I have a 76 280z that runs like crap. It's running incredibly rich from startup all the way thru max. Did a little searching and found a EFI site with some troubleshooting tips. Metered the AFM connector at the AFM and found what I think are the air flap pot points. They're the only 2 that had continuity. showed 53.5 ohms with the flap closed and they went open after a few degrees of travel. I'm thinking this isn't normal.....

After reading a few threads on here as well, I pulled a cracked 3/4 OD line from the valve cover to the plumbing over the intake manifold. It's about a foot long line. What I found was this bottle brush wedged into the T connector downstream of the valve cover. I'm thinking this isn't normal either.....

Any ideas??

That's the breather hose. I can't say for certain about the 280Zs as I've never owned one, but the factory breather hose for a 240Z also has the brush inside. I assume it's there to keep oil sludge out of the intake.

It's called a "flame arrestor" and yes it is normal in that hose.

Go to carfiche.com and try downloading the factory service manual. Be patient because it might take a while for it to become available.

thanks...just kinda threw me. don't remember seeing it in my other z's. but then I didn't have the running trouble with them either...

The rocker cover for the 280Z has some baffles to keep the liquids in, so the hose doesnt need anything inside.

It's not in the hose. He's talking about the steel net, number 8 in the illustration:

#8 is folded up steel mesh held in by a plate and screws in the block.

It's #5 "flame arrestor" that is the "bottle brush" that is in ALL valve cover breather hoses.

Darrel's right. It's the flame arrestor. I'm looking at things restricting airflow or telling the fuel regulator bad info at this point. I have all the fuel going into the cyl's I could want. I metered the AFM and it's electrically open after a few degrees of flap travel. Without a troubleshooting tree or a schematic handy (they're on the way) I'm not sure of what the queertrons should be doing when. Any ideas on fuel scheduling to the injectors? Unmetered air should cause a lean condition right? I'm thinking the AFM is telling the system there's way too much air flowing. I don't think the cold start injector could dump that much raw fuel into all 6 jugs.

#8 is folded up steel mesh held in by a plate and screws in the block.

It's #5 "flame arrestor" that is the "bottle brush" that is in ALL valve cover breather hoses.

I'm with TomoHawk on that one(!) I took that thing out long ago (#5) on both of my cars when I replaced those hoses. I've had no problems running without them. I reacall that I couldn't find the original hoses and I couldn't see stuffing that thing in the new, and pricey emission hose. I remember takling to my buddy who has run a Z repair shop for over 20 years and his take was also that it is not needed. And trykflyr, I don't really get your post but I hope you get it figured out but I think you're over thinking it. (JMO)

I was going to mention that when I got my car, the hose on the valve cover was a plain hose. I can't think of a reason to fit one in, either.

Not a heater hose I hope. When I set out to replace the hoses on my Z and my 810 I discovered that the original hoses were NLA. Finding actual emission hose in that size took a while but I finally found it at NAPA.

I think the PO ( a "z car restoration specialist") used heater hose, so what I put on in 2006 was fuel-proof hose from NAPA.