Pzary3233 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 On the 26th of last weekend I went to take a look at a 280z after talking with Braap for a while about the s30 chasssis. I met Braap while on www.bimmerforums.com talking about our LSx M3 Swaps. Mine is currently waiting on headers to be made.... I don't feel like making my own at the moment. So there it sits. If you would like more information about my other project take a look at my project site: www.lsxe36m3.com . So anyway back to this 280z. Went and took a look at it... She's a sad sight at first but the more you dig the more you find that this car is all original and COMPLETE! Follow along as I list out the issues wrong with the car and possible ways of figuring out what's up then the plan of what's to come. Here are the detail shots, she's lead a hard life for such low miles... Already scored a new fender from the local U-Pull-It I hate going there because the owner is our direct competitor but they are the only deal in town for anything older then 2000. This I am told by my friend who is a PDR guy that it will be easy to get to the point I can work with it. Metal stretched too much... Pretty straight, minor surface rust around the gas filler door Glad this fender is going away! Grabbing another hood this AM! Completely rust free on this side! Original Spare, Inflator, and complete tool kit! This is the only major rust that needs to be taken care of... piece of cake. Complete interior in all original conditon and in GOOD condition with a nice cleaning. Even the Period correct radio WORKS! This is also an AC car! The previous owner wired in some wanna be projector driving lights, that's what is hanging down.. All gauges are in great shape! Never rolled over original 55k documented miles on the car!!! Documentation, complete with warranty service book from Savannah GA to Jim Kera's Nissan (I despise their Subaru Dealership) where it was serviced from 1994 till a few years ago. So what's up with the car? Fuel System was half way taken apart. I do not think that the previous owner realized that the fuel pump will only work when the motor is sucking air through the AFM. (Hey I used the search!) So he started to diagnose a no fuel issue. thus he removed the fuel rail and halfway placed it back on the car. However not completely. I will go through and replace all of the soft lines. The injectors look like they have seen better days, but they seem to have passed the injector tests. *Test Injectors - check with ohm meter - will test again with the EFI handbook. *Replace Fuel System Soft Lines *Replace Missing Hose Clamps *Verify the correct operation of the fuel pump - per the factory service manual. The Starting System is another mystery. I do not think that the starter signal is actually getting to the starter. There is power there... but I also cannot bump the starter with a screwdriver... I'll be tracing through the wiring thanks to the FSM! The previous owner says that the starter "locked up" on him. The motor turns freely. *Trace Wiring *Check Fuse *Pull Starter and Verify it is actually "Locked Up" *Replace if needed. From there I have a feeling that I may be going through the EFI system to diagnose some issues. Due to some wires being stripped and twist nuts having been used to join wires. I also plan to replace all the soft vacuum lines. *Replace all vacuum lines per the factory service manual and the EFI Bible. *Trace wires in the EFI system to make sure that everything is going where it is supposed to be going. Get rid of the unsightly and dangerous twist nut wire caps. *From there with my fingers crossed I HOPE that the car will start and run. If not continue the list... *Diagnose the issues of the EFI system via the EFI Bible. This diagram is going to prove invaluable I am sure The other thing I have noticed was that the brake lights don't work nor do the individual turn signals (hazards work). The Blower motor works as does the vent door to select where the air goes! The only other problem is that the Dash lights do not work. *Check Fuses *Check Wiring *Check turn signal stalk *Replace vacuum lines in the HVAC system. Once that is done, AC would be nice, so replacing all of the o-rings and the belt would be a good idea... Then A/C for next summer! One thing I have noticed about the Xenon FSM is that only about half the pages are readable...every other page is very grainy and not readable. Does anyone else have that issue? I surely would not mind buying one! Anyways, that looks like a mountain of stuff to fix just for a daily driver/Auto X toy while my BMW is still on the operating table... But for the price I cannot complain at all!!!! If you've made it through all of this do you have any suggestions or things that I have overlooked being a new Z owner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted October 3, 2010 Administrators Share Posted October 3, 2010 And the fun begins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModernS30 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Good looking start