Nissan Repair: 1981 280ZX RADICAL IDLE/BACKFIRING, rotor shaft, vacuum lines

Question
MY 81 280ZX STARTS, BUT IT IDLES RADICALLY AND WHEN THE ENGINE'S REVED IT SOMETIMES BACKFIRES. I'VE REPLACED 2 FUEL INJECTORS AND CLEANED & O-RINGED THE OTHER 4, COMPLETE TUNE UP (PLUGS, ROTOR, DISTRUBUTOR, WIRES) ALSO REPLACE THE VACUUM LINES & SOME FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER. ALSO THERE IS A STRONG EXHUAST SMELL BUT IT DOESN'T SMELL LIKE GAS. ANY ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS?   THANKS!!!
                JACKIE

Answer
Jackie,

Take the distributor apart and look under the cover that the rotor shaft sits on.  There is a screw that holds the shaft that the rotor sits on.  Once that is off there are two screws that hold the cover on.  Under that is the firing mechanism.  If there is oil in the pickup you need to get a rebuilt distributor.  That is one suggestion.  The other is to check and see if the intake hose is cracked.  This is the one that hooks up between the air meter and the throttle body.  If there is a crack the engine will get unmetered air and that could cause the problem too.  Check it out and email me back.