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Post by joeytalent on Sept 14, 2017 4:08:34 GMT
Troubleshooting so far - fuel is reaching the injectors. There's. I spark. Going to replace the sketchy as Canoe looking ignitor module that the previous owner fitted first, then start troubleshooting from the ECU to the dizzy.
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 18, 2017 22:37:30 GMT
And fixed! Post coming soon.
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 19, 2017 23:40:26 GMT
The Inevitable
Well it finally happened. The Datsun broke down just across the border in Wisconsin.  I pulled over at a scenic overlook, and the car wouldn't fire back up. AAA were called, and arrived in 40 minutes. The car was trailered back to my apartment where I figured I'd give myself until Sunday to see if I could fix it myself. This happened on a Tuesday.  Let the investigations begin! Quickly discovered my new shiny fuel pump was working OK, gas was getting to the fuel rail. Air filter was old, but removing it made no difference. Hooked a timing light up to #1 spark plug and bingo - no spark. The previous owner had pointed out the electronic ignition kit he'd retro fitted, to make getting parts for it slightly easier. It replaces the 1970s transistor ignition circuit, which is hard to get hold of and unreliable.  I figured I'd replace the cheapest bit first, which was the HEI unit that he'd fitted. It looked like a cheap one, but they were heavily used by GM through the 90s so even the most expensive AC Delco ones are still $30. You can see the heatsink that was fitted at the same time - 4 pieces of thin aluminium. The thermal paste on the HEI was also bone dry and probably not doing anything.  So new parts ordered: ![]() Temporarily fitted the new HEI on the old heatsink, and huzzah! Car fired right up.  So new thermal paste applied:  I figured whilst I was there, I'd upgrade the ignition coil as I didn't know anything about how old it was. It was still using the original ballast resistor by the looks of it. So replaced with a MSD Blaster 2, which was another $45:  I can't really tell if that made a difference, but I think a little of the stumble at high revolutions has gone. I'm also fully aware this is a 40 year old car, and I should be grateful that I've only had one breakdown across the whole summer (which was ironically because of something that had been upgraded). To make diagnosing anything in the future a little easier, I also added an in-line 100PSI fuel pressure gauge.  Drove the car to work and back today, and everything seems right back to normal. Celebrated with a car wash.
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 26, 2017 17:17:42 GMT
Dropped the car off with Nathan yesterday. Last picture of the rear end before it's all smooth and awesome.  |
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Post by Fizbne on Sept 26, 2017 19:54:32 GMT
I Canoeing love this car hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnghghghhghghghghnnnnnghghghgh
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 26, 2017 20:48:39 GMT
I canoeing love this car hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnghghghhghghghghnnnnnghghghgh Me too, Fizzbum, me too. Going to be sad to take it off the road for the winter. |
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Post by Fizbne on Sept 27, 2017 12:33:53 GMT
Will be good for it though, no wintery ice cold grim corrosion.
Do they salt their roads over there?
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 27, 2017 13:06:46 GMT
Will be good for it though, no wintery ice cold grim corrosion. Do they salt their roads over there? In Minnesota, yes, very heavily. It gets to around -30°C, and there will be at least a couple of inches of snow on the ground (or anything up to a couple of feet in a blizzard). That being said, they're set up for it far more than the UK, because it happens every year, and even in the worst weather, the roads are ploughed constantly. The Jeep is ridiculously good though - last year I only had to use 4WD a few times, and you can comfortably hit 45 / 50 in it on a motorway with a foot of snow, passing all the other folk in their crappy saloons. The Datsun has never seen a salted road in its life, and never will. It barely even gets driven in the rain because all the seals leak as they dried up in the Californian sun because I care for it so much. |
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 27, 2017 13:37:30 GMT
To quote the fizzy one: "hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnghghghhghghghghnnnnnghghghgh".
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Post by joeytalent on Oct 1, 2017 14:36:27 GMT
Back in the UK this weekend, MX5 sold to a friend who's wanted it since I moved to the states. Driving it just a tiny bit made me realise how much I miss the car - ITBs, Megasquirt 2, HKS cams, MS03 wheels, straight through exhaust...
Still, going to a good home - a guy who runs an immaculate white turbo MX5 for drifting, who wants to respray and daily mine.
More determined than ever to improve the 280Z to the point I want.
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Post by joeytalent on Oct 11, 2017 18:04:24 GMT
I wasn't going to post anything until it's done, but I'm so canoeing excited.  |
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Post by atlex on Oct 11, 2017 20:51:32 GMT
Back in the UK this weekend, MX5 sold to a friend who's wanted it since I moved to the states. Driving it just a tiny bit made me realise how much I miss the car - ITBs, Megasquirt 2, HKS cams, MS03 wheels, straight through exhaust... Still, going to a good home - a guy who runs an immaculate white turbo MX5 for drifting, who wants to respray and daily mine. More determined than ever to improve the 280Z to the point I want. Get them on here :-) oooh, bumper! |
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Post by minty on Oct 12, 2017 7:15:47 GMT
Hubba hubba
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Post by joeytalent on Oct 15, 2017 16:37:49 GMT
I bought another one, this time a 2+2. Much smaller, cheaper and probably more fuel efficient.  |
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Post by JamesMk3 on Oct 15, 2017 18:32:07 GMT
I bought another one, this time a 2+2. Much smaller, cheaper and probably more fuel efficient. You're teasing us! Also, if that kind of thing interests you, Fujimi make a Fairlady Z 432 plastic kit. It's showing up at $35 on Amazon US. |
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le sigh