Yep, i am one of those freaks that is working to keep my z close to stock ... and just wondering:
1. Does your care "loose" that stock designation if you put other than a stock manifold on it?
2. Dragon and others don't carry them ... only mods ... any suggestions on where to find one.

Mine is beginning to "banana" ... and I appreciate your insight as I try and figure this out before I dive in.

 

Welcome to ZDriver!

Unless your car has about 50 miles on it, and has been sitting on a Nissan showroom floor for 30 years, pure "stock" doesn't mean much.

Nissan.

What is "banana-ing" ? Splitting open? If so... weld it up, or grab one from the junk yard... I might have a spare for sale.

 

I probably have more than one for sale. lol I replace the exhaust manifolds with headers. I really hate the stock manifolds. They are more of a pain to deal with.

 

Thanks for the advice ... and I totally understand ... new exhaust here we come!

And I use the term Banana in regards to the shape of the manifold ... as it distorts over time and begins leaking from the front and back ... I have noticed that this distortion has broken the farthest rear bolt. Not really looking forward to getting that one out ...

thanks so much for your advice ... sometimes you just have to hear real answers.

 

Common problem on these cars... not really from the manifold "distorting". It's from loose manifold studs. Installing new studs/nuts and gasket will solve the problem, along w/ an occasional tightness check of the studs/nuts. Once they come loose, the exhaust will burn through the gasket.

 

Do what you can to keep this origional car stock!

tl;dr don't ever listen to me.

 

I get it now ... the actual manifold may not be bent at all ... just loose at the ends ... and therefore burnt through the gasket ... Hopefully this will be less expensive that origionally thought ... since the manifold doesn't have any cracks ... I can just remove and install with new gaskets ...
I own the service manual ... just like the one located here ... http://www.spooledupracing.com/downl.../1979%20280zx/

Doesn't look that difficult to remove the intake manifold and get working on the exhaust manifold ... it will be good experience for me ... having worked my way through various repairs on the car.

I really appreciate the advice ... sometimes it is all about "where to start" and "what to do" ... turning wrenches is "usually" not the most difficult part.

Thanks again.

 

if it is warped, you can have it straightened at the machine shop for 25 bux if you really wanna keep it. i dunno, the studs with the manifold always break, on the head and the bottom ones rust and dont come off. i have a pace setter header for sale that goes to 2.5" piping. 50 bux plus shipping. it was on an 82, but i think we had to use 79 egr tube, i just plugged my egr.