Topics Last Week

@Yarb

Shame you had to get rid of the 240z but glad to see the 280zx getting some more attention. I just ordered some parts from the US and will try to fix my 280z over the coming winter. I will definitely come visit you this spring with my 280z!

You can also buy Datsun Z blank keys on Ebay.

Sorry about that but I HAD to take that call. Every part on that car will pass through the hands of the restorer so why not do it correctly. So many times I've casually helped an owner who's doing a lot of the work himself and he'll often put an incorrect finish on a part or subassembly or use an incorrect part. His reply to my comment about the mistake he made or is planning to make is "well, I never plan to put it in a show". WRONG, every time he takes it out it's in a show. OK, what about cost? In the world of today, and it doesn't make a bit of difference what the marque is, it starts @ 80K. Yes, I said 80K. It will very quickly go up from there if rust is prevalent. "But Mike, I just talked to a body shop who quoted me 25K for the works". Be careful, very careful. Another important issue in the case of Zs is parts. Expect to pay a TON for that rare gem you found after shaking the bushes for a while. Last week I had a chat with a Z owner who recently sold an NOS 240 air injection manifold for 2K. Restoration is not for the weak of heart. Next installment "Factory Restoration", "Just off the boat restoration", etc. How to cut through the hype/marketing.

All, Thanks for the info. Dropped the R200 in the car, your are correct, the driver side side axle is shorter than the passenger side. Installed the short axle in the CLSD, engaged flush and installed in the car. never run a clutch diff before. Are there better oils and weights to run in a CLSD? Spent the dollars on Red Line 75-90 w full syn for the open diff but not sure this is correct for the clutch unit? Any help would be welcome. Thanks again.

I plugged mine off but it doesn't get very cold down here. Less chances off leaking, losing coolant was my main reason. Lots of info in these threads... https://www.google.com/search?q=plugging+water+to+carbs+240z+classiczcars.com&sca_esv=77dc914585b7f4b2&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1121US1121&ei=1oETafjINaKHp84P-LudoAw&ved=0ahUKEwj4i8S_3uqQAxWiw8kDHfhdB8QQ4dUDCBM&oq=plugging+water+to+carbs+240z+classiczcars.com&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiLXBsdWdnaW5nIHdhdGVyIHRvIGNhcmJzIDI0MHogY2xhc3NpY3pjYXJzLmNvbTIFEAAY7wUyCBAAGKIEGIkFMgUQABjvBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyBRAAGO8FSJZBUOkFWKcfcAF4AJABAJgBlgGgAcYIqgEDMC45uAEMyAEA-AEBmAIKoALsCMICDhAAGIAEGLADGIYDGIoFwgILEAAYsAMYogQYiQXCAggQABiwAxjvBcICCxAAGIAEGLADGKIEwgIKECEYoAEYwwQYCsICCBAhGKABGMMEmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMS45oAfSHLIHAzAuObgH5wjCBwUwLjguMsgHFA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

About rust free section from a series 1 . Not using this so up for sale. Hard to find a clean section like this . I’ll ship anywhere 200$ Email Sfinnerty1018@gmail.com

Thanks! Of course and now that I know I was able to find in shop manual.

Pete’s slow-to-go-fast car…

Well hell! @Tanker what year was that Honda electrical brake booster? Did you get a hold of the 3D print file? I’m intrigued but I can’t find the Facebook thread! 😫

@Terrapin Z - you have a PM! @kickstand80 - you have an email.

