75 280z - Finally out of the garage and a few pictures

[dgi]

Hi everyone!  I'm been on Ratsun for years but primarily in the 510 section.  So, I may be a little bit new to the Z section folks.  And I may ask some newbie type questions.  This is only my second Z car and I only owned the first one two months in the mid-1980s.  I have a lot to learn.

 

Anyway, let me introduce the car.   This is a 1975 280Z that I purchased on 9-13-2013 and drove about 75 miles home.  It ran pretty well, a little rich, and had cranking issues and the transmission was almost impossible to shift.  I knew I would have some problems to locate and repair, but I figured I would have it on the road in a couple of months with all the issues taken care of.  Dream on!

 

I didn't take any pictures until today, so all of them are as of today and don't reflect how the car was when I purchased it.

 

The person I purchased it from had only owned it about 3 weeks and wasn't knowledgeable about the car's history.  Obviously though, he had fought with some of the problems and decided the car wasn't for him.   Some prior owner did or had someone do some nice body work on the car, it has a great paint job.  But, as I went on to learn, many interior (and some exterior) pieces were missing.  In fact, there weren't any seat belts in the car at all.

 

 

 

First off, I needed some space to work.  So, the blue/white 510 was transferred to my other garage space and I made some room at my home garage.   

 

The next morning the 280Z would crank and die, crank and die, over and over.  It finally stayed running about about 20 tries and I got it into the garage.  Trying to identify and resolve the myriad problems began.... and continued and continued.

 

First, the hard start issued needed to fixed.  But first you have to identify the cause.  Easier said that done and I had no experience with EFI.   

 

The PO had told me the "special" way you had to hold the ignition key while starting the car.  Good thing, otherwise you couldn't get the starter to engage.  Of course, the ignition switch immediately gave up the ghost.  I ordered a new one and did some cleanup and other minor engine compartment and body things while waiting for the new switch to arrive.

 

 

I installed the new ignition switch blissfully thinking the startup problem would be solved.  Wrong! It wouldn't start at all... just spin over without firing up in any way.  No cough, no sputter, nada.

 

I started trying to learn about the EFI system.   I read the entire manual.  I wore out a volt/ohm meter.  Nothing seemed wrong.  I just couldn't find a failure anywhere.  And, of course, the battery died completely during that process.   And I knew I had to find help somewhere.

 

Luckily, I was able to get in touch with a friend who lives about 20 miles away and knows a lot about Zs in general.  He said he would come over on Saturday morning and see if he could help me out.

 

In comes my friend the next morning.  He walked around the car taking it in and said "Man, this is a nice car.  I'll have it running for you in the next 30 minutes".  Six hours later he was still scratching his head.  We just weren't making any progress at all.  We had tried a known good distributor, a good this, a good that... nothing was working and the engine still wouldn't fire.

 

At some point, we looked at each other and almost simultaneously said... "what this car needs is a good set of SU carbs and a matchbox distributor.  It'll run then!"  Out came the entire EFI system and on went a set of '72 SUs and manifold along with a distributor.  Now, it really isn't that simple, you have to change out the fuel pump, some lines, arrange a choke cable, a bit of wiring... but we were determined and got it done.

 

The engine fired and settled into a nice idle after turning over about 4 times.  Man, I was excited and happy.   A little work tuning the carbs in and the cranking problem was behind. me.   

 

 

Well, not really!  I decided since the EFI manifold and attachments were gone, then all of the EFI wiring on the driver's side needed to come out too.   So, being my own worst enemy, out it all came including some relays and the ECU.  That created one problem... the fuel pump would not turn on at all. That could easily be rigged, but I wanted the safety of an oil pressure safety switch.  And that took some time to figure out, find the correct parts, relays, and build the wiring harness.  

 

 

After a few short drives, I was feeling reinvigorated.  Time was passing much too fast.  My work schedule kept me away from the car for 5 months.  Then it was time to tackle the impossible shifting issue.

 

The transmission just would not shift without major manhandling most of the time.  Then it might just slip right from one gear to the next perfectly on the next shift.   The clutch was smooth and the clutch master cylinder appeared new.  On inspection the slave cylinder appeared new too.   And everything was adjusted properly.   Bad release bearing?  Bad synchos?  Only one way to find out.

