Author Topic: 1983 Datsun 280ZX  (Read 144454 times)

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Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #100 on: February 15, 2009, 11:35:17 PM »
Damn warm weather.  I'm off Tuesday, but it's not supposed to get below freezing until Thursday.  I would like to test my PCV theory... I still don't think it's the head/gasket/block.  The extreme amounts of smoke are only visible when the weather is near or below freezing.  Gapped a new set of plugs yesterday.  For some reason, the gap looks different from the ones that are in the car.  I wonder if they could be gapped wrong?  It's supposed to be .038 to .042.  I was able to gap them to .040 with the set of feeler gauge I picked up.

We will see.
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Offline Peter3_1

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #101 on: February 16, 2009, 12:00:05 PM »
The metal on the old plugs could be eroded away from the spark, prolly was. Tell us, was one plug REALLY clean?

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #102 on: February 16, 2009, 03:05:53 PM »
The metal on the old plugs could be eroded away from the spark, prolly was. Tell us, was one plug REALLY clean?

No, they all looked like the one I posted earlier.  Oil contamination and a few of them had damage to the insulator.
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Offline Peter3_1

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #103 on: February 17, 2009, 01:20:42 PM »
Sounds like they had 30,000+ on them! Does it behave better? Less smoke? With your description, , I'm wagering you had intermitent firing on onev or more cyl. until the heat got into the mrtal.

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #104 on: February 17, 2009, 02:36:06 PM »


Spark plug party!  That thing on the left is the PCV valve.  It's too warm to see any smoke/vapor, and its raining right now.  It runs a lot smoother... you can stomp on the pedal and you get an immediate response and a nice loud exhaust note.  This car desperately needs an oil change.  I should have done that already.  Probably could use a valve adjustment.  :( 

I ran it around the block, to the library, the store, and back.  No smoke.  Nothing at idle, nothing at 4,000 rpm.  And I filled up with fresh gas.

NO SMOKE! :hyper:

I'll have to wait until it gets down to freezing in a couple days to make sure.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2009, 06:24:31 PM by Chris »
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Offline Peter3_1

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #105 on: February 17, 2009, 06:30:41 PM »
It is AMAZING that the car ran at all! Probably ran on 3 of  6 until it warmed up, and even then there were a couple that were not hitting on every power stroke. 

Don't forget fuel filter, air filter and oil filters when you change the oil. PLUS, I'd be very surprised if the plug wires were not damaged by the resistance they had to overcome, I'd replace them too! THEN you might have a car!

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #106 on: February 17, 2009, 06:40:13 PM »
I guess I know what I'll be doing on Saturday!  I don't really like doing oil changes in the parking lot, though.  I need to get it past a smog test so I can drive it legally.  I'm using the previous owner's tags which expired the moment he sold the car (permanent, non-transferrable tags).
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Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #107 on: February 18, 2009, 01:08:31 PM »
I GOT TAGS!  :rotf:

I passed my smog test with room to spare.  Did an oil change and replaced the old, crusty wipers with new ones.  Just in time, too... we got some scattered downpours while I was driving around.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2009, 01:32:52 PM by Chris »
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Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #108 on: February 19, 2009, 12:29:49 AM »
TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGS!


(lol)
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #109 on: February 19, 2009, 12:31:45 AM »


Spark plug party!  That thing on the left is the PCV valve.  It's too warm to see any smoke/vapor, and its raining right now.  It runs a lot smoother... you can stomp on the pedal and you get an immediate response and a nice loud exhaust note.  This car desperately needs an oil change.  I should have done that already.  Probably could use a valve adjustment.  :( 

I ran it around the block, to the library, the store, and back.  No smoke.  Nothing at idle, nothing at 4,000 rpm.  And I filled up with fresh gas.

NO SMOKE! :hyper:

I'll have to wait until it gets down to freezing in a couple days to make sure.

The smoke usually stops right before the tranny drops out and the engine freezes up.

Just kidding.

This is great Chris, sounds like it's running alot better. Nice Job :cheersmate:

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #110 on: February 19, 2009, 12:35:41 AM »
The smoke usually stops right before the tranny drops out and the engine freezes up.

Just kidding.

