Ed-SpeedyZ

When I was a teenager I helped my dad fix up a few 240Z cars and then he later fully restored them. However, they have been sitting in his yard for the last 20 years and was told he needed to get rid of them and all the other crap he has on his 5 acres (looks like a junk yard). He let me take one of these cars and I'm starting to work on it, but I don't want to put to much money into it until I can find out if it works or not. The gas tank has varnish in it, but the oil actually looked pretty good. Would I be safe pulling the plugs, putting some oil in the cylinders, changing the oil, adding some gas, then trying to start it? I just want to make sure it will actually turn over and maybe run for a little. If it does I'll drop the tank, clean, etc. Otherwise I'll probably part it out. The original engine only has 22,666 actual miles. Any recommendations/thoughts would be appreciated.

hoov100

change ALL of the fluids, put a little oil in the cylinders change plugs, cap wires rotor, put a fresh battery in it and run a line from the inlet of the fuel pump to a gas can..

tonsoffun300zx

if you part it i call dibs on the interior panels and any other interior parts

hoov100

there probably no good as they have been in idaho weather for the past 20 years without a cover.

SpeciallySpiked

Don't mess up his thread... I feel bad for him

hoov100

maybe the seats and headliner

Ed-SpeedyZ

I think it only has a mechanical fuel pump up by the engine. Will it be able to pump gas without the car running? Also, do I unhook it from the line from the fuel pump outlet or inlet? Thanks for the help.

hoov100

the pump is ran off the camshaft, so yes, as long as the engine is turning over. you need to unhook the line facing the firewall, it should be marked "inlet" ontop the fuel pump.

Ed-SpeedyZ

Will it damage anything if I just keep cranking the engine while I try to get the lines clean? Also, how much gas with cleaner should I run through it before I consider it good enough to hook up and try to actually start the car?

hoov100

run it out of a regular gas can first to get the car started, then once the car is running right, drop the tank and flush the lines.

Ed-SpeedyZ

Thank you hoov100!

snwbrderphat540

there is a drain plug on the bottom of the tank fyi so you can drain all the old gas.

Ed-SpeedyZ

I was thinking of doing that but all the gas has turned to tarnish (I think that is what it's called) and either hardened or to thick to make a noise when I shake the car. Or do you think if I poured carb/injector cleaner in there and let it sit for a while I could then drain it from the plug?

JPerkins

can't hear it when you shake the car. Hmmm....Did it have any gas in it when it was parked up?

snwbrderphat540

tarnish? lol, tarnish is that brown stuff old metals get on them like silver and other various jewlery lol. it turns almost into a varnish. it can get gunky but it wont solidify. un-do the drain plug on the bottom of the gas tank with a big container under it and see if it drains out then but new gas back in it. change the tranny and diff fluid then change the engine oil and oil filter then remove the spark plugs squirt a little oilt into each cylinder, change teh spark plugs, cap, rotor, and wires and then try to fire her up. you may also need a new battery and perhaps attery cables....

Ed-SpeedyZ

LOL, I was taking my son to grandma's house when I started thinking about my post and realized what I had typed. Was hoping I could fix it before anyone noticed but guess I was too slow. :-) Thank you for the additional recommendations.

Mhinrichs

YAY! someone else from Idaho.

Ratfink

Good luck on the car. I would love to see pictures. Keep us posted.

Because it is a Z, all you will likely need to buy is gas, and all the tune up basics. Plugs, filters, oil, etc.

I would replace the coolant too.

If it does not want to pump the gas, I would bet money that the diaphragm in the fuel pump is shot. Mine was set for a while before I got it, and the diaphragm was toast. I had an electric that was not being used for my truck project though.

cockerstar

1. Pull the plugs
2. Put a tablespoon or two of marvel magic oil in each cylinder
3. change the oil and filter and make sure you have coolant
4. let it sit over night
5. replace the plugs, wires, dizzy cap, battery, and fuel filter.
6. Prime your fuel system (I just filled the filter with gas using an old syringe)
7. Try turning it over in 10-15 second bursts. You don't want to overstress an old starter
8.
9. profit

Hopefully everything works man
Keep us posted!

snwbrderphat540

well whats step 8? YOUR MISSING STEP 8!!!! omg idk what to do now?!?!?!?!

z-hag

snowy---let the nice man fix his car....nice man----if you decide you dont want the car----call me!!!!!!!!!-----i would take entire car for cheap.......and let you ride in it after i fix her..........step 8 is irrelevant---you got the rest ok........there are ways to polish the tank-----the fuel polishing folks here in sandyague-o keep filtering and pumping the fuel, then add new and do same thing.......clean the tank well, make sure your filters are clean, replace them!!!!! then run the car -----have fun----remember, if you decide not to keep the car, call the female first!!!!! we are cuter thann those little boys here....and nicer, mostly......and we use our wiles to obtain those necessary items one cannot live without----like first gen Zs........woooohoooooo-----seriously----do no tforget to polish your tank so you do not have bits and pieces floating in your gas tank----too bad the varnish does not really work on wood!....just stinks and fouls everything.....speshully carbs............have fun

Mhinrichs

nu hu call me first I`m closer.

theramz

You should remove the bowls on the carbs and clean that out. You don't need to change anything else until it starts. You can diconnect the fuel line and just use starter fluid. After 20 years you can be sure the tank has hardened sludge in it. Anything you do will only loosen it enough to clog everything up. If it starts then get to work on dropping that tank and take it to a radiator shop to get boiled out. You need to purge the fuel lines all the way forward to the carbs. Then you can start with all the fliuds or just give up and I'll come and get it.

Ed-SpeedyZ

Hi all,

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the help. I finally got some free time to work on the car and I got it to start. It ran very rough so I got some new plugs and it runs great now, considering how long it sat, so I guess I'll keep it and see if I can get it in driving condition. Thank's all!

Ratfink

Nice! If it's anything like my $600 junkyard special, you will be on the street with limited cash, and some elbow grease.