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Last week was the big annual spring meetup in Branson MO. It was a great time, taken to a all new level by the leadership of the Ozark Z Club.... Thanks Josh There were cars, there were beverages, there was entertainment, but most of all.... the was FOOD! If you ever need to host a event with food, tap into the Wodopian clan and Scott M for advice. These guys know how to plan and execute with the best in the business! Did I mention there was food... Last year we had a summit meeting and Zup coined the phrase geeZers and the founding group was born. Only 2 rules, you must be 55+ and own a genuine Z car. Mike brought his brother Paul and his son down from Chicago to join the fun. On Thursday was the traditional charity dinner put on by the event, then Friday, the geeZers rolled out a amazing steak & shrimp fajita bar, fed all comers with donations going to the charity. Huge thanks to MikeW & his brother Paul, Paul's son, ScottM & his son in law Taylor, MikeR (of Scarab fame), and Zup. It was fantastic. To top it off, on Saturday, after the show ended, Paul and his son fired up the grills again and treated us to a taste of Chicago. Authentic dogs from the Chicagoland area and Maxwell's with all the fixins. Very, yummy! It was a incredible week of fun and a great launch for the geeZers....

Is that physical or mental age? I'd be glad to verify that the calender says I'm 72. Mentally, I don't qualify.

But since none of us can be an expert on everything, we all need other people to be our experts for us. And if we want to stay informed, we need news because we can't be everywhere at the same time looking with our own two eyes. The problem is in the choice of experts and the choice of news.* Me? I'm conservative. I believe that the cream eventually rises to the top. And of course it takes a little longer, but by the time it gets there, it's been vetted and investigated because the stakes are higher for the top. That's why I recommended the old school names who have a long standing reputation and have enough money to make them worth going after in court if they report false stuff. In other words... They have skin in the game. And because of that, the stuff they report has been vetted pretty thoroughly. If they screw up big, their reputation is at stake and their pockets are deep enough to make them worth going after. If a bunch of the old school big name news organizations say that "so-and'so did such and such" then I give it some credence. Until then, not so much. The smaller newer on-line organizations with no money? They pretty much say whatever they want and they're making money off the sensationalism. Sensationalism sells. It sells clicks, and it sells opinions. But it hasn't been vetted. And they can pass it all off as "opinion" anyway, so there's no accountability. Cream rises to the top. There's a reason. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *If your expert is some guy on the internet posting stuff on social media, then I think it's time for an expert upgrade. If a quick google search of your expert turns up hits of them being banned from posting because of mis-information, then I think it's time for an expert upgrade. If your medical expert has Ted Nugent as a spokesman at traveling shows, it's time for an upgrade. If your choice for news is a "left-wing media outlet built around a Facebook Group and corresponding website. Established in 2012, it publishes false information, hyperpartisan content, and clickbait" it's time for a news upgrade. If your news is closely affiliated with the Falun Gong religious movement and "contains a mix of straight news, religious belief, conspiracy-peddling, Sinophobia, science denialism, legitimate grievance, and political expediency", then it's upgrade time.

P.s It's very common that happens. Guys that just don't know do it all the time. My pride and joy 240 was bought for pennies from some Ford shop because it wouldn't run. I got on this wonderful forum and bought tom monroe's book and figured it out. Now it's my casket.

The green stuff is a protective coating to maintain the friction surface on the flywheel. If not removed before use it will foul the clutch disc. Lacquer thinner will probably work too, but acetone is a cleaner, better refined solvent. Be sure to do a wet wipe/dry wipe for final cleaning after getting all the protective coating off, to ensure it is completely clean.

Correct. Be sure and remove the #1 spark plug and verify the piston is all the way up. Dont get sidetracked, just give us the feedback we're asking for

Thanks for posting this Jim2! Many, many thanks to Josh Lymon of the Ozark Z Car Club for organizing this gathering! It was the best Zfest ever! Great food---Z friends not seen for 2 years-----days and nights of sharing Z stories, current and past builds, plans for the future---couldn't be better for this old geeZer! Hey! I can't wait for the next one already!!!

A word of caution, most of us here are old and tired. We have dealt with these issues for years. We have asked you do certain things. If you will do those things we ask, in order and show the results, we will get this fixed. If that doesn't happen the help will dry up!

The way the cap is made it will only fit one way and snap down. If your's doesn't have the marker line no problem. The cap fits down 1 way. only. You can not fix this by moving the cap around, it will not snap into place. You need to listen to what every bodies telling you. You came here for help, we're trying but you don't seem to understand that. No short cuts.

The number 6 wire can be plugged onto the cap in any location. You need to start by getting the motor to TDC on the compression stroke

That distributor looks like a reman, or somebody did a really good job of cleaning it up. It seems like the plate on the bottom of the distributor might be upside down. If you install the distributor so that it looks like one of site's earlier pictures, that hole should be directly under the adjustment slot in the distributor plate. Take a picture of the bottom of the distributor and post it. After you confirm that piston #1 is on the compression stroke. Don't worry about the wires. Wires are easy. Honest. Get those mechanical parts right first.

