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Author Topic: 1983 Datsun 280ZX  (Read 279676 times)

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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #375 on: September 09, 2010, 08:18:16 PM »
Funky... my car has the blue-and-yellow California plates, but according to the CA DMV, the blue plates were not issued after 1982. 

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/plates/licenseplthistory.htm
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #376 on: September 09, 2010, 08:22:09 PM »
Are the tires you bought bad?  I hate dealing with shimmies and shakes.

Also, if you are good with some stakes, string, and a dial caliper, you can set your own alignment.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #377 on: September 09, 2010, 08:24:17 PM »
I don't know.  They look OK... no dry rot, wear, or exposed metal.  Just regular-looking normal tires.  I had to go through this with the other car and I found out one of the front wheels was out-of-round.  Damn alloy wheels.

...and I just remembered I took those front wheels off of car #1, so they should be good.
« Last Edit: September 09, 2010, 08:27:40 PM by chris_ »
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #378 on: September 09, 2010, 08:32:00 PM »
You can get a bad new tire, so a used bad tire is perfectly within the realm of possibilities, too.  Maybe try switching one wheel off of the other car, and rotate that one wheel to all four corners, driving it on each corner, and maybe you'll catch your culprit? 
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Offline Eupher

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #379 on: September 11, 2010, 07:58:07 AM »
Over time, I think that tires get funky anyway and crappy tires are more susceptible to "funkiness".

About 45,000 miles ago I bought a set of Hankooks for my Sienna minivan. Lots of whirring and "out-of-round" sounds, but no shimmy or shakes. I did the brakes all around and the sounds stayed. Especially noticeable at highway speeds. Finally, just yesterday, I put a brand-new set of Goodyears on the van. Sounds are gone.

Lesson learned. Hankooks are crappy tires. I had 45K on 'em and while they weren't bald, they damn sure didn't behave very well in the rain. I gotsta have good rubber on the car. Will pay extra for that security.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #380 on: September 11, 2010, 01:04:50 PM »
I will probably stick with the 14-inch wheels for now.  I've narrowed my choices down to a few tires.


TireVan
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #381 on: September 11, 2010, 02:48:28 PM »
Have you considered the Sumitomo HTR 200?  My brother has those Solus tires on his TSX.  He liked the tread pattern better.  :rotf:
I know that he really has trouble with them in the wet, and they are a bit noisy, and he really hates them now.  I have never owned General or Michelins in the model you listed,  so I can't comment on their veracity.   

I bought a set of Sumitomos about five or six years ago, because my local tire guy was out of the Falkens that I wanted.  For the price, I don't think you can beat them.  I have them on three of my four cars now(the Continental ContiSport on the Volvo haven't worn out yet). 
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #382 on: September 11, 2010, 03:45:48 PM »
The Sumimoto has half the treadlife rating of the others.  Other than that, it's pretty similar on price and features.
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Offline Wineslob

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #383 on: September 13, 2010, 04:36:38 PM »
Quote from: chris_ on September 09, 2010, 08:18:16 PM
Funky... my car has the blue-and-yellow California plates, but according to the CA DMV, the blue plates were not issued after 1982. 

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/plates/licenseplthistory.htm


The car probaby had the plates taken at some point, possibly a State transfer? Is it a Ca. car?
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #384 on: September 14, 2010, 04:55:34 PM »
Good... the Pull-A-Part is going to buy my Volvo from me for what I paid for it.  I'm finally getting rid of it.
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #385 on: September 14, 2010, 08:54:13 PM »
I wish I were closer.  I'd probably buy some parts off of you 240 before it hit the scrap yard.  :p
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #386 on: September 14, 2010, 08:56:09 PM »
What did you need?
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #387 on: September 14, 2010, 09:21:02 PM »
I'm after the center console (the bit behind the gear shifter that also holds the seatbelt light for the rear passengers), although yours probably looks like mine- crushed! 

If yours has the third brake light, I am after the plastic cover that goes around the light.

I'm also after the two pieces inside the red box:  the trim around the door handle, and the piece of trim behind the door handle:



I don't need the door pockets, but if yours has them, and they are in good shape, I would suggest you put them on ebay.  They bring good money.  I paid $70 for mine, and had to fight a couple other bidders to get them.


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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #388 on: September 14, 2010, 10:08:32 PM »
I'll make a list and try to get to Hendersonville early.  The interior is blue and is in pretty good shape.

It's going to the Pull-A-Part, so it will still be around for a few weeks. 

