Found a Z, need advise

[SHOTIME]

I just started a job at a car dealership and work in the storage building where they keep cars that usually don't sell in winter. I saw a Z there and didn't think much of it. Then a couple days ago I was told to work on it. It kinda grew on me and I've always wanted to start road racing and thought this would be a perfect car. I asked the owner how much I could buy it for and he said $2500. I'm starting a car collection and figured this would be a nice addition.I'm only 23 and just starting it. All I have so far is a 97 SHO, only 18000 96-99 SHO's were produced, should be worth something.

Cliff notes: Found a 71 240Z, like it.

I noted some things that are wrong with it.

Clutch not working, stuck engaged. I'm thinking it has something to do with the master cylinder as the reservoir was dry, added fluid and it still didn't work. No pressure at all in peddle.

Carbs need work. I got it running after a little tinkering, but they will need at least to be cleaned. Did run strong considering it hasn't run for almost a year.

Hole in floor pan. I'd imagine a replacement is readily available.

Those are the major items, others are minor and mostly cosmetic.

Condition wise it's great. New paint (Buffed out GREAT!), no rust, interior good but will need carpets and there's a hole in the seat. I still haven't put it on a lift yet but looking under it there seemed to be nothing wrong.

The history I found out so far was just that it sat for at least 5 years and has 66k original miles. It was locally owned in my county. It's in NY so I know it wasn't driven in winter or it would be rusted out.

Given that info does this look like something to buy? Or should I wait for another. I've decided I want a Z so if not this one, definatly another.

BTW, is has Shelby wheels on it if that means anything.

[Mike]

$2,500 is too expensive if it's not in 100% working order. From the problems you describe, it could cost you up to $500 to fix it.

Where's the hole in the floor pan? All Z pans have a drain hole which is usually plugged with a rubber stopper.

If it's rust - beware. That could be signs of other rust hiding out in the car.

Offer him $1,500 and see what he does. :rolleyes:

[m]

PS: You'll definitely need a Zcar Microfiche CD. (yes, that was a plug for our CD!!!)

[daisensei]

Take a look at the 72 240Z I bought on ebay for $4K. I had a little tune up and ... You can't go wrong if it only has 66K mileage..buy it and be thankful for the rest of your life.

[daisensei]

Sell the SHO if you have to, it will never be the equal of an early Z.
The clutch problem is most likely a leak in one of the lines. You need to replace both the master and slave cylinders. Not a big deal.
The early Z's are going to shoot up in value real soon. Forget about the SHO. It's UGLY!!

[SHOTIME]

Why sell a $15000 car and buy a $2500 one that needs work? If I did that I'd buy a Stang. My SHO would smoke a Z anyway. :rolleyes:

[daisensei]

That doesn't address the fact that no matter what, in the end it is an UGLY car and will never change. You probably like fat, ugly chicks too.

[Mike]

Oh man... :) That was low.

[ninja240z]

If I had a opportunity to buy a early z and I had a SHO. I would take that japanese engine out of the SHO and drop it in the Z. I know that the SHO is a front wheel drive engine but you can get a rear wheel drive tranny for it.

[Mike]

Ninja,

That's a nice looking ride. Is it yours?

[ninja240z]

No Mike, but this (left hand drive, not right) from japan Z is the ultimate fantasy. You will be all day looking at the detailed pictures from the interior,engine,underneath and out. I will attach the link later. I will post a picture of mine when I finish the L28 conversion.:)

[2ManyZs]

Get rid of the G-nose and those ugly looking flairs and that would be a beautiful ride. Those flairs look like something GM is now pasting all over the side of their "new" designs.

Sorry, but in my opinion the G-nose is ugly, it takes away the lines that make the Z so classy in the first place, but I'd walk a mile through the desert for those wheels!!!! Maybe I should have my Panasports powder coated whenever I get my car finished.

