wal280z, I should have worded it diferently because I was mainly talking about 79 and up ECUs having the warning to not be used on 78 or earlier cars. I stated that 'warning' thing after mentioning 79 810s, ZXs, and RWD Maximas. I should have clearly stated that the warning was on those but I thought that would be unserstood.

no, didn't take it wrong at all... I think Taco Bell's menu was affecting my reading ability.. heehee

I thought in '78 they changed the AFM for the fuel-cut off and put that control (switch) in the ECU. Maybe I just got bad info elsewhere.

That was only my understanding, i.e. may or may not be fact.

Wayne

the boot is a little worn and split, so thats probably the big problem. the next thing i plan on getting is the afm and boot from msa, well ill probably get the electric fan since 2 of my fan blades shot off and i had to take it off. luckily they didnt go through the radiator though. im going to try to do a check on all those things mentioned, havent had any time in the last 2 days, ive had to work long days, so hopefully i will get to spend some quality time with her after i get off today. i really appreciate all the advice. thanks, aaron.

Keep us posted on your progress. When I bought my 78 in 1997, after I replaced a clogged gas tank, the first thing I changed was that boot because it was split. The majority of my cars performance problems dissapeared at that point. After a good tune up, and a fuel injection relay I was on the road and have been ever since. After reading what wal280z said, I checked the AFM/ECU combinations on my Z and my 810. They are both matched sets. I don't know if that clarifies anything but at least on those two cars, they match. I think that the fuel cut off went into the ECU in 79 with the advent of the ZX. I say that because I recall helping a neighbor with a 79 and his car wouldn't even run when I plugged in one of my spare 78 ECUs. We went to the junkyard and bought an ECU with a number that matched his AFM plugged it in and the car ran.

i have a bout 30 minutes before i have to leave for work, so i took the boot off, and checked the inside, but it was no cracks or signs of wear on the inside, its only i little cracked on the surface where the clamp on the throttle body side goes. then i checked the labels, and the numbers dont match at all except that they're both marked for the L28, but the afm is black, and the comp. is green, i wonder if that could be a problem. im still going to do a check on the rest of the things mentioned, hopefully tonight or saturday afternoon. ill post how it goes. i also looked on ebay for a FSM, but i found none, so i might end up going to the dealer to get one in the next couple weeks. luckily i live in dallas, so courtesy nissan isnt too far away.