Finally able to fix a few issues and would like a few suggestions

[MEZZZ]

Hi all, I am fairly new here, looked up a few searches on a variety of subjects and I think this forum is fantastic. I hope I am posting in the correct area for some general questions.

I bought a '77 280 on Ebay(long story) but I am finally able to get around to doing a few things and was wondering if any of you could point me in the right direction on a couple issues. I plan on doing a few things to the interior first to get it all the kinks out, new steering wheel, reupholstering/new foam for the seats and other than that, I need to replace the non functioning radio and straighten out my gauge issues.

First is the clock, I did a search on here and found the great link to clock repair. My other issue is the tach and oil pressure guage.

The tach functions normally at times and other times sticks at about 3000-3200 r.p.m. It travels slowly to that mark and then stops. Can anyone give me a suggestion on where I need to look or what I need to do to fix it? Buy one, cable, take it out, disassemble and clean it?

Same thing with the oil pressure. At times, it seems as if it functions normally, reading about 1/2 way, then at times it drops dramatically and rest below zero. At times, at a stop, it drops to zero and then goes about 1/4 of the way back, other times it stays at zero. Could this be the gauge itself or the sending unit? Once again, can anyone point me in the right direction.One of the first things I did was an oil/filter change, I've put a 100 miles on it or so and the oil is right on the full mark. The gauge was erratic before I did the change.

I was thinking of doing the Indiglo guage uprade that I found on here so I would be removing all the guages anyway. I like that reverse look, black face keeping it fairly stock looking but actaully having the ability to see them better. I would obviously like to have them all functioning when I do this, so if you guys have any suggestions (contructive criticism included)..fire away.

Thanks!

P.S. This is the 4th (and last) vehicle I will get on ebay, the first 3 were great, this one was a nightmare experience. I only wish I had found this site beforehand to see if there was a member close enough to view it in advance. I know there are services out there, but at $200 a pop or more, it adds up to have them view every car of interest. I bought others blind with great success but this experience taught me a lesson to be sure. Ad me to the long list of bad ebay stories! It was meant to be a project anyway, I'll just have more to do to get her right

[Nissanman]

Sounds like the tacho. has a mechanical attitude.

A clean up and movement check may fix that.

Oil pressure problem is more likely a worn out sender.

[A way to prove that is to run a mechanical gauge teed into the oil gallery with the electrical gauge still fitted and watch the behaviour of both.]

If you wish to retain the original gauge, you may well need a new sender.

Just make sure that the wiring connections are tight and reliable.

[MEZZZ]

Sounds like the tacho. has a mechanical attitude.

A clean up and movement check may fix that.

Oil pressure problem is more likely a worn out sender.

[A way to prove that is to run a mechanical gauge teed into the oil gallery with the electrical gauge still fitted and watch the behaviour of both.]

If you wish to retain the original gauge, you may well need a new sender.

Just make sure that the wiring connections are tight and reliable.

I will go ahead and pull out the tach and see if I can take it apart and clean it's inards a bit. I started the car today and the tach worked great. I read a post on here using search about heat causing the needle to go haywire, how on hotter days it seemed to be more of a problem. We finally had a break in the heat today, so that might have something to do with it.

I will also go ahead and replace the sending unit, it is cheap enough and I'll see if that cures it. Today, when I started it up, the gauge seemed to function normally, I let it idle a few minutes and revved it about 10 times.

I appreciate the reply.

[dogma420]

It's very common for the oil pressure sending units to go out on the S30s. It seems that you can go through quite a few...or you'll come across one that lasts forever...my current one has lasted for a long time.

Although my older 72 tach is a little different mechanically, I believe there's a couple of transistors or diodes on the board inside the tach that overheat and give intermittent signals. My tach seems to misbehave on hotter days than cold days. There is no 'cable' like on a speedometer.

[MEZZZ]

It's very common for the oil pressure sending units to go out on the S30s. It seems that you can go through quite a few...or you'll come across one that lasts forever...my current one has lasted for a long time.

