New owner of a Z!!

[ajmcforester]

Hey Sparks, Just got back into the Z world myself about a month ago. My 77 is in pretty good shape but have already discovered problems. Next project is re-doing the heater core, heater control valve Etc. Have no mechanical ability but its a rush every time I do something right.

Jim

Glad to see you on the boards:) While your doing the heater core this is a good time to check the wires and what knots under the dash their is a lot in the was to do the heater core, and you might as well check it all out. Sorry I checked my collection for the cap I don't have it I'll send you links to some guys that might help. I hope you start a new thread about your ZZap I have looked for one between Z cars and before my first one. Not a lot of people know of them but you start a thread and you will be a hit.

I'm lucky with the first owner he is a Dr and researcher and has come up with several medical procedures I didn't have his home number and how the nurse acted I thought I would not get a call back. I was lucky.

By the way basket case car my second car was a 1980 Datsun 210. The nice thing about that car was it was a bare bones model, so it was easy to repair. My first day off when I got to go threw it I had my brother get all the gaskets and rings seats, clutch kit, ujoints. . . Brake pads . . . you get the point it had 245,000 with little done to it ( it was over $1G in parts). The first job was to drain the oil well I tore the oil pan when trying to get the oil plug out, my brother called the original owner at that point, she told him how great that she only had to change the oil once (this is 97, 17 years with one oil change). Knowing how major overhauls go I had my brother go to the junk yard that we found before starting on this with the same car. While he was at the junk yard I had him pick up some other parts the broke when taking it apart like some of the drive shaft bolts. By the time he got back I had the axles out the engine back together, suspension and steering in the front done. Within 12 hours we rebuilt the engine and all the drive-line, suspension, and steering I even fixed the dash wiring while realigning the steering wheel (what a great car for $300). The only thing I didn't fix was the electric advanced distributor the rebuild kit was almost $300.

I wish I did more research on that year I think I would have kept that car. Exspecial about the racing history of the 80 210's. I didn't like the low power, but I found out later that they were a lot of aftermarket go fast parts I could get, I knew about the Holly carb that I added later. I might even still be driving it, in fact it stills on the road last summer I saw some one driving it. When I lost track of the car is had 430,000 mile on it, who knows now.

[Sparx Macgyver]

Oifss2,

Welcome back to the Z scene. This is my first Z, and I have a little bit of mechanical knowledge. Not great, but I'm always learning new things and building upon my experience and knowledge.

AJ,

That's allot of miles. Pretty cool about the F.O.

Man first car I bought was from my first private security job. Company owner had sold it to me. Man, that thing was the biggest piece of junk I've ever driven. Though, in all fairness, it ran for almost 12 months with no transmission fluid or oil added to it. I wasn't allowed to buy a new one until that one died.

Here's a breakdown of my previous vehicles in order of ownership and there demise:

1. 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix LE - purposely killed to get a new car. The only thing I ever did was put a new radio in it.

2. 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 {standard cab/short bed} - Taken by the Repo guys after I got fired.

3. 1998 Honda Civic LX - Exchanged ownership between myself and my aunt a few dozen times before we cracked the head gasket (among other things) with almost 400K on the clock. It was well maintained, and just kept right on going. We drove the hell out of that little car.

4. 1989 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.6 - Greatest car I have ever owned. Easy to work on, great power. Looks great, and was awesome once I swapped the auto transmission for a 5spd. Brother smashed it into a telephone pole. Have to post pics for ya of the before and after damage.

5. 1976 Datsun 280Z 2+2 - Nothing yet. Gotta get her running and then we'll see.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Sparx Macgyver
Spelling

[oifss2]

Thanks AJ, I had another problem where my brake indicator light would stay on (another thread) I went through everything in the manual and found it was the break warning light lamp check relay which is also the floor temp relay switch. It was smoked. Now on the hunt for the switch. Let me know if you have one or if you know if I can get an after market (generic replacement). It was so cool being able to figure it out. I did a tour in Iraq and took an IED (minor) but for a while it was hard to figure stuff out. I have to read stuff over and over to figure it out. This Z project is the best therapy so far.

