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trim.9D20A67B-0F85-4931-8E22-C0703E389789.MOV Eiji and I did a little test and tune at Dinwiddie Drag Strip yesterday......the Chevy/Ford guys loved the Datsuns!

Been able to drive one to work this whole week. Yippee

If you turned the crank counterclockwise to get tdc it will cause the chain to be loose. Turn them to the right to stay tight.

Here are some answers from his other thread on Hybridz. - "I'll definitely be adjusting the valves. The mechanical timing seems OK from what I can tell so far. I guess I need check the crank sprocket to be 100% sure since I have no idea whether the pulley is the original one or not. The ignition timing would be really hard to do given that the car won't idle. That's pretty much my goal at this point - to get the car to idle enough to check things out with a timing light. The distributor is from a 280ZX. I guess I forgot to mention that. I'm going to check the compression as soon as I get a chance. That should at least allow me to rule out a valve if the compression is OK. As for the lobes, I don't see anything that jumps out at me as far as wear goes, but I'm not ruling out anything at this point. "

Thanks for the helpful info guys. I'm not sure about the spray bar for the cam. This is the first time I've had the valve cover off, and aside from the other day when I took the photos, I haven't had much time to work on the car to see what all is going on. I'll definitely watch the video, and try to get the cam sprocket lined up with the correct hole. I assume that the #1 hole is preferable? Thanks again.

Here's a good video showing how to remove and rotate the cam sprocket.

it does sound like a timing issues. the cam gear should have one of the numbered marks lining up with the bright link on the timing chain. there are 3 numbered marks on the cam gear which you can line up with the bright link to advance the cam and compensate for chain stretch/wear. there are 2 bright links on the chain, one is set to a mark on the crank gear - of course this assumes that the second bright link was correctly set on the crank gear (which you can't see unless you take off the timing cover)... if the chain has been installed wrong (bright link not lined up w/crank gear mark) you can still set the cam gear correctly, it just takes a little more work. with #1 at TDC (be sure) you can set the cam gear so that the timing mark (v groove in base of cam gear) lines up with the stamped mark in the thrust washer on the first cam tower. before you take off the cam gear though, be sure to wedge the cam chain to avoid losing your cam chain tensioner (which turns your 1 hr. job into a 6 hr. job).

funny you should start this thread - i've found that commuting in my z is a blast. it's so much fun to drive that even something as banal as a work commute makes me smile. i'm usually on the road by around 5:30am and there's something awesome about ripping through the gears as the sun is coming up, and i love looking back at her in the parking lot as i open up the office.

horrible story, so sorry to hear it. take care of yourself first - you will likely be sore from the impact even though no outward injuries are apparent. then take stock of what's left and get yourself another z. all the work you did on this one can be transferred to another one - knowledge, parts or both - and you will be ahead with a parts car to work with. it's not "just" a car if you put your heart into it, but it is replaceable and the next one can be even better.

Sorry to hear the news. Glad no one was hurt.

Thank goodness you're okay, 240s aren't too safe in an accident. Good thing your husband was there to take the hit. Very sad to hear but like Dennis says "Cars can be replaced and new emotional bonds established. Start looking for your next Z." Maybe you can buy it back from the insurance company or at least strip all the good stuff off before they get it. Nice SUs are a treasure.

Of course you want another one and should get one. The good news is that no one was injured. Cars can be replaced and new emotional bonds established. Start looking for your next Z. You didn't mention what caused the brake failure. Any ideas? Dennis

I'm one of the "early birds".

The E31 & E88 came with the one on bottom, I think. The N42 had the newer design, the one on top. I bought an N42 that had been changed over to internal oiling cam and block off plates on the cam towers. Spray bars are prone to failure, so as Captain Obvious says "CHECK YOUR SPRAY BARS". Great looking motor you have there!

You weren't sent here to save all humanity?