Zed Head

The new distributor will certainly fix the vacuum advance issue. Not so sure about the other problems. Of course, you could also have a centrifugal advance problem too, so that might help. Anyway, if you have a manual transmission car then you can just use one of the pickups in the distributor and let the other one ride along. They will both put out a voltage pulse but only one will be used. One step on a long path. But it's a good hike. Good luck.

So you're saying he's got a chance?! He could probably just connect a wire and if it runs it's right. Right? If he has a manual transmission. The real question might be "what does 'acting up' mean?"

$41,000. And the paint doesn't even match the code!

I thought the three-wire plug from the distributor would be for a dual pickup distributor. He should able to just use one pickup, right? Find the common wire and use one of the others. Take the cap off and see how many pickups there are.

Might be in here. Engine Electrical chapter. Three wires is a good place to start studying wiring. https://www.classiczcars.com/files/category/12-260z/

Has anyone seen an oil pan like this before? Side hole. (Looks like T/C rod washers are on backward...don't tell anyone).

There's a fuse.

Here's the 77 FSM drawing.

Is the engine serial number an EPA issue? They got rid of the number on the ID plate in 1978. It's kind of funny, but the engine number focus might have made people overlook the other history of the car from myhotcars.com. Bumpers and wheels changed, odd exhaust system hangers. Too bad he didn't have the 36 years of paperwork. Wonder what happened to it. Here's the red one. Looks like the seller might be another car dealer, choicedealsnc2017. That was the other thing about the green car - the seller is a professional car salesman and has sold many Z's. His indignation seemed a bit much. He passes himself off as an expert, an aficionado. He should have been the one pointing things out. Anyway, red car - https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-174/

Still sold for $25,750. Lots of defensiveness over the funky engine number. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-170/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-07-21

The green Z with the sketchy number pad grinding is up today. You can't bust through the facade over there. The Z promoters are guarding the perception gates. The latest on the stamping is that a Nissan service department did it on a new replacement engine in the past at a customer's request. Looks like a used engine to me, but that harshes the Z buzz and is not allowed. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-170/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-07-21 Question for Carl Beck - have you ever seen or heard of a Nissan service department grinding numbers off of a block and replacing them with fake numbers to match the cars ID plate? @Carl Beck

He ain't got no access hole...

I think it's in this thread, below, somewhere. It's very difficult and the method you end up using will probably depend on your own individual skills with various tools, and knowledge of how metal things work. One key point seems to be to brace the rod by putting a solid object between it and the case, so that you can apply force without damaging the rod.

jrod hasn't been back since 3/31/2018.

No, the patterns are different. The 240 mm is three sets of three holes, and the 225 is six evenly spaced holes. You can see it in the pressure plates. You can't use a 225 plate on a 240 flywheel, or vice-versa. Edit - this statement might not be correct. CREATE DO LOOP - 225 (8 7/8") 240 (9 1/2")

The bolt patterns are different between 225 and 240 clutches. I think that the Fidanza flywheel might be drilled for either, but if you go with a Nissan flywheel you need to use the pressure plate that matches the flywheel. p.s. the 225 mm flywheels are almost impossible to find on the aftermarket. Everybody has gone to 240 mm only. You can get the clutch kits but not the flywheels. Something to consider if you find a problem with your flywheel. https://www.fidanza.com/products/aluminum-flywheel-143281?variant=11938804858923

The seller commented this morning. Said he didn't notice. He has sold quite a few Z's, I counted seven back to 2019, and he highlighted the engine number stamp on all of them. He probably has staff that do his internet sales stuff though. Somebody did something shady in California years ago.

A thought I had but never tried is to use spring compressors on the front springs to stop the car from lifting as the weight is removed. Not uncommon to run out of lift if you're using a cherry picker. I had a chain hoist from the rafters so had plenty of travel. Do your lifting calculations before you start. Siteunseen/Cliff mentioned using a rope and a block of wood through the shifter hole to lift the back of the transmission if you install the engine and transmission together. I always learn these good ideas after the fact. I had a heck of a time trying to lift it from underneath the car to get the crossmember under it. There's just no room. Didn't have a load leveler either, but those only have so much adjustment anyway.

This is the number in question. It's not the numbers as much as the obvious grinding marks.

Actually it was Nicoclub and it looks like they resolved their issues with Nissan. FSM's are back up. https://www.nicoclub.com/service-manual?fsm=240sx%2F1991%2F1991_240sx.pdf Here's the main list - https://www.nicoclub.com/nissan-service-manuals

I have the Nissan 91-94 240SX FSM if you want to use. I'd have to upload it. Got it from ??? before Nissan shut them down. Describes the basics of the ECM timing control. Might be your IACV. Mike might want to consider Nissan copyright stuff, not sure why they shut Xenon down. I could put it on a Google drive too.

Take a look at the Stop switch wires. Your brake lamp jumper wire is a sign that somebody was trying to fix a problem. Might be better off to go back to original and see if you end up with the original problem, which might be easier to solve. You're working around somebody's hack now.

The guy might not realize that the pad has been messed with. His response to the comments on BAT will tell something. Somebody in CA did something before he bought it. Might still be a fine 240Z, just not "numbers-matching".

If you search his name you'll find that he should know these things. He's supposed to be a car "aficionado". He has a business selling classic cars. Not really a "poor seller". http://georgelyonsbuyscars.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgelyonseriepa/ https://leakecar.com/cruising-with-car-aficionado-george-lyons/ https://www.goerie.com/article/20150126/NEWS/610095671