Hi, everyone. I'm new here. I'm 28 and on my second 280zx. The first was a toal piece of crap 83 NA, 215k, cracked t-tops, had been wrecked, no maintenance records, clunk in rear end, stab you in the *** interior, Tokyo Rose always telling me my doors were ajar whether they were or not, etc. etc. I bought it for $200 in California and traded it for bail. After I moved back to Pittsburgh, I bout a much nicer one. This is an 82 turbo, 80k, straight body, Koni adjustables all around, lowering springs, well maintained, and plenty of spares. I got it for $1500, which I think was a steal. I'm building it up to be next year's racecar (last year's was a 90 Miata, and this year's is a 99 Miata, check out pics of all 3 at www.tepracing.com). So far it's got new calipers, pads, rotors, about 20 of what I figure is about 40 feet of vacuum hose, all filters, tuneup parts (except I'm having a hard time finding copper contact cap and rotor). Sitting in the shop, ready to go in as soon as I find time are the Dynomax Ultraflow muffler (sized for 1 side of a 5.0 Mustang), a custom intake with a monster-big K&N filter from a Chevy Suburban, and seats from a 240sx. Later this summer, we'll get into more boost and an intercooler or two.

Sorry that intro was so long. Anyway, while I was dropping the tranny pan today (unfortunately this is an early 82, when the turbo models weren't available with a stick), I decided that I wanted to drop the oil pan too, just to satisfy myself that there weren't any chunks of piston side skirts or any other crap floating around in there. Seems easy until I started in on it and realized that there's a whole bunch of crap in the way. I got 2 copies of the factory service manual with the car (one of which I might be willing to part with, make me an offer), but they don't show any procedure for dropping the pan. Autozone.com has an online repair manual that says you have to unbolt the engine and raise it up. (My day job is at Advance Auto Parts, Autozone's main competitor, but you gotta do what you gotta do.) I'd really rather not drag the engine hoist out. Has anyone dropped the pan in an easy and pain free manner? It seems like the braces at the base of the bell housing and the suspension crossmember under the steering rack are both in the way. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

Yeah, I think I could get a new gasket in, but I don't even need a new gasket. I just wanted to check for chunks of crap. I need to get the pan off, preferably without hoisting the engine. The hoist is in the middle of being used on a 59 Bel Air, so it might be a while before I get time to use it.

Bob