Victory is mine!! My Z runs again

[Hardway]

First I want to say thank you to everyone here on the boards for all of the help, support, information, and guidance you have given me over the past 5 months. It is the passion and a true sense of community that keeps these great cars running.

What started off as a addressing a leaking exhaust manifold gasket and vent hose replacement snow-balled in to one of the more severe cases of "while I am at it" syndrome that I have experienced in quite some time. Below is basically a list of what I ran in to and what I did to resolve it.

Leaking exhaust manifold gasket - pulled carbs, intake, and ex. manifold off. Ordered a new MSA 6-1 ceramic coated header and stud kit

Oil pan leaking - before putting the header on I knew I needed to change the pan gasket first. Dropped the pan, found a bunch of plastic, determined it to be chain guide material. Cleaned it all out, stripped the pan, painted it, cleaned all around under the engine removing at least 1 pound of oil soaked grime, reinstalled pan with new gasket. I thought about swapping the chain and guide but decided to roll the dice for now. It’s not making any noise and the engine runs good.

Transmission ear interfering with header - grind ear down, header installed!

Gas tank vent line replacement - dropped tank and pulled all the vent lines.

Gas tank had a small hole drilled in the top of it - sent to tank to be repaired at local radiator shop.

(While I am at it) Need to make gas tank pretty - stripped gas tank and straps, coated with black POR-15. This took the course of several weekends to do.

(While I am at it) Want a quieter fuel pump - installed Carter with all new rubber fuel lines and filter.

(While I am at it) Tank has original sending unit in it - lets install a new one! Rewired everything (while I am at it) as the existing wiring looked a bit rough.

Reinstalled the gas tank and vent tank - what a BIG PITA for both. If you have been there you know what I am talking about.

Reinstalled the carbs, replaced all rubber fuel lines as well plus a new filter.

Installed new oil filter and poured in fresh oil.

Turned the key, pump comes on, after 5 seconds fuel starts pouring out of the intake/air cleaner side of the carbs. - Troubleshoot, float needle assemblies are shot, fuel pump does not shut off until 4psi. Installed new needle assemblies, adjusted floats, and installed a Holley AFPR

Turned the key tonight and she not only started but purred like a cat at idle. No leaks!

Up next - drive it a little, do a tune up on it as the plug wires are a little rough and install a new MSD Blaster 2 coil. After that I am going to address the brakes as they pull to one side a little and replace some of the easier to get to suspension bushings.

[hr369]

i wonder how that hole got drilled in the top of your gas tank. You got any enemies or mean ex-wives?

[240260280z]

That is a nice update.

[240260280z]

That is a nice update.

[hls30.com]

Congratulations-I know you have to be on the top of the world-I remember that feeling!, and envy you for having it!

[Hardway]

i wonder how that hole got drilled in the top of your gas tank. You got any enemies or mean ex-wives?

No enemies or ex-wives. There was a corresponding hole in the trunk floor right above it. I am guessing someone mounted a speaker box or something at one time and went too far with the drill bit. The shop did a great of brazing on a small brass patch along with repairing one of the vent hose ports. They pressure tested it for me and it passed. Luckily since my car had been the PO's daughters daily driver the tank was super clean on the inside.