Redwing

Welcome... Glad to see you have joined the Finest Z - Car list. The folks here are wonderful, very knowledgeable, helpful, and just plain NICE members. I can personally attest to that fact. My 280 - Z RedBird, has been plagued with problems, and being a mature (I like that image better than the O_ _ one) Lady, I need all the help I am allowed. Hahaha... The photos of your cars are lovely. How about telling us about each of them? The members really get off on learning the nuts and bolts of all the especially new additions to the group. Enjoy the photos and articles. They are super. Jai

My Dear Friends, I received THE call just now. RedBird's repairs are Complete and I am leaving shortly to go get her. Hooray!!! I will have a complete set of photos of her journey back to Beautiful, and will be posting them Here when I get back. A great Big Yahoo, I can hardly wait to Drive Her Again!!! Later gang, Jai 😇 🚘

Ha, it went for $9,744. Pretty car! Jai

Well, that's a lot I think. Look at this one, for less $ and in better shape. IMHO eBay # 221937869970 It has less than an hour on it. Check out the carbs. Jai

Great! It works. I thought it might not, because I am on a tablet, no right click. But just clicking on the dot it works just like you said. Yay. I am all for making things easier, saving time. Thanks again, Jai

It was funny! When I read about it being the clutch, I got a big grin. At Least it is something that is Known! Not a nebulous incident leaving us all scratching our heads for an answer. I can deal with that diagnosis. As to catching a break, yes there has been quite a lot of problems. But, looking on the bright side, I think RedBird is still in a lot better shape than some here. (No throwing stones.) So I still feel blessed to have This Car as My Friendly Vehicle to share my life with. Too optimistic, well maybe. But at least I do not go around looking whipped, and being so depressed about it. Given a choice, I choose to be cheerful. Life is what you make of it! Thanks to you and the others who have chosen to assist me on my journey!!! Jai

Thank you for your input. I will do that about putting her into 4th (no 5th) on a hill to check. But non working tach too, so will have to play it out by ear. Someday, after the major things that keep her from running right are finished, I need to figure out the tach. Jai

Ahaaa, will the photographer ever be satisfied with the results??? Keep going, she looks better and better! Love them. Jai

Thank you ZedHead, Steve, and Patcon. Zed, yes the RPM'S were up with no change in speed. (Toast... hahaha) Nope, no other noise. Steve, Thanks for mentioning the clutch, got that thought churning. Patcon, Ok I will use 1st gear when going up next time. Which will be 2 weeks from yesterday. Glad to hear it is not an imminent repair. Placing it on the looong list. I have a nice, shiny, air conditioned, new, pretty (?), vehicle outside. Have no idea what it is, they all look alike. The insurance company got me a rental car (bucket of bolts). But I'm not interested in driving IT anywhere. Blah, it is Not My Lady. AND, I Did Not park it in RedBird's carport. She might realize it, like a dog would, and refuse to take me flying off into the wild for a spin. Hmmm.. Thank you all, you are so special to me... Jai

No, sure don't know how, cannot make this work for me. Last posters name, who's, the name of the post you want to get to the end on? Users name and day and time are on the same line, above the post here. I probably am looking at the wrong thing tho. Would really like to know this trick. Thanks, Jai

This is something new, kinda upsetting since I have no idea what is going on. Yesterday I went to a friends house, she has a really steep driveway going up to her house. RedBird was in 2nd gear because we had not stopped before starting up the hill. She slowed down going up it, and when I gave her more gas she did not go any faster, just struggled up it. I did not try to go down into 1st gear because I thought there was not enough time, and didn't want to stall out there on the hill. When we were at the top, I smelled a heavy odor of rubber, this is the problem! What in the world is that??? Why did this happen??? I went ahead and parked with full response from RB. She was over whatever was bothering her. I don't have anything else like this driveway I drive on. Just at her house. Normal roads with hills are not a problem. They are not this steep. Thank you for your thoughts. Jai 😇 🚘

RedBird is in the hands of the body shop after all. The other person was not able to do her, for whatever reason. The gentleman at the body shop has assured me that she will have the best of care. He fully understands my uneasiness of leaving her there, he loves the older cars too. He even offered to call me a couple times this week to keep me informed on her progress. They will lock her up inside at night, per my request. And... surprise of all, their painter is my next door neighbor (understand that is acres away from me), and has been with them for 16 years. I had no clue! I met him at the mailboxes (5) last weekend, a rare instance, and he gushed all over at how much he loves RB. So that is good, he too will look after her. I have another question on something that happened with RB last night. But since this forum is getting so long, I was going to start another one. But I can't figure how to do it. And the help list is no help, saying I need to use START NEW TOPIC. But it is not listed anywhere. Is there a secret to finding that? Thank you all, Jai

Yes, the battery was limping along, low in whatever they call it when they test it. So since I had just gotten a payment on the old truck I had, I went ahead and got a new battery. Preventative, so I would not get stuck out somewhere, who knows where. Yikes, the price of batteries have really gone up since I last bought one. AND........ I met a man at Advance Auto, who does paint and body work. He is going to fix the big dent in RedBird, plus the long skinny along the bottom of the door, plus about 10 little tiny bubble rust starts, and 2 larger, for under what the body shop was going to charge for the big dent only. This is great! I hated to have the door painted at the body shop without the long scrape fixed. They wanted $650 for that long scrape alone. This new man has had training in the work he does, plus over 5 years of actual hands on work daily, doing this. Then weekends doing cars like RB. The Advance man was saying that he has known him for years, and knows the good work he does. Also, I get a lifetime guarantee with it. Sounds good to me! Jai