It's 180 degrees off plus a tooth or 2 off the spindle gear. The small side should be facing the radiator. Your's, the windshield. You have to drop the oil pump to correct this. It's not a big deal just a big pain in the arse being your so close to cranking the motor. Your's The correct way...

I did a similar bench-top experiment a couple of years ago (I was bored and curious -- a dangerous combination). I discovered that it didn't take much tab-bending to generate some pretty wacky float angles at shut-off. The 'cam-to-follower' geometry seems to be pretty sensitive. I thought about creating a little trig simulator on my laptop, but decided that I wasn't quite that bored. Or curious. I also tried weighting the float as a secondary adjustment strategy. It worked, but I didn't like my chances of gluing a dime onto the float and having the adhesive last more than a week or two. It would be fascinating to learn how the Skinner-Union and Hitachi folks did the design layout for the float and linkage in the first place. The whole thing just begs for an external adjustment screw. But were would the charm be in something that sensible?

Kind of organized with my tools (still not that easy to find sometimes) but can not remember how to do somethings. But now that I am using this tool in the digital age I have my picture. Now to keep track of the picture😂

"Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" Thanks Guys Thought I tried that last night but must not of had a good connection on the spade terminal. Steve

No. Each piston reaches top dead center on the compression stroke once for every two revolutions of the crankshaft. Stay focused on the number one cylinder. That is all you need to be concerned with. So do what we are telling you. Get the engine in #1 top dead center, and check if it is on the compression or exhaust stroke. If it is on the compression stroke, stop and see where the distributor drive tang is. If it is on the exhaust stroke, roll the engine ONE MORE TIME to get it to the TDC position. Stop all this needless rotating of the engine over and over and over.

1978 280Z - SOLD $39,000.00 I think its been a long time since I've seen a stock 280Z bring those numbers. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-datsun-280z-95/

For years, literally years and years, I have been frustrated over and over again when setting up timing on our L series engines. Whether it’s a fresh engine setup, or after removing and replacing the distributor drive shaft after routine maintenance, I’m very often off by one tooth. “So what” I proclaim, I’ll just adjust the timing by rotating the distributor a bit more. But nope, the slots in the plate are never long enough to allow that. Or I have a custom setup and need to put the distributor in a specific orientation, but can’t because the timing plate won’t line up as needed. I’ve had many customer cars in for various work, and often find the drive gear alignment is out have to sort out their timing issues. They may have been running crazy retarded for a long time and didn’t know how to fix it. I’ve often resorted to cutting and welding on extensions to the plate to give me more rotation. Ugly, but it worked. Whatever the reason, being too lazy to drop that sway bar one more time to get the oil pump off, or having a custom setup, or needing to get just the right base to suit the upgraded ZX E12-80 distributor you just bought but now can’t use, wouldn’t it be nice to just have a distributor timing plate that allows more adjustment? Maybe even cover any all possible Nissan distributor replacement options no matter your specific situation? No need to find the “right” base? Heck, just not caring if you have the drive shaft alignment EXACTLY right when you put the oil pump back on, would be worth at least 6 rolls of toilet paper, right? Maybe even a BIG jar of hand sanitizer! Not a week goes by when someone has been begging for help with getting the timing right here or on any of the forums or facebook. How often have each of us posted the famous picture looking down the dizzy hole with the correct tang orientation? You know the one. Well, I’ve had enough. I “Fixed” it. Even put an “A” and and arrow to show you which way is “Advance”. So what say you experts? Is is this worth making more of? Suggestions?

I am still using the “prototype” that I got and it’s working perfect!! I am not sure if he is making them or not I haven’t heard more.

If you get the valve cover off, and take all of the spark plugs out, you can put a wrench on the timing gear bolt to turn the engine over. Shine a bright light down the #1 plug hole and you'll see the top of the piston as it comes up. When you see it close to the top, look at the timing mark on the damper pulley and get it to zero. Look at the first two cam lobes at the front of the engine and make sure that they are pointed upward. That will be the compression stroke.

Yes, the step of the dowel pin should sit flush with the flywheel surface. Do NOT use the locktite that comes with the pins. It is only used with the non-stepped pins such as the oem nissan ones, not necessary since the stepped ones are captured by the pressure plate and can not come out. I had problems with the pins fitting and it was not the flywheel. Two of the three pins would not go in, I assume a qc problem with the supplier of the pins. Almost sent them to Capt O for lathe work. lol

Ah! I had no idea about this cleaning it off business and put mine together as is - a few thousand miles later and no clutch slip yet!! Fingers crossed [emoji848][emoji1696] Ps. LOVING the orange Z@Wally !!!! Orange Zs are 23.6% cooler than the rest! [emoji106]

What about trimming the pin on the float valve? A little should go a long way

I burned mine when I turned 21...

