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MidnightCafe

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About MidnightCafe

  • Birthday January 30

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    upstate NY
  • Cars
    Lifted 4x4 van
  • Interests
    Classic motorcycles, photography
  • Occupation
    engineer

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  1. Thanks for the detailed diagnostics there, but I actually found that the pickup coil was the problem. It didn't pass the continuity test per the factory service manual so I replaced it and she started right up! :thumbup:
  2. Here's my 280Z loaded to the roof with porno after a recent garage sale :thumbup:
  3. My 280Z at a recent car show in Boston when a 240Z pulled in ;)
  4. Hi gents, I've been dealing with this issue for a few weeks now and I need your help. I just picked up my 1978 280Z last month and one day I came out to it and it wouldn't start. Ignition worked, starter turned over, but no spark. I am getting power to the coil, but no signal. What I've done so far is replace the fusible links with a maxi fuse block (all four fuses functioning properly). I've traced the lack of signal to the computer (transistor ignition module) which I've replaced, but still no signal. Is there a sensor I'm overlooking that indicates when the coil needs to fire? Crank position sensor maybe? What about ignition relays-what testing can I do to rule these out? Thanks for the help!
  5. Here's an update. I followed the links listed above and converted the fusible links to Maxi fuses. [/url] I have it mocked up, still need to mount it. All the lights and signal relay now work again, but it still doesn't want to start :blush: Right now, I am getting spark to the coil (from the transistor ignition module), but still no luck on the negative side of the coil. Now I need to understand why the transistor ignition module isn't sending signal to the coil. Could it possibly be that the ignition key isn't sending signal? I ask because I took a look and there's supposed to be five wires connected. There are only 4 in the plug with two black male connectors that were unused off the ignition: Anyone with any experience with the 1978 280Z wiring harness, hit me up!
  6. very nice. I don't know how much cheaper it could be if you were to machine your own camber plates. What else could you do to reduce cost? (Assuming you have a machine shop at hand).
  7. I'm digging the short wheelbase in what I can see of it. Here's my van, sorry for the off-topic post!
  8. Thanks guys, I'm still a newb-I didn't quite get that MSA stands for Motorsport Auto right away heheh. IMO that MSA body kit is styling the 280Z towards a later (80's) look, I'm looking for an earlier 240Z appearance. Time to search for those 240z brackets. Of course, I'm not planning on doing anything cosmetic until next year, I just want to learn what's out there. My Citroen mechanic friend loved it when I called them 'park bench' bumpers-he took a seat on the front end and smiled-I too like the added functionality of having a place to sit :D
  9. I'm thinking about swapping out the ugly park bench-style bumpers on my 1978 280Z down the road, and I can't find any explicit info in a forum search about it. My options appear to be Motorsport fiberglass bumpers (which require modification, but they don't list what-anyone know?), or possibly converting to 240/260Z bumpers. Is there anything else available aftermarket outside of Motorsport? What modification is required to install 240/260Z bumpers? And what's a good price to pay? Feel free to share any war stories about your bumper conversion :)
  10. Looks great! I like how you're making these casual posts on some interesting upgrades :)
  11. You're correct. I didn't know my Z had fusible links until I checked the Supplement Chapter of my Haynes manual. Going to do the Maxi fuse block conversion. Big question is, what fuses do I use for a 1978 280Z? Different people say different values. I'm going to go with the lowest for now, but any feedback is welcome. http://www.hammondsplains.com/s30upgrades/maxifuse/index.htm ^4x50 amp fuses http://home.bresnan.net/~zbyter/280ZFusableUpG.html ^3x30, 60 amp fuses http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/fusiblelinks/index.html 3x50, 80 amp fuses
  12. So I got her towed back today FINALLY- turns out AAA has a 3 day waiting period after signing up. I hooked a line up from the battery + to the coil +, but no luck. I pulled the transistor ignition module out and opened her up: the PCB was pretty clean considering its age, and there were no signs of damage. I'm gonna rule the transistor ignition module out. When I first got the car, I replaced the broken 'hazard light' fuse in the fuse box. As expected, the turn signals and voltemeter began working. However, right before breaking down, I had lost the use of the turn signals and the voltmeter stopped as well. I'm guessing that this can be a related failure. What's more is that the voltmeter was turning on and off sporadically after reconnecting the ignition module and was accompanied with a clicking sound coming from the driver left side of the interior. I'm guessing that there's a short somewhere that made me lose my signals and voltmeter, and hopefully lost control signal to the coil as well.
  13. Sorry, hard to respond on phone. Motorcycle shop, my friends and I are messing with it. We checked and there is power at the (transistor ignition) but no power is going through it. Our best guess is that the transistor box is bad, since there is no power at the coil or distributor
  14. Hi guys, so I drive the 280z to a friends shop down the road today. When I came back to it, it cranked but no spark. Test light indicates no power to the coil either. Right now I'm stranded and could use any help I can.
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