Z31 Questions

I've got an '85 N/A 300 ZX. I'm having a couple of issues with it:

The first is a very strong gasoline odor that comes when the car is on. I haven't noticed any major leaks or anything. It happens after short or long trips, driven fast or moderately. It definitely seems to be getting worse.

The second is a starting problem. The first start of the day always takes a little work. I have to pump the gas a bit and once in a while it takes a couple of tries. After that first start, it jumps to life quickly for the rest of the day. I think this might be somewhat related to temperatures, since I frequently leave it parked at school for 7 or more hours without issue and yet mornings when I leave after having it parked for only 6-8 hours it has difficulty.

The third is a rattling noise that seems to be coming from directly under the gear box. At least, that's what it seems to me when I'm in the car. I know that it's much louder outside the car, and it is worst in neutral (with the clutch not engaged), or in the first three gears. I had Midas look at it recently while they were doing some brake work, and they said that they couldn't find anything wrong that would be causing it and that they expected it was probably the heat shield having worked itself loose (which meant fixing it would be more work than it was worth). Does that sound like a plausible explanation? Anyone have any other ideas of what it might be?

On a totally different note, does anyone have any links to information about headlight kits or modifications I could get/make to a Z31? I know I want to do something to it...not exactly sure what yet though.

Thanks!
-Jeffrey

i have an 85 N/A 300zx, and i had the same problem in the morning, i change my plugs and wires, works fine now.

Ok, thanks! I'll look into that.

:alien:
first off that gas smell might be from your injectors, nissan dealers are still honoring the recall on the fuel injectors for FREE!! might want to save your self some heaart ache and pain with that.
i also had problems with that rattling noise which was my drive shaft right at my transmission was bumping the heat shield. i suggest you get a new shield or fix the one you got. I myself has taken it off and gotten rid of my catalytic converter

Just got off the phone with the dealer. All recalls have been done on my car. So if it is the injectors, it's not related to the normal recall stuff. I guess I'll look into the first suggestions I received a bit more.

I guess the heat shield probably is the culprit on the rattling then. I'll look into what it'll take to fix that as well.

Thanks!

Okay, I just got it back from the first of two trips to the shop. The problem(s) were actually a combonation of things: Issues #1 & 2 were caused by worn / improperly repaired fuel lines (from before I got the car - the lines were fixed, but not with the high pressure lines needed for a Z), a worn distributor cap/wires/rotor, and a need for a tune up. Issue #3 was related to the A/C pulley.

And as far as the headlight mods, I found what I was looking for in the Victoria British catalogue. They had a few things to choose from.

- Jeffrey