2ManyZs

Let me say one thing, there were no LSD's in Z cars until 1987 from the factory. However there were other models that used the R series diff that may have a LSD in it. Perhaps the first generation Maxima, but I believe they had an R-200 if I'm not mistaken. The only other car that may have a LSD would be the 200SX Turbo's but they had R-200's also. Not sure if there were any R-180's offered with an LSD from the factory, however, there are units available for either diff. Not sure what will be in a 79, I think it will be an R-200. I know they went to the R-200 in 75 yet the later 77-78's had an R-180.

Well, with the Ground Control set up they will sell you a recommended strut cartridge for your car. Then when you cut the strut housing you will measure the cartridge they supply in the housing with the top mounting nut installed. You will extend the strut cartridge (won't have to worry about it with a gas cartridge since it will be fully extended), install the top mounting nut and drop the cartridge all the way to the bottom of the housing and mark it with a piece of tape on the shaft of the cartridge. Then you raise it all the way to the top until it comes in contact with the mounting nut, then mark it with tape, and measure the distance between them. This is how much you will remove from the housing when you cut it. In effect you are shortening your housing to fit the strut cartridge, so in the future you may run into a problem if you try to change to a different type of cartridge. You will have to make sure it is the same length as the one it is replacing or it won't fit into the housing. Not all strut housing will be cut the same amount from one car to another unless they are all using the same cartridge, although there may not be much difference , it will depend on the brand of cartridge and what type it is. Hope that answers your question. I thought it odd when they told me they were selling me a set of cartridges for a drag racing application, but they worked OK on my 280 IT car. All depends on the compression/rebound of the cartridge in order to fit it to your application.

Eibach progressive rate springs are about 275 for a set of four, but you can get single rate springs for 180 or a little less depending on where you get them.

Yup, more dollars than sense. Jeez, talk about overkill. I'm not sure I would be brave enough to ride in it, something about self-preservation............

Well, could be a kit or a re-body of an F-Body GM car. Or was it a real one? Hard to tell without seeing under the hood or hearing it run. Doesn't look like a real one, looks like one of the re-body kits to me. They are getting more and more popular, cheaper and easier to build, and you can buy parts for it anywhere.

Yup, I'm afraid you do have to remove the stock spring perch. There would be no way to put the spring collar on the strut tube if you don't. If you are cutting the strut tube to shorten it would be doubtful you would want to use the bottom stock perch anyway. I found the easiest way to remove the stock perch was to use a 6 inch grinder and grind off the weld on the bottom just enough to let the perch loose. When you cut out the section just cut it above and below the weld seam where you just removed the stock perch. Saves a lot of grinding that way. You can usually rent a large tubing cutter (for up to 6 inch pipe) that will work great to cut the strut tube. Not only do they cut straight but it will be easier to chamfer the edge of the tube when you go to weld it back together, it will already have a bit of chamfer from the tubing cutter, just add a little more with a file and you are good to go.

Well, if the rheostat worked (did the rest of the dash lights dim or brighten up when you tried it?) it is only a matter of pulling two dash lights out of the speedo and tach and replacing them. It can be done from under the dash if you are willing to try to become a contortionist. There should be two lights on either side of both gauges. The easy way is to turn on the lights in a dark garage and lay on your back on the floor and feel around for them. It isn't easy but it can be done.

The cam you choose depends on which carbs you decide to use, which head, compression ratio, exhaust system etc. You should pick your cam when you decide on how you are going to build your engine. It will be easier to choose a cam to fit your engine specs than to build your engine around the cam choice. EWven what gear ratio and transmission figures into the equation so you have a cam that gives you the right power range for the rpm's you plan on running the car. Once you decide on how you are going to build your car, the right cam will be what works with your modifications. I would stay with a cam of less than .460 lift and 270/280 duration unless you are planning on some tripple Webers and high compression. Probably your best bet with Su's and some mild modifications like a header and 2 1/2 inch exhaust would be the 480 lift, 274 duration. If you get too wild you will run into vacuum problems and idle/driveability issues.

kmack is right, changing over to an R-200 with anything less than a turbo L series engine or a V-8 conversion is a bit of a waste. If you plan on using a L-24 up to an L-28 save yourself some trouble, money and weight and stick with the R-180. If you change to the R-200 you have to change the mustache bar, the rear suspension transverse link or bar, and also the front diff mount, plus what kmack said. There are different ratios available for the R-180, just takes a little patience to find them. As far as the clunking issue goes, there are 4 main reasons for it. Bad U-joints, bad bushings in the mustache bar mounts, loose front diff mount, and too much lash in the ring and pinion. Check the u-joints first, then replace the mustache bar bushings and the front diff mount, make sure the mounting bolts are tight on the mustache bar and if you still have a lot of clunking it's time to re-build the diff.

If you used the 280 rods it probably would, but it all depends on which pistons and rods you used with the 280 crank. You could probably use the 240 rods with 240 pistons on the 280 crank and be OK. With todays pump gas you should shoot for less than 10.75:1 for sure, any more and you have to use an additive to control the detonation. There is an article in an old Z car magazine where a guy did this exact thing in his 240. It came out to 2663cc or something like that. He just had it for sale on ebay less than two weeks ago. If you have any of the old issues of the original Z Car magazine it's in the Nov/Dec 1997 issue. Oops, after I re-read your post I looked up the article, he used a 280 block with a 240 crank, not the other way around.

Changing the seal in the slave cylinder is quite easy. I would recommend using a brake cylinder hone to clean up the cylinder before you put a new seal in though. All you need to do is remove the slave cylinder, take off the dust boot, remove the retainer clip and pull out the plunger. Most times it's almost as cheap to just buy a reman. cylinder or a new one, they are only around 20 bucks, then rebuild the old one at a later date to keep as a spare. Be careful when you unhook the line to it though, as they tend to never be replaced and usually are not in the best of shape. Most people replace the brake lines but never do replace the hose to the slave cylinder. used to be able to get stainless stell lines like the brake line replacements but a new rubber line will work fine. When you are done you can just gravity bleed it, there is no reason to bleed it like you do the brakes in most cases.

