Marty Rogan

Still here in the Chicago Area, collecting parts and preparing an L28 to put into my track as my winter project. I hope the weather breaks soon, as I have a track date coming up on April 8 at Road America. I haven't seen any 1st Gen Z Cars in junk yards around here in years. I have to rely on our fair weather friends in other states. Check out the Windy City Z Club site: http://www.windycityzclub.com/default.asp We are planning a lot of events this year and I believe some of them are in cooperation with the Indy Z Club. Marty

Do you enjoy changing water pumps? Why take a chance on a used one. You could be doing it agains in a few weeks. Water pumps are available NEW for about $30. Do your self a favor and just buy a new one. Marty

Hi and welcome! Sounds like you have a good find there. I got my 1 owner '71 about 3 years ago. It also came with a log of every fill-up, tune-up and maintenance done to the car since day one. It's really nice to have that kind of history for an old car. Yes, you can adjust the air mixture. The best thing you can do is buy the video from Z Therapy: http://www.ztherapy.com/ It explains everything. Well worth the price! Good luck, Marty

I have really not had any trouble with the Pertronix dizzy. I am also using an MSD Blaster II coil. It is and would run the vacuum advance. The '83 L28 is basically stock. It will be running with the SU's, a port & polished intake and headers. Nothing too HiPo. So far it's sounding like that isn't much if any advantage to making the swap. Thanks for the input. Marty

I am in the process of putting an '83 L28 into my '71. The '71 distibutor has a Pertronix in it that I am pretty happy with. The L28 came with the newer electronic distributor, so it gives me the option to switch over to the E12-80 very easily. I would just have to pick up the module and swap it for the '83 module. Is there any real benefit of using the E12-80 over the Pertronix? Or are they about the same? TIA, Marty

John, That's good info to know. Not sure how a home mechanic would measure that though. What system(s) do you use or recommend to obtain that pressure? Marty

Stephen, Thanks for the heads up. Too bad. It seems like we have been losing a lot of knowlegeable members in the last year or two. Anybody else have experiece with Supertrapps? Marty

Hi Steve, I have been doing some research on exhaust systems for my track car. I have a '71 than I am putting a stock '83 L28 into. Have had the intake ported and polished, but that about it, so far. This car will be used for NASA HPDE's, open track days, High Speed AX and still has to be civilized enough for the street (no trailer, have to drive to the track). So far I have bought a Pacesetter Header with Jet Hot coating. My initial plan was to go with 2 1/2" pipes and end in a turbo muffler. Saw you post and found it intriguing about the tuneability of a Supertrapp. Did you get to the dyno? I would love to hear your results. From the date of this post, you must have some experience with the system by now. What do you think of it? Thanks, Marty

Yeah, I thought about the desicant packets. I was wondering about filling the engine with oil too! Can you imagine what it would be like draining that puppy? ! Like you have done, I think plugging up all the holes will be really important. Humid in the Midwest? YOU BET! The project is coming along slow. I am waiting on some parts to come in. Mostly family obligations keep me from spending much time on it. I have been taking some pictures a long the way. I'll have to post some when I get it done. Marty

All good comments and suggestions so far! I did run it up to full temperature before I put it away for the winter. I will definitely be changing the oil, backing off the springs and blocking off all holes to keep critters out. I will need to use the carbs on the motor I am using. I have an old set I could probably throw on there to cover the intakes, and hey, it gives me a place to store them too. I am not sure about bagging it though. Seems like that could cause condensation. I could use an old blacket to keep the dust off, but let it breath. I planned to turn it over by hand once in a while to try and move the oil around. Tending to the cam is a good idea too. Don't want any rust forming on the lobes. Is there some product available to spray on to prevent rusting, on areas like the fly wheel? I remember Datsun sprayed some gunk on emblems and other parts with rust potential when they shipped the cars over on the boat. I think it might have been called cosmolean? Keep those ideas coming! Thanks, Marty

I am removing the original, low mileage, numbers matching L24 from my '71. Replacing it with an L28 for more power on track days and to preserve the original motor. What is the best way to prepare the engine for indefinite storage? I have seen all the write-ups on short terms storage and have done short term storage for many years. Just looking for suggestions on what to do differnt. TIA, Marty

I have also heard that synthetic oil helps on cars that have chronic overheating problems. My '71 was given a diet of synthetic oil for years from the PO, so I stuck with it. Even at the race track, the car has not run too hot. Just my 2 cents. Marty

Preith, I see that you are in WI. Are you running with MidWest Council? I run Autocross with them in my yellow '71 240Z. Marty

Cool, thanks! Marty

Ok, that sounds like a good solution. Are the bullet connectors readily available then? Marty

I recently got a quote from a dealer on a long list of parts. Unfortunately, I forgot to add that one on there, duh! I was ordereing other stuff from MSA this afternoon and figured I would get a quote while I was talking with them. I'll call the dealer back. That would seem like a pretty crucial part to not make any more. glad to hear they may be available. Thanks! Marty

I am transplanting an '83 L28 into my '71. I want to use all of the original wiring for the '71. I just talked to MSA about getting a new Nissan oil pressure sending unit. They said the Z ones are NLA and they wanted to sell me the roadster unit. This would require hacking up my wriring to install an eyelet style connector, which is what the roadster unit uses. Is that true, or is there somewhere to source the correct 240Z Sender? I would rather not cut up the wiring harness if I don't have to. I have also heard the aftermarket units are crap too. TIA, Marty

Hey Chris, let me know if you are going to fly up for that race. Is it the Brian Redman race? Anyway, I live about 2 1/2 hours from the track. Wouldn't take alot of convincing for me to go up to Road America for a day, !! There are couple of other club members around here that we could round up. Grey Ghost lives right in town up there. RA even has a "Z Zone" to park at by turn 3. It would be a blast to see the Can Am cars racing again. Marty

I am starting a swap of an '83 ZX motor into my '73. Does anybody know what the bolt size is for the main pulley. My largest socket is 24 mm and that isn't it. I need to buy a bigger one, so I'd like to just get the one I need. TIA, Marty

I had the same problem and looked for all the worst things that could have gone wrong. Try this first. Remove the fuse for that circuit. Squeeze the prongs together (make sure the power if OFF first!) and re-insert the fuse. Sometimes these old fuse boxes get a little loose. It fixed my problem, hope it fixes yours. If not you must have a short somewhere. Good luck! Marty

Don't sell us old farts short!!! I race with a group of guys that call themselves the Gray Wolves Racing Group. A great bunch of very knowledgeable guys. The YOUNGEST one in the group is 63! 2 out of 3 of them won their class last year in the Auto Cross standings. Not too shabby for a bunch of old farts, eh? Marty

Hi Jason, I am thinking of going this route soon. Do you have a part number for the K&N's you bought? Where did you get your air horns from? Do you have a part number for those and the cost? TIA, Marty

Is that a square port 240Z exhausy manifold on a P79 head? How's that working out for you? I was advised that it was not a good idea. Marty

What distributor are you guys using? My '71 has a Pertronix unit in it and I was thinking of just swapping that onto the '83 engine. Are there any issues with putting the 71 dist on a carbed '83? TIA, Marty