rcb280z

Ha! Duh on my part. Mark is probably scratching his head wondering what this guy is talking about! I knew better than that. Geeze, embarrassing. Guess I didn't pay too much attention to "period one" car. I believe they (Nissan) switched the reservoirs in 72'? Anyway,.......

Very nice! You might want to switch the brake reservoirs around though.

Hmm...mine wasn't painted or coated with anything. Just a plain metal surface. And that's how Iv'e seen several of them.

Ha! Probably why I did it that way to begin with. It's been awhile but I remember thats how I did it. The way of the FSM.

You have to remove the tach first, then stick your hand thru the tach opening. Thats the easiest way IMO.

I was thinking about that last night while trying to go to sleep. I'm going to try and lift it off before I try any of the other tricks. Definitely would be easier. I installed it and I believe I will be able to remove it without doing to much damage. The dash is in bad shape so I have to be very easy with it.

Unfortunately I have to use the full face. My damage goes beyond the surface of the dash. It wraps around and down the front. I really need a new dash. But the $$ is an issue.

Thanks Chuck. Really good info. I was hoping someone has gone through this. I sat in the car for a few pondering how I was going to go about this and your info verified what I was thinking needed to be done.

That is the same question I have had for years Charles. If I could update my FI with a programmable system not only will my Z run better but it would run "cleaner". We should be allowed to do this to our vehicles. Not to mention, Ed, that the state is supposedly broke. Don't get me wrong, I love where I live, next to the beach. And I like clean air. I believe in doing my part so let me do my part and update my fuel system to a better one and not penalize me for it. Thats all I'm trying to say.

Yeah its tough. I spend a lot of time keeping my Z in good shape. Specifically the FI. So when I saw what seemed like an extra $200 bill to register my Z I got angry.

"quote" If it's not mandatory then people can just carry on as before, right? ZedHead, yeah I guess so. Guess I was anticipating them making it mandatory. I saw it as an opportunity for CA to "screw" us classic vehicle owners once more.

It feels like your getting shafted Chas, yes that is how I feel. My car fails the first smog test. I have to adjust it to get it to pass the second one. There are NO Datsun mechanics around here or any mechanics that know how to work on these cars. The last time I had a smog test done the tech said CA needs to change the rules for testing older vehicles. He felt the rules were "ridiculous". Said my Z was running cleaner than some of the newer vehicles on the road.

The big deal is, they want to charge an extra $200 to register your car. That's an added expense to register. You guys that have Z cars that fall into the age criteria don't have to worry about it because you are already exempt. But for the rest of us the state wants more money. That's the big deal.

Pulling the dash is out of the question. Seems like too much work to me. Iv'e opened too many "cans of worms" in the past with this car if you catch my drift. Before I installed the cap I did some of the things you mentioned Mike. So I'm good for now. I do how ever want to pull it someday to have it recovered so...... I almost damaged my cap using too high a heat setting on my heat gun while installing it. Will probably not do that again. Or if I do it wont be with a heat gun but rather a good hair dryer.

I will try a couple things and post what was successful or not for that matter. Thanks guys!

Here we go again. Just because we own an older vehicle California wants to make it even more difficult on us. Please read. California Introduces Legislation to Allow Certain Vehicles to Pay Fee Instead of Passing Smog TestLegislation (A.B. 550) to allow an owner of a motor vehicle that is subject to the smog check program to pay a $200 smog abatement fee in lieu of passing a smog test was introduced in the California Assembly. The vehicle would have to meet specified criteria in order to qualify. The bill would require the fee to be deposited in the Air Quality Improvement Fund. The measure will be considered by the Assembly Transportation Committee. We Urge You to Contact All Members of the Assembly Transportation Committee (Contact Info Below) Immediately To Voice Your Opinion of A.B. 550Under current law, the smog check program requires inspection of motor vehicles upon initial registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Existing law exempts specified vehicles from inspection, including motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model-year.A.B. 550 allows the owner of a motor vehicle that is required to take a smog test to pay a smog abatement fee of $200 if the motor vehicle meets all of the following criteria: Is 30 or more model-years old; was manufactured during or after the 1976 model-year; fails a smog test; and fails a subsequent smog test after necessary repairs were made.

Ok will do. Sometime during this next week. Have to remove my speedo also so while I'm in there.....

Awesome! I have plenty of coffee cans with the plastic lids. I will give this a shot hopefully within the next few days.

I have a feeling this is going to be a nightmare!

Anyone successful with removing the tach and speedo with a full face dash cap in place? I need to remove the speedo to repair or replace. How about removing from the back instead of the front?

You did see the pic with NO engine and NO trans right? You said above you are looking for a Z with a manual trans. Looks like a good parts car though.

Definite food for thought. I could possibly source a late 77 / 78 fuel rail and use the adjustable fuel regulator also. I'm sure the late fuel rail will install with no mods. Would be safer and easier than messing with the ECU. I don't feel competent enough around electrical. I do have the CA ECU and the altitude switch though. rossiz, I had hoped that Super Lenny would have had the Hellfire ready to go by now. But I'm looking for simplicity now. So MS is out for me. Maybe I'm just getting too lazy now?

How did you modify your fuel rail to accept the regulator with only "one" fuel inlet? The stock one as you know has two inlets. I would think it would be a "noticeable" modification to the techs, no?

I wouldn't pass a "visual" part of the inspection. The tech would say, "that is not stock equipment". The last time I went for emissions testing they huddled around the front looking at my K&N cone air filter. Thought they were going to fail me but didn't.

Yeah, like I said if I could go to that simplicity again (su's) I wouldn't hesitate. My problem is I want a perfect running EFI and am starting to realize that is not possible on a 38 year old system. And it doesn't help that California makes it harder to keep these cars with the extremely hard to pass emissions testing. I may sell the 280 and get a 240.