TR's 260z L28 Build Thread

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Alright well I'd rather do this here instead of the Member's Projects so I can get constructive comments and direction on my build. I can make a car domain page if I want clean documentation, which I probably will when I'm done.

 

Here is a link to my member intro thread where I detail getting the car.

 

 

Anywho, I just picked up my 1974 260z Sunday, complete with recently rebuilt L28 and carbs, and a bunch of other extras. The plan for now is to get it drivable ASAP, then work on the body and such on the go. For now I'll stick with the carb'd L28, but eventually I'll be doing a full megasquirt holset turbo build.

 

 

All I got around to doing this weekend was cleaning up the clutch and flywheel from the oil that leaked all over the place while it was on end in storage. I also played around a little with the shifter. Something's not quite right there, even with a washer shimming it...

 

List of things to do short term:

- Source bolts and such to mate engine and tranny, and install on chassis.

- Source whatever I need for the clutch system - throwout arm and bushing, m&s cylinders, etc.

- Drop gas tank and clean it and fuel lines

- Check, clean, and refresh brake system

- Start cleaning up the carbs

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Made a trip to autozone to price some stuff and pick up a few items I'll need this weekend.

 

As shown in the pic, I followed this site's suggestion on the shifter bushings. I grabbed part #38374 because they didn't have #38377 in stock. Twas $5

 

I also picked up the clutch pilot tool I found out I'd need when I took the pressure plate and the clutch dropped out of place. (give me a break, I've been used to autos, I'm new to this stuff). Twas $3

 

Assuming I don't have what I need in that cache of parts we're picking up this Friday, The slave cylinder would be $18, dizzy cap and rotor $14, ignition coil $26, and clutch fork $31. We couldn't find a throwout bearing in the system. Hopefully I'll have most of that in the parts cache.

[TrumpetRhapsody]

I'm going to reference the attached pics by number - ie: (1)

 

Alright well the main goal of this weekend was to pick up the cache of parts, and get them organized into the shop (1).

 

Now for the car's progress:

I got the clutch re-installed (2).

Throwout bearing and arm installed (3), hopefully correct for my pressure plate

Got the fenders off (4)

Found some trauma under the fenders (5-6).

 

Both sides are a little crunchy and welded like that. Hopefully it's not too big of a deal for my power goals.

 

 

So the list for the next few weekends:

Fix battery area rust hole (7)

Rebuild the carbs

Source all the bolts I need to get everything put together and installed

Mount the motor

Start plumbing lines and attaching wiring

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Well I made some preparatory purchases, stuff I know I'll need. Cost me about $100 for all of it.

 

I'm not so sure that carb rebuild kit is going to work. It looks like a different SU model. I have another thread going to talk about that though.

 

I've also got a deal going to get all the bolts and such I'll need. Hopefully that all comes through before I get back out to the shop.

[Challenger]

Are you in need of fender bolts? Ive got a box of brand new SS Id give to you, just pay shipping.

[TrumpetRhapsody]

PM Sent. Much thanks!

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Thanks a ton mopar!!! I just got the SS bolts in, and they're awesome! Can't wait to put them to good use.

[Challenger]

No problem. I forgot to give them to the body guy so he used all the old bolts and painted over them. Hope they work, and youve got the little rubber washers to avoid cratching the paint....

 

BTW how was the envelope? The peope at Ups were having a fit that it might tear and that I should pay them for a box. How considerate of them.

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Shows what they know. It held up great the way you taped it.

 

Project update while I'm here:

 

I returned the carb kits. I think I may just try to lube it up and see if I can get them running as is. If not I'll rebuild at that point.

 

I'm currently pursuing a lead on a R200 LSD. Not sure if it's going to pan out or not, but it would be a pretty cool addition. I wasn't planning on trying to find one for quite some time, but this one kinda forced itself on me, haha.

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Progress!

I didn't get as much done as I wanted to this weekend, but I was feeling pretty crappy. The flu has been going around campus, and I think I had a brief case of it.

We ended up using those bolts I bought to mate the tranny to the engine. We had to cut a little of the end of the threads, but otherwise they seemed to work perfectly. I'll research to see if they're going to be strong enough. If not I'll just replace them with all the bolts I'm eventually going to get from that Z Specialist guy down in Texas.

 

We played around a little with some sandblasting. It seemed to remove the rust very well. Next time I'm out there I'm first going to try to pick up some primer and maybe even paint, and try to get started on that portion of the project.

 

Also, I went ahead and drained the mostly full gas tank. I need to get some new fuel lines for it, purge the hard lines, then figure out how to hook up the lines without all that charcoal canister stuff that I'm missing.

 

I also included a pic of the outside of the shop. It was a nice day, so it seemed like a good time to take one for those of you curious about it.

 

For the next work weekend:

-Hopefully I'll have all the bolts I need so I can get the engine accessories mounted up

-Lube up and mount the carbs and manifolds, and hope they'll work without a rebuild.

-Get some DOT 5 brake fluid and get the clutch system going

-Get what I need to repack the wheel bearings

-Figure out what I need to refresh/rebuild the brake system

-Start working on hooking back up the electrical system

-If starter gets hooked up, do a compression test

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Alright well i'm too lazy to take a pic of the parts I bought for now (plus that's kinda lame I guess), but I got the following:

 

Intake/Exhaust Manifold Gasket - $11

Dot3 Brake Fluid - $8

Some Hose Clamps - $5

B-12 Chemtool - $2

Fan Belt - $10

Oil, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter - $26

 

So I spent around $75 getting stuff ready for next weekend. I still need to pick up some fuel tubing and fittings (5/16?), and make sure I DO have a voltage and fuel regulator installed. If all goes well I hope to at least get the engine cranking, if not get a little sputter out of her.

