My first classic (part-refurb) '78 280z, LHD, auto, Ex-California

[SacCyclone]

#13 looks like the four screws that attach the hatch hinge to the hatch. They are special and difficult to find.

 

[Jason McIvor]

I pulled a few more parts off the car today
Steering wheel - the rubbery stuff that seems to have had a leather/vinyl cover on it at one stage is in a "decent" state
Can anyone recommend a good leather cover that I can use ?
Horn button is in remarkably good condition - a bit of elbow grease and it looks really good. probably wont even paint it
Gear knob - complete write-ff unfortunately, really badly worn and broken. I will replace with a new/refurb one or an after-market version
again - if someone can point me in a good direction for a replacement it would be helpful (automatic, LHD, 280z)
Drivers seat - great condition tbh, just took the lever guard off and will paint it same as the centre console

 

[uk66fastback]

Items numbered 5 are the little rubber cushions for the fuel filler flap I think …

 

[Jason McIvor]

Items numbered 5 are the little rubber cushions for the fuel filler flap I think …

Mike

That could be really helpful - thanks so much, I'll check when I get my hands on the car

 

[Bazzateer]

Items numbered 5 are the little rubber cushions for the fuel filler flap I think …

I don't think that's correct, they're to big and 'square'. The fuel filler ones are small round 'buttons'.
As John says earlier, these look like the inspection flap ones.

 

[Jason McIvor]

Something good landed today

 

[Jason McIvor]

So, it's been a minute but some things have continued
Car : Refurbed the injectors and had a day booked for the garage to put them back in and hopefully get the car home. Garage lost the injectors so had to order some more from the US and they took two weeks to deliver - so, with a decent wind I might get her running and home this week
Steering wheel : got a simple leather cover from customsteering on ebay and pics are attached
Sun visors : I'm getting some replacement sun visor covers in the same design/leather as the steering wheel cover - some pics of the sun visor repair
Jewellery : my wife got me some new jewellery for the car for my birthday
Fender Mirrors : I am still undecided about Fender mirrors but I thought I would have a look anyway so ordered some from ZCarDeport. I was surprised by how cheap they felt. There is one thing being made of plastic for lightness but another to have plastic seems all over the place. I sanded everything down, wet sanded it really smooth and repainted them in the same matt black as the interior has been painted. Some work in progress and finished pics also

Hopefully by the next time I update I'll have the car and I should be replacing the interiors lights with LEDS as I put the centre console back in

 

[Jason McIvor]

Folks
I got her home
Injectors are in and working great

Need some advice though - Air flow meter is a mess and is held together with wire (see pic)
- is there a place in UK where I can get it refurbed ?
- is it better to get a new/second hand one ?
- I saw a "how to" guide to refurb at home, is this a good idea for a novice ?
what would you do ?

 

[Huw]

Unlikely to find a UK source or someone who knows what to do with it. Best place to get a replacement is the US from https://zcarsource.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Afm

You will need the part number as the 280z and 280zx AFM’s are not as interchangeable as would appear.

This is a good little article.
http://xenonzcar.com/s130/afmrefresh.html

AFM’s have a couple of main faults. The thermistor that measures the airflow temperature can fail, the carbon tracks can wear on the door position circuit and the door spring can get stiff with corrosion and dirt, all are fixable to a degree.

 

[Jason McIvor]

Unlikely to find a UK source or someone who knows what to do with it. Best place to get a replacement is the US from https://zcarsource.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Afm

You will need the part number as the 280z and 280zx AFM’s are not as interchangeable as would appear.

This is a good little article.
http://xenonzcar.com/s130/afmrefresh.html

AFM’s have a couple of main faults. The thermistor that measures the airflow temperature can fail, the carbon tracks can wear on the door position circuit and the door spring can get stiff with corrosion and dirt, all are fixable to a degree.

