Ok, so me and my dad bought this little '83 280zx N/A a few months ago and have been tinkering with it.

Since we've had it it's always made a very loud wooshing noise. Like the fan is pushing so much air it's just loud. It sounds like a F1 car from the driver's seat, it's gets higher pitched up until about 3500 RPMs, then it just evens out and I'm scared to push it farther because I can't hear the engine very well unless I listen hard, and it seems to have a rougher sound to it. It also starts making some belt noise around there.

What I'm wondering, should I trust my Tach or am I destroying my engine by going further than 4000?

I know it's a stupid question, but none of my other cars sound like this one and I don't want to blow it up.

 

A wooshing noise... could you be more specific? What part of the engine bay is the noise coming from?

Is it the radiator fan? That should increase w/ the RPM's... once the fan clutch warms up (about 30 sec after cold start) it should slow some & make less noise. Without hearing the noise, or telling us where it's coming from... it's pretty hard to diagnose.

 

It's coming from the front of the engine so I can only assume it's the fan. It sounds like wind, haha, like wind blowing through a house, drafty! It get's higher and higher pitched until 3500 and then it evens out and/or drops in volume.

 

might be a water pump bearing on its way out if the sound gets high pitched. You shouldnt be able to hear the fan while driving around. Check the idler pulleys as well to make sure the bearings aren't heading out on those or that they're not just rubbing on something. Ah hell, check the pulleys on everything: alternator, powersteering, A/C.

The fan would most likely turn to a louder roar as it got faster, not really going to a higher pitch. Check to make sure the fan isnt making contact with the radiator. If the water pump is going out at the bearings or seals then the fan can wobble and possible make contact with the radiator or shroud.

Of course, it could just be the fan is noisy So dont let me scare ya.

 

get a stethoscope and listen around the engine. might be timing belt loose. or any of the other stuff listed above. Don't forget if you are young you are hearing stuff us old guys can't detect.

 

I wonder if there really is a problem, or if he's just new to the "L28 whine"... All of you guys know EXACTLY what I am talking about. All 280ZX's are known for having a pretty loud whine under acceleration.


Rod.

 

yup im with rod too, they do whine, specially when givener to the wood. id take one belt off at a time as well and that will eliminate any signs acc. failure

 

Yes I am familiar with that whine under accleration. I always thought it was a Nissan Datsun trait. Because my '82 Datsun pickup did it also.

 

I would check the fan clutch first, spin the fan by hand, if it turns freely with no resistance you need a new fan clutch. If it resists check the pulleys bearings WP T-chain etc, like everybody suggested. I am running a fan clutch off a 240 on my 82' cause as the plastic fans get old they have a tendancy to flex and kiss your radiator, leaving a big weeping smiley face. It took a little notching to get the blades to clear the idler pulley but it has been working well. I can run it up to 6k now with out worring about the radiator. Blah, blah, blah, any ways when the fan clutch goes out it has a tendancy to wine, then level out at 4-5k. By the way how do you guys post all these pics, I wana share my cars but cant figure out how to put pics on my profile

 

it might also be that stupid injector fan, but yeah every datsun i've been near made noise.

 

It's not a whine really, just a roar. I doubt it's hitting anything, but the roar evens out at 3500, it doesn't get any louder after that, it kinda varies.

I guess I'll drag my four-track outside and record it. Where could I host a sound file that you guys can listen to?

 

okay.. while the engine is NOT running see if the radiator fan spins easy.. if not and theres resistance.. then its your fan clutch... my fan clutch went out on me a few years ago and it sounded like a tornado under my hood...

 

I'm not THAT dumb, haha.

Yeah, there's nothing but resistance there. I guess that's my source.

BTW, I've seen your car on Car Domain, it's a bit of a role-model, haha.

Thanks a lot.

 

Would we be able to just drop an electric fan in and take the stock fan out?

 

I have done that, and was quite dissapointed in the results. I still had a overheating problem. Of course I live in a desert where it gets 100+ degrees. It worked better for me, after I got a stock fan and clutch. (new) And put the top and bottom fan shrouds back on. Since then the electric fan has sat and collected alot of dirt and dust.

 

what size is that e. fan wildman, it just might be too small. oh and is it a pusher or puller.

 

CFM is a big factor... they make various speeds & flows for rad fans. I have a single 16inch 2100cfm fan. It does well unless I am really heavy on the boost. I'm going dual fans... sometime.

Dual fans... larger radiator... and electric water pump.... then I will be able to drive crazy ALL THE TIME. BUAHAHAHA!

 

Electric water pump, there aren't really needed are they. yeah if the fan is too small, it'll overheat. And how can i polish the water pump, got a dremel, what are the steps, and what not...

 

Electric water pump isn't really "necessary" unless you are racing the engine a lot, or in extremely hot regions. There are benefits tho.... max waterflow is independant of rpm, less power loss (engine not using as much power to move the pump), and supposedly better overall flow (I have doubts about that one).

and you want to pollish the water pump, or the water pump "pulley" ???

 

I polished the water pump on my turbo with a dremel. I just used the little buffiing roll bits and some polishing compound. Let it work in REALLY good then I just hand buffed it out from there. Came out to a mirror finish. Then the water pump lost the bearings and a seal and seized my alternator and left me stranded in NE for a couple days

Moral of the story: It looked really pretty but water pumps dont last forever

 

dont forget nismp pick ,that electric water pump isnt free power, your robbing power from the battery, thus causing the alternator to strain more causing a slight loss in power, but the cooling is superior compared to stock, i got a 16 puller and no problem even in hot weather, 38 deg. celcuis. and i am running 10.8:1 compression.

 

iw was thinking of polishing the pump hosing it self, but i don't know if i will finish. My dad says why when you can't really see it...But i tried a little, it looks good, would i need to clear coat it or any thing. And what i was going to do is the flat spots, and the webbing would be black. i think that'd be clean. And j it's brand new so i'll be pist if it breaks, expecially if i finish the polishing.

 

I don't remember off-hand what size it is. But it is a puller, and somewhere outside. I think I still have the box also. Will let you know, if I dig it out.

 

I think I'm just gonna have to find a used fan clutch off of Ebay.

Hit a patch of water on the way home in the Z and felt it hit my feet. Now my pants are soaked. Damn these rust buckets! Sometimes I wonder if it's worth putting any money into.

 

LOL, I know that sound. I had this same problem years ago, and a belt was the culprit both times, so please don't start buying and installing parts that you may not need. I'd first check all belts and replace if necessary to see if that doesn't completely eliminate the noise. If the belts are snug and fairly new, you might try using a dressing on them.