The day has finally come....or should I say Round 2.

Hopefully some of you may remember me from Airjockie's bbq from earlier this year, and I kept rambling oooooooooon and ooooooooon about how much I miss my 78 280 2+2 and that I was searching for one for cheap......

......my search is over. and how.

400$ and a trip to berwick maine and I am the proud owner of a 1978 280z 2 seater.

I am beyond happy. Is she perfect? Is any 400$ car? NO. But she's in alot better shape than my 2/2 was when I first got it, so I'm already one step ahead lol

I only took two picks when I went to go look at her for the first time, so here ya go!




I can't wait to get her home so I can start tinkering and get her running!

Oh and she has a full drivetrain (automatic trans unfortunately), but the engine won't start, and to even get it to crank you need to run a jumper wire from the battery to the starter. No biggie, and she needs some body work, but I am finally in possession of another Z. I'm in love alllllll over again.

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2002 Subaru WRX
1978 280Z HLS30-477043
1972 Beetle
1996 Subaru Legacy


1978 280Z 2/2 RIP, Never Forgotten.
VIN GHLS30-120946

Welcome back!

HOOORAY!! You finally got back into a Z!!!

And for $400, it looks like you got a real good deal. Depending on where the car is, some of us might volunteer to help you get it started. Mike T found a 280 which the owners thought was dead, but it took him less than a week to get it running ~ all by himself.

I'm really happy for you *(and for US! We get another 280 to brag about! )

When you start looking for parts, don't forget our MARKET PLACE Forum, and when you need advice, don't hesitate to post in our TECH TALK.

I'll bet you arrive at the October meeting or picnic in this Z!

Frank

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1970 240Z

Well alright. Not bad for $400. By the way, I have an in-law in NH with a 78 2+2, and I think he wants to finally sell his one owner car that has just been sittin in the garage. If you want a stick shift, I have the pedal assembly and a couple 4 speeds, unless you want a 5-speed. I might sell my BW tranni, but want $200. The other stuff, and what ever you need, I can probably send you back with a truck load for an easy $50. Also have the R-200 set up if you want for another $50 if you chose to do that. 99.9% chance that the 78 2+2 has the R-180. Well whatever you need keep me in mind, I practically give stuff away to club members only, that's what it's about. I'm also good at getting Z's started after sittin more than 10 years. Welcome and enjoy.

About time....

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Also Known As Clayton Pace

awesome!! we are 78 280Z buddies! it looks good from the pics. a steal for 400 bucks. if you need any help or parts let me know. and mine is becoming turbo over the winter so i have a motor if you need one.

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Thank you guys for the Re-welcome!!!

I am super stoked about this car, but I still can't get the darned thing running, and am stumped.

its getting fuel, its getting spark, and its getting signal to the ECU, so I'm leaning towards the AFM being bad but there's one odd thing....

.....someone wired what is essentially a potentiometer into the harness, and I forget where. darn im an idiot.....but I have no idea what it does, or if it affects anything.

also....um...

.....does anyone have an ignition and a key theyd like to sell me? the owner didn't have the keys to the car, as it was sold to them with a late 70s GM key that doesn't work hahahahahahah

needless to say we had to hotwire it to crank it.

ALSO.

the only hole in the car is under the battery tray.

the fenders are rotted, the rockers have some rot, and there was a hole in the driver's floor but the PO fiberglassed it.

_________________
2002 Subaru WRX
1978 280Z HLS30-477043
1972 Beetle
1996 Subaru Legacy


1978 280Z 2/2 RIP, Never Forgotten.
VIN GHLS30-120946

Durn right its about time!


I have many many parts to chose from... lots of 280z electrical stuff (lots of relays) that I'll probably never use.

And 2 L28 blocks, an N47 head, stuff and things. And I live on the Cape so its not too far of a drive...

Edit: The ignition relay, when it goes bad, can be a culprit for cranking but not starting because the signal is not sent to spew fuel into the intake/light spark. Also, the pins on the ECU itself are EASILY bent, and that craptastical plug it has will APPEAR sometimes to be clipped firmly into the brainbox, but its not. The SHROUD of the plug will snap in, when in reality the inner plug is only half-connected. I had to drive home with my foot pressing into the back of the plug more than a few times to keep it from mysteriously dying on the highway.

Oh boy, I am so glad I don't have the stock fuel injection anymore...




EditEdit: And the distributor likes to turn into inedible cauliflower when left alone for a while. Essentially, there are a multitude of things that could be causing your plight and trying to find the one thing that's keeping your car in stasis may very well drive you mad. It all boils down to bad connections in the electrical system most of the time. You'll find it eventually.

I also have the full factory service manual and the "special" "EFI Bible" (full breakdown and troubleshooting steps for the 280Z EFI systems) on hand if you're not familiar.

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-Chris

Welcome back

Hey, when they hotwired it, might they have omitted a circuit?

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1970 240Z

Thanks again for all the kind words and help!

I do have the factory service manual, and my friend who is helping me (he's from japan lol) took a good hour to make sure we had all the correct circuits hotwired so to speak without damaging anything.

I just wish I had more time to play with her, as I would love to hear her run before snowfall.

Oh and we checked the cap and rotor in the dizzy, cleaned it up a bit too.

I can't wait to go carbureted.

OH! and we checked the pins in the ECU, and they looked ok.

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2002 Subaru WRX
1978 280Z HLS30-477043
1972 Beetle
1996 Subaru Legacy


1978 280Z 2/2 RIP, Never Forgotten.
VIN GHLS30-120946

Remember the basics.

All you need to make it run are:

1. Intake of proper air/fuel mixture;
2. Proper compression;
3. Spark at the proper time;
4. Exhaust.

Your problem is one of those.

If you don't trust the air/fuel mixture, spray a bit of starting fuel into the intake and try it.

Pull the plugs and record the compression at each cylinder.

Make sure you have spark at the right time. A timing light is the best way to check, but you could put #1 cylinder at TDC on the compression stroke and check the timing from there by looking in the distributor (people install them 180* backwards sometimes). Check each plug wire and ensure it runs to the correct plug in the proper sequence on the cap. Don't assume the plugs are sparking ~ pull them and lay them on top of the cam cover and WATCH them spark. Visual confirmation.

Make sure all the valves are opening properly.

Your problem will be something basic and simple. You'll laugh when you find it, and kick yrslf because it was so obvious. Don't assume anything is correct ~ check it and make sure.

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1970 240Z

Well I haven't had a chance to play with her recently, so she is going away for the winter, as is the Bug.

Ah well, come spring I'll get her running and start on the body work.

So since I plan to carburate the L28, what would I need to acquire? I have a lead on a free intake and carbs off of a 260, would that work?

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2002 Subaru WRX
1978 280Z HLS30-477043
1972 Beetle
1996 Subaru Legacy


1978 280Z 2/2 RIP, Never Forgotten.
VIN GHLS30-120946

Not free, but I have a complete early 240 intake and 4-screw SU roundtop setup available for a donation to the Club. (Round-port head, not the square port E31).

Yes, the flat-top carbs from a 260 would work, if you wanted them. But they didn't give the performance of the early round-tops unless you modified them for racing, which then made them unfriendly for the street.

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1970 240Z

Hmm sounds good, how much are you looking to get as a donation?

_________________
2002 Subaru WRX
1978 280Z HLS30-477043
1972 Beetle
1996 Subaru Legacy


1978 280Z 2/2 RIP, Never Forgotten.
VIN GHLS30-120946