Kieronpollock
Club Member
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What did you do to your Z this week?
- Thread starter jonbills
- Start date
candy red
Club Member
Glad I’m not the only one that’s got OCD
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uk66fastback
Club Member
You’re all forgetting that the car hasn’t been there since August 2021, so I’ve had ample time to tidy it up at my leisure … just wait til the car’s been back a while and it’ll look like everyone else’s garage. It looked like this a while ago …
toopy
Club Member
To be fair, assuming it's your garage, it still looks tidier than most
And way bigger than mine!To be fair, assuming it's your garage, it still looks tidier than most
richiep
Club Member
I almost got there - then brought Project Dixie home to work on. Now it’s an utter tip (although turning half into a spray booth did tidy some of it up!).
Rushingphil
Club Member
yellowz
Club Member
Then I look at this picture and sense of calm and normality begins to return
If at all any consolation, here is my “organised mess” complete with dodgy cabling on one of the lights - which recently got pulled out of neat for an emergency quick repair. BUT, I know exactly where everything is in here.
So, given the kiddies wound me up tonight, I figured the best place for me was under the Z to adjust the fuel sender. Those who may have followed my “car diary” thread would recall that during lock down I pulled the tank and the sender was leaking. So instead of spending silly money on a sender, I bought a NOS other Datsun model sender which is identical in function and resistance, but for a fraction of the cost of one labelled for a Z. The only key difference was that the rod was bent in a different way.
Having reshaped the rod and installed it, I found that the gauge drops too fast (went to half just 30-40 miles after a fill up) and quickly dropped and stayed close to or on E for the next 150-200 miles.
So tonight I pulled the sender (knowing the fuel level is VERY low (258 miles since last fill up), lined it up with the original one I pulled a few years back and realised one bend was too shallow. I re-bent the highlighted bend to exactly match the original.
Then measured the impedance at both extremes and half way - which is totally consistent with the original sender.
When installed back into the tank, I measured the impedance again at the terminals and it’s showing 78ohms. This is what the fuel gauge looks like.
I think at best I have 3-4 litres in the tank as I’ve been running it down. On average I get 250-300 miles per tank, I never do more than an hour in the Z, 99% not cruising and my right foot is rather leaden. So on average I get 17-20mpg when not cruising for hours to an event).
Then filled with 30L (assuming 65L tank) - and it’s better but still not showing half! So I’m going to live with it until I run the fuel down a bit and give it a tiny bit more bend.
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Robotsan
Club Member
Going to have to do similar with my aftermarket sender from Z Car Depot. It's way off currently! But I have somewhat bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Talking of fuel, I've had 3/4 of a tank of 99 in there for 6 months now. I should probably drain it shouldn't I? And is it done for now? I'm guessing storing in a jerry can is no better for it.
What about the fuel stabilisers? Do they actually work?
toopy
Club Member
Yes the stabilisers are definitely recommended and work very well, especially with E10.
I have used them in the Z for forever and have never had a starting issue, even after several years of zero use. I also use a stabiliser in my 2 stroke gardening equipment this time of year, and again have never had a gumming up or non start situation come spring.
Obviously best to actually start with reasonably fresh fuel though
6 months should be OK, but you'll need some way to mix it if pouring it into a tank that already has fuel, i usually mix at the pump or in a 5 litre can. If the car runs, sorry cant' remember off hand if it does, then that makes things much easier if pouring into existing fuel and gets the mixture into the carbs and lines.
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Wot he (@toopy) said!!
As for the sender @Robotsan - I would adjust for 1/4 tank first, then drain down, put in say 3-4 litres and check for E. that way, you are safe in the knowledge that E means E and 1/4 gives you enough to find a fuel stop. Unless on a long journey, I tend to fill up every half tank - for a number of reasons. Esso E5 is currently ethanol free in certain areas (e.g. South East) - and that stuff causes a lot less harm to your tank / rubber pipes etc when standing for a long time.
As for the sender @Robotsan - I would adjust for 1/4 tank first, then drain down, put in say 3-4 litres and check for E. that way, you are safe in the knowledge that E means E and 1/4 gives you enough to find a fuel stop. Unless on a long journey, I tend to fill up every half tank - for a number of reasons. Esso E5 is currently ethanol free in certain areas (e.g. South East) - and that stuff causes a lot less harm to your tank / rubber pipes etc when standing for a long time.
Robotsan
Club Member
Yes the stabilisers are definitely recommended and work very well, especially with E10.
I have used them in the Z for forever and have never had a starting issue, even after several years of zero use. I also use a stabiliser in my 2 stroke gardening equipment this time of year, and again have never had a gumming up or non start situation come spring.
Obviously best to actually start with reasonably fresh fuel though
Thanks! Yeah it does run. Its just on axle stands with no suspension at the mo.
So I can just pour it in and run the car for 10 min maybe?
I was going to add this to my Opie Oils order to get free delivery, but I think this is only for when using E10 right? And I have Momentum 99 in the car which is E5:
https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-275595...thanol-fuel-conditioner-with-stabilisers.aspx
Robotsan
Club Member
Thanks that's good advice!
toopy
Club Member
Yes that additive is perfect, 10 mins would be more than enough but if your going to start it, best to let it run till up to temp anyway.
Any fuel, E5 included can cause problems when it goes off/stale, so best to use something rather than nothing if the car is sitting. E10 is more of an issue, not because it is more likely to go bad, just the much higher ethanol content absorbs more moisture and can have a far more detrimental effect on rubber hoses used in older vehicles.
candy red
Club Member
You little tease
Mr.G
Club Member
Well done Ali, I am sure you'll love it. I noticed that advertised and was wondering when someone would buy it, seemed like a good deal to me.
Have you got someone to fit it or will you be installing it yourself?
I have to say, I was nervous about buying it off eBay rather than Quaife! But at £550 it was a good deal + the chap delivered it this evening in person! It transpired he bought it for his S14 but sold the car before fitting the ATB.
I have to be realistic about my lack of a clear workbench + patience to fit it myself and get the shims etc correct. So it will have to be a case of swallow the pride and let someone who knows their onions to do it for me.
The good thing is, I do have a couple of spare 3.54 diffs, so the Z can be drivable while it’s being fitted to my 3.9 which is currently on the car.
But I do need to find a new 200 diff cover to use temporarily.
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