Zed Head

Just realized that my other post was incorrect. The FSM describes reaming the head to to the proper size to fit the seat. And the interference fit spec. is at the end of the chapter in the specs. section. Recommended temperature for inserting the seats is in the chapter also. Too many numbers to piece-meal them out. Good luck. Index of /FSM/240z

The replacement procedure is described in the Service Manual. It doesn't look too complex. They recommend boring them out, heating the head and pressing in the new ones. No tolerances given but maybe there's only one size and the hole is assumed to be untouched. After they're installed though they need to be ground to fit the valve. That's the part that takes the skill and is most important. If you're not going to grind them too you might as well have a shop do the whole job. You said you're a machinist so may know that but just in case...

These are clues. Your friend is not really a mechanic, a real mechanic would use a meter to test, not foil. Here's another site for FSM's, a little easier to use since the files aren't zipped. Open Electrical System. Edit - never mind the link, something is screwed up on it. The page (godaddy)doesn't match the instructions. Maybe they'll fix it later. http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

Considering his post in grannyknot's thread, I think he is looking for a supplier of new rings. Apparently some later 5 speeds used a different 5th gear synchro material, "carbon fiber" or something like that (or there's bad info out there) but my impression is that the 280Z and ZX 5 speeds used the same synchro ring for 1-5. I know that the one 80-83 5 speed I took apart had 5 brass rings. You would know better though.

Here it is. You have to read the whole thing, a lot of learning happened along the way. High RPM shifting dynamics - Drivetrain - HybridZ

Did you find any reason for the noise? And where did you get your parts? There is a very good thread over on Hybridz from a guy who wanted to build his transmission for high RPM shifts, racing style. He really knew what he was doing and discovered some interesting things about synchro gear options, and how to modify the the synchros so that they work perfectly. If you're in to perfecting your parts I can dig it up and post the link. On the synchros topic - they're designed to work with specific gear oil qualities. Oil film strength and viscosity are key. I wouldn't want any foreign materials in there at all.

The picture is what it is. I wonder if Australian or British FSM's have the same drawings, or if they get their own.

Here's a picture from 1976 AC-60. Throttle pedal on the lower left for reference.

I notice also, although it's hard to tell, that your Timesert doesn't seem to be the copper color of the "flat washer" Timesert. It looks like the silver color of the "taper seat" model. Might be part of the problem. +++ TIME-SERT® SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR KITS +++ spark plug stripped thread repair kits repair damaged threads in spark plug hole stripped out approved

Here's another video about Timeserts, with a method described for removing them also. The video on the Timesert site is worth watching too. It's always fun to have a reason to look at new/old technology.

It may not be "oil" per se, but combustion residue mixed with water and a little unburned fuel. I thought somebody mentioned it, but leakage around the timesert threads, not the sparkplug threads is the likely cause. It looks like the sparkplug gasket is seating on the timesert but nothing is sealing the interface between the timesert and the head. It's easy to overlook the fact that there is actually a channel created along the threads when the screw, bolt or sparkplug is tightened. Tight on one side, loose on the other. That channel will probably "coke" up and clog itself in short order. But you might also study how the timesert is set in place. If it backs out because it's not set right, that could be a problem. Looks like they seal at the bottom but yours might not have a good surface down there. Or it just needs a good torquing. Maybe they can be retorqued. ++ TIME-SERT Threaded inserts for stripped threads, threaded inserts, thread repair stripped sparkplug's, Ford sparkplug blowouts, threaded inserts threaded, repair stripped threads, stripped threads, inserts threaded inserts, Ford spark plug repair, ++ TIME-SERT Frequently Asked Questions ++ Time-Sert thread repair questions and answers for + TIME-SERT® SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR KITS + spark plug stripped thread repair kits for spark plug problems, thread stripped spark plug repairs in damaged threads in spark plug hole stripped out approved thread repair, aluminum head spark plug repair

It's the wire with the white plastic connector, connected to the same post as the battery cable. It's an in-line fusible link.

