Clarification needed regarding zed fumes

[positivetennis]

Just wanted to get clarification with regard to the fume issues people have talked extensively about 240z and 260z's. My questions are:

 

1. Did both 240z's and 260z's have fume problems since they were new cars or is it something that has occurred due to the wearing out of rear hatch seals, firewall issues, exhaust caskets, fuel lines, etc as these cars have aged. A lot has been mentioned about the aerodynamics of these cars so I am prepared to accept that however some people have commented that 260z's had less fume issues than 240z. Just wanted to know what actually is the case. How bad are these to your health and has this issue been a factor in keeping or selling your car because of this?

 

2. For people who have resealed their hatches/tailight area and maintained their cars well, how successful have you been with eleminating this problem. Does fitting an L28 injected motor instead of running carbs makes a difference.

 

3. Were 280zx's much better in this regard. I've owned a few and have had no problems, but what experience have other people had.

 

Many thanks, responses most appreciated as I want to compile as much research on this topic.

as possible. I have read many of the posts but want to make a conclusive judgement on the topic. Tom

[d3c0y]

It's pretty much a case of stuffed seals and rubbers. Hatch and tail light seals are usually the biggest culprits. Don't forget exhaust leaks and particularly manifold leaks will effect this. Another factor is ensuring your carbs are tuned correctly. If they are tuned right they should be no worse than EFI. Do all this and you shouldn't have any problems. Obviously it's never going to be as good as a modern car, but will certainly be more than livable.

 

If it's so bad you are considering selling the car, you are obviously not prepared to upkeep the car enough.

 

If you start running things like triples and big cams then your car is going to smell fuely as these setups do over carburate at low revs. However you dont sound like the type of person that would own a Z set up this way so it's probably irrelevant.

[Agno]

There were times when I first got my car where driving it to work left me extremely light headed. The way I see it though is that it's just part of the fun of driving an old car

[RB30X]

Is it also the fact that you now use normal unleaded petrol (or premium) without running cat convertors?

[DTF260]

I've got an injected L28 in mine and the fumes are as bad as any haha, but I agree, having no cat wouldnt help with the fumes.

[positivetennis]

Thanks very much for the responses so far, very appreciated. If proper mechanical maintenance and replacing rubbers and seals are what needs to be done to achieve satisfactory outcomes then thats fine with me. Definately the health aspect to minimising  fumes is an important one for some people with regard to owning a 240z'260z. I'd be interested to find out whether Datsun at the time was aware of the fume problems and therefore made improvements to the design of its 260z in Australia and its 280z in the states. I remember reading an article in Drive.com (A man and his zed) where a 260z owner recalls that, "Datsun managed to keep the exhaust fumes out of the Datsun 260z" I was also wondering whether people have sold their cars because of this problem and purchased, say, a later zed, a 280zx, z31, z32 or something else.  Does anyone know anything about this or can add to this. Many thanks again.

[luvemfast]

Maybe you guys should upgrade to a 280ZX.

No such problems for me 

[luvemfast]

You'll also find.

Series 1 240Z's have no holes in the B pillar and vents in the rear hatch.

Series 2 240Z's - 260Z's have no hatch vents, but have holes covered by badges in the B pillar.

 

In my early 260z, I replaced hatch seals and never had issues.

My 280ZX has no such issues. Mainly due to spending most of the time broken down.  :'(

[saxon]

Freddy at topstage told me his rear wing cuts down the fuel smell cause of the aerodynamics. Judging by some of the pieces in his workshop, id be inclined to believe him.

[bullzed]

I know that when I first started with my 280ZX, it had fume problems, because I did a 260z rear light conversion it was leaking in through the un-gasketted areas. To fix this, I just ended up putting a topstage wing on my ZX, whilst made for the 2 seater S30's, it fits like a treat onto the back of my ZX with a little angle grinding. No fumes now! I'd believe topstage

[sco_aus]

My '77 260Z has always done it, but with the installation of my front spoiler, it is minimal.  I can drive long periods of time and not notice it until I smell my clothes later.

[Jimbo]

I extended my exhaust pipe 4 inches out past the rear bumper & that helped heaps

[d3c0y]

There isnt some mystical hidden answer to this question. Replace all your seals & have no exhaust leaks!

The cat thing is not right, if you have a modern car that is running rich as hell you will still smell like fuel when you get out of it. My Z32 TT with a crap tune on a microtech did exactly this.

[RB30X]

Well I've got two ls1 powered cars, one with cats and one without and the fumes are completely different. And it's not a fuel smell.

[peter t]

Most of the smells I get is form the car I am following as my Z only has 2/40 air con. I have no issues with fuel odour as I have replaced all seals and hoses and use the 2/40 air con all the time while driving unless it is raining.