Am ready to install a new oil pump in my 280Z but my manual does not go into detail but does talk about the dist. and pos #1 TDC but nothing on where the pump is? is the pump under in the oil pan?

thx

Raven

looking at the front of the engine, the pump is on the lower left side. Diagonally across from the distributor. They share a common shaft.

inside the oil pan ...right?

NO. look up at the car you see a thingy above the sway bar with four bolts (12mm head) holding it there. That is the oil pump. i never had much luck lining up the marks on the spindle to put it in. Put the engine at #1 tdc before you change it. Pull dizzy cap and mark where the rotor is. Then pull the oil pump. I use a 8mm bolt with head cut off about 5 inches long as a guide pin put the oil pump in one bolt by hand. check rotor position on the dizzy to see where you are then repeat until back where it was.

opps....there it is......this looks easer than a small block chevy! Well we will see!

thx you guys for the info!

Raven

I found it easy to mark the position of the rotor on the distributor. Then remove the distributor via the two 10 mm bolts at the base of the distributor. Now you can use a vise grip through the distributor hole to hold up the distributor/oil pump drive. Then you can remove the oil pump without having to worry about getting the distributor timing correct. You don't even have to get the engine to TDC.

Am ready to install a new oil pump in my 280Z but my manual does not go into detail but does talk about the dist. and pos #1 TDC but nothing on where the pump is? is the pump under in the oil pan?

thx

Raven

WHY ARE YOU REPLACING THE PUMP ? DID IT IT FAIL ? RARELY DO ONE OF THESE PUMPS FAIL. If you are indicating low pressure , first attach a mechanical gage so you can get a true reading. $15.00 at the parts store . Much easier and a whole lot cheaper than replacing a good pump . If you truly have low pressure , how many miles in the engine ? It may be time for a overhaul . Not flaming here , just trying to keep you from chasing your tail here. Gary

Over the years , one thing I have learned is . You CANNOT rely on the stock oil pressure gage ! It mearly is a gage . Like licking your finger and holding it up to see if the wind is blowing. That is all . It indicates some pressure , but what is some ? If you want to know what is happening install a mechanical gage . This will give you the real pressure . Then you can compare the reading on the stock unit and see what it represents. A little up from zero at idle ? What does this account for ? The stock gage is just a gust-a-mation of what is happening . The same for the Temp gage , it is just a indicator . Unless you test it otherwise how do you know how hot the engine really is with the needle in the middle ? Gary

good point about the unreliability of the readings for the stock gages.

thx.

I been watching this for a while...I bought the car 2 years ago and had good oil pressure but about 7 months ago the pressure started to drop, Idel at 0 and running at about 45-50 at 60 mph. I did put a mach. gauge in and this is what it ran, I replaced the the sensor, so the only thing i could think of was the pump...I appreciate the info. I just finished replacing the pump and oil pan gasket. I will let you now what happens

Raven....

oh! I forgot it has 61k on the odometer....

Raven

well it worked! the pump gave life back in the motor.thx for all the help!

Guess what! It didnt work! It went back to 0 psi @ Idle, Pressure is good @ High RPMs but? Must be the motor is got alot of miles on it...ohh well she runs good tho so I will focuse on the Suspension and tires and wheels....

Raven