I recently installed the 280zx electronic distributor. I finally got it running the other day, and got the timing about right. Then I sprayed the hell out of the carb intakes with carb cleaner and let them sit for a while. It runs with the choke fully on (also set to "winter"), but has really low RPM, around 500. It will start, go to around 500, then slowly drop. Also, yesterday after I had started it a few times over a couple minutes I looked and the temp gauge was way over the limit. But the engine was barely hot. Anybody know what the issue(s) could be?

This is on the 72 240Z in your profile, right?

Did it run before you installed the ZX distributor? And have you reset the timing? Your idle will drop if the timing is retarded with the new distributor.

No good ideas on the high-reading gauge. Check your ground, maybe they read high as resistance goes up.

One more thing - which year did the distributor come from? Your centrifugal and vacuum advance curves could now be quite a bit different from what you had before.

Edited January 14, 201114 yr by Zed Head

yes 72. It ran well until the points distributor went out, so I replaced with 280zx. I'm not exactly sure whether it is from a 79 or 80, I will have to ask the seller on ebay who I bought it from. I think its 79.

The car was sitting for like 6 months until I got the new dizzy installed and running. So I know I need to tune/adjust my carbs, maybe rebuild them.

Also, the previous owner took off the throttle control valve on the intake manifold, and disconnected the servo diaphragm. He actually bent and grinded the inlet (to the servo diaphragm) to make the sway bar fit. And the Control Valve manifold connection is now connected to the A.B. valve connector. These terms are from the Chilton manual, 2-14 Fig. 29.