1975 280z Build

[Patcon]

I have bought many things from Zcardepot. I have found their service and website to be very good!

[siteunseen]

Get some boxes and zip-lock baggies to put everything in, label what it is with a Sharpie. Take pictures of everything, you won't regret it.

This is the best book by far to get if your like me and need to read about the cars before rebuilding. It covers mainly the drivetrain, engine and transmission.

Here's the thread on "waking the sleeping beast" that Carl Beck wrote up. It's for a 240 but worth a read as a lot of it overlaps with the 280. Post #8...

The book you need to read about 3 times before you ever even start disassembly.

https://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Your-Nissan-Datsun-Engine/dp/1931128030 

 

[siteunseen]

Engine codes...

https://www.xenonzcar.com/s30/engines.html

The number on the block below spark plug #6 and #5 should match the number on the ID tag inside the driver's door. Yours won't but anyway...

Edited February 6 by siteunseen

[nowak1981]

I went out and took a peek at a few things that had me curious.  I went poking around for the casting number and found a couple more interesting things.

To get a decent picture of the number I had to pull, Im guessing is the coolant temp sensors.  but lucky me, they cut the end off.

I also removed the spark plug wires to get them out of my way.  Look what I found!

It took me a bunch of attempts and I had to pry the hose back to get a good picture, but this is what I got

 

so if my reading is correct, xenoncar engines,  its entirely possible this could be from a 280zx, It seems those were all the same, the pistons may be different according to the chart.  And I hear that the exhaust ports could be different as well?

 

 

The spark plugs were completly trashed, number 5 was better.  The spark indicator was on the 2nd cylinder

 

 

 

Edited February 6 by nowak1981

[Zed Head]

That would be the cylinder head temperature sensor. That deepens the mystery.  It was used in 1980 on the P79 and P90 heads but I don't think the Z car N47 heads got it.  That might be a Maxima N47 head.  A popular compression ratio "upgrade" for the L28's.  @madkaw knows.

If you look on the driver's side by the engine mount you might be able to see the block casting number.  It should be N42 or F54.

I was going to mention the fuel hoses.  Make sure that they are all high pressure EFI hose.  I'm pretty sure that that glass filter is not rated for 36 psi.  Check the rubber hose in the back from the fuel pump also.  My car had low pressure hose when I got it and it split while I was driving.  Luckily a UPS drive saw the fuel spilling and flagged me down.

[nowak1981]

was looking into the manual Siteunseen recommended.  I bought that one and found an oem manual on ebay for 90$.  Also have an offer out for a haynes manual for $10. 

 

5 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

I was going to mention the fuel hoses.  Make sure that they are all high pressure EFI hose.  I'm pretty sure that that glass filter is not rated for 36 psi.  

That glass peice was on the spark plug wire I pulled from cylinder 2, its a spark indicator.  They did mentioned an ignition issue and probably gave up and left it.

[Zed Head]

4 minutes ago, nowak1981 said:

That glass peice was on the spark plug wire I pulled from cylinder 2, its a spark indicator. 

Oops.  Still, check the hoses.  My fuel injector hoses were also age cracked and ended up shooting tiny streams of gasoline.  Made it all the way to the sidewalk when I opened the hood.  Another lucky break, I smelled it in the city before I got on the highway.

You have a bunch of small odds and ends in front of you.  Have fun.

[siteunseen]

My '77 had an N47 head and a '79 ZX motor I bought had an N47 head. I think it's a 1979 280ZX motor. The cut head temp sensor, the fuel rail fan are what I'm judging by. That xenon page has some mistakes on the head dates. The '75 and '76 came with an N42 block and an N42 cylinder head, great running combo from the factory. I'm pretty sure the first ZX, the 1979, came with an N42 block? You will play hell finding an N42 cylinder head. That's the one before they did the EGR N47 head. N42s are a lot simpler and cleaner looking.

You can pull the motor and transmission together and start working on rebuilding the motor. When you get frustrated or run out of parts/money then go to the interior and body work. 2 years is a good timeline or at least that's what it took me by myself. Have fun, you seem to have a good mindset going to work on your Z. Know when to walk away for a few days is the lesson I learned.

https://datsunzgarage.us/heads/

[Zed Head]

I've thought that only the L24E Maxima N47 came with the cylinder head temperature sensor.

Cylinder pressures will be a clue.  Especially if it's an F54 block with flat tops.

[siteunseen]

They're what kick those fans on I think. Went in the side of the head. Another thing is the '79 ZX had an N42 block didn'?

We shall see. This guy is ready get busy I'm sure. 

It's going to be a challenge going from a Crown Victoria to an early 280Z with fuel injection. Here's something you might consider depending on your long term plans.

 

[Zed Head]

Pretty sure the ZX cooling fans are turned on by a switch in the thermostat housing.  I had a spare ZX engine and messed around with the switch once when I was trying to make my own cooling fan system.

I see some other odd things in the pictures.  It has the original three piece fuel rail.  But it's been messed with, screws are missing.  Why not use the ZX or Maxima fuel rail?  It's one piece.

The AFM number might be important.  If the PO used the ZX AFM there might be problems.  

I'd get all the numbers together and see what's what before getting carried away.  I'm not even positive that that's a ZX intake manifold.  Maybe it's an L24E unit.

[Zed Head]

Did 1975 California have EGR?  Maybe that is a 1975 intake manifold.  Just checked 1976 and CA did have EGR.  So 75 probably did too.  I jumped the gun on the manifold I think.

All I'm really certain of at this point is that 1975 never had an N47 head.  They did not exist then.

I'm going to go with everything is stock except the head and that it's a Maxima N47 head.  Which means the head has been off.  Maybe other work has been done also.  

Thanks for the new puzzle.