I have intoduced myself, It seems appropriate I introduce my new old Z.

[ExMX5owner]

A bit about it, It;s just a tad over 200 now with book service history to 160, It has been modified or maybe a bush fix to fix a fix.. Overall it runs as smooth as silk, All fluids seem contaminant free. and seems to be well looked after, everything works aside from the fuel gauge, and she seems a bit sluggish, My NA would run rings around it..And it didn't cost much really.. I will definitely seeking advice from your good selves when I get around to restoring it to as close to factory as is feasible.. Thanking you all in advance....

Battery is charging because I just ran my foxwell 510 over it and ended up on the phone for too long.. . Nothing really to be learnt from that exercise either, because I'm probably not using the tool correctly, as a last resort I might read the instructions...

 

[Synclare]

What is that item near the offside inner wing (to the left of your charger) with the 2 braided hoses ?

 

[ExMX5owner]

What is that item near the offside inner wing (to the left of your charger) with the 2 braided hoses ?

It's a catch can, the secondary O2 pump is missing, because that is where it should be. The valve assy from the crankcase is blocked off, It appears to use Inlet manifold vacuum to suck gases from the engine the via the rocker cover through the can back into the inlet manifold, collecting oil residues in it , and not needing to send them back to the sump via the dipstick tube.there is a sight tube on the back of it.... Or at least that,s what I make of it. Someone here may correct me on this...

 

[Synclare]

Is it an M54 engine (2.2)? Catch cans I think were popular ways of controlling oil usage on the M54 engine. @Lee experimented with one as I recall.
Most people junk the secondary air pump, used mainly for the USA market..
Sure looks a well kept example especially with that mileage under it's belt.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Is it an M54 engine (2.2)? Catch cans I think were popular ways of controlling oil usage on the M54 engine. @Lee experimented with one as I recall.
Most people junk the secondary air pump, used mainly for the USA market..
Sure looks a well kept example especially with that mileage under it's belt.

M52TU, yeah I think its been cared for. It just need a bit of TLC, I'm looking forward to getting her running right, could not find any rust at all, that surprised me a bit given my NA was dissolving before my eyes...

 

[TrevD66]

Most of the Zeds here in AUS seem to be fairly rust free… thankfully. The sun and UV seem to be our biggest issues as far as the body goes.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Is it an M54 engine (2.2)? Catch cans I think were popular ways of controlling oil usage on the M54 engine. @Lee experimented with one as I recall.
Most people junk the secondary air pump, used mainly for the USA market..
Sure looks a well kept example especially with that mileage under it's belt.

Yes I can see it as not such an elegant solution to CCV, In my eyes it introduces unmetered gases into the intake manifold in an uncontrolled way, and I am wondering if it has anything to do with the sluggish response, and slow return to idle after a throttle blip... ??.. Dunno, still learning.. Give me a carburetor, coil, dizzy and points any day... this electronic stuff does my head in when its not working properly... . Oh I remember when a motor mechanic was just that, he could set carbs by ear, plugs and points by eye etc. Nowadays he needs to be an electrical engineer and sometimes a plumber, and a background in mechanics and/or rocket science is merely helpful...

 

[Oddly Godly]

Nice looks like my 2.8

 

[ExMX5owner]

Nice looks like my 2.8
View attachment 233745

Ah ha, now I see the bits I have missing, A good look at an unmolested engine would be great if I could find one, the plumbing associated with the smog pump, and the valve cover breather in particular, both of mine have been negated.. thanks for this..

 

[andyglym]

A bit about it, It;s just a tad over 200 now with book service history to 160, It has been modified or maybe a bush fix to fix a fix.. Overall it runs as smooth as silk, All fluids seem contaminant free. and seems to be well looked after, everything works aside from the fuel gauge, and she seems a bit sluggish, My NA would run rings around it..And it didn't cost much really.. I will definitely seeking advice from your good selves when I get around to restoring it to as close to factory as is feasible.. Thanking you all in advance....

Battery is charging because I just ran my foxwell 510 over it and ended up on the phone for too long.. . Nothing really to be learnt from that exercise either, because I'm probably not using the tool correctly, as a last resort I might read the instructions...

View attachment 233405

What's the NA just out of interest?

 

[Oddly Godly]

Mk1 mx5. I had mx5s for 20 years.

 

[andyglym]

Mk1 mx5. I had mx5s for 20 years.

Is that an answer to my "What's the NA ......"

 

[Oddly Godly]

Yes it's the equivalent of e36 e46 etc

 

[ExMX5owner]

Yes I can see it as not such an elegant solution to CCV, In my eyes it introduces unmetered gases into the intake manifold in an uncontrolled way, and I am wondering if it has anything to do with the sluggish response, and slow return to idle after a throttle blip... ??.. Dunno, still learning.. Give me a carburetor, coil, dizzy and points any day... this electronic stuff does my head in when its not working properly... . Oh I remember when a motor mechanic was just that, he could set carbs by ear, plugs and points by eye etc. Nowadays he needs to be an electrical engineer and sometimes a plumber, and a background in mechanics and/or rocket science is merely helpful...

Is it an M54 engine (2.2)? Catch cans I think were popular ways of controlling oil usage on the M54 engine. @Lee experimented with one as I recall.
Most people junk the secondary air pump, used mainly for the USA market..
Sure looks a well kept example especially with that mileage under it's belt.

Update on the catch can, just in case your interested. I pulled the DISA out for inspect a few days ago and found it oiled, not badly but oiled. The catch can that was fitted was without any baffles or filter medium. Basically it was just a joiner in the hose from the cam cover back to intake manifold.. And was doing f-all, in terms of its job.. I replaced it with a baffled one, and stuffed a section of it with s/s dish scours in such a way they cant escape... Not only is it now working, but it is possible to remove the oil filler cap without breaking into a sweat. There is still a little vacuum there though, but its within reason.. The upshot of this is the car is driving soo much better than it was. I think my assumption had merit... Next up , vanos kit on the way, new seals for the oil filter spindle, I suspect they have never been changed so they are on the way too.....

 

[Synclare]

There should be a partial vacuum in the crankcase should there not? That is what helps oil loss.
I found Mahle filters come with the two 'O' rings that are so important but regularly over looked.

 

[ExMX5owner]

There should be a partial vacuum in the crankcase should there not? That is what helps oil loss.
I found Mahle filters come with the two 'O' rings that are so important but regularly over looked.

Yes, agreed now I have a partial vacuum, the run on after a throttle blip has gone, though technically the vacuum is the same, just less of it..as per the o-rings, I think they are probably original and I,m losing oil pressure when engine is hot I think, oil thinner scenario, a hint of lifter rattle when hot, and noisy vanos also when hot..I,m going to throw the book at it and replace everything. the exhaust cam angle sensor is occasionally throwing codes, I believe its all related... Feel free to correct me of I am off track..