big-phil

Hey you work in a grocery store? Be nice to your Pepperidge Farm vendor.....because it might be me.

I went to " All z car specialist " in Ft Worth today, Its like a candy shop. I was looking for some interior parts, This place has all 240,260,280z's zx's 300's etc. in a field and you walk through and find your parts, everything you can think of, doors hoods engine seats, and not much if any rust. Not sure if they ship? 817-483-0383

Hey guys thanks for all your help This is what I did. I ended up buying a reconditioned head from a head shop in the Dallas area, for $250 with core has new valves , 3 angel valve job new guides, presseure tested.....everything. so I get that head put it on my car and start it with the cam 180 degrees out of time....ouch, I take the head back to the shop and they replace 7!!! bent valves for FREE! I can't tell you the frustration, with all of this but I now know how to time the engine, cam and everything. and how to get my cam guide thing back into its slot with out taking the whole motor apart. I have little markes on most of the pistons from where the valves hit them, but the car runs great now, and has better throttle response. I guess due to better compression and what not. OH and I got the heater core from O'rile auto parts $60.00 This head place shippes heads out also and they are a great bunch of guys and really helped me out with the valve thing. Cylinder Heads International in Grand Prairie Texas 972-264-3449, or 1-800-942-4503 Once again thanks for all the replies! Philip.

Thanks for all the info, well I read all of this too late I put the head gasket on start it up and still white smoke. so now the head is off and in the back of my truck waiting to go to the machine shop. But I think I have a problem, on the #3 and #4 cylinder exhaust vales, I see small cracks!! so do I need a new head???

I bet your right! I just calld autozone and a head gasket is $15.99 I left the intake, and exhaust manifold on, unbolted the exhaust at the header, so it will all come off in one part so I wont need any more gaskets, and the valve cover gasket looks good I'll just put a little sealant top and bottom, so I'll be out the head gasket, coolant, oil change, and a heater core is $59.99. I was thinking of taking the heater core to a radiator repair shop to see if it can be fixed???? I don't look foward to taking that out, the car has (ICE COLD!) a/c can I get that core out with out messing with the a/c?

a pic of the 929

I bought this 78 280z about 2 weeks ago, car runs fantastic! untill tuesday night at a stop sighn. I take off hard in 1st, then 2nd, almost to red line, and BOOM! all my windows fog up, coolant is spitting all from behind the dash, and the smell of HOT coolant smoke fills the car. I pull over, I'm not far from home, and I see what just happend is not good, so I drive home. The motor temp never gets to 250f , But after I get home I lift the hood and see some leekage from between #3 and #4 piston (just above the oil filter) Now I know the heater core cracked from the pressure, I think this was going to happen at anytime because I could always smell just a hint of coolant in the car, so it must of had a very small leak, and the pressure poped it. But the head gasket, was that from driving the car home hot? It never actually touched the red 250 mark. Oh, and there is now white smoke comming from the tail pipe, so for sure head gasket is gone..... Today is thursday, and the car is all tore down already for a new gasket, I like to fix stuff ASAP. I ask this question because I stunt a street bike, do shows...stuff like that I have a 2001 honda cbr 929, my temp has gotten to 265 many many many many many many many times, and the bike still runs. was it the age of the car, and the 153,000 miles on the motor that did it in?????? Anyway hope to have the car on the road by next week.

What is the name of the group? Where and how often do they meet? and is it mostly older z's. Whats the name of the restaurant.

Hey I live in the dallas area, just bought a 78 280z 5spd. love it !! Are there any groups around here to get with????