I fixed the cigarette lighter, ammeter volt meter, oil pressure gauge, door, dome, and navigator lights.  There was a loose fuse and I managed to find the correct ground point for the cigarette lighter circuit.  I thought I had checked all the fuses, or its one of those that like to wiggle loose during driving.  Now I can plug in my GPS.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2010, 10:27:39 PM by chris_ »
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #389 on: September 15, 2010, 02:21:04 PM »
That took entirely too long.

I got the outer trim pieces from the two front door handles.  The brake light cover was broken, and I didn't have time to get the console cover for you.  It went to another junkyard and the guy they sent didn't speak English and got lost on the way back here.

I'm rid of the damn thing.  Thank God.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #390 on: September 16, 2010, 10:58:24 PM »
Quote from: BattleHymn on September 08, 2010, 07:31:36 PM

I'm headed to the Pull-A-Part tomorrow to scrounge some hydraulic parts off an early 300ZX (they're a bolt-on for a manual transmission swap on the 280ZX).  They have a '76 280Z... is there anything you're interested in?  I'll see if I can grab it for you.  I may be taking the cylinder head and valve cover while I'm there if I have the time.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2010, 11:03:13 PM by chris_ »
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #391 on: September 16, 2010, 11:33:11 PM »
Thanks for the offer, Chris.  I can't think of anything immediately off the top of my head, though.  Except for rust-free floors.  :-)

If your valve cover is not in bad shape, you can polish them.  I'll attach a picture of mine tomorrow.  I'll wipe it down, but pay no attention to the rest of the dust bunnies under the hood.  :p
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #392 on: September 16, 2010, 11:37:09 PM »
Yes, but I'm lazy and I'd like to polish the cover off the car if I can.  It's awfully large and I imagine it takes a while to polish something the size of a small refrigerator.
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #393 on: September 17, 2010, 12:31:49 AM »
Quote
It's awfully large and I imagine it takes a while to polish something the size of a small refrigerator.
:lmao:


I've only polished one from "scratch".  It did take some time, but very rewarding.  Your car is a bit wider than mine, too.  I would break my back trying to lean over that thing and polish it! 
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #394 on: September 17, 2010, 12:36:06 AM »
The valve cover on car #1 is pretty crusty and covered in some funny green color.  I really don't want to try to clean all that off in the driveway.  Plus, there is a breather/blower motor on the ZX model that covers the center part of the valve cover.  It's a pain in the butt to deal with... apparently, it was installed to cool the cylinder head and prevent vapor lock.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #395 on: September 17, 2010, 02:36:10 PM »
My trip was a bust.  There was enough difference in clutch parts between the 300ZX and the 280ZX to make me wonder if it would even fit.  After bashing my head into the bare steering column for the third time trying to get to the pedal brackets, I gave up.  Screw it... I'll pull the parts from the car I already have.  At least I know those fit.

The 280Z does have some really clean tail light covers.  I'm going back tomorrow for the valve cover (I wasn't entirely sure if it would fit my car.  Looks like it does.)
« Last Edit: September 17, 2010, 02:49:16 PM by chris_ »
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Offline BattleHymn

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #396 on: September 17, 2010, 07:00:11 PM »
It will fit your car, no problem.  Also, the black plastic going over the valve cover was supposed to blow air on the intake manifold/injectors.  Rarely have I seen one with the fan still working. 
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #397 on: September 18, 2010, 05:14:36 PM »
I lost my 1/4-inch rachet driver.  :censored::mad:

Picked up an exhaust flange gasket that I neglected to order with the others.  Hopefully it's a simple job of unbolting the collector pipe from the head and exhaust tube.  I really need to get this exhaust leak fixed but I'll need to fix the clutch on the other car so I can drive it.

Man, it's hot outside today. 
« Last Edit: September 18, 2010, 05:22:51 PM by chris_ »
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #398 on: September 30, 2010, 02:53:51 PM »
One freshly rebuilt master cylinder.


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Offline Chris_

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Re: 1983 Datsun 280ZX
« Reply #399 on: October 06, 2010, 06:05:36 PM »
The fuel line going to what I'm guessing is the cold start valve got swapped out at some point for a porous, fabric-type hose that leaked fuel like crazy.  I think it might have something to do with the poor start/run conditions I've been dealing with.  Swapped it out with an appropriate hose and everything seems to be running a bit better at this point. 

Also, a 1/2-inch clamp is not a suitable replacement for a 1/4.  Nothing like getting a gasoline spritz right in the face.
« Last Edit: October 06, 2010, 06:17:30 PM by chris_ »
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