[Mr Camouflage]

That 240z (used to?) belongs to a Mr. Miyahara of Japan
his web site was at http://www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity/1147/
But I cant read japanise to find out why the pictures aren't there anymore.
Other pics of the same car are at:
http://zhome.com/Dec99/Kei200ZX-R.htm

[kmack]

SHOTIME,
Mike is right. If there is rust in the floor pan, then you will need to check in other areas, also. Particularly under the battery tray, front frame rails, both floor pans and firewall, and the lower, rear rocker panels, and the hatch ledge. These are the most common areas that are prone to rust.

Since you have access to the car without actually having to buy it, you're in a better position than most to poke and prod the car before you buy it.

As for the clutch, top the fluid off and bleed the system. If it still doesn't disengage, then the clutch plate may have surface-rusted itself to the flywheel. It happened on my car after I bought it.

Since the car has sat for at least 5 years, you'll also be looking at possibly replacing all the door and hatch seals. A complete seal set will cost about $200. A set of floor pans will run between $175 -300 depending on which ones you get. Also check all the brake lines.

Being that you are the one fixing up the car for the dealership, you may want to entertain the idea of letting the shop pay for eveyrthing to fix the car first (or at least get it back to good driving order) and then buy it from the dealership.

If you find out that there is no rust for sure, then a clean car with minor mechanical and cosmetic blemishes is definitely worth $2500.

Keep us posted on what happens and welcome to the world of Z's.


:tapemouth
ps- I'm ashamed at some of the comments that have been made in this particular thread based soley on one person's choice of vehicles. Anyone who has a desire or love for Z cars should be welcomed with open arms into our realm. Not chastized because they "drive a Ford". Does this mean I'll be "put down" because I drive a Ford? Or a Chevy? Hell, I've owned a Jeep, Fiat, Volvo, Porsche, Volkwagon, Chrysler, Mazda, and too many motorcycles to list. And I've loved driving them all. This doesn't make me a bad person, and it shouldn't.

Just had to get that off my chest.

[2ManyZs]

I'm not chastising people for what they drive, I'm merely stating my point that too many people are taking a Z and putting Ford, Chevy, all sorts of drivetrains in them when Nissan has plenty of options to make an old Z car kick butt! If you look around the web you find all sorts of small block Chevys and Fords being put into Z cars. My question is this, why aren't people taking more Z-31 and Z-32 drivetrains or even as the one thread on this web-site talks about a Skyline GTR engine in a Z?? I love to modify my Z's but in a sense I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to putting non Nissan ( or Datsun) pieces in them.

Sorry, but IMO the G-nose does nothing to add to the looks of a Z-car. That's only my opinion, many people will disagree, they can put them on their cars, I never will. I've always loved a good set of flares on a Z, just not the ones that looked like they were tacked on as an afterthought.

As far as the Z in the dealership goes, do like everyone says, look it over very carefully. If you don't like what you see wait a few weeks and keep offering them what you think it is worth.

[rodd]

Those "tacked on flares" look like the standard factory flares for a 240zg.

The G nose is not for looks its for performance.
The factory fitted these to fix up the standard cars bad aerodynamics at speed.
They are suposed to make a quite considerable difference to top speed and to reducing front end lift at speed.

[okdan]

Hey Shotime --- if you are into Z's and into fords then you got to check out this car (though some might think it is sacrilege) it is the best of both worlds


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=600493058


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now I bet you would sell your SHO for that zcar -- By the way what is an SHO -- is it just a souped up ford sedan?? (that was not meant sarcastically)
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and while your SHO or a Stang 5.0 would blow away a ragged out $2500 zcar -- you should be careful who you drag because there are some super fast zcars out there (unfortunately mine is not one of them)

here is a link to a legendary Zcar which would definately give you a run for your money no matter how fast your car is (and its for sale for $9800)

http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/membersZs/billReagan/bill2l.jpg
http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/membersZs/virtualarchive.html

z ya

Okie Dan

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I too have owned a lot of other cars -- and enjoyed them but in the end I have sacrificed them all to fund my z car addiction
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