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Well my new seat covers came in. I am beyond impressed with the not only how fast they came in, but with the quality these guys offer. WOW, the vents in the back look so good. I cannot wait to get them in the car! Mike, your car is always an inspiration to me. Such great work. Your eye for details is unparalleled. Grannyknot, thanks so much for the compliment. I have wanted seats like this for ages. I see them in vintage GT40's and some Japanese race cars, but cheapness did not allow me to pony up the 2500 bucks for real Kameari seats. I think this is a great compromise. I cannot wait to get them added to the car. I may as well order new carpet while I am at it. And I may as well order more dynamat as well. Hard not to do it all once I am in there. Note the standard OSHA approved flip flops. I will say the thickness is what impressed me the most and the consistency of the color on the leather. The symmetry and tightness of stitching is amazing. I have no idea how these guys do it so cheaply. I suppose the fact that the work is done in Pakistan is one thing. I shudder to think how little they pay the poor guys working on these things. But the results are phenomenal.

My son (Five and Dime) gave me a cool sculpture for my office.

I finally got around to painting my TL finisher panels and license plate light, here's how it turned out. I'm quite pleased with the results. Here is a pic comparing the new color to an unrestored original hubcap: And one comparing the same hubcap with my unrestored original grill and a license plate light body painted in the new color:

Charles--- Had a notchiness in 1 to 2 shifts on my low mileage trans. Decided to try Royal Purple as that was all I could find as "upgrade" locally. No change. Changed to Redline after ordering it from online as it was the one that was supposedly much better. No change. Enter A/C Delco Friction Modified-----kaaaazzing-----we have a winner!! ~$32.00 for three quarts----some of the best "bang for the buck" money I've spent on the Z. Notchiness is gone --all shifts are much smoother. Spend the money on it and be done with it for years to come-----enjoy the benefit with every shift!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AAAA++++ Miss ya! Jim D. "Zup"

OMG Steve, ROFL, I'm just recovering now about the Chevy Chase scene... Oh my aching sides I've learned my lesson with you guys for sure. Ok, after staring at the ring and BMW cap for 10 minutes, the solution is really pretty simple. You just need a stop block at the right spot. Pictures are worth 1176 words.. First weld in a scrap of metal, here. Put BMW cap in, twist to stop position, turn key to lock, lock tab now protruding and trapped behind welded in tab. A pic with the key in open position, free to turn CCW to unlock. Had to use the rubber gasket from the stock cap, which is thicker. The tabs on the BMW cap are angled away from the body and will leave the cap loose if you don't have enough gasket thickness. Stock is about .012, BMW was only .08 ish Another issue is the cap OD verses the ID of the mounting ring. Dang tight fit. I just did a little hammer tap tap around the inside to roll the lip just a smig and it slips in easy. Ok who wants a modified mounting ring? Choice of powder coat, CAD plated, spray paint or sand blasted bare DIY.

Cliff.....I've found when installing the MSA Premium exhaust systems, it's always a good idea to take it to a reputable muffler shop to help "tuck it in" with their pipe bending equipment (just a few tweaks needed). They can make it lay right where you want it and can weld the hangers right where they are needed. Charges are minimal for what you get and for the fact that the system will probably be on the car for it's life. This is especially helpful on lowered Z cars. IMO Guy

I ordered and received from @EuroDat I received very quickly after ordering and paying. Brackets look great though I haven't installed yet. Plan to use on my 75 280.

Finally we made these brackets that DOES NOT require any cutting or modification to fit 240Z bumpers. In Japan, all the cars made between 1969-1978 have early 240Z bumpers. However for US market, Nissan did heavy body modification to clear strict "5 mile-bumper" rule and fitted bog bumpers. These kit give those who wants to have JDM/Euro look to their car an option! Precision cut, bend, and drilled by latest technology using OEM gauge metal. http://jdm-car-parts.com/products/240z-front-bumper-conversion-bracket-kit-for-us-1974-78-datsun-260z-280z http://jdm-car-parts.com/products/280z-rear-bumper-bracket-conversion-kit-for-us-1974-78-datsun-260z-280z-late-s31 These will be available from Motorsport Auto from this week!

Took on a client for some Z work- didn't have enough to do- 1972 Auto from out west- very rust free and original. Going to try and bring her back to glory

Here is a modded ring with Eastwood's "Reflective Chrome" powder coat. It's pretty darn shiny! If I spent more time pre-buffing the raw metal, this would be darn purdy! This was done with just sand blast then medium wire wheel buff. Goes real nice with the chrome locking cap!

