet, and I actually got to drive around our neighborhood in first and second. No more glowing headers, either. Now all I have left is hooking up the speedo, wrapping all the wires, getting the blinkers to work, hooking up the e-brake, making a new diff mount, and a hundred other little things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Perry Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Congratulations!! I still don't have my little stuff done but mine starts and drives around too. My motivation to work on the car went through the roof when I didn't have to push it around by hand anymore. My neighbors will probably applaud when I get the thing inspected finally and stop doing burnouts down the alley behind the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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