Although my older 72 tach is a little different mechanically, I believe there's a couple of transistors or diodes on the board inside the tach that overheat and give intermittent signals. My tach seems to misbehave on hotter days than cold days. There is no 'cable' like on a speedometer.

I guess I will pull it apart anyway if/when I go with the Speedhut gauges and have a look. I read a post I found from a long time ago from an owner that claimed he soldered all the diodes, etc firmly in place because when they were hot and expanded they fritzed out. He claimed after doing this he never had another problem.

Thanks for the help.

If I ever get my title from the "gentleman" ( I use that word instead of what I really should call him) I bought the car from on Ebay, I will start doing a few things that cost $$. I dont want to (obviously) go on a spending spree until I have the title in hand, then its onto the seats, radio, figuring out the blower motor and then tackling the gauges. Add a new steering wheel, shift boot and knob and the interior is done, it had a recent carpet kit installed, 1/2 dash cover and the rest of the panels look to be in great shape.

[dogma420]

You're kidding!

You don't have the title? How could that happen? Either the paperwork or the signed title should be in his hand, and your hand has the $$$ and you switch items in your hands....

I guess Ebay kind of changes that series of events, huh?

[MEZZZ]

You're kidding!

You don't have the title? How could that happen? Either the paperwork or the signed title should be in his hand, and your hand has the $$$ and you switch items in your hands....

I guess Ebay kind of changes that series of events, huh?

It is a LONG story, but here goes. I had been looking locally for months, obviosly went to ebay. Saw a car listed, original, unrestored '77 280Z in Oregon, (i'm in Ohio). Claimed it needed new seats or recovered and with a paint job it would be a show car. No rust, runs great, blah, blah, blah. After a series of emails, in which I asked VERY specific questions and got VERY specific replies, I hit his reserve of $4K, no one else bis and I got the car. Seller writes, congrats, you are getting a GREAT Z, I am sure you will be happy. Gives me 48 hours to get cashiers check to him which I do and said he would FedEX the title once checked cleared. Sent payment 8-18, seller recieved 8-20. Calls 8-20 claiming bank would not release $$ until check was cleared. I call my bank, they verify. 8 days go by, call seller, oops, check cleared day before. Seller stated, I will overnite title to you and try to get the car to the shipper tomorrow, if not, it will be early next week. I call 9 DAYS later, seller calls on the 10th day, says he just dropped car at shipper and I will put the title in the mail and send Priority with delivery confirmation, etc. A week goes by, car arrives, still no title. Call and leave a voicemail, nothing! Go pick up the car, the thing isnt CLOSE to the condition described. Claimed NO RUST...rust hole in inner passenger side fender behind headlight bucket, the entire inside of hatch lip is RUSTED THROUGH. Claimed no bondo, bondo clearly eveident in top of pass. fender, looked like bubble gum in it! Claimed everything works but the clock. Tach screwy, oil pressure gauge too, radio, e-brake, blower motor, all dead! Claimed in email, car looks great from 10-15 feet but you can tell when you get up in it, they didnt use the best quality paint. No big deal, I would repaint it. He claimed the original owner he bought it from had a "not of high quality" paint job. I get the car, overspray was on ALL weatherstripping, on the windshield wipers, the WINDSHIELD ITSELF, not just overspray, but solid silver! It was inside the car, the whole console had silver overspray. I open up the hood, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT was splattered! The idiot painted RIGHT THROUGH THE VENTS! Every hose, wire, everything! Needless to say I am FUMING AT THIS POINT.

I sit down write the guy a not so nice email, a week goes by, no reply to more emails or voicemails.

I finally post a fraud claim on Ebay, claiming I never received the title. Here is where the story GETS WORSE! The investigator calls me, claims I will get paid ONLY if the seller doesnt send title/and OHIO wont issue me one. They call the guy, he claims he MAILED the title PARCEL POST on 9-07, 10 days AFTER my check cleared. It was to be to me no later than 9-14 according to the Post Office. Must have gotten LOST IN THE MAIL! Now investigator claims he has to go to Oregon BMV and get a replacement issued, taking 4-6 weeks!

