DatsunZsRule

Well it's been a little while but to update those that remember my fuel rail leak issue - I was finally able to locate a used one from a place called Z Car Source out of AZ. If you remember I was going to try Z Barn. Well those bastards wasted my time. They only answered me a couple times. First they said that they could get the fuel rail for me and asked if I wanted it. I said yes and never heard back. Total wast of my time. Then I searched for another place and came across Ultimate Z and they did the same damn thing. Never got back to me and ignored my e-mails. I was really starting to get pissed trying to locate one that I pulled my original fuel rail out of my Z and was going to have a weld shop re weld it until I finally came across Z Car Source. I was surprised that these people actually cared They answered me A.S.A.P. and said " Yes, we got that fuel rail available Jared. call if you want to go ahead and place your order" So I did and I received it today after work. Unfortunately these are N.L.A. through Nissan so it is used but looks great. It just needed a good cleaning. (see photos) You can tell that the 280Z this fuel rail came from had a rust issue Notice the spot it left on my pants when i blew it out with compressed air (Glad I left my work uniform on ) I continued to blow the rail out really good then sprayed the fuel pipes inside really good with carb/throttle cleaner and then blew it out again. I did this a few times and now it looks good. - I'm looking forward to getting my baby going again this weekend. I also got new 5/16 high pressure fuel hose with new clamps, new injectors, holders, top and bottom 0 rings that I'm going to do this weekend as well so she should be in pretty good shape after this. Anyway just thought I'd let those that followed my fuel rail leak thread know what I've been up to Take care Z friends,

I agree with Darrel on driving defensively. It's saved my a$$ more than a few times. When I'm at a stop light and the light turns green, I pause for few seconds and scan the intersection first before I take off. I've seen too damn many impatient dinks in my time that run red lights. Sorry to hear about your situation. Hope it all works out for you and your mother.

Couldn't have said it better myself Ron

I agree Stephen. Like I said in post #2 "We need info man" Now about FI being "Crappy" is False. The few who say that there EFI Z gets poor gas mileage and is sluggish clearly know nothing about how to work on them. The truth is they are very reliable and require little to no adjusting and get excellent gas mileage when they are working properly. Thats my opinion. Don't give up Ron, you'll figure it out

After viewing your profile, it sounds like your Z is a 1977. Well what is the problem??? We need information man

Good one

Ahhh thanks Stephen. Now I feel like an idiot I think I need to sign off for tonight and go to bed

"I hope I am just having a sympathetic vibration from DZR..." Forgive me as I'm very tired tonight but what???

Holy crap your not kidding :surprised That poor Z is rusted away. How much did the salvage yard charge you for those? Or did they let you have them? Would you mind if I wait to see what zbarn has first? The ones you got may clean up ok but I'd like to see what they might have available. I'd still be willing to give you something for your trouble if I do decide to pass. I'll let you know how I come out with Z Barn. Again, thanks Chris

Damn right. Being a tech, I haven't had an unsatisfied customer yet where I work. :laugh:

Let us know how you come out Best of luck to you.

"That rust is no big deal" Even minor rust is a big deal to me. Why the hell not clean them out? Looks like he already has some of the lines unhooked so might as well go for it if you got the extra time. I guess Im the paranoid type :paranoid: and proud of it

"Does sitting for this length of time do this much damage??" Yes Unlike wine, fuel does not get better with age. It goes bad and junks up the fuel system terribly. A dirty fuel filter will cause an issue like your having. The car will run fine at first when cold because the "crud" is settled. As you drive for a while or rev up the engine, it stirs up all the junk, clogging the filter and restricts fuel flow so bad to the point where it kills the engine. I know your thinking "I already replaced the filter" but if you haven't had the fuel tank cleaned and fuel lines cleaned, then more crap is going to keep coming and junking up your new filter. Just my thoughts

If you got the right filter, I don't understand how the hoses wouldn't fit? They worked fine on the old one correct? It is normal to have to push the hoses on a little hard. You can wet the inside of the hose with gas to help them slide on better. As for your fuel pipe, you can remove them and clean them if you want.

Damn, that really sucks :disappoin You tried man and I appreciate it a lot. Hopefully that 1976 280Z has them :nervous: I think these fuel pipes have to be the hardest part to come by on the 280Z. Yeah, I e-mailed Z Barn last friday and haven't seen a response back since. I think I'm going to try them again. Worst case I'll just have to have my current one rewelded where it's leaking out. Talk about a pain in the a$$

Thats cool man. That Black Pearl edition is amazing. How could anyone let that beauty sit and not enjoy driving it :surprised Anyways, thanks for the photo.