Connect one lead to ground, either the battery negative or the alternator case, and the other to the yellow wire. Measure resistance, in ohms.

You probably have a short on the yellow wire. The white wire is connected to the battery and the alternator charging post. There should not be much current through that wire. Disconnect the T plug at the alternator and check the yellow wire for continuity to ground. Reconnect and check resistance through the alternator. You should have no continuity and high resistance, respectively.

The factory-style steel shims that fit behind the pad will do the job. I had a set of pads that would not stop squealing until the shims were installed. Grease, the spray-on goo, chamfering the pad edges, none of it worked. Only the shims. You can get them at RockAuto for $1-4. "Brake Pad Shim Kit". I feel like a Debbie Downer..

Nice setup, thanks for sharing. My header theory is that the mass of the bulky stock exhaust manifold casting retains enough heat energy from running to overheat the injectors after the engine is shut off. The manifold gets much hotter than the head and the coolant can't pull all of the heat out before the engine is shut down. Headers don't have that mass so don't transfer as much heat energy. But, as is typical for problem-solving, adding in the vented hood, we have three variables changed. So no clear answer. Good to know there might be a solution out there though. I'm leaning to headers as a solution.

Well, there's one data point for purging the fuel rail, maybe. What brand of injector are you using? And, do you have the stock exhaust manifold or headers? I have another theory about where the heat comes from. A good poll would probably shed some light on the heat soak problem.

That would be for a dedicated ground wire for the distributor body. The 280Z's have a wire that attaches to one of the distributor mounting screws for the same purpose. It just guarantees good grounding in the case of gaskets and sealing materials isolating the distributor body from ground at the mounting surface. The ZX FSM shows the screw being used for ground for test procedures. If you still have the black ground wire to the mounting screw for your 280Z setup then you don't need it. I check my grounds with an ohm-meter myself, to be sure I have minimum resistance, even if they're connected correctly.

I don't think that the USB port needs a protective cap. I can see inside my computer's USB ports right now. The world is full of open USB ports. Sounds like you have some options though. Good luck.

I've tried the same fix. Results were temporary.

You could easily modify the cigarette lighter unit. The two electrodes, one on the side and one in the center, just connect directly to the battery, there's no resistors or other electronic gizmos. Either cut the electrodes out or just connect directly to them, hidden behind a face plate. You could even tap off of the lighter circuit for power.

Seems like you're not really sure that the oil is coming out of the "hole". More that the spark plug well is filling up and overflowing. If the oil is coming from inside the cylinder you would expect the spark plug to be fouled or dirtier than the others. Have you pulled the plug and compared? The only oil passage in that area is the one straight passage from the block up to the cam shaft towers. It's drilled so it's straight and I think that you can see the outline of it's location on the outside of the block. It runs between 3 and 4. If a large timesert was used maybe it is possible that they nicked the passage. You might be able to pull the timesert and replace it with another but with better sealing. If the oil was coming from the passage between the block and head the spark plug well would not fill up. It's not uncommon for the head gasket to leak there. BUT, the simplest thought is that the timesert is standing "proud" of the head, with a poor sealing surface for the spark plug base, and you have a compression leak. Fuel and oil vapors, and combustion byproducts are leaking out and condensing, filling the well and dripping down the block. Pull the plug and check the plug sealing surface of the head.

So you have a straight-shot fuel rail. Do you have the hot start/heat soak problem?

I had the same problem with all new parts. I ended up replacing all three parts again over time and also considered the cap. I haven't checked recently to see if the issue is gone for good. I seem to recall that the master cylinder seal showed a small amount of wear which may have contributed the particles that caused the color, but I didn't find anything significant anywhere. In the polymer world one way to make materials cheaper is to add filler. Some seal maker out there has probably loaded their formulation with carbon black and it's leaching out. That was my best guess at the time. Which brand of parts are you using? For the record. Maybe we can identify the bad actor.

The lighter 240Z might be fine with a 3.54. My heavy 280Z wasn't that bad with a 3.54 and a 1980 5 speed, the 3.9 was just better. Weight matters.