280ZX (S130) Forums Dedicated to 79-83 ZCars

My Z is DEAD!

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Old Dec 30, 2005 | 04:28 PM
  #1  
WildmaN's Avatar
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My Z is DEAD!

Well as I posted in my project list, my Z is totally dead. Milky oil, 3 cylinders not firing. I am so devastated right now, I want to literally cry. Man this sucks, totally bogus to the max. So I am proceding to swap my engine out of my '81. Because it is a good strong motor, and will get me by until I get my Turbo motor done.
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 06:22 PM
  #2  
KTM200-280zxt's Avatar
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Thats sad to hear. What are your plans for the turbo motor?
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 06:40 PM
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Well later on when I get a Turbo block and all the equipment needed. I will just run it stock with my 5 speed. I know it will be plenty fast for me. Considering my N/A's are quite quick, the way they are. Well at least one of them is.(my '81)
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 07:26 PM
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Check Your Head Gasket. You Might Have Forgotten To Tighten The Bolts Or Put In The Dowel Pins In All Of Your On Going Work. I Did That Once (didnt Put In The Dowel Pins) It Blew The Head Gasket 8000 Km Later. Pop In A New One And Your On Your Way. Good Luck.
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 07:53 PM
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Thanks but I didn't rebuild the motor. I just took the driver's side stuff off. Intake, exhaust manifold, I didn't touch the internals of the motor. Not even the valve cover. And I gurantee the motor is done until an overhaul. That is why I am swapping motors, the one in the '81 is a strong motor. So I know, it will not be a waste. But I do appreciate the thought nonetheless.
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 09:09 PM
  #6  
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Head gasket coulda needed replacing anyways. But an overhaul, if you've got the time and money, would be best anyways. That way atleast you'll know the motor is good to go for a while
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 12:43 AM
  #7  
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drop $350 for a new head off of ebay (guy's name is Al Allen, his heads are rebuilt and are of impecable quality) less than $200 in parts for a lower end rebuild, another $80 for gaskets, some money at the machine shop if your cylinders need to be bored, and you're done
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 01:17 AM
  #8  
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if you would like a nice trip to the eastern side of so. cal. race-prep engineering builds race cars, along with there own machine shop and dyno..etc race-prep.com
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 05:55 AM
  #9  
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Thanks guys for the feedback, but my motor is screwed for now. I think a piston skirt broke loose. And I believe that is why I had #4 spark plug smashed in, like a hammer hit it. Not a good thing, especially the milky oil. And the coolant leak. Plus the fact that the front 3 cylinders are firing, and the back 3 are not. And as for the swap, I know for a fact the motor out of my '81 is strong, and runs great. Also because I had the head rebuilt in 2001. And I ran him this year, and he still ran like a top. It will get me by until I rebuild a Turbo motor, and swap later on.

But I do appreciate the advice and tips.
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 08:36 AM
  #10  
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Hope You Can Swap It Before The Tags Run Out. That Would Be A Shame To Waste. Good Luck. Keep Us Posted As Usual
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 08:44 AM
  #11  
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Ouch, yeah if you smashed a plug then it's not the just the head gasket. Good luck getting everything back together.
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 08:55 AM
  #12  
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yeah, it most defintely wouldn't be a head gasket. Good luck wildman, don't feel too bad though, I've been in your boat before!
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 08:58 AM
  #13  
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Make That More Than One Of Us. 5 GRAND INTO MY ENGINE AND FORGET THE DOWEL PINS. DIDNT DAMAGE ANYTHING, JUST MY EGO AND A TOWING BILL. 2 HOURS LATER AND I WAS BACK DRIVIN.
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 09:23 AM
  #14  
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From: Tempe, AZ
ah man you were so close to havin it out on the road too





time to invest in a good engine hoist
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 11:16 AM
  #15  
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WildmaN, Dude... I don't know what to say.
That truly sucks. I know how excited you were about getting that car back on the road. Well, try and look on the bright side. When you get the motors out of both cars, you can clean up and detail inside the engine bay really good, and you can clean up and paint the motor that's going in your car while it's out. It's only going to make it look that much better!!!! I know how determined you are too, so I'm guessing that this is a very temporary set back. I still EXPECT to see that car at MSA in April so get crackin!

Rod.
Old Dec 31, 2005 | 04:11 PM
  #16  
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2 hour head gasket change on an L28. Thats good time. Props
Old Jan 1, 2006 | 11:53 AM
  #17  
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From: Mission, British Columbia
I Got It Down To A Science. It Takes 1.5 Hours To Remove The Engine. Ive Worked On Too Many Zeds In A Hurry. I Have My 4 Zeds And A Couple Of Customers Cars To Work On. All Under The Clock, Once You Do It Enough You Find Shortcuts. If You Need To Know Just Ask It May Save You The Time.
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