Well as some of you may know I recently finished up my blown head gasket project and actually got the car running two weeks ago although I hadn't bolted the manifolds down correctly so there was a huge gap that needed to be taken care of. After getting the car to fire I took care of the manifold issue thanks to J's advice and got everything back together in record time. When I went to start it I got turnover but, no fire, pop, put, crack , snapple, or poop nothing. The car sounded like it was out of gas so I waited yet again and put $8.00 worth of gas in it the next day and still got nothing. I pulled the fuel line and found little pressure but, then I noticed the old fuel filter, and then I noticed the old fuel filter was on backwards!? So I took care of that issue and still nothing. By now I realized I might as well go through air, fuel, and spark. Well air was confirmed, fuel was confirmed but, I thought I was having an issue with spark eventhough I confirmed spark to at least the end of the wire LOL don't ask. The spark plugs only had two weeks of use on them but, each time I pulled them out they were covered in fuel so obviously something was up. Asked a bunch of people what they thought but, none to really have any idea except for my friend brian who suggested that it's possible the timing was off originally allowing the car to run a few times before completely fouling the plugs beyond use. I went ahead and removed the oil pump and took my time making sure EVERYTHING was aligned perfectly and that's how it sits but, is it logical that the plugs are the cause of this? I was told to sand them a little which I did but, still got nothing, the car turns over fine, no metal on metal, timing chain, cam gear, oil pump, distributor, wires, everything was done properly. I've doubled checked all electrical connections that I've messed with since it ran, all vacuum lines and all fuel lines but, can't seem to come to a conclusion. I know plugs are cheap and I should probably go ahead and pick some up anyways regardless but, I just wanted the opinions of people that actually know Z's the best. I'd be glad to offer any pictures, or anymore information if it will help.

 

Have you checked your base timing? Try turning the distributor while cranking to see if you get anything that way. With the plugs make sure they are dry and have the proper gap. If there is build up on the electrodes then some high grit paper to clean them up wouldn't hurt. And make sure your plug wires are on in the correct order.

 

I've moved the distributor to several different positions while starting in hopes of solving the problem but, that doesn't seem to make a difference at all. It seems that car simply isn't getting any spark. I've double check the plug wire placement and that is correct, the gap is perfect as I did that yesterday along with sanding the plugs with 800 a little bit although I couldn't get to every bit easily. Is it possible to damage the plugs somehow from being abused and removed so much that there's no hope for them? Just to aid in the help the plugs were jet black when I removed them after test firing the car, and everytime since they've been covered in fuel So I guess one could assume that I may have answered my own question. I'll go out in a little bit to purchase some cheapo plugs just to see what happens. Im having serious withdrawl from not having a car, it's been four months since I've had a Z to drive,

It's actually very said, I still have dreams about driving my old Z before the wreck lol

 

let us know how the plug thing goes.

 

Im back and although I hate having to use them I got autolite plugs, I never thought I'd buy a plug that requires assembly LOL. I didn't have much money to spend and I only need to find out if this solves the problem. Im crossing my fingers on this one, problem is the Z's battery is dead so even if I install them I still have to wait for someone to stop by to help.

 

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK

I was browsing another thread and searched for the one guy's distributor wiring diagram. After drawing my own to match his I walked out to the garage to check and mine is completely *** backwards. I was wondering if all L28E's had the same setup or is mine different because of the year? 1979, If they're all the same then this explains why it won't run and confirms that the car was messed with while I was gone, I have lots of people going through the garage and I can't keep track of them all.

 

most likeley that is your issue, that happend with my car and yes they are all the same. if you can geta new msd coil or crane coil that will help your spark as well.

 

What kind of garage are you at where people randomly come in and re-wire your cars ignition?

Let us all know so we can avoid that garage!

 

Well, It's my house but, I constantly have visitors so it's somewhat hard to keep track of who does what but, there's no telling, it could've actually been a mistake that I made I'll take credit for screwing up my car anyday haha. Im actually very happy to find out it's something simple like this. Also, I already have a MSD Blaster SS coil from my previous car so I have that issue covered .

 

I almost forgot something, . . ...

