Vintage Road America pictures

I sorted through a lot of my parents old pictures and pulled a couple good ones out from the early 80's

Electric Fuel Pump Installation

In an effort to make the 240z more reliable, I've decided to upgrade to an electric fuel pump and then retire the mechanical pump.  By using quality parts and a smart plan, this will prevent vapor lock, keep the float bowls properly filled, and should allow for the car to start easier.

Parts List

• Fuel Pump (low pressure, 4.5PSI max, 30GPH): Airtex E8016S (~$38)
• Oil pressure switch: Airtex OS75 Safety Switch Oil Pressure (~$15)
• Mechanical fuel pump block-off plate (~$25)
• Brass "T" (1/8" FIP): Watts AC-704 (~$5)
• Brass male-male (1/8"MIP 1/8"MIP): Watts AC-714 (~$2)
• 30amp automotive relay: Dorman 84601 (~$5)
• inertia switch (optional)
• Wire, fuses, and miscellaneous connectors
• Fuel Hose

My first step was to plumb the engine block for an Oil Sensor Safety Switch.  As you can see from the picture below, I inserted a "T" joint to allow me to keep the current oil pressure gauge (second picture) as well as the new safety switch.

Next I needed to design a reliable and safe wiring scheme which would incorporate the factory wiring for a fuel pump but also allow for the safety switch and relay.  In the diagram below, the GRN wire and the BLK/WHT already exist in the wiring harnesses; the plug is just taped to another set of wires below the fuse box.

Wiring Diagram, designed and drawn by me

The fuel wire harness is held with blue tape (see circle).  The BLK/WHT wire  is live with the ignition switch.  The GRN wire goes back to the fuel pump (wired from the factory).

There are two unused harnesses.  Left is the Fuel Pump, right  is the Fog Lights

New electric fuel pump.  I ended up using an existing bolt/nut for the mustache bar to mount the pump.

Relay with the initial wiring

Relay once the wires were bundled nicely

Oil pressure sender initial wiring

Oil pressure sender wires bundled nicely

Mechanical fuel pump block-off plate

Coolant recovery tank

Today I installed a universal coolant recovery tank since the 240z didn't have one from the factory. Now that I've replaced the gaskets, the overflow tube on the radiator has been spitting coolant onto the ground.

The only available spot for the large universal tank was in front of the radiator.

Thermostat housing gasket

I think I found the last coolant leak on the engine. The thermostat housing always hisses when the car is turned off. I did unfortunately break a bolt off in the cylinder head!! Luckily I was able to get it out without drilling.

New gasket installed! No more hissing when I turn the car off & no more coolant leaks!

Housing and the (lack of) original gasket

Yes, I broke that bolt off in the head

Glad I had a couple spare bolts laying around

NOS Fuel Pump

So I ran across a NOS electric fuel pump which after investigation appears to be from a Datsun 720 pickup truck.  Its never been used and I'm hoping to sell it to someone with a 720 who can use it for a restore.  Unit number 379-00160, Transistor Fuel Pump is listed on the label.

I was able to power up the pump and it works great.  Also appears that this was used for the '73 240z's that experienced the vapor lock conditions.  After opening the filter lid (right side of picture), I can verify this pump has never been installed!  Another NOS part that I can sell to allow me to purchase some more parts for my restoration.

Vacuum leaks and exhaust pops resolved

I decided to pull off the air pump and associated devices which no longer function due to their age and the fact that we no longer have leaded gasoline.  The popping out of the exhaust has ceased and I am no longer introducing un-metered air into the mixture.  A couple more quick fine tuning and the car will be running perfect!

Back up & running

The carbs have been re-installed into the car and it fired right up.  I've done the gross tuning and now I just need to fine tune the mixture.

New thermostat

While the coolant was drained, I decided to install a new thermostat. Look at the old one I pulled out! I can't imagine what the rest of the cooling system looks like... That is for another day though.

Carb #1 rebuild

I started to pull carb #1 apart today to clean it and then rebuild it. 40 years of grease & gunk was quite a mess to clean up! I do plan on polishing the dome before I put it back together with the ZT performance rebuild kit.  The rebuild on the first carb went very well, these SU's are fairly simple to work on.

Initial disassembly

Dome, spring, piston, and N57 needle

Float and bowl top

Carb body and butterfly

Further disassembly

One rebuilt and cleaned, one to go

Carbs off the engine!

Just pulled off the carbs today getting ready to rebuild them

Carbs off the car, ready for rebuilding

Intake manafolds