Engine & Drivetrain

5,568 topics in this forum

1. 

   Cleaning engine compartment

   March 14, 2003 by bigd652

   • 7 replies
   • 1.5k views

   My Z has been sitting for awhile and now I'm starting to get her back into shape... The engine needs a bath and I was wondering the best way to do so without getting water where it doesn't belong......

   

   Last reply by Bambikiller240, March 16, 2003
2. 
   
3. 

   Starter/Ign Relay

   March 14, 2003 by lance75_280z

   • 1 reply
   • 1.4k views

   I bought my 75 280z last summer. The guy who I bought it from had a bad starter on it (We both think it was). The car was running. He had to turn it a few times until it would catch & crank up. I bought a re-man starter early last Fall and I still made that clicking noise at the starter. Could the starter still be bad? Could it be the Ign Relay? My battery cables are new & tight. The wire to the solenoid is clean. HEEEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!!1

   

   Last reply by lance75_280z, March 14, 2003
4. 

   87 octane fuel 1 2

   March 12, 2003 by xkeithx

   • 18 replies
   • 8.1k views

   this maay be a stupid question but.. do i really have to put 91 octane in my car? gas is sooo expensive and my car is just stock, its a 78 280z. does the octane depend on what the engine compression is? what is the difference between 87 and 91? does it really make that big of a difference? i read somewhere that gas stations only have 2 tanks, one for 87 and one for 89.. and 91 is a mix between the two. is that true? thaanks for the info guys.

   

   Last reply by Leeroy, March 14, 2003
5. 

   Oil drain plug....

   March 13, 2003 by lance75_280z

   • 1 reply
   • 1.6k views

   Does anyone know if the 70 thru 89 oil drain plugs use the same size plug/thread? I wanted to replace the plug with an EZ drain plug from FRAM....

   

   Last reply by Smokey, March 14, 2003
6. 

   Anyone remember?

   March 12, 2003 by Daniel

   • 4 replies
   • 2.8k views

   A few years ago on the old web page there was a link,I think called Zgarage. It was the one that told a complete run down on the most correct parts to build your Z.Anyone still have acopy of that. I think mine was lost during a pc crash. The link used to appear in the bottom left corner of the homepage here.

   

   Last reply by Daniel, March 12, 2003
7. 

   Valve Seats

   March 12, 2003 by JoeT

   • 3 replies
   • 1.3k views

   Anyone know for sure if I have to replace the stock valve seats if I want to burn unleaded fuel?

   

   Last reply by JoeT, March 12, 2003
8. 

   exhaust noises

   March 12, 2003 by xkeithx

   • 5 replies
   • 1.5k views

   well ive been driving my datsun a lot lately, i took it on a few 100 mile trips, and well every time i get off the freeway and come to a red light i hear this knocking noise it sounds like coming from somewhere underneath the car. when i rev the engine the knocking goes faster and at higher revs it seems to go away. it only does this when im sitting , not moving, just idling at a red light, and after ive been driving at high speeds on the freeway. is this my exhaust? it seems like its coming from the cat. but im not sure. is it normal? do i need to get new exhaust equipment asap? i just want to make sure im not doing any major damage to my car. thanks guys

   

   Last reply by Zedguy, March 12, 2003
9. 

   project: L28+M90 roots blower... but ihave questions

   March 12, 2003 by Vodkaboy

   • 0 replies
   • 1.8k views

   well, after observing a Thunderbird SC with the M90 roots blower, i got to thinking, 'wow, i wonder how hard it would be to make that M90 call my AC bracket home' especially because i like the low end power that a roots can give, and it sure as hell is a lot cheeper and easier to do than geting a 280ZX turbo drivetrain (and it lacks the lag). I do have some questions, however, on what i should go about doing while i quickly leap from the realm of mundane into that of insane. First off, i know im going to be geting rid of my AC, and looking at it, i think i could easily fit a front mount intercooler in place of the AC condensor, with only minor modification. any thoughts? …

   

   Last reply by Vodkaboy, March 12, 2003
10. 

    coil question

    March 12, 2003 by dero

    • 1 reply
    • 1k views

    i need to know what color wires goto the + - on the coil, mine got taken off and now i dont know what goes where on the coil, i have a stock 71 240z coil set up thanks

    

    Last reply by Bambikiller240, March 12, 2003
11. 

    engine and tranny

    March 11, 2003 by kevinsean23

    • 2 replies
    • 1.3k views

    Good morning all! I am interested in getting a 280z very soon and I need some information on different engines that will work and the transmission. I do not want to have to deal with ancient parts so I am wondering if an engine from an older maxima will go fine in the 280z and wondering what kinds of tranny will work. please provide as much information as possible along with approx costs of each. Also any other modifications that may need to be done. I really don't want to have to mod too much. Thank you and have a great day! Kevinsean23

    

    Last reply by frankensteinZ, March 11, 2003
12. 

    should i do this engine swap?

    March 1, 2003 by xkeithx

    • 3 replies
    • 1.7k views

    i have a stock 78 280z with the n42 engine i believe it is? its just the stock 2.8L engine for that year. it makes a slight valve knocking noise when its running, its not anything bad i dont think, its very slight. but anyways.. i recently acquired a parts car which has a f54 block and a p90 head. i am told this is a turbo engine from an early 80s 280zx? there are no injectors in the engine, but otherwise its a pretty complete engine. there also is no distributor. would it be worth my while to swap my current engine for this one, and would i be able to use my current ecu, injectors, and distributor? i am told that the "turbo" engine i have is in really good shape. …

    

    Last reply by Mr Camouflage, March 11, 2003
13. 

    scuttle top remove

    March 8, 2003 by Bpaccaud

    • 4 replies
    • 1.5k views

    someone can tell me if i can easiely remove the scuttle top panel, to see under it if there are rust. (before buying the car) is it bolt on ? same question for the front wing. thanks Ben

    

    Last reply by Bpaccaud, March 8, 2003