Lumens, Oh thank God (and some very savvy Z car owners) RedBird is doing excellent now that the gas problem is gone. A couple times in the past 3 days she has coughed and died. But started again quickly. I think that happened because I didn't give her enough gas. Something a little different, but which I think I know what it is. Starting, she is now doing a rrrr, rrrr, rrrr, before catching and starting. This morning it was 34 degrees, and I was concerned if she would start at all. The reason being, she has an older battery, and it isn't even the right size (outside measurements). I have been expecting to have to replace it any time now. Maybe I will just bite the bullet and do it now before I get stranded because of it. RB report up to date now! Have a fantastic day, I plan to go for a ride in this beautiful weather! Love my ride!!! Jai

ZedHead, Today I went and changed the idle (counterclockwise) 180 degrees. I could hear it raised the RPM's some, I sat in and raised the rpm's manually. Shortly I took her and Deanna, for a spin. The route covered about 20 miles. She ran beautifully, not a misstep. I even stopped to talk on the phone, and she restarted perfectly. We shall see if she starts any better tomorrow. Thank you for all your suggestions and help. Jai

Thank you lumens, I have sent you a p.m. Look for it. RB will be going into the body shop Monday I think, for 4 days for her repair. I want to get past that. Thanks again, Jai

Beautiful! I'd say you have done an excellent job of bringing her back. Great photography too. Jai

Ok will do that tomorrow. It's getting late now and I must feed the dogs and check the hens and goats. I'm thinking that I will be able to do that one, with no help. Direct and easy. RB has driven well yesterday and today. She had a couple stops yesterday, but restarted quickly, with no stopping today. I'm loving driving again now. I am much less anxious about her dying. Thank you, Jai

HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA... Jai

rcb280z, Both, it depends when. If dying during being started, she stumbles. When rolling along, just suddenly dies, no warning. This is rare, only a few times. Dennis, Phew, that is a list. There are only a couple that I can take care of myself. Perhaps some of the gentlemen that have worked on RB, will know if any of these suggestions have been checked out. How about it guys? Can you shorten this list? As to those that have not been checked out, I'm not sure how I will get them checked. Like you said Dennis, with the damage to her, this long list kinda sends me into overwhelm. I thought we were closing in on the problem (s). Thank you for taking the time to prepare this list Dennis. I'm sure it will help to focus on what to do next. Jai

Wow Zed, that is a bunch of information. Thank you so much. I do not know if the guys that have worked on RedBird checked any of that out. But by your posting it, they will see it. I'm sure some replies will come thru after they think about it. This is great. Glad to hear a new slant on her problems. What you describe about your car sounds very much like what she is doing. I'm very excited. Thank you again, Jai

This morning RedBird started great and warmed up with no problem. Drove to the body shop, (story about that below). Leaving there, started and drove to the local flea market. When leaving the flea market she started and then stalled. Jumped out and QUICKLY opened the hood to look at the fuel gauge. It was exactly on 30. Tried to restart her, and she willingly did. Drove to exit, stalled again. Restarted quickly, with no problem. Would have checked gauge again if she hadn't started on the first try. From there, drove the long way home so she could stretch her legs. Parked, and thanked her, it was a great trip. I will be leaving again late this afternoon for Bible study. Plan to park in a well lit area, so that I can warm her up, as it will be after dark. Don't want to repeat the towing of 2 weeks ago. About the insurance adjuster and body shop: Today was the day to see the insurance adjuster about the crunch RedBird got from a person who backed into her without looking. All is going to be fine. I explained to him this is not a regular car, but a classic which might need parts that are almost unobtainable. Costly at the least. He finally realized I was not going to be pushed around, and that she needs special treatment. He has assured me that she will get everything in the perfect repair she deserves. And if the body shop finds it is to cost more than the estimate, that they will allow that, and cut a second check if needed. Now all I have to do is say when she is going in. I'm thinking of next Monday. BTW ..... Deanna went with me today, she loves to ride. At the body shop, she got in my seat. Someone came by and wanted to know if she had her drivers license. Tee hee hee.... So I took her photo "driving". Enjoy! Thanks for all the help, Jai

I have to meet the insurance adjuster at 10 in the morning. I am concerned about what to do. Let them pay the body shop, or let them give me the check? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you, Jai

When RedBird will not start, she indeed does crank. If the key turns, she always cranks. Sorry I had not made that clear. Jai

Hi, Nope, no bumps causing it. Just.... there it is again! As to the fusible links. When Steve was here last, he took his Dremmel tool with a wire brush on it, and cleaned them of their corrosion. Them, and everything else he could find that needed it. BTW, STEVE, I found a used set of the wires in RB today. So they were replaced, probably when they were fixing her up for sale. But the ones they put in were also used, right? They would have to be, as she was sold to me 12/14. Jai