 

So, I gathered the parts... new clutch kit, new engine rear main seal (might as well, right?  Wrong!).  Out came the tranny... the release bearing looked good but may have been a little stiff.  So, heck, I've got the parts.  Let's just do the entire job.   Pulled out the clutch, pulled off the flywheel, took out the rear main seal, installed the new seal, back on with the flywheel, installed the new clutch, put the new release bearing on a known good 4 speed transmission, put it back in and buttoned it all up.

 

As you know that takes a good amount of time.  My friend had to leave and I finished it up the next day.  Feeling great, I fired the car up and drove around the block.  Back in the driveway, I jump out and look under the car for any leaks... you know what I mean?   Leaks?  Hell, I had Niagara Falls!  Obviously, something went wrong with the new engine rear main seal.  Have you ever had that sick feeling?

 

Nothing to do, but pull it all back down and start over.  I ordered a new engine seal from Nissan.  While waiting for it to arrive, I found a 5 speed transmission from a '81 280ZX.and took a trip to pick it up.  With parts in hand, I just had to find the time.   My Z friend experienced a serious health issue about that time and now isn't able to help me, but another friend offered to help me with the heavy lifting, handing tools, etc.

 

I pulled it all down again.  I discovered the engine rear main seal had about an inch long split in it that looked like a cut.  So, out with that and back in with the new seal from Nissan.  Reinstall the clutch, install the new 5-speed, and button it all back up.  Had to do a little fiddlin with the shift lever, but the new 5-speed worked like butter.  A quick test drive and I can begin to smile.

 

 

 

After the next work week, I go out to take the Z for a drive.   Nope, it won't crank!   What the heck?  Remember that new fuel pump?   Well, it died just 5 days beyond the warranty period.  OK, something else to replace that takes up my whole day off.

 

With another new and hopefully better fuel pump installed, I could finally go for a drive.  And it was really a lot of fun.   The car just isn't finished with me yet though.   The temperature gauge quit working and the speedometer was jumping around and appeared off a bunch.  Yeah, something else to fix!

 

 

 

The water temperature sending unit was the culprit.  And, replacing it went smoothly.   Next was sourcing a new speedometer cable and getting that installed.  That didn't go too badly either.

 

Today the car finally came out the garage for more than a quick around the block test drive.  I put about 15 miles on it and everything worked as expected.  

 

Plus, I was finally able to get some pictures to show you guys.  While I was gassing up, a gentleman came up and asked if he could take pictures of it, a former Z owner who wishes he still had one.

 

I didn't really mean for this to be a build thread, but I did want to tell you the story of my new/old Datsun.   There have been many other little things done that I haven't mentioned, and there are lots of items left to do.

 

Thanks for reading,  I'm going driving tomorrow on the anniversary of purchasing my 280Z!  :thumbup:

dgi

[Tucson620]

Congrats!  A year in the garage is par for the course.  I think you're ahead.

 

I can appreciate your experiences entirely!

- Install/reinstall/reinstall engine/tranny - check

- Fuel pump relay wiring and whatnot - check

- Interior entirely suck - check

- Speedo bouncing crazy - check

- L28 with SUs - check

 

What's your suspension?

[Nite_Grind]

Glad you've joined the "Zociety", I've not been able to share the issues, but I empathize. Glad you stuck with the car and dialing it in rather than continuing the perpetual hot potato of selling a car with issues.

[JoeCool]

Man, that Z is beautiful!

[datzenmike]

 

Man, that Z is beautiful!

True

 

Could be lowered slightly, maybe a fat inch?

 

The '75 had a 3.545 differential, the 5 speed would have the speedo pinion fitted to match a 3.354 differential. The easiest way to fix the inaccurate speedometer is remove the speedo sleeve from your 4 speed. See that little slot the key bolts into to hold it in place? Just use a 6" angle grinder with a 1/8" wide cutting disc and cut a new key way 180 degrees from the original one. Now turn upside down and put into your 280zx 5 speed and bolt it in. Speedo pinions are matched to the differential not the transmission. All you are doing is keeping this set together to keep the speedometer accurate. Why cut a new key way? Well there were changes made in '80 and on 4 and 5 speeds and earlier pinions won't fit unless mounted upside down.

 

 

Drain the 5 speed first.

[dgi]

@Tuscon620

Looks completely stock to me.  I haven't found any evidence of any changes yet.

 

@JoeCoo  and @datzenmike.

Thanks.  I really like the look myself.  I've got a few more little things to do to the exterior before I'll have it just the way I want it.

 

@datzenmike

I agree, maybe just a little lower.  My eye says about 1.25" in front and just under an inch in the rear.  I need a way to determined just how much to cut the coils to get that kind of drop.

