Putting My J30t Back Together Again - Overkill?

[GerryO]

A few thousand miles ago and due to a leaking water pump, I replaced the timing and accessory belts, the tensioner, the front oil seals and the water pump on my 1993 J30t (172K miles). The car ran great, for a while.

A few thousand miles later, the #5 injector failed (an open coil/infinite resistance reading). Today is the turning point, as I have things as far apart as they need to go and the necessary replacement parts to: - replace all six injectors, o-rings and insulators - replace the spark plugs - install a new fuel filter - replace the EGR valve (FYI the big tubing nut is a 27mm) and clean the tubes - replace both PCV valves - do the throttle body heating/coolant by-pass - clean the MAF - tighten the accessory belts a bit

Have I missed anything?

I wonder what will fail next and when. If it has to be something, I hope it is only a coil pack. How much more fun could you possibly have for about $1,500 in parts? My wife says this is it, that no more money is to be spent on the J30.


Modified by GerryO at 7:13 PM 5/15/2008

[driverdriver]

Well you've basically taken care of all the major work on the J (other than AC, sunroof and transmission). Its like almost having a new car. I would suspect should anything else go, it will be minor in nature and a easier DIY job.

[gr8scott72]

Still cheaper AND better (debt = bad) to keep fixing the J than a car payment on a new car.

[GerryO]

I hope to wrap things up by this Tuesday and it should run almost like new, but maybe it's less costly to just keep it parked and working on it, as opposed to driving it. Gas is going to cost almost $5.00 per gallon!

[Jakw]

Get that Z back on the road!

Heh, nice work though, it should run like a champ. Fingers crossed for the rest of it staying maintenance-free.

[GerryO]

The Z (a 1972) has been garaged since '86 (originally due to a broken radiator bracket) and was later rear-ended (sitting in the garage, behind the garage door) a few years ago. I'd sure like to go fuel injection or triple Weber carbs with it, and I'd want to replace the valve guides (for unleaded fuel compatibility), but these times sure are making it tougher to be a car enthusiast.

Or there is this option:



At this time my concerns about the J30 relate to how I pushed the old injectors out of the fuel rails, possible idle speed issues associated with the throttle body by-pass, what will fail next and when, and the price of gas. Onward!

[naladude911]

Nice color, i love it in white. Nice work on the car. It would be cool to paint the intake manifold in Duplicolor's heat resistant black metalic paint, or metalic blue. give it a custom look, not meaning to rice it or anything

[Gerardjg]

do the throttle body heating/coolant by-pass

Any more info or a link about this

[jertapper]

Nice pics. Your J's engine compartment is mega-clean. I'm jealous.

[GerryO]

do the throttle body heating/coolant by-pass

Any more info or a link about this

It seems to be a 300ZX Z32 engine thing for cars always driven in warmer climates, for those who pull their plenums frequently and those who are worried about coolant leaks. I tried leaving the vacuum line related tubing runs and only removed the coolant/heating related connection points.

http://s95014253.onlinehome.us/63104/16304.html

If I had the time and money, I'd also have a set of heater connection tubes modified to eliminate the smaller diameter inlet (2) and outlet (2) tubing connections in the area of the EGR valve.

[GerryO]

Nice color, i love it in white. Nice work on the car. It would be cool to paint the intake manifold in Duplicolor's heat resistant black metalic paint, or metalic blue. give it a custom look, not meaning to rice it or anything

That would certainly be different and a lot more work as compared to simply painting the plastic top cover. Someone needs to Photo Shop it.

[GerryO]

Nice pics. Your J's engine compartment is mega-clean. I'm jealous.

Inland California city life, previously often parked in the garage, no leaks and some serious cleaning whenever repairs are made.

I feel so bad for the owners in the rust belt states.

[naladude911]

or you can get a chrome VG30DE manifold. Because I have seen people on cardomain with 300zx's with chrome manifolds. that would be nice.

[GerryO]

OK, I'm finally prepared to declare victory, after and pretty much in the following order:

1) having had my son help me position the plenum (he handled the passenger's side and we'll come back to this)

2) learning a bit about how much the Throttle Position Sensor affects the idle speed and shifting smoothness/the shift points

3) learning that connecting the driver's side Oxygen Sensor connector to the ECM Knock Sensor connector screws up how the car runs and vice-versa (and yields a Code 34, with NO Check Engine Light) = Black & White wired male connectors probably are supposed to connect to Black & White wired female connectors)

4) don't know why it didn't appear until after I'd cured the Code 34, but a Code 32 appeared after I'd buttoned-up the ECM and all of the interior parts (had to take everything apart again to determine why the Check Engine Light was now ON)

5) connecting the vacuum line from the EGR Valve to the EGR Control Valve appears to cure a Code 32/Check Engine Light (see #1)

...but I may also invest in a few feet of vacuum hose and maybe even start driving the car!

[yodawill2000]

I envy you Gerry.If I had the money and another car to get to work and back I would pull the Plenum and do all that I know needs to be done.Kudo's to you Brudda'

[GerryO]

I envy you Gerry.If I had the money and another car to get to work and back I would pull the Plenum and do all that I know needs to be done.Kudo's to you Brudda'

I actually just drove the thing today; two days in a row with no codes! And if I had to do it again, I might know what I'd be doing.

Here are a couple of after-shots. Look at the weight savings from the TB By-Pass (count 'em, 20 clamps remaining after I recycled four). Now I need to see what sort of mileage it gets and get a real/paying job.





Thanks for listening!

Modified by GerryO at 4:03 PM 6/24/2008

Modified by GerryO at 8:56 AM 6/26/2008
Modified by GerryO at 8:57 AM 6/26/2008