Huw
Thanks so much for the replay

I'm going to take this off today and have a first look at it - at the worst I can get another from US I guess
In the pic the black plastic bit is held to the metal by the wire but it's clearly been bodged together in the past, there looks like some sort of sealant was used
Is the sealant and special type ?
In the xenoncar link you sent there is also a strapping of some type over the black plastic - a grey ziptie looking thing. Is this extra support necessary/advisable ? I am sure I can fashion something better than a length of wire

 

[Huw]

You can use any silicone sealer, its just to secure the black panel. You don't need the strap. However, if you are going to be 'tinkering' with the door spring tension to adjust the airfuel mix then it is a good idea to use a temporary method of holding the panel on. Attached is the EFI bible, problems with running rich or lean can be attributed to other components in the system not just the AFM. But giving the thing a good clean will probably help. Most problems with these old analog EFI systems are dirty connectors. The ECU is as dumb as a stump and will not operate properly if any of the sensors go out of tolerance. That said it is a pretty robust system when working properly.

 

[moggy240]

I like what you have done to the mirrors but if you do fit them, put convex glass on them as they are really bad to see with otherwise.
Look at this on eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/105mm-Ci...p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Fits straight over the top of the old glass.

 

[moggy240]

Folks
(slightly tongue-in-cheek)
Do we do pop-quizzes on this forum or is there a better forum to see who can name the below screws/bolts and where they should go ?
Got a load of extras with the car (and I still dont have the car) that I dont know where they go

Thought it might be interesting to ask
View attachment 45912

7 are run of the mill stainless bolts and washers and not original bolts.

 

[Jason McIvor]

Unclipping unconnecting the Air Flow Meter

Guys
I need some guidance/help here
How do I disconnect the Air Flow Meter without breaking the connector ?


Its proper old and I don't want to start putting a screw driver in there until I know what I'm trying to do
Do I have to try and unscrew the little screws ? One of them looks to have glue applied ?!
Or do I lever the plastic cover down a bit gently ?

 

[toopy]

I haven't got injection on my car, but that connector looks pretty standard fare, you can see in your photo there is a metal clip at either end, you should be able to get a small flat blade screwdriver in behind it, lever it carefully and then gently pull the connector free one side at a time. Hope that makes sense

 

[zbloke]

You need to remove the metal retaining clip from the plastic connector

The clip is the thin round section rusty looking thing that runs approx. 75% of the way around the plug in a grove

Small flat blade screwdriver or a pick and gently ease it out of the grove its in - carefully though - they have been know to spring out and become lost forever

 

[Jason McIvor]

You need to remove the metal retaining clip from the plastic connector

The clip is the thin round section rusty looking thing that runs approx. 75% of the way around the plug in a grove

Small flat blade screwdriver or a pick and gently ease it out of the grove its in - carefully though - they have been know to spring out and become lost forever

ok, thanks so much, I'll give that a go and let you know

 

[Jason McIvor]

Thanks so much fellas
Minimal damage to air flow meter connector and saved the disappearing clip

Now for the hard cleaning work

 

[zbloke]

Minimal damage to air flow meter connector and saved the disappearing clip

Well done! not losing the clip is a skill many fail to master

Looking back at a previous image of your AFM it does look very sorry for itself

Just a thought, I'm pretty certain Nissan used Bosch components under licence for the 280Z and 280Zx EFI systems and the AFM does look very much like the style used on Bosch L Jetronic systems, if you're prepared to do some part number searching and cross referencing you might be able to find a replacement for it here in the UK

 

[Jason McIvor]

Well done! not losing the clip is a skill many fail to master

Looking back at a previous image of your AFM it does look very sorry for itself

Just a thought, I'm pretty certain Nissan used Bosch components under licence for the 280Z and 280Zx EFI systems and the AFM does look very much like the style used on Bosch L Jetronic systems, if you're prepared to do some part number searching and cross referencing you might be able to find a replacement for it here in the UK

That's great info, thanks so much

I've it all apart now and the terminals are in very good condition and I've cleaned them a bit
Internals are all in order with very little wear
There seems to have been about 4 different sealants used tho so it took some cleaning

Do you know if 3m weatherstripping and gasket adhesive is ok for air box/intake work ?
Seems unclear atm online

If it doesn't work I'll certainly look for an alternative Bosch version replacement