 

Seeing how easy the sandblasting was, I think I've decided to take the plunge and put the car in primer before I put her on the streets temporarily. I figure I can get like a black epoxy primer ($70 locally), and leave it in that till I get around to trying my hand at a metallic graphite grey with a candy blue overcoat paint job ($250+ locally?).

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Day 1

I didn't have a chance to get the primer, so I'll be focusing my efforts toward the engine. It's proving to be a pretty decent effort in itself. Apparently I don't have the fuel rails I thought I did, and I didn't by the T fuel line coupler I meant to. On top of that, none of my radiator hoses fit, since this radiator was desinged with a V8 in mind.

 

Anywho, we did a compression test and it's not too bad:Dry: Wet:

120 160

130 150

120 175

110 160

115 180

70 145

 

So, this means that the electronics are working. It seems like I need a new blinker relay, the the running lights don't work, and a couple other things. The brake lights, interior lights, choke light, ebrake light, defrost light, heater fan, and starter works though. So I'll have some gremlins to work out.

 

I need to figure out what else I need to get ready for in the engine compartment before spring break. Apparently I bought the square exhaust port manifold gasket instead of the round, but I'll just have to deal with it. I'm hoping to clean up the headers and such and get the manifold and carbs mounted, that is if I have the bolts and nuts needed. I also need to get some brake tubing to use on the clutch slave cylinder. I forgot about that, so I'll have to bleed the clutch next weekend.

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Day 2

(yesterday)

Alright well today I didn't get as much done as I wanted to. We mainly focused on bleeding all the sludge out of the brake system. It's looking like I'm going to need a new or rebuilt brake master cylinder, but at least I have clean fluid in the lines now. I also got my heater hoses connected, which are currently bypassing the heater core, which is all rusty and needs some TLC.

 

Over the course of the weekend we also got most of the rust stripped off the headers using the calcium carbonate electrolyte bath method. They still need one more session to get the middle portion, then some blasting/grinding to get them cleaned up, then a couple coats of high temp paint and they'll be ready to go.

 

So before I go out for spring break I need to:

Get some soft brake tubing for the clutch slave cylinder

Get a new or rebuild kit for brake master cylinder

Figure out how to wire up the coil, alternator, and distributor

Get some high temp paint

Get the primer and related stuff so I can make an attempt at getting that done

[TrumpetRhapsody]

I just got back from the trip into Eureka springs. I ran up there to grab the alternator, fuel rail, and some screws off the one engine we weren't able to get when we got all those parts from that guy a couple weeks back. We actually ended up fitting the engine and all in my Regal, haha! It looks like a low rider in the back. Pics attached...

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Alrighty, well as of about 9:00 Saturday night, IT RUNS!

 

I had to run a switched 12v power source to the fuel pump, since it can't figure out to run by itself for some reason.

 

Also, apparently bypassing that coil ballast resistor has worked... kinda. I get no spark while cranking until I return it to the ON position, then it fires. I don't get spark in the START position for some reason. Further research is needed.

 

I'm taking lots of video, but since I'm on dialup it won't get put up till after next weekend. Maybe Sunday night, but doubt it.

 

I'm just happy to have it making noise at all. Now I need to start reading up on how to tune the SU's, and figure out why I don't have any temp reading on the coolant temp gauge. w00t!

[datsun40146]

congrats, it feels nice doesn't it?

[TrumpetRhapsody]

I'd say "you can't even imagine", because that's how I feel, but I'm sure that all of you can. I'm so relieved to have it running. All of my money spent coming to fruition.

 

I went and played with it a little more tonight. I used the hose into the venturi trick to get the carbs more balanced and get a decent idle, and I must say I'm pleased. It's much smoother now, and I was comfortable enough with the sound to give it a couple revs, which sounded great.

 

I still need to figure out the alternator wiring, get a ballast resistor, permanently mount the radiator and install the electric fan, source a throttle linkage, attach the driveshaft, get my clutch hydraulic line (comes in Tuesday), install my new refurb brake master cylinder and bleed the lines, and I should be able to take it for a quick spin. I can't wait!

 

I'm thinking I might go ahead and order at the very least some needles and such, if not a full rebuild kit, from Z-therapy to further tune this thing.

[MJLamberson]

what part of the inkage do you need? I have all the linkage that is attatched to the mani and the TB, but thats it.

 

EDIT: nvm, forgot you were running carbs

[TrumpetRhapsody]

I need the rod that goes from the intake mani to the firewall, and the bracket that holds it on. It should be the same for FI and carbs, I think.

[TrumpetRhapsody]

Alright nevermind about the linkage. Thanks to one of big-phil's videos, I called the "Z Car Specialist" down in Dallas (I used him to get some nuts and bolts a few weeks ago too), and he is going to send me a ballast resistor and the throttle linkage I need. Assuming I get the parts in by Friday, and everything else goes well, I could be driving the car around by next weekend.

 

 

I got my new master cylinder installed, and in-car bench bled. I need to work on the firewall side pressure fitting, as it leaks when pumped. I'll try backing it in and out then tightening it down to try to get it to seal. Hopefully it won't be a problem.

 

I also got my driveshaft installed, and started up the car without it attempting to go anywhere, so I'm hoping/thinking that my throwout collar is the right one. I guess we'll find out for sure tomorrow when I get my clutch slave hydraulic line and try to put it in gear.