Hey Fellas. Our 280ZX is almost ready for the 24 Hours of Lemons race down in Buttonwillow in a couple of weeks. We've spent the past month sorting it as best as we can given our very limited funds, in addition to our newness to the Z world. A couple of the last things we are down to that I could use some input on:
1. Clutch. The pedal doesn't engage until really high, probably 2/3 of the way back up the movement. Is there a mechanical adjustment of where the clutch engages, or am I likely looking at something else? Will try to bleed it tomorrow regardless. We also have a spare used clutch but I'd just as soon not drop the tranny unless its absolutely necessary.
2. Any suggestion on transmission fluid and diff fluid given that it's solely a race car (yes, generous use of the term, I know)
3. I was going to do a valve adjustment the other day but the rocker arms appear to recess into a small "shim" on top of the valve stem with a section taken out of it, so there is essentically a "C" shaped wall around where the rocker arm rests into it. This is quite different than on my old BMW so just wasn't quite familiar with this style. My basic feeler gauges wouldn't fit into the gap in the "C", rather I'd need a feeler gauge probably no wider than 1/4" to fit in the gap. Does this sound like the normal set-up?
Attached is a photo of the car as it currently stands (we are going for a Scottish theme, hence the Tartan.) And please don't worry that we ruined a perfectly good Z, this car was literally pulled out of a junk yard with 260k on the motor, so we like to think we are giving the car one last chance at glory.

 

For oil just use 80-90 gear oil. Could use synthetic but totally not required. Check the valves at the cam not the rocker tip. And clutch that high is perfect. I actually like them higher so you only have to tap the pedal to shift. Less movement equals a faster shift

 

see im the other way around i like it near the floor
that way my foot is always on the pedel and ready
if the pedel hight is high it become un comfertable for me

 

think about it this way, less pedal movement makes for faster shifting, quicker on, quicker off. some will even opt for a soft clutch for less effort and faster movement for the same force. if you spend time hitting the floor you are wasting time not going forward, plus if your hanging on the clutch pedal, your not making full power. even tho your friction point is near the floor, the operating cylinder is still moving and disengaging the clutch a weee bit. you may blow your clutch out

 

ive always went with act clutches and never blown a clutch
your point makes since but wat would b a better option to lower the clutch ?
plus it never hit the floor disengagued poin was about 2in from floor lol

 

There's not a lot of adjustment in the throw on the clutch but there are a few different forks with the various datsun transmissions and throw out bearing carrier combos that you could play around with...

 

The pedalis adjustable with a rod up under the dash I think. That or it was the brake pedal.

 

Lol - same thing I know on my S30 the brakes are adjustable like that....