rdefabri

I wrote a post about selling on eBay about a year ago. You actually want to start very low and let the price work it's way up. Be careful, you may not like what you see - so set the reserve high. I've sold untold numbers of items, but when I went to sell my Z, it didn't hit what I thought it would. Thankfully, the reserve was set high enough so I didn't lose her.

Diseaszd has the coolest Z shots - you can search and find them on this board.

JimmyZ, Thanks for the PM - I am intrigued by the rich fuel mixture - so Fairlady must have changed something to upset the ratio of air/fuel. I am not an SU expert, but from my response to your PM, I have a feeling my issue is related to that...as I mentioned, I can turn the car over on starting fluid, sounds great for the second or so it burns off the ether - then it dies. So it's not igniting whatever mixture is getting into the chamber, which implies it's not getting any or it's too much (my suspicion given how well the fuel components flowed from my troubleshooting). I didn't change anything on my car, but I think Fairlady and I have related problems - as I said, I am not an SU expert - they have a reputation for being testy when not balanced/adjusted...thoughts? Fairlady - my apologies, I realized I somewhat hijacked this thread, so I'll say no more other than to give guidance as to what (if anything) helps my situation....

I did replace the plugs - new NGKs, so I am sure that's not the problem. I would doubt timing, given that the car worked fine just a month ago, nothing should cause that to change given I've done no mods or changes to the car to affect it. I do think the car doesn't want to leave the cozy confines of my garage...the car must be possessed and ticked off I tried to bail on her!!! :eek:

I am out of ideas for both of us - I am so %^&*(*&^&* p'd off it's not even funny...fuel pump works like a champ, fuel getting to both carbs. Now I do have some fuel on the plugs, so I am either getting too much gas (flooding) or not enough (carb problem)? I practically sledge hammered the car I am so infuriated. Can't understand how it started about a month ago and now I waste a whole can of ether and nothing happens.

Can't go wrong with a Corolla - with 19K miles, it would last you 10 years easy, and you'll get great resale on it. I had one, but I moved my office closer to home and ended up with a GS400...still a Toyota, but a hell of alot more exciting...good luck with it!

Are your plugs wet? Mine seem to have some dampness to them, but it's more viscous, like oil...mind you, they aren't SOAKED, but lightly damp...I am certain I am not getting gas into the chamber....are you seeing something similar? Also, how sensitive are 240s to plug gap? I would expect that even if off, you'd have some burbling or firing - I'm getting NOTHING....NADA. Spray the ether, it fires then dies...I know there's no gas getting there. As Steve suggested, I'll take a look at the fuel pump, I suspect that's the issue.

RolfSis, seems like a few of us are having similar problem - it's a matter of eliminating what it's not. In my case, I knew I was getting spark, I have a fully charged battery and gas in the tank. Car started just a month ago, so nothing radical has occurred. As Steve says, check to make sure you're getting spark (take the plugs out of the head, leave the wire connected and ground it by touching the exposed area of the plug to something like the rocker cover - then crank the engine and you should see spark), eliminate the obvious. I actually sprayed starter fluid into the carbs and the car fired, but once the ether burned off, it died. Clearly, I'm not getting fuel, which is either fuel pump or carbs. I know the fuel pump had some gas in it, implying it's getting it from the tank, but per Steve's recommendation, I will put the line going to the carbs into a bucket to see if it's sending (I am certain that's the problem). If I discover that the fuel pump IS working, then it must be carb related. These cars are pretty simple to work on, just eliminate the obvious and go from there. GOOD LUCK! The real question is when did the full moon come out to cause all these non-starters? I was trying to sell mine, now this will push that back a bit as well....

Ok, I've isolated mine to either a) fuel pump or carbs. I know I am getting spark, and when I sprayed ether into the carbs, the car started to run over. However, once the ether was burned off, the car went back to nothing. So I am not getting fuel - anyone know if the fuel pumps on these things are prone to going?

Dudes, Karma it may be - MINE won't start, getting spark as well...posted about a week ago that there was a ton of oil on the plugs...this time, no oil, but no start. Plenty of battery juice, spark, no catch. THIS SUCKS

Ok, worth a shot!

Yea, I always knew I'd need the overhaul, but the plugs are getting spark - so I am not sure if changing gets me much. It's worth a shot, but for whatever reason it just decided not to run - never an issue even though I knew it was burning oil.

Tried to start my 240Z after about 1 month of idle time. The battery was fully charged, and I was getting spark, but noticed a nice coat of oil on the plugs. I know the car needs a ring job, but I've started the car many times in the past with no issues. This go around, the starter turned, but the engine never catches - not even a cough. Any ideas?

I know I am dating myself, but I keep hearing the Hall & Oates song - "Sheeee's gone (she's gone) Ohh I, Ohh I....."

Kenshin: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-Datsun-240Z_W0QQitemZ320148145900QQihZ011QQcategoryZ6187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem The car looks better in pics than it does in person. I'll say this, the underbody is great and for an East Coast car, there is minimal rust (just the start at the doglegs). The main issue with it is that it needs some engine work. It runs, but it's not as strong as I recall my original '76 280Z - although that's 20 years ago, so time may have messed up my reference. We'll see what she gets. I don't need to sell it, but I have an old Jaguar and I want to work on that car first. I'll get another 240Z some day for sure.

I feel your pain brother, mine's on eBay now...I will stick around though, as should you, although for me it may be painful!

EScanlon is right - need to leave a small gap near the bottom to allow airflow and drainage. My XKE has factory covers and they designed that in FWIW.

My 240 is a bit sluggish, even though it has the 4.11 rear - I'd guess it's in the 8.5 second range. I did drag my 1976 280Z back in the day - it had some goodies too, nothing extravagent but I ran a few 15.7-15.8 1/4 mile times. Now, my current daily driver - Lexus GS400 - is more of a beast. I get on it all the time, it easily does 0-60 5.8 seconds or so.

What's the body look like? I am just curious, as I have my 240Z up for sale, I am always scheming...my wife might not dig it, but curious anyway.

Mine's up for sale - gonna miss it if/when it's gone...we can cry in our beers together

Rockr, I am a naysayer - Nissan's designs have gotten WAY too generic! Look at the Altima Coupe, the G37, and the coming Skyline...ALL LOOK THE SAME! Have they not learned the lesson of the big 3 in the 70's and 80's? Putting a Cadillac badge on a Cavilier won't make people buy it (see: Cimmarron). While I agree that there are differences, and they've taken steps to differentiate, the designs have gotten too derivative. The front fascia of the Sentra, Altima, and Maxima are too similar IMHO. The good thing is - opinions are like a*holes - everyone has one. Just because I think this way doesn't mean the buying public agrees. Nissan's rebound is testament to that.

That's a fantastic deal!! Good luck!

3.5 Altima is a great car for the money. Tons of torque steer, but still cool. Screw that crappy CVT though, get the manual. I nearly bought the previous iteration, having owned a 2000 Nissan Maxima SE 5-spd. Instead I ended up with a used Lexus GS400 - it was cheaper and faster...but I did like that Altima....go for it!

Is it the original engine?

I may be listing mine - it won't be that cheap..