dustin_ra

So It started when I was over here in Iraq. I told my father to find me a car for college, my truck needs to be attached to a gas pump.. So I got an email about an 81 Zx. I said get it.
Now Its in the shop. The gas tank as with everything is now all gunked and laquered up from old fuel sitting in it for so long.
The shop has been cleaning components for a while now. Pulled the gas tank had it dipped in some acid to clean it. Now the shop has the tank back and the car is ready to be put back together. I was just informed that it needs a new sending unit for the fuel. Thats the only info I got.
The shop cannot locate a new or used one. I live in a small town Grand Junction Co.
If they were to not install one at all will it effect the car at all/ only keeping me from knowing my fuel level?
I looked at some websites posted by ZDriver and sent the links back home. Will I be better off buying brand new or used?
If anyony has some advice or just want to put in their two cents, lets hear it.
Thanks for the help ZDriver

snwbrderphat540

all it does is tell you if gas is full, or gas is gone...somewhat improtant though

dustin_ra

So Is this a cheap fix? Can I repair it myself with ease? Should I just go buy a dowel and make a mark on it to know my fuel level...?

snwbrderphat540

im havin trouble, but mabye you can find a fuel sending unit (complete one) on the web somewhere...or search Rizz's link page....whatever it is...search for Rizz and youll see a RizZ speed person posting hes an admin in his sig you can click on Rizz's link page, and search through there...

hoov100

autometer makes a fuel level sender and fuel level gauge, if not a GM sending unit also works..

found this, i think it would work, but im not to sure...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsu...spagenameZWDVW

dustin_ra

I will have to add that info into my email. Heck can only give it a try. Going nowhere for a while.

hoov100

i usually go by miles, i can go 273 miles in my z32 before if outa gas, i can go 264 miles in my z31 on a tank of gas..

dustin_ra

Im thinking I might get to distracted trying to count miles instead of just looking at a guage. Thanks for the info. Not sure what the milege will be in Co. high altitude VS. Tx. lower altitude.

rogerz

hoov100zx. You got something really wrong if you run out of gas in your z31 or z32 at those miles. Since both cars have somewhere like a 19 gallon tank you are getting hummer mileage. I just took a 300 mile trip in my z32 and it only took 13 gallons to top off. My z31 gets like 26 on a hwy trip and 20-22 around town in traffic.

Unusual that the fuel sender on a 280zx went out they are fairly reliable. the z31 senders are the ones that crap out at twenty years. I've got three 280zx and all the fuel gages are fine. are you sure your shop knows what they are doing. Haunt the junk yards 280 are around a lot.

dustin_ra

I'm only hoping they are right. It might have just be all jacked up with the rest of the fuel system and unrepairable. Oh well got a new one for $45.00. Arives next week. So for a 280 2+2 L28E 5-spd, what kind of milege should I be expecting? Remember I have not touched this car. Bought it and father picked it up.

hoov100

i dont keep my foot from the floor, the z32 shifts at 5-6k RPM when only 1/4 into the throttle, thats propably why..

snwbrderphat540

thats not good either^^^ thats really high for only 1/4 throttle....but city driving i only got 220 miles to the tank ish....

rogerz

My 83 n/a gets around 20-21 in town. my 83 turbo gets like 18 so I would expect you to get in that range with the 2+2.

hoov my TT go fast also but you are only getting 9 miles to the gallon something wrong or your gas gage is so far off you are filling up when you have half a tank.

jfairladyz

Do you have a 2 seater or a 2+2? I only ask because the 2+2 actually had a smaller tank than the 2 seater. I dont know if this makes a difference in the sender at all though???

dustin_ra

I have a 2+2.. Feed me any thing that might help.. Guess what my dad found was the wrong part.. So the continues...

hoov100

woops, put a "1" instead of a "2"

Z Car Barbie

Yah, I've owned 4 280ZX's with the lowest mileage of 98K and the highest at 215K, and the fuel sender NEVER went out. I did replace the fuel pump in one of them though, only because it was buzzing constantly. On my Z31's, my 86 300ZX with analog dash never had a problem with the fuel sending unit. My 84 Turbo with digital dash - the fuel gauge doesn't work (this occurred just before I parked it last year for storage).

So, what I'd like to know is whether your fuel gauge worked before you took your Z in for repairs, Dustin, and if so, I would demand that they replace the sender, cuz it's very easy to damage if they didn't take caution while cleaning the tank.

dustin_ra

Z CAR,
No the fuel guage did not work during the purchase of the car. My father said the shop gave him the sending unit and its all clogged up.. If you think its a different issue other than the sending unit let me know what you might think it might be..