general problems
general problems
i just bought a 84 720 with a z24 and im having a few problems my tach is not working i have vaccum lines missing, wires cut or not plugged in have no idea what they go to. Something else is i just changed the thermostat and now it will not warm up past 130 degrees, help im trying to make this my daily driver so i can save some money on gas. I also can't get any tail lights and my idle is a lost cause the idle screw is almost all the way in and that is the only way i can drive it and it not die. The gas tank has aloto of junk in it as i was told by the previouse owner i need help find a new tank or should i just go with a fuel cell. I am also trying to figure out how to turn it into a flat bed so it's a project for a short while, I only paid $200 dollars for it. Don't get me wrong the truck runs great as long as it's idled up. So any help from any body would be greatly appreciated because i have never owned an import before so please HELP. Thanks in advance for any one who can help me with this.
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fastboatman29212
- Posts: 493
- Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2010 6:45 pm
- Car: left this forum. Sold my truck.
- Location: South Carolina
Re: general problems
Tackle only one problem at a time. That way it will not overwhelm you.
Some photos will help us "help you"! My motor is stock and I have all the vacuum lines just like they came from the factory, so maybe I can help you in that department.
I recommend getting a factory service manual. I have a service manual for the 1984 model, so I can look up stuff to help you, but you really should look for your own so you can refer to it often.
I don't know much about carbs, but I bet your dirty gas tank has a lot to do with the poor carb performance. Drop the tank and clean it out with solvent. Better than that would be to have a radiator shop boil it and then you know it's clean. Blow out the fuel line with compressed air and then change the fuel filter. After you have cleaned up the fuel system from the tank to the carb, THEN you can mess with adjusting or cleaning or rebuilding the carb.
Depending on how much cash you can get your hands on, you might want to consider getting a Weber carb as a replacement/upgrade to your stock carb. It gets rid of all the vacuum lines except the vacuum advance line.
The tail lights should not be too hard if you can find the wires and trace them to the fuse box. I doubt very much that anyone would have monkeyed with the wires unless they spliced in a trailer light connection improperly.
My '86 720 doesn't have a thermostat (removed by previous owner) and she runs great, but I live in SC and the weather here is mild most of the winter.
I'm repeating myself, but pick one problem to solve at a time and choose the easiest ones first so you can still drive the truck. I suggest the tail lights first so she will be legal!
Some photos will help us "help you"! My motor is stock and I have all the vacuum lines just like they came from the factory, so maybe I can help you in that department.
I recommend getting a factory service manual. I have a service manual for the 1984 model, so I can look up stuff to help you, but you really should look for your own so you can refer to it often.
I don't know much about carbs, but I bet your dirty gas tank has a lot to do with the poor carb performance. Drop the tank and clean it out with solvent. Better than that would be to have a radiator shop boil it and then you know it's clean. Blow out the fuel line with compressed air and then change the fuel filter. After you have cleaned up the fuel system from the tank to the carb, THEN you can mess with adjusting or cleaning or rebuilding the carb.
Depending on how much cash you can get your hands on, you might want to consider getting a Weber carb as a replacement/upgrade to your stock carb. It gets rid of all the vacuum lines except the vacuum advance line.
The tail lights should not be too hard if you can find the wires and trace them to the fuse box. I doubt very much that anyone would have monkeyed with the wires unless they spliced in a trailer light connection improperly.
My '86 720 doesn't have a thermostat (removed by previous owner) and she runs great, but I live in SC and the weather here is mild most of the winter.
I'm repeating myself, but pick one problem to solve at a time and choose the easiest ones first so you can still drive the truck. I suggest the tail lights first so she will be legal!
Last edited by fastboatman29212 on Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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captainzeros
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:00 pm
- Car:
1981 Datsun 720 Longbed
1973 Datsun 240Z - Location: Independence, OR
Re: general problems
Do you need to pass emissions testing? I assume not otherwise the vac system should've been intact. All you really need for vacuum if you don't worry about emissions is a single line running to the vacuum advance on the distributor, the rest can be capped.
Vacuum leaks can cause all kinds of awful idling issues so I'd start there because it's pretty easy to do.
edit: and I almost never see my temperature gauge more than about a quarter of the way up the gauge. When I first got the truck it would barely come off the peg due to a faulty thermostat.
Vacuum leaks can cause all kinds of awful idling issues so I'd start there because it's pretty easy to do.
edit: and I almost never see my temperature gauge more than about a quarter of the way up the gauge. When I first got the truck it would barely come off the peg due to a faulty thermostat.
Re: general problems
All good advie here. Replace ALL vacuum lines with new hose for sure.
Re: general problems
Captain zeros.. the temp gauge does not even go a quarter of the way and i had to replace the thermostat
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PEZi
- Posts: 20441
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:21 am
- Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Mitsubishi Racing Edition
- Location: Pikes Peak, CO
- Contact:
Re: general problems
what kind of outside temps are we talking?84720 wrote:Captain zeros.. the temp gauge does not even go a quarter of the way and i had to replace the thermostat
Re: general problems
Around 60 degrees
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PEZi
- Posts: 20441
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:21 am
- Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Mitsubishi Racing Edition
- Location: Pikes Peak, CO
- Contact:
Re: general problems
pretty normal really... mine doesn't go higher than bottom line at 60...
Re: general problems
Well before i replaced thermostat it was operating temp but then it went over three quarters of the way so i cut it off and changed thermostat so mabey something unclogged not sure
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PEZi
- Posts: 20441
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:21 am
- Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Mitsubishi Racing Edition
- Location: Pikes Peak, CO
- Contact:
Re: general problems
its probably just flowing like it should now... that plus the proper amount of coolant will make it run like it should... and to me the temps you're talking are normal
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captainzeros
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:00 pm
- Car:
1981 Datsun 720 Longbed
1973 Datsun 240Z - Location: Independence, OR
Re: general problems
My temps are stable about here whether it's 40 degrees or 100 degrees.
Note, I've been running an electric fan that's probably somewhat undersized, for the better part of a year, temps used to be lower with the stock fan. I'm not worried about temperature because one of my factory service manuals notes warming up the engine to the needle pointing vertical as "fully warmed up". Never seen one of these trucks get that high without something wrong though, like when I lost my fanbelt (ie, no water pump, no fan)
Note, I've been running an electric fan that's probably somewhat undersized, for the better part of a year, temps used to be lower with the stock fan. I'm not worried about temperature because one of my factory service manuals notes warming up the engine to the needle pointing vertical as "fully warmed up". Never seen one of these trucks get that high without something wrong though, like when I lost my fanbelt (ie, no water pump, no fan)
Re: general problems
Will post pics of certain problems like temp gauge and some of engine compartment