WOOOOO HOOOOOOO

after over a year of sitting this car has the potential to run again. YESSSSSSSS!!!!!

I just hope that this is the problem, only thing left to do is sit and wait for soemone to stop by so I can "borrow" their battery

 

Too bad it wasnt suggested earlier, in the first reply

 

Ah but, see the thing is that they were in the correct order originally. That's why I say I suspect that someone messed with my car while I was gone one day. I suppose though that I should've double checked them like everything else, I just figured that since I haven't messed with it that they should've still been fine.

 

maybee you should lock your car when its in the garage

 

OK, I gotcha

 

I kind of picture it like that Datsun 280ZX commercial with the paperboy. ZX...Someday... If it can't be today! I'm gonna mess up his wiring order!

 

I can lock my car but, when the hood is off of it, it's kind of hard to protect my engine.

Update: New spark plugs, and rewired at the distributor, once again I confirmed fuel but, I still get no spark. Any ideas?

 

did you check to make sure the rotor is under the cap. that would make no spark, also if somebody use a pencil and drew lines between the poles it would fire all over the place, that used to be a common joke

 

I remember my dad telling me about the pencil thing but, even then the car would start but, simply run like ****. The rotor, cap, wires, and now plugs are all new and the proper part with no damage, markings, or corrosion whatsoever.

 

Ignition Module

Do you have voltage all the way to the coil and on to the IM? If you have power everywhere you should then it may be your IM thats the problem. But check for power first.

 

Actually I thought about it being the ignition module and when I went to pull it off the screws were kind of rusted in place so I didn't bother but, other than that Im completely lost and getting rather tired of guessing what the hell is wrong with this thing. If I had the money I would just fly Bleach out here to fix it but, sadly that's not an option for me. Today I replaced the rear tire which had gone flat over the months, I rewired the spark plug wires at distributor, painted my cam cover a very nice silver , and uhm I messed with just about everything, going so far as to even swap out ecu's but, I haven't even got so much as a putter out of this motor.

 

are the wires put correctly on the coil. meaning positive and negative?? just a thought. try swaping the wires if your not sure which one is which. so what have you all done. just remind me all in one reply so i can brain storm.

 

reversing the coil wires wouldn't cause a no start though. It'll just cut the power output of the coil. Basically, just make the car slow. But it would still start and run fine.

If the screws to the IM are rusted in place then it's a possibility that there is more corrosion in that area. The IM disipates it's heat to the distributor. If there is corrosion between the two then the heat wont dissipate and heat is the mortal enemy of the IM. That sucker will get fried in no time. Think of the processesor in your computer. What would happen if it wasn't attached to that giant heatsink with a fan blowing over it? Same deal here

 

One more thing, I take it you removed the distributor during all this? Well have you tried setting the air gap in the distributor? If not check it with a feeler guage. (has to be non magnetic material though)
If the gap is too wide then the the distributor will fail to fire.

 

Shady280- I will do my best to list everything I have replaced or checked so far.
Air-
Currently running nothing past the AFM until I get it running
Intake manifold has been cleaned up and various gaskets on it replaced
Ignition-
New rotor
New cap
New wires (properly arranged now)
New plugs (properly gapped)
Fuel System-
At least 5 gallons of fuel in the car
I hear the fuel pump kick on
I feel pressure in the lines
New fuel filter
Checked the harness with volt meter and got consistent results
Timing-
TDC was maintained
Cam gear was installed correctly
Timing chain was installed correctly
Just to be sure I pulled the oil pump and aligned everything again, took my time while reinstalling to make sure everything was perfect
Everything matches up perfectly with the guidelines and pictures on Ztechtips
Miscellaneous-
I've doubled checked all electrical connections, vacuum lines, and fuel lines.
I've swapped out ecu's just incase
I've swapped out relays just incase
I've cleaned up a few electrical connections that needed it

. . . and I think that sums everything up although I might've forgot a few things, I'll update it if I remember anything.

J-
Tomorrow I will check the ignition module and I will adjust the air gap because that is something I did not do while putting everything back together. Does the haynes manual explain how to do this or is there a better source online?

Once again thank you all so much for the help you have provided me.

 

Yeah the Hayne's has got you covered on that one.