If you have ever turned a wrench on a Z ... Help me

[jeff1216]

I am grasping for straws here.

Just a reminder:

78 280Z

removed the stock head, fuel injection,cpu, and wiring harness

Mounted an E88 head

Arizona intake

Holley 390

For the 4th time......I pulled the the timing cover and chain off ( even bought a new timing set)

Crank and cam are set on the money

Dizzy is on the money

firing order is on the money.

I can get the car running but you have to pump the gas and keep the rpms high.........keeps kicking gas back thru the carb.

All point to the timing being off.....BUT it is not!

Here is my only thought..................

When I removed the wiring harness did I remove something to the ignition module? Does this car have an ignition module?

Since I have the stock electronic dizzy did I need to run the 2 wires from the dizzy somewhere else after removing the comp.?

When the 240 or 260 guys install a late model electronic dizzy on there car where do they run the 2 power wires to?

Do they install an ignition module?

Please give any suggestion that you can......I am all out of ideas.

[Ed]

Hey Jeff, I feel your pain. I can't answer all your questions but will help you where I can.

I installed an electronic ignition from a 81 on my 240. And I did have to use the ignition module that was on the distributor already. Just make sure your getting 12v to the module. I can't remember where the wires go exactly but I followed the wiring diagram that is on zcargarage (my car is in pieces otherwise I could go and look). I would think if the wiring to the distributor was messed up your car wouldn't start at all.

When you do get it running you said you have to keep pumping the gas to keep it going. How does it seem to run when it is running? What rpm's does it get to? When I had my timing off by one tooth at the distributor she wouldn't run at all. It would start idle really rough and as soon as you gave it some gas it would die. I'm not that familiar with the holley carb but doesn't it squirt gas into the manifold when the butterfly's are opened? Is this a new carb?

[mwz]

I'm not positive, but I believe if all you removed was the FI wiring harness, you should be OK distributor-wise, electronically anyway. The 'ignition control' unit is on the passenger's side, above the kick panel. It has 5 or 6 wires attached to it, screwed on with ring connectors under a white plastic cover. That's how it is for '76 and '77, anyway.

[jeff1216]

In regards to this 180 out thing......If I put the motor at top dead center and my rotor is pointing at the #1 cylinder....isnt it impossible to be 180 out?

[carguyinok]

In regards to this 180 out thing......If I put the motor at top dead center and my rotor is pointing at the #1 cylinder....isnt it impossible to be 180 out?

NOPE.

Your motor will see TDC TWICE once is for exhaust stroke then again for your compression stroke. 180 off you put it in on the exhaust stroke TDC.

Real easy to find. Pull the valvecover & watch the valves for the #1 CYL. When you see the rockers NOT moving thats your compression stroke and where you want to find TDC.

Dont feel bad or dumb. I think we all have been there and done this :cheeky:

[jeff1216]

Comp. results

Less than 6 revolutions 180-190 per cylinder

If you let it turn over and build max pressure it builds to and holds 230 to 235 psi

What does that mean?

[jeff1216]

OK....here is where I am now.

I can get the car to start a little easier.....still will not idle and you have to constantly feather the gas to keep it running (running very rough I might ad)

One thing it has started to do..................While feathering the gas it will all of a sudden RACE to a very high RPM until the excess gas burns off......over and over....feather the gas....give it more gas let off the gas and she runs up to a high rpm from the previous gas pushing.....any ideas? Am I getting any closer???

[carguyinok]

Do you have a timming light ? Is it still back popping fuel?

[jeff1216]

yes....still popping fuel back just not as bad.....I have a light...would be hard to use though because you cat keep the car at a constant rpm

[carguyinok]

Have you looked to see if it's 180 off ? I cant see it starting 180 off. But with enough work maybe it could happen. If there is fuel back poping then you have valves outa time. So that would make me look at the chain \ cam. Maybe a tooth off as ED has said.

It's just a real hard without being there and seeing\hearing whats going on. :cry:

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by jeff1216

Comp. results

Less than 6 revolutions 180-190 per cylinder

If you let it turn over and build max pressure it builds to and holds 230 to 235 psi

230 to 235 sounds awfully high for a basically stock L6 engine.

[beandip]

since you have pulled the head, and you are sure that the plug wires are correct and the timing has been done I really suspect the valve timing . It can easily be assembled off either way by a tooth . I have a ? why did you remove the injection and replace it with quad ? Just wondering