Jim, That's looks good. If Jai wants yellow zinc I would take a stab at it with my Caswell setup for free. Just remember you get what you pay for...

I have a simplified solution now. No more extra piece of steel to weld in, just a weld bead on the side that sticks out just the right amount. Also discovered that a stock cap's tangs wouldn't clear the initial extra bit, but the weld bead works just fine with either.

No problem either way. I eventually get used to things once they change. It just takes me longer and longer every year

It means we need support. Yep, the kiss in the background is from the Black Gold Z commercial. Hmm, I know I can't please everyone but I could work on the larger sized recent posts. Let me work on it a bit over the next few days.

Great way to show correct color! Thanks much! K

I suppose you all would go gaga if I welded a tiny bracket with a hole on the back of the BMW gas cap to provide a connection for that all-important chain, wouldn't ya? Plainly I need to sell a package of modified locking gas cap, and modified and fitted mounting ring. Maybe even a new rubber flap and bolts?. Naw that's just getting carried away, ain't it?

Why not just pop rivet one these over the fuel door? By a good study Master padlock and your set.

Oh yeah, the $$ thing. Maybe we should lock down a supplier of those locking BMW locking caps before we get too carried away. I can paint and powder coat at home, have to take the ring in for plating. CAD plating looks best of course. Mind you the cap is chrome. Gas is likely to take off spray paint (except POR/Chassis Saver). Black or silver powder coat might be the best all round looker/performer.. Good thing I have nothing else to do today...

I do !!! How much are you selling it for??? Whichever "coat" looks best with a Red Z. Thanks for figuring it out! Jai

Thanks Zedyone. It's the details that make the car. Makes everything go slow, but it looks nice and is easy to work on when it's done. I put the starter in along with the Battery cables. Did a bench test on the starter using the bench vice and 12 Volt battery charger. Both motor and solenoid worked well. Finished the smog parts, hoses and clamps. Will finish up the carbs over the next week or two. I threw on the air cleaner just for the pics. The air cleaner was powder coated and decals applied. Got the weather stripping in on the rear hatch. Went in easy enough, but I still hate doing weather stripping. The only part I like about doing the weatherstripping is peeling the glue off of my fingers. Cleaned up and painted the bumper support brackets and just picked up the freshly chromed bumpers this AM from West Coast Plating. Will attach those in the next week or two. Also got new rubber strips for the bumpers. They should look nice when done. Attached are latest update pics.

Scene: Chevy Chase is on the phone as Don Pardo announces, "And now Weekend Update with Chevy Chase." Chevy: "No...that's just what they call it...No, you don't actually blow on it." Looks up. "Uh, I've gotta go." Hangs up phone. "Our top story tonight..." To Mark's post, here are pictures of the BMW cap and Z cap. About the only way for the BMW cap to latch would be to clamp down on the ring. You can see the possible range of motion on the BMW cap. Ideally for a locking cap would be for a block on the cap to slide to slot on the ring to keep the cap from turning.

Thank god I'm not the only fool who bought that BMW cap. What a scam! Yes, it "locks", yes it "fits", just doesn't lock to the car.... Man. However, I just pulled it out of it's hidey hole, and grapped a gas filler opening ring to understand how this looks and why it doesn't lock.. I may see a way to modify the ring so these caps actually lock.. Give me a day or two to fiddle....

Man, that is a great gift! Awesome! Happy fathers day guys. Wish I could have spent some time in the garage, but it was not meant to be. My wifes attitude toward fathers day... "Father's Day, I don't think it means what you think it means" :).....

Hi i am new to this group. My name is Joey. I am a girl who used to be in a band called DollSquad. Thanks for accepting me! This is a photo of "cookie"" my 260z. He was my first car and I bought him in 1988. The other day my hubbie and i were driving down blackburn road and this guy kept tooting us a number of times and at each traffic light making begging signs and yelling out his window to my hubbie "please sell it to me"" so funny! Has anyone else had this happen? Anyway i was also wondering are there girls (or boys) that have Zeds and also have and love all things retro? Eg have 60s or 70s homes, clothes, vinyl, furniture, hair etc If so lets have a ride!! I am dying to meet you all. Below is Cookie.

I got one too. Ramsesosirus is correct.

Good move Cliff, If I had that choice I would do the same. Can't turn back time.