 

It rides and drives great as is, so I may be a little hesitant to make any changes soon.  Plus I have to traverse a major road construction project that has ever changing major bumps and potholes to get to my home.  Likely to wait until that is finished.

 

Mike, you are the man!  I should have asked you about the speedometer pinion when I started the swap.  It would have been easy to do while it was in the air.  I'll try your trick ASAP.  Yesterday while I had it out, I paced it against my escort doing 65mph and the speedometer read approximately 62.  That matches the difference in the differentials pretty closely if my math is correct.

 

It was rainy here this morning.  I too lazy to clean the car back up, so it stayed in the garage.  Spent a little more time on the interior pieces that I've been able to source.  Pictures later.

 

dgi

[dgi]

Since it was raining this morning I spent some time working on some more small interior issues.

 

Reinstalled the trim panel around the Heater/Air Condition controls that I had restored the bright portions of a few weeks ago.

 

Put the proper radio in place to finish out the dash.  It isn't finalized yet because I don't have any speakers in the car.  See my post here   http://community.ratsun.net/topic/63994-speakers-for-1975-280z/

 

Carpet is here ready to be installed, but I'm holding off while I decide what I want to do to the floorboards.  A PO made some patches, but I'm not very happy with them.  The floors are serviceable as is, but I'm considering cutting them out and putting in new ones..  Guess I'm too much of a perfectionist.   So, for now they are painted and waiting for me to make up my mind.  Plus I want to drive, not fix, for a while.   :rolleyes:  And I need to know how to install the carpet at the front of the hatch area.  Is there some type of trim that covers the metal lip there?

 

Here is a shot of how the dash looks after today's work.

 

 

Look close and you can see how the choke cable lever is mounted in the console.  Had to make a little bracket, but it worked out well despite being a PIA to wrangle in there.

 

Got the proper '75 driver's side seat belt in today.  Still trying to source the passenger's side, so if you read this and have a '75 passenger side seat belt you can part with, please let me know.

 

Also got the driver's side kick panel installed.  It was in the car (unmounted) when I purchased it, and it just got installed properly today.  One year exactly.... not bad.

 

There has been lots of this and that to do on the interior.  The driver's side window fell off the track. That took some time to figure out and repair (a first time learning experience if I've ever had one).  While working with that, I removed the exterior upper window trim mold and replaced the rubber part (both sides).  That is a LOT of fun!  Now I'm trying to find the "whiskers" piece for both sides, which are missing of course.

 

Later,

dgi

 

 

[EndStar]

the similarities between our z's is scary, i have/had the same body kit, i have su round tops to install, but i have no interior, nor paint... haha :P

[Spoona_Jay21]

Very nice! one of the few Z's I like with that Bodykit.

 

keepin an eye on this one......

[dgi]

I got the carpets installed on Saturday.  Pics will come later, I ran out of daylight.  If I can get the rear shock towers dressed the interior will be finished.

 

Took a road trip Sunday and put just over 120 miles on.  I am very pleased with how the car performed.  And, of course, I learned there still a few items to look further into. 

 

The return leg of the trip was nearing dark.  So, it was apparent that the headlights could use some adjusting.   The dash lights (on full adjust) are very dim, probably the 39 year old bulbs could use an update.

 

I have thoroughly inspected the suspension and brakes for safety.  However, in the previous short drives I hadn't noticed an issue that I will now have to investigate.   As the front end rebounds from a dip in the road, the right front feels like I'm getting a slight bump steer.  Or maybe it has just been so long since I drove a Z that I'm imagining it.  Not obnoxious, just a slight feeling.

 

The driver's side window frame that I had to do a lot of work on will need some more adjusting.  There is a definite wind whistle to eliminate along with a squeak at the rear of the frame.

 

Overall I am very happy with how the car is running and driving.  Maybe it was worth a year of a few hours on my Friday time off.

[dgi]

Have you ever notice how "life" gets in the way?  That's what has happened lately and the Z has not had much attention.  I've even failed to get pictures of the carpet job.

 

Two Sundays before Christmas was a beautiful day here in NC.  The wife and I decided to have lunch at a favorite restaurant located about 25 miles north of our home.  It is a beautiful drive along some nice, curvy roads.  The wife said "Why don't we drive the 280-Z?".  I had just filled up the tank a couple of days before, so out of the garage it came and we were on our way.

