EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Sooo, I bought another Datsun. This one is a 1981 280zx. Naturally Aspirated, two-seater. 230k miles. The plan is to get it running, drive it on occasion and auto-x it for fun. Then when the 610 is ready, pull the suspension and brakes off of it for that car. Get some new suspension and brakes for this one and hopefully bequeath it to my brother. So! To get it running is the first order of business. Car has been sitting for two years. Ran well until it was parked and the fuel pump died. (So says the PO.) I had only a few minutes of daylight to look at the car. But everything looks good. (Very little rust.) The oil smells gassy... I hope that's just from sitting for so long. The rubber going into the injectors needs to be replaced, I doubt they'll hold pressure. I'll pick up a battery soon and see what I can do about getting it running. OICS coming tomorrow when I can get them. I would have taken some just now. But it woulda been just a whole buncha black. What can I do about those stubby lengths of rubber connected to the injectors? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 > What can I do about those stubby lengths of rubber connected to the injectors? Nothing. Just drive it. They typically get weathered on the outside, but are multi-layer reinforced fuel hose, so still good on the inside. Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 > What can I do about those stubby lengths of rubber connected to the injectors? Nothing. Just drive it. They typically get weathered on the outside, but are multi-layer reinforced fuel hose, so still good on the inside. Still want to replace them though. The guy told me he had to replace one because it started leaking, so I havef little hope for the others, especially after having sat. Quote Link to comment
ArchetypeDatsun Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 These engines don't do very good after sitting for a long time as far as the fuel injected ones goes all those hoses and vacuum lines harden up and crack over time it's a 30+ year old car why not change all that. Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 These engines don't do very good after sitting for a long time as far as the fuel injected ones goes all those hoses and vacuum lines harden up and crack over time it's a 30+ year old car why not change all that. Ah, lovely. So leave it all until it needs a rebuild? Quote Link to comment
ArchetypeDatsun Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Ah, lovely. So leave it all until it needs a rebuild? Not exactly, why wait for something to happen when you can fix before it happens get my roll? 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Pics! It's been patched and painted in the front. The clear-coat is almost gone. So it'll need a respray sometime later in life. Dude told me he "ran over" the gas cap... Couldn't figure that one out... I like 'dem rims. Interior. It's in fairly nice shape. Lot's of UV damage and disintegrated plastics. [Edit] Oh yeah... It's got a lap timer. Iunno if that's standard, but that's freakin' awesome! The engine. It appears to be seized at the moment. So a diesel soak might be in order. Damage to the car. And it's got a few rust spots like this. Nothing terribly bad. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 The hoses on non-EFI also crack and harden after 40 years, but are lower quality. My advice is start driving it instead of waiting until its perfect. Of course replace leaking hoses and put a new fuel filter in. 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Not exactly, why wait for something to happen when you can fix before it happens get my roll? ...No I don't get your roll... If I shouldn't touch them, but I shouldn't let them go out... What? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 You'll find there are two types of people here on Ratsun; * Fit new parts now, because it may go bad * If it works, don't fix it Both are valid viewpoints with pluses and minuses 2 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 You'll find there are two types of people here on Ratsun; * Fit new parts now, because it may go bad * If it works, don't fix it Both are valid viewpoints with pluses and minuses I'm kinda in between those two... But I don't disagree with either viewpoint. Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Engine isn't seized. Just had bad battery connections. Doesn't appear to have spark. :P Or at least won't fire off of starter fluid. Pump comes in sometime this week depending upon the weather. I'll get the filter changed tomorrow and get some fuel for it sometime soon. [Edit] And obviously diagnose the spark system. Quote Link to comment
ArchetypeDatsun Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 You'll find there are two types of people here on Ratsun; * Fit new parts now, because it may go bad * If it works, don't fix it Both are valid viewpoints with pluses and minuses On point and it's true. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ryoskatekov Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 oh, its probably because the ZX doesn't have anything to attach the cap to. So maybe he put it on the floor forgotabout it and drove over it? lol 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 Got the fuel pump and filter replaced! Aaannnd... Now I need gas. And probably new sparkplugs and wires as it doesn't fire off starter fluid. Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 I'm kinda in between those two... Me too. Fix it half way and drive it! 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted February 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 It's allliiiive! It actually fired up nicely. It was funny, the cylinders came in one by one, so it started running really rough but after about thirty seconds or so she was purring like a kitten. The brakes don't work. lol Who needs to stop anyway? (Fluid has gelled, working on fixing that soon.) 1 Quote Link to comment
PrimeLuxeZ Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Nice z man, has a lot of potential. Interior seems way better then my z. Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Nice z man, has a lot of potential. Interior seems way better then my z. It looks a lot better than it is. Most of the stuff is intact but if you touch any of it, it just crumbles to dust. Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Okay, got the car washed up, all the fluids changed. I'm almost ready to get out on the road... But... I made the idiotic mistake of sending back the bracket/spacer that goes between the master cylinder and the brake booster with my M/C core... And I can't find the damn thing anywhere to save my neck. Can anyone help a fool out? Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2014 Can someone at least get me the exact thickness of that spacer so I can make a new one? Or does it vary from car to car? Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Nevermind, parts store still had my core, flange is back. However, my passenger side frame rail is toast, had her up on stands today to check that out. It's surprising the car hasn't split in half yet. Gonna get that fixed before driving her. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ryoskatekov Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Lol what frame rails? (sad part, I've been driving like this) 1 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 Datsun unibody construction is very strong. It will continue to work even with damaged rails. But get it fixed, it could fold up if you get in a wreck. Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 Datsun unibody construction is very strong. It will continue to work even with damaged rails. But get it fixed, it could fold up if you get in a wreck. I honestly don't care how strong the unibody is. lol I'm starting a new job working in a mechanic shop next week, he told me we can fix it in our spare time so I'm not even gonna take her out on the road until we get it patched up. Quote Link to comment
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