ArcticFoxCJ

Hey all, As I understand it, most body components are interchangeable between different S30 models. I notice there's a Radiator Core Support for sale from KF Vintage and they only list it for the 240Z... Does anyone know if this is also usable on the 280Z? They don't seem to have one listed for the 280Z but maybe it isn't a problem? https://kfvintagejdm.com/shop/datsun/radiator-support-kit/ Mine is not too terrible to patch up, but I'm considering replacing it anyway.

Didn't get much done on mine over the winter, but now that things are warmer and (kind of) more dry I finally got the engine the rest of the way torn down and it's at the machine shop at last.

Well the reason I was taking it off in the first place was to take the block to a machine shop to get it reconditioned anyway. When I got the car compression was a joke and even though it was probably just stuck rings, I wanted to start off fresh.

Now, I found the M90 on Amazon but it insists that this part number won't fit my 1977 280Z. Is that just because this is an upgrade that still works fine?

Well that wasn't so bad... I took my trusty angle grinder and sliced the housing at the point of the stuck bolt, and it popped right off. Thanks for all the info and advice gents. The tips you gave me really did help even if I didn't take the exact approach recommended. The best part was learning how ubiquitous these oil pups are so I can easily get a replacement.

I'll give that a shot. To be honest, with the massive sludge and slime that was in the oil pan, I'm not entirely sure this pump is even viable... But I'd rather not replace it if I can avoid it.

Thanks, though the problem there is is looks like one of the 2 bolts that holds the two halves together is inaccessible when it's mounted on the engine. Unless I'm misinterpreting what I'm seeing...

One bolt broken, one fully loose but won't come out, and the pump housing itself absolutely refuses to come out. I can twist it slightly back and forth, but have made not even 1mm of progress getting it to come off. I'm trying to get this engine disassembled so it can go to the machine shop to be reconditioned, and I'm tempted to just have them remove the pump by any means necessary and replace it.

Thanks. I do have the auto darkening mask, so there's that at least. And yeah, I also learned through trial and error to keep the wire short! Off the top of my head I forget the diameter of the wire I'm using now.

Yeah I got a copper backing piece the other day... Sticks on with magnets. Too late for this particular spot unless I start over but will come in handy as I continue... And yeah the rest of the car. This was the first place I started welding on. As I feel more confident I am seriously considering the gas welder. I feel like if I get it now, my skill level won't do it justice yet.

Mine is a dedicated flux core welder, so I don't have the option of reversing the polarity and adding gas. I'm coming at it as an absolute noob. I was an ASE Certified Master Auto Technician 20 years ago but I never got into welding in any meaningful way. My future son-in-law is a professional stick welder and he showed me a couple tricks but MIG/flux isn't his strong suit. I'm certain that it's the thin-ness of the metal. It's 20 gauge cold rolled steel. This welder is capable of a way higher duty cycle than I'm using it for here. I fully acknowledge that, as a newbie, this particular type of repair is diving into the deep end of the pool.

Just wanted to offer an update on this, because as I get closer to using the hood support piece I'm going to have to decide on how I will weld it in. I've been going very slowly in the replacement piece to repair that huge rusted gash, and it's messy (I'm still a newb) but getting there. In places where it wouldn't interfere with the hinge support I reverted to patching rather than butt welding, because I was blowing a lot of holes. The question I'm struggling with is... Should I get a spot welder to do this, or can I weld it in using my mig (flux core) welder?

Yeah the tracking info on the shipping company's website estimated delivery for December. I guess that was wildly inaccurate... but I ain't complainin'!

Alright so the part arrived today!

I certainly will. It'll be a while though, package tracking estimates delivery in December... Cost was $100 including shipping. The part itself was about $66. (Ish... exchange rate being what it is.)

Thanks for the tips, guys. Made a deal with Woody for the part. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Oh sorry I misread your prior post. Thanks!

It actually isn't just yellow paint. It's a rust sealant that came in a few different colors. I'll look into this silverfish you mention though, since it would be nice to not have to grind the sealer off before I start cutting and welding to fix the rust. It's a '77 280Z.

I sent Woody a message last night. Can't wait to hear back.

Yeah I looked over it and they don't seem to have that particular piece, but I am bookmarking the page because there's plenty of good stuff there. I'm probably going to ask my father in law to get me in touch with the other one, since he does have FB.

And me without a FB account. Bah. I think I've heard of that one. I'll see if I can piggyback off of someone else's FB to contact that one.

So I started repairing the headlight support but the front frame piece was mangled worse than I'd hoped. I suppose I can repair/fabricate it, but this is not my area. Does anyone know of a vendor that makes them? The yellow paint is to seal up the clean metal until I get back to work on it... whenever I can carve out the time...

So it was attached with pure bondo in big chunks. No welding, thankfully. What's underneath wasn't as bad as I feared, but it's still bad... especially on the passenger side. What I found truly bizarre is a bunch of crumpled mesh... like from a screen door... embedded in the bondo behind the passenger side fender. I have no words.

Inspired by another, similar thread on this forum, I thought I'd give this a shot. I once had a 1983 280ZX 2+2. The thing was fully loaded. Digital dash, power everything, heated seats, t-tops, 5 speed... Only thing it didn't have was a turbo. I worked at a Nissan dealership in Laurel, MD at the time (around 2000) as a tech, and I sold the car to one of the oil change techs. He gave me half the money, promised me the other half, and then took the car and never showed up to work again. I still have the title to this day, meaning technically it still belongs to me. I know that there's about a 99% chance the car ended up scrapped at some point, but since I never got any kind of notice or impound bill from the state, it's possible that the car is still intact... somewhere. The car was an ugly dark gray with a blue hood. (It was a work in progress) If any of you guys have ever seen such a vehicle, I'd love to know what eventually became of it.

Two steps forward, one step back... Or is it the other way around... Eventually I'll have this car so far apart there CAN'T be any more surprises... ...right?