[ajmcforester]

Thanks AJ, I had another problem where my brake indicator light would stay on (another thread) I went through everything in the manual and found it was the break warning light lamp check relay which is also the floor temp relay switch. It was smoked. Now on the hunt for the switch. Let me know if you have one or if you know if I can get an after market (generic replacement). It was so cool being able to figure it out. I did a tour in Iraq and took an IED (minor) but for a while it was hard to figure stuff out. I have to read stuff over and over to figure it out. This Z project is the best therapy so far.

I don't have that switch, I'd try Zed Savers, Arizona Z Cars or Bonsai Motor works to find it. I've read on the boards how to fix that, a while back you might want to do a search. They explain how to bypass the floor temp gauge. It was required for the cars at the time, but is a stupid gauge since you can tell the floor is getting hot.

The big problem is the reason for that gauge which was to watch floor temp to see if the Cat was getting to hot. If the floor is heating up quite often you might need to look at the cat., they will plug up. If you ever looked at the inside of one you would be amazed they don't plug up monthly. I don't know what you do to clean them, but I know you can, maybe Seafoam?? If that don't work I think I might take the cat. down and blast some type of carbon cleaner the opposite direction of flow. Hopefully it will clean out. If you can't get it clean you would be left with replacing it or drilling it out which will give you better performance (it is also against the law, and to keep from becoming a accomplice I can't endorse such methods;)). Even thou it is hard to detect unless they look inside the cat, but if you keep her tuned well enough you can pass emissions tests. I got my first Z with no emissions controls to pass in NJ (they require modern emissions numbers based on car weight not that easy, by the way I had to make adjustments after testing;)).

I'm glad your digging around in that car and getting the gremlins out. I want to see what you do with her.

[Sparx Macgyver]

Oiss2,

Looked through your gallery. Nice looking little Z. I, too, am looking forward to see what you do with her. I didn't know there were "special models" of the Z's.

I have a feeling I'm going to fail emissions here when it comes time...

[=Enigma=]

I didn't know there were "special models" of the Z's.

I believe there were only two special editions in the S30 series, the 1977 "280-ZZZap" and the 1978 280-Z Black Pearl Edition. More info here:

http://www.zhome.com/Buying/BeckBuyerG.html

Edited January 3, 2010 by =Enigma=

[Sparx Macgyver]

=Enigma=,

I assume you meant 1977? at any rate, I like the look of the ZZZap-Z. thanks for that link, btw.

Still can't wait to get mine going. Waiting on the fuel pump to arrive...

Edited January 3, 2010 by Sparx Macgyver
corrected spelling errors

[=Enigma=]

yep, corrected

[Sparx Macgyver]

=Enigma=,

In the photos I posted before in this thread, if you look at my front and rear bumper, i have these little bars on them have you ever seen those on another Z? I haven't. Not once. Everybody else is free to answer this as well.

Edited January 3, 2010 by Sparx Macgyver

[Bonzi Lon]

=Enigma=,

In the photos I posted before in this thread, if you look at my front and rear bumper, i have these little bars on them have you ever seen those on another Z? I haven't. Not once. anybody else is free to answer this as well.

I have a set, brand new, in the box, never installed, dated 1980.

Bonzi Lon

[Sparx Macgyver]

Ah OK. I thought maybe mine was modified or something. Do they have a specific purpose or just there for visuals?

[ajmcforester]

I feel they are more visual, my 240Z has a version of them, they are to protect in small light hits the car from higher bumps hitting the car. If you lived in north NJ you know how important that is, to many people up north bump the cars when parallel parking to tell them when to go forward and back up. They even glue on foam pads. That is part of the reason I don't travel to that part of the state on my personal time. I've even see them bump my work vehicle pulling into a horizontal spot they get really ticked when they hit the trailer hitch.