Well Jim, the only reason I know this is because the first Z I owned was in fact a 73 that I bought in 82 or 83. It had a vapor lock problem and when I talked to the local Nissan dealer the mechanic asked if it still had the electric fuel pump and the rest of the parts installed in the recall. It did not have it, so when we researched the Vin number it turned out the car had never been taken back to the dealer for the recall. So, the parts manager got on the phone to Nissan and about a week later he gave me a big box of parts to put on the car. It contained all the parts for the recall, the 7 blade fan, the electric fuel pump, the line insulation and a couple other things. So, in effect, I did the recall on the car myself in the back yard. And lo and behold it didn't help, turned out it was the water control valve, so had to block off the water to the carbs. Did that and never had another problem with the car.

The 73's did not come from the factory with an electric fuel pump. The cars had a vapor lock problem due to the flat top carbs and emissions controls added that year and the factory was forced to recall all 73's. The recall consisted of a 7 blade fan, thermo wrap for the fuel lines and an electric fuel pump, and a couple other small items that I don't recall (there may have been a lower temp thermostat, and a fuel pump block off plate ). That being said all 73's and later cars will have an electric fuel pump. One easy way to tell if yours had the recall done is to count the fan blades. So yes, it should have an electric fuel pump.

Another way to do it is to take the plugs out and turn the engine over with a socket on the crank pulley. Any valve that has the lobe pointing straight up is one to adjust, take a magic marker and make a mark on the head where the valve gasket goes to keep track of which have been done and which are left to do. You can do multiple valves at once before you have to turn the engine over again. Just make sure you are putting the right adjustment on the right valves, it isn't hard to forget which is which if you get in a hurry. Don't ask me how I know that. You will get a better adjustment if you do the valves when they are hot, it will take into account any variations in the expansion of the metal in the cam and rocker arms. You could do a cold adjustment and then run the car for a little while, then do it again when it is hot just to make sure the clearances are correct, or do it hot the first time and be done with it.

Well, sounds like you are making progress (on the car that is). "Honey-do" list is all yours.....seems we all have a list of some kind don't we? As to the turn signal dilemma, if one side is flashing and the other isn't it's not in the flasher. Have you checked the stalk itself? I have had the cover on the steering column move slightly which didn't allow the turn signal stalk to completely actuate the signal. If not there then check your signal assembly on the column, it could have dirt, or corrosion in it. Might no hurt to spray some contact cleaner in there just to be sure.

Yup, the Panasports are kinda expensive, but they sure do look good on a Z! Figure on paying at least 200 each for Panasports, Revolution is having a sale on their wheels, around 160 each. There may be some billet wheels from Centerline etc. available in the right stud pattern but they will be about the same price as the Panasports. The days of "cheap" wheels is sadly over as far as new wheels go for a Z car, but the 15 inch wheels are about what the 14's used to be. They are slowly getting pushed out of the market since so many manufacturers are now mounting 16's, 17's and larger wheels as standard equipment. And the aftermarket is concentrating on what is selling, all the way up to 18 inch and even larger wheels. It's a shame that all the older cars that have a following like the Z's have 13's and 14's and no one wants to supply aftermarket wheels. It's their loss.

You know the saying Royce, "It's in the Mail"? You better hope it's not on my truck. :eek:

There aren't too many manufacturers that make 14 inch wheels anymore. Most are concentrating on 15's,16's, etc. You may have to really search for the 14's. There are still a few that make 14 inch that will fit, Revolution, a couple from American Racing, and possibly some from Z Racing from Sears, probably a few others I'm missing. You will have much better luck if you look for 15's. Use a 15 inch wheel with a lower profile tire. Not sure if their is any other car that uses the same bolt pattern unless it's from Nissan. Best bet is to find used sets if you plan on using 14 inch wheels. Check on Zparts.com, he has quite a few wheels on there but most aren't in full sets of four.

Hmm, sounds like fun. Just one small observation though, if they are following the old 72 GCCR and prep rules, the green car should say CP not EP. Z cars were in C Production in the 70's.

Yes there are dry sumps available for the L series, most of the E-Production racers use them. Not sure but I think Malvern Racing has them. Rebello probably has them as well. In EP you can use the dry sump and the crank fired ignition and a few other mods but basically the induction system and head must remain fairly stock.

The tan one is some kinda schweeeeet! I take it this was not a sanctioned race weekend? The green car looks too stock to be running in EP. Looks like it has the stock suspension even, not to mention it doesn't look to have a complete roll cage, just a roll bar. Must be a work in progress.....

Congratulations Royce, looks like you got "promoted". If Mike was having fun, I'd hate to see what he has in store for the rest of us.:eek: Hmm, when I replied mine got the same thing. There seems to be something "lurking in the shadows here".............

A picture would be great, a couple would be better, especially if you can take one of the rust area. Might be a few of us interested.

If you get a kit such as the one that MSA sells, it will give you everything you need to install the A/C. It will more than likely be at least a weekend project. The hardest part will be installing the all the under dash components, you may have to remove the heater unit to add on the A/C and related ducting. All the parts under the hood will be easy, it's inside that will be the most work. I haven't tried it, so cannot give you any definate answers to how long or how much labor is involved.

I think it's in the 450lb range, I remember picking up a crate L-28 many years ago in a pickup and it only took two of us to lift it off the ground and set it in the back of the truck. That was a long block in a crate, so if two skinny guys can lift it it can't be too heavy.