I got a fake ID that says I'm 3 years older, 18 to 21, from the late 80s. Is that acceptable? If so that would put me at the right age to be a GeeZer.

Yes, but they are irrelevant at this time!

When you have a chance, test fit the 3 stepped dowel pins in the flywheel and let me know if there are any issues with the fit. Take a look at the clutch ball pivot and check it for excessive wear. A light coating of lube on the ball when you put the fork back. Car looks great!!

We will have to check your ID to see if you meet the age requirement ...

Well, I guess I qualify for the group now...

Especially Authority. Just because one excels in one field, it doesn't mean one knows squat about anything else.

Where can I get a GeeZer t-shirt. Kathy says I need one.

One step at a time. Get the #1 piston all the way up and timing marks on 0. Camshaft lobes on #1 up. Then take a picture of the camshaft spindle with the dizzy removed

I think it's always a good idea to preoil an engine before firing. All the way up to the cam

Haha! I think that Stranglehold is one of the best pieces of music ever created. But that doesn't qualify him to be a spokesman for a medical (sounding) organization to "take the truth directly to the people". In fact, for me, it does the opposite. It makes me question everything: America’s Frontline Doctors takes the truth directly to the people, with a cross-country road tour headlined by AFLDS.org founder Dr. Gold delivering “The Religion of Public Health”, a profound diagnosis of 2020’s viral propaganda, and also featuring special guests Ted Nugent and additional AFLDS physicians and attorneys at select venues. If I want the truth, it doesn't come from organizations like that. It comes from here:

I always enjoy Terrible Ted and the Ten Fingers of Doom, Wango Tango, Snakeskin Cowboys, Great White Buffalo, Journey To The Center Of The Mind. But when I began to see him pimping haddcore Republicant politics, I nearly burned that part of my album collection. Then I decided I don't have to like the Nugent of today, and I can still enjoy the Nugent of yesterday.

When the #1 piston, closest to the radiator, is at TDC the #1 cam shaft lobes will both be pointing upwards. Both valves will be closed. Then take a picture of the drive spindle Don't rotate the engine again until the mechanical parts are all properly installed. Also take the #1 sparkplug out and make sure the piston is all the way at the top when the timing mark lines up at 0 degrees (TDC)

The 260's have small diamond pattern vinyl on the trans tunnel and on the panel behind the seats, hide grain vinyl on the inner rocker. Vinyl (hide grain) on the rear strut towers. The 280's have carpet on the trans tunnel, vinyl on the rear strut towers. Can't remember what's on the panel behind the seats. Pics of the '75:

Was there a screw in this hole that held the distributor down? Or was the distributor free-floating? It's still unclear how the distributor was rotated so far away from where it should have been, as site/cliff/unseen noted in an earlier post. You're making progress...

I agree 100% and I've long wanted to replace the cut-pile in my 77 with some new loop. The cut pile screams "plush" 70's to me. Makes me want to do some disco. Even though it's older, I think the loop pile looks more modern.

Guys, I'm removing myself from this thread. Let me tell you why... Since I am the administrator of the site, I feel that it's my responsibility to stay out of sharing my personal views on subjects like this. Not because I think I am wrong, but, it's because I came to the conclusion that I really have no idea what is correct. I stated before that I don't trust most information I read on the Internet... so, why would I be here sharing my views about a subject that I know nothing about. It makes sense to know that all the opinions shared within here are not the responsibility or views of the club as a whole. If I'm in here sharing my views, it can be construed as such for the club and I don't feel it's good for me to put the club into that position. I do support questioning everything though... make any health decisions based on supporting yourself and your loved ones. Take care of each other. Mike

Sorry for the late reply. I have been working on a house renovation that has me loaded with a long "HoneyDo" list. My wheels are Konig 16" by 7" wheels paired with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires. The size of the tire is 205 55R16 91V. They work fine with no interference with car frame or body. I chose that size so that the circumference of the tire would match the Datsun OEM tire circumference. This allows the speedometer to give accurate speed (MPH) readings and accurate mileage gauge readings..

I think if you read this you may understand what we're saying. You should pull the dizzy out and see where the spindle is sitting. Get the motor at tdc, explained in this thread, then pull the distributor. It could be something simple but the only way to find out is get out there and try to figure it out yourself. We'll help all we can but there's no shortcuts looking at a screen. When you're at tdc and then remove the distributor this is what you should see...

Your vacuum advance module is at 4:00 o'clock and every Z I've seen has their's at 6:00 o'clock. I think your distributor was installed wrong, maybe the reason for the wires being all fouled up? People move wires around to get one to run when the distributor is off. Could be what the previous owner was trying to do. http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/distributor/8.jpg

I like it. A quick fix for many who have messed up engines. It also is nice for folks who upgrade from points to ZX and didn't get the right base. Plus: Bling!