So let me get this straight, It runs or idles rough when you re-start it after it sits for a short time correct? then smooths back out again when cold or as you give it gas or drive it? Sounds like you have already done a lot of testing I'd test the fuel pressure after the filter if you haven't already. Should maintain 36 PSI at idle. If that checks out good then I'd test the Thermotime Switch again, if you haven't already. Good luck

Yep, I already found that out Carl

I went on ebay for the hell of it and looked at 1978 280Zs for sale with engine bay photos because it's been a long time since I've been under the hood of a '78 and stephen, your right and I'm wrong. every 1978 I found looked just like your fuel set up. Very interesting LOL I could have sworn they were identical to the 75-77's. My stupid error :stupid: Chris, yes the fuel pipes are secured in place. I'd bring a 3/8 drive ratchet and extension with your metric socket set and phillips screw driver. bring a regular straight blade screw driver along to incase other aftermarket hose clamps are on there That should be all you'll need. As for any additional things, About the only thing I can think of that I would need for it is the passenger side visor with the mirror. Last year when I was cleaning the inside of my Z, I opened the mirror cover to clean off the dust on the mirror since it never gets used and the small plastic piece on one side that holds the pin in place for the cover broke so if you happen to see a good passenger side sun visor (Black Interior) I'd take that too if you don't mind. P.M. me with your info. too so I can send you a check. Like I said, I owe you man Thanks again so much Z brother.

Do you think it's possible he could have had someone else do it for him that knew Z's?? He may not have been mechanically inclined but I'm sure someone did work on it for him? I'm not trying to say that your wrong but who knows it's possible?? Or I could be wrong too. Maybe Datsun started this little engineer change in the late 1978 first generation 280Z's? Who else here has a 1978 stock? which set up does yours have? Now I'm curious

Yeah, whenever you use something like Sea Foam through a vac. line, it's going to smoke like crazy. Thats normal. the one treatment alone I'm sure did it's job. Too many treatments is not good either. Sea Foam is a really good, strong product and should really only have to be used through a vac. line once & a great while or barely at all if you drive your car enough on the highways and keep it cleared out.

Now thats one hell of a nice looking alternative hood vent. I still prefer my factory ones because I want to keep my Z as original as I can but those are very sharp looking.

Yep, my set up is truely STOCK. 1978 Should be identical. I've seen '78's that look just like my 1977. Stephen, I noticed your valve cover says "NISSAN TURBO" which is why your set up is different. Looks like you got the 2nd generation 280ZX set up. My guess is the previous owner of your Z changed it to the newer 280ZX set up to eliminate all the rubber hoses. I've seen it done on a few first generation 280Z's. My set up like you see in my photos and courtesy Nissans diagram IS stock and that goes for ALL 280Z's 75-78. Just to answer that question nealkeith- "A used one could crack at the same place." I doubt it as this is a very rare thing to happen. This is normally not a common issue on the FI 280Z's. Like i've said before, these fuel pipes must be handled with care. I think over the years with previous owners changing out those rubber hoses may have pulled to hard on them in that spot trying to change hoses and could have weakened that spot and it has been on borrowed time ever since. When Chris finds me a replacement (Thanks again Chris) at his local salvage yard in good shape, I don't think I'll have to worry about it happening again. Having it rewelded though isn't a bad route to go either if you can not find another one in good shape because thats a chance you take when you go used. I'm going to inspect the ones I get really good when I'm cleaning them up. Chris, don't feel like you have to rush out there on your Sunday. Anytime next week when you get a chance is perfectly fine. Again, thank you. I owe you one

I did get around to taking photos today. Fuel leak is here at Pipe A at the weld where it T's (You can not see the fracture. Like I said, very very small) I also want to replace pipe D which is here just to be safe

"Speaking of cracks. Should the vents lay in tight and not flex? That's probably why they crack. maybe a strip of double-sided tape in one or two inconspicuous spots will keep them from flexing or vibrating." Huh????? I've never seen a 280Z hood vent itself crack. What tends to break on them is on the underside of the vent, the plastic piece on the corners where the vent gets tightened down in place. The combination of old age and heat from under the hood is the cause usually. Thats what happened to mine. If yours are "Flexing" then yours must not be in tight or one of your corners of the vent are broken because yes, they should fit in tight and flush.