Ian's '74 2+2

[maddos]

The wife advising of spending too much time is a very common problem.

 

One pair of wires will be for reverse and the other pair for the start inhibit.

Do the reverse lights work when you have in either combination?

I found the auto start inhibit wires are great to hook up to a kill switch hidden away.

[BobsYourUncle]

I looked at the repair manual and figured it out - the two female connectors (yellow/black wires) are the starter inhibit switch wires, the two males are for reverse lights.

 

And yes, the starter inhibit wires would make for a good kill switch...

[peter t]

Warren at All Z Parts has the rubbers.

  Steve did yu see this?

[BobsYourUncle]

Well, the conversion is complete, had a test drive this afternoon  ;D All seems to work well. Just have to give Warren a call for some rubber parts.

 

In the process, I did discover a load of issues:

* the dash is broken - tacho doesn't work, fuel gauge doesn't work, oil pressure doesn't work, backlight is very dull. Speedo, temp gauge and amp gauge work.

* indicators don't work

* the handbrake doesn't do much, the car rolls backwards on my driveway with it fully on. Is this likely to be cable tension?

 

I think I've stuffed up some of the dash wiring, everything was working (except the tacho), including indicators.

 

I also bought one of those new chrome bumpers from the guy on ebay, I'll have to fit it and post some pics.

 

Also need to get some stuff for my triple dellortos (no one has replied to my post in the sticky thread in fuel systems ).

 

Aside from that, damn I've missed driving my zed  :, and the manual is much better. It also starts waaayyy easier (don't pump the acc pedal, no choke) - starts like it's EFI, kicks in straight away.

 

I'm quite proud of myself really - I hadn't even changed the oil in a car before my 260z. I've learnt heaps.

[BobsYourUncle]

Cleaned out the garage today, and took the change for a couple of photos.

 

With the sun out (and from a distance), you can hardly see the (many) imperfections (or the fact that it desperately needs a clean  )

 

Speaking of the cleanout, is there any market for auto transmissions, or should I just dump it?

[peter t]

Good work Ian, must be good to go for a drive in the Z. The best I have done is from the pergola to the shed and back, and back, and back. Just can't wait to get reg and get out on the road.

[BobsYourUncle]

Yeah it's hard not being able to drive it. My daily is a 91 lancer, 1.5L auto, very boring...

[peter t]

My new daily is a Dunny door sports wagon {International} with 6 speed auto sports shift, great for work but not the same as an old car where you can feel and smell everything that is going on. Shit that is really revealing my age. :'(

[BobsYourUncle]

I think I've stuffed up some of the dash wiring, everything was working (except the tacho), including indicators.

 

Turns out I hadn't re-connected some of the wiring properly - connector wasn't in far enough.

 

As for the handbrake issue, turns out my rear brakes are stuffed (hadn't checked them since buying the car until now). Drums are at max inner diameter, shoes looks sad. Now I've got to weigh up the pros/cons of new drums/shoes vs rear disc conversion. A simple replacement would be quicker/easier/cheaper, but not as good (how much better? I'm putting hilux (solid rotor) calipers on the front).

[BobsYourUncle]

Well I've been slack, no updates or work on the car in a few weeks. I do have a big pile of parts waiting to go on though, hopefully I'll get some done this weekend:

 

- new chrome front bumper (the ebay one)

- new boss kit and horn button

- clutch fork boot

- rubber and leather gearstick boots, and leather handbrake boot

- new headlights (although 1 got broken in shipping, replacement is on its way) and harness

- manifold gasket... just waiting on a couple of pump jets and rebuild kits and I'll be stuck into my triples

- brake pads for my hilux front disc conversion

- new rear drums and shoes

- new wiper blades

[Quandary]

Spotted a white '74 2+2 parked in Auchenflower a couple of weeks ago. VIN 1000 something. Very close to yours.

[BobsYourUncle]

Well, I started nice and early, got the rear driver's side brakes apart, only to find that my '74 260z uses the earlier n1361 shaped shoes.The supercheap parts guide lists those for '72 and earlier 240's... Seems strange - now I'll have to get different shoes. Anyone want a set of new n1339 shoes?

[benny]

ive got a set of n1350 that im hoping to fit today... fingers crossed they fit!!

[BobsYourUncle]

ive got a set of n1350 that im hoping to fit today... fingers crossed they fit!!

 

How'd you go? I've looked into it a bit more, n1350 should be the right part. Where'd you get yours from?

[benny]

i havent put them in yet but i can confirm they are the same in size, shape, physical appearance etc.

 

Don't know where they are from, found them in dads shed!!

[BobsYourUncle]

Ok, so it looks like you can't by the n1350 shoes anymore, I'll have to look at getting mine refurbished.

[BobsYourUncle]

Haven't updated this in a while, I've been swamped working on my thesis. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on that now, so I don't feel so bad taking some time out to fiddle with my zed.

 

As I've mentioned previously, I've got a set of triple dellortos sitting here gathering dust (still trying to get some air bleed restricters). I don't want to start putting them on until I've had a play with the L28 to see if it's running ok. As per http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,8402.0.html, I though my spark plugs may have indicated sealing issues.

 

I've just done a compression test, and got 165-170psi all round (which I think is very good?), so I think it's just the flat tops running very rich. I'm trying to get a handle on tuning them (http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,8696.0.html), and I need to learn how to check my distributor advance.

 

Tuning's a pain with no tacho - where can I get one of those engine-bay tacho deals, and how expensive are they? I might have to give up on getting my original tacho to work with the l28 electronic ignition .

 

edit: Oh, and I've got some seriously noisy tappets at the moment, so there'll also be some adjustment under the rocker cover at some point.

[BobsYourUncle]

Great news, my Dad's come through for me on the air bleed restrictors for me triples, so it's only a matter of finding some time to put them on now. I think I should work out my ignition issues first though.

[BobsYourUncle]

Wow I've been slack lately (well not really, just been doing other things).

 

Good news though, my car seems to be running MUCH better now. I replaced the coil, leads and spark plugs, set the timing using my new innova timing light (that took so long that USPS must've sent via row boat or something ), and did a bit more adjustment on the flat tops.

 

Running nicely, doesn't seem to be missing any more. The new plugs made a big difference.

 

Also, the tappet noise is way down compared to what it was, so I'm pretty pleased with that adjustment. I did shear off one of the timing cover bolts (why, oh why didn't I use new ones...). I'll have to extract that, and I should probably replace the timing cover gasket while I'm at it.

 

edit: and I've still got no tacho - it moves to around 1000 rpm while cranking the engine, but is dead when the car's running. I guess the inductive loop style tacho doesn't work with electronic ignition...

[BobsYourUncle]

Hilux brakes (solid rotor type) are on, with new drilled/slotted rotors. I trimmed the dust shield with an angle grinder to get them on.

 

The car stops very well, there's definitely a noticeable increase in stopping power there, but the peddle is a little soft (to be expected - I'm still running the original master cylinder). It's not too bad, and I'd get used to it, but I may look into upgrading the MC at some point.

[Zedman240®]

Are you still using the rubber brake hoses? They sometimes give a soft pedal when they are old. If you go to steel braided lines, they harden up the pedal a fair bit. Next time you have a front wheel off, get someone to operate te brakes and watch the rubber hoses swell each time the brake is pressed..

[BobsYourUncle]

I'll have to have a look at that - I am still using the rubber hoses. Thanks

[Scoota G]

Hey don't forget the pedal has adjustment inside the pedal box too. I just did the R31, 1" Patrol Master and Stainless braided line upgrade to go with the front Hilux calipers on my Zed and the pedal wasn't right until i adjusted it inside.