I am helping my buddy swap '79 280 motor/tranny into his '74 260 and we haven't been able to get it to run right. Upon doing some research, I found out about the different distributors used through the years, so I figured that the fact that I had re-used the 260's distributor was the issue.

I had him go ahead & order a new distributor, but, as I have not worked on Z cars before, I was wondering if I should expect any problems with mating the new distributor to the older "brain" box.

If there are issues, I am sure that someone here has encountered them before, so I would appreciate any assistance that you guys could give. His car has been in my driveway for far too long...

 

Welcome to Zdriver man.

If you are swapping a '79 280zx transmission and engine in a 260z. I am pretty sure you can't use the 260z computer. Because it was a carbed Z. As the '79 280zx is a fuel injected one. So thus, you would need the computer from the '79.

Now are you keeping the 260z carbed? Or are you converting to fuel injection? That is something we need to know, in order to help you further.

 

Thanks for the welcome Wildman.

He has kept the dual Webers that came with the 260 on it. The 260 was an original electronic ignition car if that helps.

Where in Mesa are you? I'm near Broadway & the 202.

 

You are quite welcome.

Oh okay, so all he did was upgrade the engine, and transmission. And kept the carbs. Yeah you wouldn't need the 280zx computer then. You should be able to keep the 260z computer. And I believe most were electronic ignition. So I don't know why, your distributor wouldn't work. Unless it is not any good.

I am located at Ellsworth and University. You aren't too far from me. I could practically get there in less than 10 minutes or so. lol

 

Yes, that is exactly what we are doing.

The car ran fine with the original motor until a hose popped & my buddy's daughter (a new driver) ran it out of coolant on the highway...

So, since we had to swap motors, we figured that we might as well upgrade it to a 280 motor and, as the car had been converted to an auto tranny, we thought that it was as good a time as any to switch it back & were fortunate enough to find a 5 speed.

I can get it running, but it has to have the timing advanced as far as it will go just to idle - and then it sputters and backfires. Initially, when I switched out the points style dizzy that came in the 280 motor, I noticed that the dizzy was clocked a little differently, so my assumption was that there was a difference between the two - thus the reason for the purchase of the newer one.

Hmmm... When I first swapped the dizzys, it seemed to me that it could only go in one way. Now that I look at the new one though, I am thinking that it is possible to get it 180 out & that maybe I stuck it in wrong...

I'm headed out to the car now - I'm going to be pissed if I was that stupid...

**EDIT** OK, I feel better... The dizzy will only go in one way, so I couldn't have screwed that up.

 

It's cool, it happens. Hopefully that was the problem. I actually would be more happy, if I did that mistake. At least you will know, if it is the problem. Good luck man, keep us posted.

 

Do you know anything about upgrading the dizzy Wildman?

I was planning on using the info I found in section 7 here :

http://datsunzgarage.com/engine/index.htm

Have you had any experience with doing this? As I said, I am new to working on Z's, so this is unfamiliar territory for me...

 

Honestly, I don't have much experience in that area. I have always had 280zx's, which are fuel injected. Hopefully somebody else can help you out. Sorry man.

 

Fair enough, thanks brother.

 

No problem man. Hope you get it figured out.

 

The housing for the dizzys are different. So use the one from the 260 motor. If you swap the 280 dizzy use the housing from the 280 motor. Which ever one you use make sure the breaker plate moves freely and the vacuum advance is working before you buy it. It is a easy swap.