I fire off another email, accusing this seller of FRAUD, etc...asking why the title wasnt sent FedEx as stated in numerous emails. Also, tell him of the MANY discrepancies in car, emailing photos. Telling guy its been 5 weeks since he had my $$ and I cant do anything to the car, work on it, drive it, insure it. I ask for some type of settlement, claiming the car isnt worth more than $2000. I tell him I want $1000 back for the LIES he had written about the cars true condition. He finally contacts me telling me I am an EXORTIONIST and BLACKMAILER, the car is WORTH EVERY PENNY of his reserve price.

The ebay investigation continues, they call me last week, tell me they discovered this guy just bought the car on Ebay 4 weeks before listing it, using a BUY IT NOW for $1750! AND....according to the Oregon BMV, he only applied to have the title transferred into his name on OCTOBER 3RD! He listed the car on AUGUST 10!

To end this long story, basically Ebay has given him time to get the title and as long as I get it in the NEXT MONTH, they tell me they WONT DO ANYTHING for me. I ask, ISNT IT ILLEGAL to sell something you dont LEGALLY OWN? Am I not entitled to a refund for the fraudulent listing, condition of the car and the fact that he didnt have a title is his name?

They tell me no, as long as it is transferred in the next 30 days and he sends it to me, they are not obligated to do anything.

I ahve bought 2 other cars and a Harley on Ebay, all with fantastic results, but I GOT BURNED THIS TIME. I threatened theis seller with legal action , trying to scare him into giving some of my $$ back, but the idiot keeps his thought that he did nothing wrong, the best I got was "If I missed a few things, I am sorry" but I never intentionally did anything wrong.

So, there it is...I will NEVER buy another thing of any real value on Ebay again! I did just buy a complete set of gauges today from a '77 280 for $11.05 though Seller claims everything works but the clock, for $11 its worth a roll of the dice. I have over 250 transactions and have had nothing but good to great experiences on Ebay, just a couple bad ones, non paying sellers but I just relisted for free.

And before anyone says anything about having a fellow board member go check it out in advance, I can only say I wish I had discovered this site before I won the auction.

All in all, the car is pretty solid, frame rails, floors, beneath the battery, no visible rust on the body and the motor seems to pull strong. It will just take more time and $$ to get her to where I wanted...it just burns me that I got taken and Ebay doesnt stand behind their "Fraud Protection" program. I guess I could go to court over the whole thing but I dont think its worth the time and aggravation...

[dogma420]

Gosh, that is awful man! I feel for you. I hope nothing but good things from this point on for you and your troubles dealing with this car! It sounds like you are actually taking it pretty well, considering, so bravo to your positive attitude in this situation!

[MEZZZ]

Thanks man...that makes me feel so much better : )

Just kidding, at this point, what do I do but wait it out, fix it up and enjoy it. I'll have more $$ in it than I planned but at this point, its either keep it and start working on it, or dump it instead of throwing good $ after bad.

Hopefully, things go better from this point on and I'll end up with a nice ride when it is all said and done.

Thanks for thr kind words.

[V8-240Z]

Wow, that is a interesting story. In the end through all the aggravation it will probably will come out OK. I do see that more and more eBay buyers are asking club members to check out the high $$$ items they want to purchase.

[MEZZZ]

Wow, that is a interesting story. In the end through all the aggravation it will probably will come out OK. I do see that more and more eBay buyers are asking club members to check out the high $$$ items they want to purchase.

Had I only found this site beforehand, I would have looked into a member checking it out. It seems there are quite a few members on here from the Oregon area..this joker lives in Salem, Oregon. There are professional services out there that will inspect the car, but the prices they charge are outrageous, especially if you dont get what you want on the first time around, it could get rather expensive to keep calling a service.

I did get all the paint off the entire engine compartment, took hours with "Goof Off". Not sure of the long term effects of any on wiring and hoses, I tested it on a few and it didnt seem to soften anything. I also got out the Simple Green and some brushes and went to town on everything else and it came pretty clean for the first time around. Just alot of elbow grease

[dogma420]

It's hard to believe in our day and age somebody can so blatenly (sp?) rip somebody off like that and get away with it. Makes you feel sick to your stomach.