[dj33]

I posted the other day about having trouble setting the timing on my 1978 280Z.
The timing marks on the pulley aren't stationary, which is making it very difficult to set.

When I try to adjust it, the light flashes somewhere around 6 - 8 times before the mark is actually visible, and when it is it isn't stationary, it looks like the pulley is turning slower than the light is flashing.

I've talked to my dad about some of the suggestions people gave me the other day and we have checked most of it out but its still not right, he thought that maybe the light is picking up more than one spark at a time which is throwing the whole thing off, is this possible?

Also, where do I find the cold start valve if I have one? I've looked all around and can't see one.

And I think the specs on my car (I'm in New Zealand) are different to the ones in the US, mine is a 1978 280Z 2+2, its an L28E with a N47 block and P45 (?) intake manifold. Its got power steering, cruise control, leather seats, electric windows and mirrors, it has an EGR valve (is there a way to remove this?) but it doesn't have any of the other emissions rubbish on it.

Thanks

 

[johnb510]

I think I posted to your problem last time...
Did you remove the oil pump and align the two marks? Was the car set at TDC on cyl 1? The oil pump moves off of the crank, so when you reinstall it, it will shift a bit. Just make sure that when it is lined up correctly and installed, the smaller half-moon shape on the shaft is facing the front of the engine and the tall ridge should be pointing at 11' o clock and 5' o clock.
You do have a cold start injector. Look on the manifold behind the throttle body, beside the aux air regulator. There is an injector with a hose comming out of the side. That is the cold start inj.
It may help if you had a factory service manual for your car. They have them at a place in Australia... here is the info I saved from an old post.

I'm in oz too, I just bought a Factory service manual last week and
already it's easily worth two aftermarket books (costs that too!) I'm
in brissie I got mine new from Drysdale Auto Books for about $98.
They also do the haynes manuals too but from what I've seen I decided
the FSM was the better deal. They've got a website you can order it
from if your not is Brisbane.

www.drysdaleautobooks.com.au

 

[Son of Magni]

It sure sounds like your crank pully is loose. Did you take off the belts and try real hard to turn it on the shaft?

If you have really old distributer cap or especially the spark plug wires, you could be getting crossfire confusing the timing light... but I've never see it happen.
SoM

 

[ENNO]

Had a very similar problem. Some timing lights are rather sensitive. Two possibilities or a combination of them:
-crossfire between the sparc plug wires due to high resistance (ohm them out) or insufficient spacing,
-fine hairline cracks in the distributor cap. Usually in the ones with aluminum inerts. Find one with brass inserts because that metall does not expand as much when getting warm and therefor not splitting the plastic.
Enno

 

[ENNO]

Had it happen with a brand new set of Nissan wires!
Open garage door, turn off all lights, start up engine and enjoy the elmsfire show (needs to be completely dark)!
Enno