there. I say keep the fender, it adds character. If you really know what you're doing (I mean REALLY know what you are doing). Where metal is stretched a light touch with a torch can contract the metal. It is an art form of sorts because there are so many obvious dangers. Good luck and have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 Thanks for the complements guys! Braap noted in a PM that the '78 cars started to use the oil pressure switch to turn on the fuel pump. I also noticed something that I was not expecting... where I expected to see the fuel pump... I did not see it! COMPLETELY MISSING FROM THE SYSTEM!!!!!!! WTF! So I gave up on the whole fuel pump bit... Here is the engine bay... lets play pick out what is wrong! You can spy my trusty dewalt 3/8 drive impact - by FAR my favorite tool in the entire world! Love the tape around the AFM boot! Maxi Fuse conversion needed right away! Scary! Connecting the thermotime switch... The next photos are of some wiring that I do not know for sure IF the wiring is stock or not.... Alternator Wiring Starter - I might add that this is the easiest starter to pull!!! Even the BMW 1602 I drove for a bit was harder! Vac Lines... HVAC I assume? Goes from a vacc res on the passenger side by the starter to the firewall and in a grommet on the drivers side. Got rid of the unsightly bumper on the front... With the help of my favorite wrench head Who are you looking at? Working as hard as a 1.5 year old lab can possibly work Original hub caps! Interior So It looks like I am off the the u pull it yard to grab a fuel pump bracket wiring, etc. because there isn't even a friggin fuel pump in the car! I was expecting this: But there was NOTHING there.... No bracket, no wiring, no nothing other then a new piece of hose going from the tank to the surge thing. then straight to the front of the car. Alas, off I go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted October 3, 2010 Administrators Share Posted October 3, 2010 I'm sure you probably already traced the fuel lines back and forth under the car to locate the fuel pump, this is just for others in case it helps. Nissan mounted the fuel pumps in two locations throughout the '75-'78 run. No idea why other than it depends on what factory the car was manufactured I guess, (cant remember but it was 3, 5 or 7 different factories the S30's rolled out of). As pictured, one location is on a bracket just behind the passenger half shaft. Other location was mounted on the 45 degree slope just ahead of the passenger half shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 (edited) Yeah... I was hoping it would be there.. but it is NO WHERE IN SIGHT! Even checked just now.... FYI for those wondering, I'm working on this car in a storage unit so that I do not wear out my welcome at work with more then one project car there. Lights in the unit and a 110 outlet not far away, perfect for wrenching when you don't have your own garage. Gated and insured for 60 bucks a month! Can't beat that! I went though my junk and found a Walboro external EFI fuel pump, I might just use that and find some OEM wiring from the u pull it. I have no idea what in the world is going on with this car... It's got some mysteries that is for sure! Edited October 3, 2010 by Pzary3233 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModernS30 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 PSSSSTTT, you don't have a fuel rail.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 wait....really? I knew something was missing.... lol I amreplacing the rubbers and cleaning the system out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naroko Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Nice to see someone else from TN, I am located in chattanooga. Car looks great. Does the upull it near you have any more fenders by any chance? None around here are worth a darn. I have a hood thats missing one plastic louver if you cant find a decent one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModernS30 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 wait....really? I knew something was missing.... lol I amreplacing the rubbers and cleaning the system out. just saying... You said to find what was missing. So I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Nice to see someone else from TN, I am located in chattanooga. Car looks great. Does the upull it near you have any more fenders by any chance? None around here are worth a darn. I have a hood thats missing one plastic louver if you cant find a decent one. I could be very interested because the one at the u pull it kinda sucked when I went back someone used it as a workbench... MERF! just saying... You said to find what was missing. So I did. Yeah yeah yeah... I know, I know! I keep wondering if maybe carbs would not be so much easier! I can at least tune them well! More work tomorrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 Last Tuesday i picked up a carb... Except for the motor and 4 speed was attached! This is an L26 out of a 74 260z Nasty Looking... P30 