http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6317.jpg We love to see owners enjoying our Z Car Garage CV Axles in their vintage Nissans and Datsuns. This 1971 Datsun 510 is owned by Jay W and he replaced his old CV Axle kit with our ZCG CV Axles just over 3 years ago. Jay has been racking up the miles running numerous road rallyes in 2024 and 2025 including the Snowball Rally in April, DWA Classic in May, Motherlode 400 in June, Faultline 500, Tokyo Calling 4 in September, Socal TT in October. Here is his report from the Overcrest Rally. Featured in Nostalgic Hero http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SnapInsta.to_498660032_18501146884023768_6205027060332564518_n-1-e1761796577859.jpg Before we hear about Jay’s rally adventure let us congratulate him on being featured in the popular Japanese magazine Nostalgic Hero! See both of his 510s in the June 2025 Vol 229 issue: http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SnapInsta.to_498710765_18501146902023768_4217799646128381976_n.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SnapInsta.to_498157601_18501146923023768_2067501625224048033_n-e1761796595162.jpg 2024 Overcrest Rally Redux http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6139.jpg September 16, 2024, by Jay Whalen Hi Rob, just checking in as my ZCG CV Axles #403 just clocked 20000 miles in 2+ years. I didn’t capture too many driving videos on Overcrest, but my wife and I have a few from Mother Lode and Faultline this summer. Also, we now have ~22,500 miles on the ZCG axles. Don’t worry I’m cleaning them up, but here are some recent pictures: http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image001-1.jpg The opportunity to enjoy a car you love with like-minded enthusiasts against stunning natural backdrops is what I appreciate most about rallies. The adventure, camaraderie and community stands out to me about Overcrest and was evident when we drove in the Oregon 23’ rally. At their film festival in Oregon they announced the spring Redux 24’ rally was in Utah and I knew I needed to share the adventure with my father and son in my 1971 Datsun 510. I had followed online the 21’ Overcrest Rally in Utah I was blown away by the stunning backdrop and the cinematic journey the rally created. Plus seeing and driving with rally friends, I didn’t know were attending and meeting new ones from all over the country is a large reason I’m drawn to Overcrest. http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6136.jpg The 510 is not just a mode of transportation for the rally; it’s a character in my family’s adventure story. There is a shared excitement of revving its underpowered engine, hearing the twin Mikuni carbs, and dancing the car on winding paved and dirt roads. There is also the collaborative effort required to navigate the rally route, endure hundreds of miles a day of hard driving and the collective pride in showcasing our classic amidst a field of diverse vehicles. http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6282.jpghttp://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/D137FBC7-1EF1-4E40-8149-0DE94EBCCCF0.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_5987.jpg Speaking of diverse vehicles, our client Tony K also attended in his 1972 Datsun 240Z: http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Snapinsta.app_470814633_18476034988012891_5134614265672041150_n_1080.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Snapinsta.app_470687482_18476034940012891_5140023495301743266_n_1080.jpg Driving alongside my father and son adds a generational resonance to the rally. It’s a multi-layered narrative where the car becomes a conduit for shared stories, passed down from my father to me and now shared with the next generation. It is something my family holds close and we’ll remember for a lifetime. The rally becomes a living testament to the enduring legacy of our family’s love for cars and the joy of driving. http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6641.jpghttp://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6931.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/R0001253.jpg Our rally journey took us 8 days and 2900 miles across the California Centra Valley, Sierra Nevada, Movaje Desert, Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. We drove a large loop which allowed us to explore several National Parks and retrace my fathers HWY 50 drive when he moved to California in 1971. The 510 did extremely well, with no major issues. We had a flakey starter motor, wore out a pair of tires and went through a quart of oil. http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6581.jpghttp://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/R0001236.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6621.jpg In essence, the Overcrest Rally in Utah with my father and son was a celebration of heritage, a journey through time, and an opportunity to weave new memories into the fabric of our family’s motoring legacy. http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6482.jpg Enjoy this video of Jay’s 510 in action on a few of the rallies he attended in 2024, volume up!: We love Jay’s attention to detail and it shows in his rally prep! Check out the skid plate his CAD designed: http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_7023.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_7545-1024x874.jpg http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/image_50427905-1024x680.jpg See more build details with photos of the 510 HERE. Follow his Datsun adventures on his Instagram. http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_7643-1024x793.jpghttp://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image-11-1024x772.png http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_5837-1024x768.jpg Thank you Jay for your support and keep Enjoying the Ride! More photos in the gallery below: http://www.zcarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7101-1024x768.jpg View the full article

'Make damn sure your sparks are right before you start messing around with the fuel'. Butch Bohunk, Master Mechanic, Finzio's Sincair Service

After many nights thinking about it, the current Black Friday sale and optimizing my order for the most value for my money I finally decided to pull the trigger. Maybe it’s because of the size and weight of the total order but the calculation of the shipping was a bit weird. As the parts will need to be shipped to the Netherlands I knew the shipping would be expensive but my shipping came down to almost $600!! By combining some stuff I got the shipping to drop down to $280,- while still giving me the stuff I wanted and basically a free rear strut brace. Here is a list of all the stuff I got: - Front fender brace - Frame rails - Rear strut brace - Front control arms - Steering knuckles - Front crossmember - Upper steering rack clamps - Rear control arms While weighting my options Apex dropped there Retro Mod line of suspension which allows you to keep the stock R180 or R200 long nose differential, axles and spindles. I really wanted to get the new rear suspension and subframe but found it to be too expensive for me at this time. By dropping the rear subframe I got to order the front crossmember, control arms and steering knuckle and still be a lot cheaper off. Weirdly ordering all the front suspension bits separately was almost $300,- cheaper than buying the Retro Mod front suspension kit. Seeing as I don’t need the tie rods (and the steering rack, you need to buy that separately) I’m even cheaper off. I already contacted my body shop about it and I think we will have the car back on the road by the end of winter. They will also put the car on a frame machine and measure the car to see if the chassis is twisted. And yes Zed Head I heard you about the bushings but besides that there might be more going on. Along with the new control arms all bushings will be replaced before going to the body shop.

Thanks again! I reached out to zKars, I’ll see what he has to say. Also, I wonder how much I could mill off the E31 cylinder head to help get the compression ratio back up before I ran into chain tensioner issues?

Hi all! Currently restoring the rear hatch in all its glory, and dug through this thread. Does anyone know if the outer gasket/foam seal on the interior hatch panel (the one with the rubber flaps for rain, etc) is the same soft 8mm foam as is used on the vent shown here? Looking to replace the degraded foam, and trying to figure out the correct material. Cheers! IMG_6962.HEIC IMG_6965.HEIC IMG_6971.HEIC IMG_6976.HEIC

Do they have good grounds? Have you tried to bench test them?

I think that I saw that or something similar on PBS or one of those channels. It was more focused on the main guy with the mustache. Rick Hall. Pretty fascinating show. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Hall

I suppose it could also be bedliner.

Here in Panama we use 95 fuel. Mechanic advised to use an octane booster. The thing is how much in half full 16 gallon tank? The whole can or half and then fill up the rest of the tank with 95 fuel?

Before you get too far you might as well find the ECU. The brain box. It's over by the driver's left leg, behind the kick panel. It controls the injectors. Unless you're planning to run carbs.

I'm a big fan of having a vacuum gauge on the balance tube (and plugging the emmissions holes). If the engine isn't healthy, it doesn't matter how the carbs are tuned. Compression, Timing, then Carbs. The vaccum gauge is a wonderful tool to see the health of the engine. I

Not odd at all. It's the same reason that British Standard threads were used on a "Japanense" car in the 1950s and early 1960s. Nissan's tie-up with Austin. Wait 'til you hear about Imperial wheel diameters and PCDs... https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/HERITAGE_COLLECTION/short_story/en_p13-01.html

Hello - I got them available- let me know if you are still interested