 

About little ways up the road, the car suddenly coughed and died but then fired right back up.  We were about 2 blocks from our daughter's house so I turned to go there.  If there was a problem, I could coast down to her place and leave the car if necessary.  However, the car was now running fine again so we proceeded on our way.  It skipped a couple of times and seemed a little flat on power at half-throttle but soon smoothed out.  I was thinking maybe I had gotten some water in the gas.

 

About 3 miles up the road, it coughed and died.  This time it didn't fire back up.  I drifted into a condo complex and and empty parking spot.  The car recranked eventually but would die again quickly.

 

If you've read this entire thread, you know I had built a relay system to control the fuel pump after I removed the EFI system and converted to SU carbs.  That was my immediate suspect for the problem. I could hear the fuel pump working on the starter circuit.  The carbs would get gas, the engine would fire up, and as soon as that gas was consumed, the engine would die.  So, either the relay had failed on the ignition circuit or the oil pressure switch wasn't supplying power to the relay.

 

So, I was disabled there without tools.  But, about that time a lady and gentleman drove up.  Turned out I was in their parking place.  I apologized and they said it was no problem because there was plenty of parking and then asked if I needed any help.  I asked if they could give me a ride back to my house so I could get my daily driver and some tools.  The guy, Roger, said "Sure, give me a minute and I'll take you.".  After getting some tools and some wire and the daily driver, I was back to the Z in just a few minutes.

 

Now, when I created the fuel pump control "replacement" circuit I had included a way to break into the line sending power to the pump.  This would allow me to "hot wire" the pump for testing or emergency use.  Glad I had done that!  It took me only a minute, a bullet connector, a short length of wire, and an alligator clip to the battery positive pole to have the fuel pump runnng "full-time".  The engine fired right up and continued running properly.  Just to be safe, I took it right back home and into the garage.

 

A few days later I got time to do more diagnosis.  Yes, the "cheap" relay I used had failed.  Apparently, it didn't like the amount of power the fuel pump was drawing and the contacts had burned on the ignition circuit.   I replaced the relay with a heavy duty one specifically designed for controlling fuel pumps (and a bunch more expensive).  Hopefully, that problem will never happen again.... but, just in case, the hot-wire setup now resides in the glove box.  :rolleyes:

 

And, now for the human interest side of the story...

 

Just as I got the Z running again, a lady came out of her condo and put something in the car parked right beside mine.  My wife said, "I think I know that lady.".  About that time the lady came back carrying something else to put in her car.  My wife spoke to her and they immediately recognized each other as childhood playmates and neighbors.  They hadn't seen each other in over 40 years.  So, the breakdown/delay turned into a reunion of sorts.

 

Remember Roger I mentioned earlier?  A few years ago, a man created some very special Christmas lights to honor a friend's wife who had passed away with cancer.   Initially he and the friend put them up on some trees in our small downtown area.  The next day, the city called him and ordered more to use on other trees along our main street.  It really caught on, everybody in the area wanted them. Yep, you guessed it.  Roger is the man.  I didn't know him before, but now I'm happy to have met him and call him a friend.  Here is a video of his "blinkies" on our main street.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvwDDR53MZg

 

You just never know how your Datsun will expand your life!

[dgi]

The second electric fuel pump quit moving gas!  It is running, but no fuel pressure to the engine compartment.

 

Tank --> Filter --> Pump --> Fuel Line --> Filter --> Pressure Gauge = No pressure

Tank --> Filter --> Pump --> Fuel Line --> Pressure Gauge = No pressure

Tank --> Filter --> Pump --> Fuel Line --> Filter --> Secondary Pump --> Pressure Gauge = 3.5 lbs pressure instantly.

 

So, neither Filter is clogged, the Fuel Line is not clogged.  So, it has to be the Pump is failing to move fuel even though it sounds like it is working.  Fortunately, this time the fuel pump is still under warranty.  But it is a pain to change at the stock location near the tank.  

 

So, this time I installed the pump in the engine compartment and removed the failed pump near the tank.

Tank --> Filter --> Fuel Line --> Filter --> Pump --> SU fuel manifold --> Pressure Gauge (3.5 lbs pressure) and it runs again.  The SUs are happy!

 

Then I noticed oil drops on the garage floor.   The original Oil Pressure Sending Unit was seeping oil.  It took 3 tries to find the correct oil pressure sender.  Another problem smacked down.

 

[Phantom]

Hmm - the PO had an eye for a nice interior.  :-)

Here's mine:

[oakrun]

Good story. Wish things like that happened to me when my car broke down. Serendipity indeed. You've got nice people in your area.