block with flat top pistons P30 - Wish casting numbers were that easy on Pontiac Motors! E88 head E88 Large Valve Head E30 JDM Intake Manifold Mad tyte JDM Yo! JDM Land Truck Parts.... lol Weber Carburator Complete with Weber Carb! The guy still had the box! The transmission and motor are forsale without the intake, carb, and starter. I'll get around to posting them in the classifieds soon enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 Out with the new tech and going Old School! So the EFI is going to take countless hundreds of dollars to get functioning correctly. The injectors need to be replaced, the harness is pretty messed up as well… Found that this particular car has a fuel pump location in front of the axle. The Fuel Pump is indeed gone and I sourced another OEM pump through work. Now all I need is a fuel pressure regulator that will regulate pressure down to 2.5 psi – 3 psi… So tonight I pulled the EFI intake tonight and started to mock up the Carb intake. The EFI intake SUCKS to get off with all of the original head shields and what not still on the motor… The EFI intake also does not use the same upper mounting holes…so I need the older version intake gasket and use that to mount the E30 intake. [shameless plug]I started my own blog, www.fairlady280z.com Basically all posts on progress will be here and there.[/shameless plug] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted November 8, 2010 Author Share Posted November 8, 2010 Yesterday I was able to install the SU carbs! They look great and fit as they should. After I got those installed (with trips to sears for tools and O'Riley's for fasteners) I started trying to figure out the electrical issues. I pulled the EFI harness completely. It's in amazing condition! looks Brand new! As does the ECU! Once the harness was pulled I installed a new starter and got the motor turning over with a remote start switch. So I figured I'd try the key... Nada... Nothing. One click and that's it. So I'm going to head back to the electrical wiring diagrams and figure that bit out. Here is a list of what currently does not work: *Turn Signals - 4 ways DO work *Horn *Starter *Fuel Pump *Brake Lights I hate tracing electrical issues, I love rewiring but fixing someone else's crap I hate. I was out of steam on that one because I didn't have the electrical diagrams in front of me. So I went to work on the fuel system. I got the fuel tank out and will be cleaning it out today. Then I started to take the rear bumper off... which doesn't want to come off thanks to a very nasty old hitch that someone butchered to get on the car. Die Grinder to the rescue. Otherwise I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 (edited) Already scored a new fender from the local U-Pull-It I hate going there because the owner is our direct competitor but they are the only deal in town for anything older then 2000. This I am told by my friend who is a PDR guy that it will be easy to get to the point I can work with it. Metal stretched too much... Glad this fender is going away! Wow Did that car get attacked by a Bear? Glad you're bringing it back to life. Nelson "1NonlyZ" on here has a bunch of rust free parts if you need more. If this is going to stay an EFI car, then you probably don't need a Fuel regulator that goes that low. If I remember, Carb'd cars are only about 15 lbs. EFI is 45-60LBS ish. Edited November 8, 2010 by Pharaohabq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted November 8, 2010 Author Share Posted November 8, 2010 (edited) Nah, that was an angry neighbor and the previous owner.... The car is not going to stay EFI. So I am getting a regulator for 3psi. Which is what Webers and SU carbs like Muscle cars with Holleys or Quadrajets like a bit more like 6 psi. EFI depends on the application but 45psi is a good start. I DO need an outer rocker patch panel as well as the rear passenger quarter panel area to splice in. Any one have ideas where to get those replacement parts? Edited November 8, 2010 by Pzary3233 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Wow Did that car get attacked by a Bear? Glad you're bringing it back to life. Nelson "1NonlyZ" on here has a bunch of rust free parts if you need more. If this is going to stay an EFI car, then you probably don't need a Fuel regulator that goes that low. If I remember, Carb'd cars are only about 15 lbs. EFI is 45-60LBS ish. I don't know what carbs use 15psi, but mine take around 4psi. IIRC the stock EFI Zs take around 30-35psi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted November 8, 2010 Author Share Posted November 8, 2010 I was thinking about LSx fuel systems. 46 psi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzary3233 Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 Car has been sold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Someone else's problem... I hope you'll still get another Z, that maybe doesn't take so much tinkering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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