This is great Chris, sounds like it's running alot better. Nice Job :cheersmate:

They took my emissions certificate.  I'm trying to remember what my score was.  I noticed they don't check for CO, but they do check for CO2.  I scored 101/200 ppm.  I forget what my HC reading was... I think the maximum is 1.5, I had a reading of .9 or something similar.
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #111 on: February 19, 2009, 12:35:49 AM »
I GOT TAGS!  :rotf:

I passed my smog test with room to spare.  Did an oil change and replaced the old, crusty wipers with new ones.  Just in time, too... we got some scattered downpours while I was driving around.

Cool.  Very cool.


Offline RobJohnson

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #112 on: February 19, 2009, 12:39:24 AM »
I'm so glad you have tags. I know how much you needed to be street legal with the car. This is great. In fact, this is about the best news I have heard all day.

I know you were worried that it might take a new motor to get new plates.

Glad it's working out.

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #113 on: February 19, 2009, 12:41:45 AM »
I'm so glad you have tags. I know how much you needed to be street legal with the car. This is great. In fact, this is about the best news I have heard all day.

I know you were worried that it might take a new motor to get new plates.

Glad it's working out.

Yeah, it was kinda stressful not having a working car.  I checked Craigslist and found some guy that posted a transmission for sale about a month ago.  I need to see if he still has one for sale.  I can have it swapped out for a few dollars and rebuild the current one (or sell it).  I don't know any Pull-A-Part places around here.  I haven't seen any since I left NC.  I should really see what's down in Atlanta.
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Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #114 on: March 07, 2009, 04:04:50 PM »
So I'm at the hardware store buying a bundle of light bulbs and some evil Repuglican cuts in front of me in line.  I can tell he's a Bushie GOPuke because he's wearing a "Save the whales, eat an owl" shirt he obviously bought from the gift shop at FreeRepublic.  Damn that money-swindling Jim Robinson...

I noticed one of my tail light sockets is all burned and melted to shit.  I'm going to have to cut it off and find a replacement.  But I got new signal lights all around (except for that one).  I'll have to wait until dark to check them out.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2009, 04:08:05 PM by Chris »
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Offline Peter3_1

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #115 on: March 07, 2009, 04:16:55 PM »
Shorted socket. Check the fusebox, make sure he didn't replace the fuse with a big chunk of copper, could ruin your day.

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #116 on: March 07, 2009, 04:18:15 PM »
I checked them... they look good.  My radio's stopped working, too.  I wonder if I have a problem somewhere else.
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Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #117 on: March 07, 2009, 04:28:13 PM »
Shorted socket. Check the fusebox, make sure he didn't replace the fuse with a big chunk of copper, could ruin your day.

The front signal light on the same circuit burned out, too.  I can't say which happened first.
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Offline Peter3_1

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #118 on: March 07, 2009, 04:52:09 PM »
Short in the harness, MAYBE A "RUB THRU" somewhere" ? Got one of those cirduit testers and the  "icepick" with a light and lead tool that you run into the hot lead  the alagator clamp to the ground, if the light goes on, you are before the short, if it doesn't, you're past it....


Offline RobJohnson

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #119 on: March 09, 2009, 09:11:41 PM »
The front signal light on the same circuit burned out, too.  I can't say which happened first.

Electrical problems can be a real PIA.


Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #120 on: March 22, 2009, 03:12:43 AM »
Funny (ha ha).  My dash/gauge cluster now lights up when you press the brake pedal (when the lights are off). 

I had to drive down the stree to a darkened, closed building to check my lights.  Still getting a Stop bulb warning, but everything seems to be functioning.
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #121 on: March 22, 2009, 03:17:22 AM »
Funny (ha ha).  My dash/gauge cluster now lights up when you press the brake pedal (when the lights are off). 

I had to drive down the stree to a darkened, closed building to check my lights.  Still getting a Stop bulb warning, but everything seems to be functioning.

Dash cluster lamps coming on when pressing the brakes? Weird.

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #122 on: March 22, 2009, 03:19:46 AM »
Dash cluster lamps coming on when pressing the brakes? Weird.

If you pull on the door handle, the interior dome light comes on as well.  This car has tons of "courtesy" features but no cupholders.
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #123 on: March 22, 2009, 03:25:37 AM »
If you pull on the door handle, the interior dome light comes on as well.  This car has tons of "courtesy" features but no cupholders.

Remember the old plastic cup holders you could hang on the inside of the car door?

Do they even make them any more?

Offline Chris

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #124 on: March 22, 2009, 03:31:36 AM »
I looked at some on eBay.
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