Perils of a 43 year old car

[kitesurfer]

Interesting day yesterday which I thought I would share. My 240z is pretty original aside from an L28 engine swap by the previous owner. The big issue here is the fact that it has been in storage for many years before I aquired it and my lack of understanding to the ravages of time. My car has only recently been road legal and thankfully I have only undertaken short trips, mainly to listen and get used to all the sounds the car makes. The initial runs showed the temperature and fuel gauge not to be working. From advice I earthed the sensor lead out and gauge worked showing what I thought was a sensor problem...wrong assumption!!
I felt the car was running hot and I had to top up the radiator which was very strange as I couldn't see a leak. A short trip and the gauge was showing a reading, stopped to check and found the first problem, as per attached. Split pipe draining the water under pressure. Keep in mind the idea of pipework / old car.
Next issue was the fuel gauge. Advice was pointing towards the sender unit. Think I've found the problem as per attached!!!!! While removing the fuel tank I've been amazed at the appalling condition of the original pipework. It was either as hard as a bullet or jellified nearer the tank. I can only stress that although my car is very solid and rust free this will not apply to the pipework. My naivety and lack of classic car knowledge might have caused the loss of my car to a fire or perhaps mechanical damage to the engine. I am now changing all the rubber fuel pipes, clearing the crud out of the tank (looked great externally), replacing all water pipes and considering the wiring. I was carrying a fire extinguisher so I did think ahead a bit!! Hopefully the above and attached will act as some guidance.

 

[Farmer42]

I would also advise checking/renewing all the flexible brake hoses and renewing brake & clutch fluid if it hasn't already been done.

Having said that, if it's been through an MOT the hoses would have been checked & should be ok if it passed. Doesn't stop water getting into the brake fluid though whilst it's been sat around.

That fuel sender unit looks past it though

 

[Jimbo]

if the sender is that bad then it stands a chance the inside of the tank will be.
i dont know how far away from birmingham yu are but theres a guy who runs a shop called ready rads who repaired and derusted my tank for me.
he cut it in half, shot blasted it and then welded it back together.
you really need to get all the rust out or it will come back to bight you.
i replaced all my fuel lines with 8mm copper pipe from wickes, its easy to bend and wont corrode like the steel ones.
you can buy replacement rubber hoses from http://www.mjpshop.co.uk/ or you can get generic hoses from https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/

 

[kitesurfer]

I would also advise checking/renewing all the flexible brake hoses and renewing brake & clutch fluid if it hasn't already been done.

Having said that, if it's been through an MOT the hoses would have been checked & should be ok if it passed. Doesn't stop water getting into the brake fluid though whilst it's been sat around.

That fuel sender unit looks past it though

I checked the brakes before I did anything. Front hoses are brand new, rear hoses are stainless. New brake/clutch master cylinder at the front and fliud is uncloudy. The MOT station remarked how good the brakes were so confident all is well in that area.
Yep fuel sender was solid. Joined the terminals as you alluded to and gauge works fine.
All this has to be expected on a car of this age so I'm not disheartened. Engine sounds better and better each time its run and has stopped 'dropping' lash pads...phew!!

 

[kitesurfer]

if the sender is that bad then it stands a chance the inside of the tank will be.
i dont know how far away from birmingham yu are but theres a guy who runs a shop called ready rads who repaired and derusted my tank for me.
he cut it in half, shot blasted it and then welded it back together.
you really need to get all the rust out or it will come back to bight you.
i replaced all my fuel lines with 8mm copper pipe from wickes, its easy to bend and wont corrode like the steel ones.
you can buy replacement rubber hoses from http://www.mjpshop.co.uk/ or you can get generic hoses from https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/

Thanks for the info.I like the idea of copper fuel lines and will investigate that. I'll call ready rads and see what they can offer. All hoses will be replaced together with the rubber grommets. I've attached a photo of the front firewalls replacement blanking grommets...obviously a specialist design. The effort to spray two sides of corrugated cardboard rather than buy a blanking grommet beggars belief!! Thankfully no rust present.