Hello & I've got some work to do! :006:
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1
From: Fullerton, CA
Hello & I've got some work to do! :006:
Hi guys,
Brand new to this forum and Z car ownership!
Moved from the United Kingdom six months ago after a long and tedious process to be able to marry the woman of my dreams. Now finally residing in Fullerton, California with SWIMBO!
My father in Law has had a 82' 280zx sat outside his house for three months, only being moved once a week and driven around the block for street sweeping.
After having a BMW 740i and that costing an arm and a leg I sold it and he gave me the 280ZX for free!
However, some initial diagnosis (driving down the road) has confirmed two issues. One - the brakes are hidiously dangerous. Spongy and can push to the floor one minute then rock hard and solid the next - I'm going to bleed them this weekend but my father-in-law claims a mechanic did this before and told him it was the master cylinder....we shall wait and see...
Secondly - and most importantly, the exhaust gasket is TOTALLY gone. I'm not sure if it's the gasket or the manifold itself, but man it's loud and sounds rough. Also has little or no power.
So I'm just trying to gauge where to go from here, where to get parts from, what parts to get (OEM or aftermarket) and whether there has been any upgrades. Also considering (by the looks of it and with my 20 second visual diagnosis) that the exhaust header is a nightmare to get off? (Looks like the intake manifold and the exhaust share the same gasket) and I don't even know how to get to the bolts for the exhaust manifold...looks horrid. So - potentially, are there any reputable (and cheap) indy garages near (ish) to Fullerton that would repair an exhaust leak?
If not I'll have to stop being lazy and do it myself...although I have VERY limited tooling (Father-in-law was not too mechanically minded so I don't have much at all).
I'm not the words best mechanic but I did have a Lotus Elise in the UK so I do know how to wield a spanner and figure stuff out (and I'm also used to stuff breaking....a lot!)
Any information/advice etc much appreciated and look forward to getting this thing back to at least running mode.
P.s. Silver, Two previous owners (Father-in-law only bought it 5 years ago), 140000 miles. Full service history though...
Cheers,
John
Brand new to this forum and Z car ownership!
Moved from the United Kingdom six months ago after a long and tedious process to be able to marry the woman of my dreams. Now finally residing in Fullerton, California with SWIMBO!
My father in Law has had a 82' 280zx sat outside his house for three months, only being moved once a week and driven around the block for street sweeping.
After having a BMW 740i and that costing an arm and a leg I sold it and he gave me the 280ZX for free!
However, some initial diagnosis (driving down the road) has confirmed two issues. One - the brakes are hidiously dangerous. Spongy and can push to the floor one minute then rock hard and solid the next - I'm going to bleed them this weekend but my father-in-law claims a mechanic did this before and told him it was the master cylinder....we shall wait and see...
Secondly - and most importantly, the exhaust gasket is TOTALLY gone. I'm not sure if it's the gasket or the manifold itself, but man it's loud and sounds rough. Also has little or no power.
So I'm just trying to gauge where to go from here, where to get parts from, what parts to get (OEM or aftermarket) and whether there has been any upgrades. Also considering (by the looks of it and with my 20 second visual diagnosis) that the exhaust header is a nightmare to get off? (Looks like the intake manifold and the exhaust share the same gasket) and I don't even know how to get to the bolts for the exhaust manifold...looks horrid. So - potentially, are there any reputable (and cheap) indy garages near (ish) to Fullerton that would repair an exhaust leak?
If not I'll have to stop being lazy and do it myself...although I have VERY limited tooling (Father-in-law was not too mechanically minded so I don't have much at all).
I'm not the words best mechanic but I did have a Lotus Elise in the UK so I do know how to wield a spanner and figure stuff out (and I'm also used to stuff breaking....a lot!)
Any information/advice etc much appreciated and look forward to getting this thing back to at least running mode.
P.s. Silver, Two previous owners (Father-in-law only bought it 5 years ago), 140000 miles. Full service history though...
Cheers,
John
The Good Twin
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,639
From: Wild Wild West, UTAH!
Welcome to ZDriver!
Was your 740i the E38? I love that body. I've owned two E39's and two E36's.
Check out our General Tech area for all basic questions: 240Z-280ZXT S30-S130 Tech Tips - ZDriver.com
Was your 740i the E38? I love that body. I've owned two E39's and two E36's.
Check out our General Tech area for all basic questions: 240Z-280ZXT S30-S130 Tech Tips - ZDriver.com
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bookmarks
