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Hello all, Good news! I picked up my sweet RedBird today from Pete. Oh boy, there is a super difference in driving now. Talk about Zoom! I can tell how really bad the old clutch was by the feel and the driving zoomies happening now. I had no idea how bad off she was. Watch out world... we are released from the bad, and looking forward to going on delightful drives. It is almost like I am driving her by using thoughts only, that she understands and responds. Pete did send the flywheel out, said it needed it badly. I suggested getting a rear main seal. He asked if I wanted it replaced and I told him you all advised it while he was in there. His comment today was that "it was a good idea, it was going to need it soon if not done today". The bearings came apart when he was taking them out and he did reuse the steel Nissan collar as Chickenman suggested. I talked to him about the transmission gear oil, and he agreed with what I had been told previously. That not to mess with it unless needed, too many chances of something else going wrong because of changing on these old cars. So we left that alone. I had prepared a list of the things all you mentioned, and we talked about each entry. I told him it was because you all look after me that you suggested those things. He smiled. So we came home very uneventfully. Very easy driving, and no shutting down by her. I'm thinking that it probably was water in the tank, as Gwri8 said. I did put the alcohol in, and she is driving well. I guess time will tell. I now have driven her with the new spark plugs, for about 35 miles. I will get them pulled off this weekend, and photoed to share with you so we can see their condition. That will tell us more about her shutting off. Pete, bless his good heart, did not even have me sign a contract for payments. I only had the $ that my friends on CZCC sent me, to give Pete today. After buying the parts, I was out of available $. Thank God I had your gifts. Pete says that "rich people have a way of not paying", and that "folks on Social Security pay on time, and complete their payments". So he said he is not going to worry about me. What a really nice person to find in this world! Thank you Gwri8, (he sent me to Pete). I figure if Pete is good enough to work on Gwri8's car, then he will be the best one for my RedBird also. Well, thanking you for your suggestions and donations, I'm heading for bed. It has been an exciting day, thanks to you. Jai

You may have misunderstood previous posts. What I have seen posted is that you don't drain the transmission until you can verify that you can open the fill plug. Many people have said it is difficult to impossible to get some of them off. The only time I tried, I got it off with no problem, possibly because I read some good advice here before attempting to do it.

Hi, I found some photos of my original Z, 1971, Redwing. When I got her from the dealer, she had 7 miles on the odometer. I was scared to death to driver her home after dark, I had never driven anything with any power. I'd had a VW bus! And the radio was playing the song "D.O.A". Anyone remember it? That was scary in itself. Needless to say, I got over that quickly, with my beautiful car. The color one was before we left, of her sitting right by the front to door, grinning in delight, anticipating the trip. And the black & white photos were when we (my son & myself) were camping. And yes, I packed all our camping equipment in her deck. I drove to Mt. Washington in N.H., where we climbed the mountain, the highest peak in the eastern U.S., 6,288 feet. Amazing trip travelling on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a lot of the trip, with all those curves! Oh yes, I zoomed her all the way. Wheee... Thought you all might get a kick out of seeing these. Jai

I have kept this wheel for a while, had it on two of my turbo zx's. In very good condition overall condition. Horn hub ring on adapter has some wear. Grant signature 13" diameter leather steering wheel, includes adapter kit for 70 -83 Z & ZX, horn button. I think it is leather, have had it so long I can't remember, but the cost of the wheel without the kit was originally over &100 Adapter included is the less expensive standard one, not the billet adapter. $65 shipped in CONUS

2nd. eledlights.com Sent from my SM-G930V using Classic Zcar Club mobile

True true true...! When leaving Pete's shop, I did manage to do so without stalling. Ha! He was sitting at his desk with a big plate glass window. I don't know of if he was watching me, but I prepared my exit in case, and pulled it off. But alas at the first stoplight I was not so good, stalled out. That was the only time, I managed a good drive home, albeit having to concentrate each time. The trick is to learn it without thinking about it. Muscle memory they say. Then I'll be happy. I am surprised at the propel part. Oh wow, super Zoom Zoom mobile! Great... Jai

Just wanted to bring this thread to a successful close. Finally had a chance to go on a test drive and yes it was the tires. Perfect clearance with both small tires up front and it did appear the back wheel hub was thicker than the front making the problem worse. I am located just outside of Austin in the Lakeway area. I cannot thank everyone enough for helping, this blog is the best, just goes to show good people drive Z's. I am reliving my youth, as I am sure many of you are as well, it was the car I drove in my 20's but rust and milage caught up with my first one when I did not have the money to repair. Here is my new one that I am going to slowly bring back to its original, if not better, state. Here's to hoping all your future repairs and restorations are successful. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Classic Zcar Club mobile

That's great news Jai! Now go out and drive RedBird and enjoy. You deserve it.

Is there room enough for me?

Gold is a tough colour to work with, it reminds us of all that chessy trim that was so popular in the 80s, but just a shade darker is the bronze that has been used on many race cars and to my eye, looks great.

It seems to me I remember some hoses actually being a better fit with 1/4" hoses. I think maybe the supply from rail to carbs is actually 1/4". The 5/16 will work clamped down hard enough , but the 1/4 slides on tightly

A 280z or 280zx has no ECU.... It has a ECCS, what could be explained as an ANALOG "computer" It does not have a "clock" as a ECU has and no Programming Either.. But.. please correct me if i'm wrong.. And ECCS stands for: Electronic Concentrated engine Control System.

Get it right, man! It's Bow Chicka WOW WOW!

Looks Great! Sent from my SM-T350 using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Seems like a lot of people are looking now. Springtime I guess. Sharp car should go quick. I'll trade you some boulders or a lounge chair for it.

The dash pot might need adjustment. It has what looks like a game piece or vacuum fitting on the top. Screw it in toward the throttle linkage to slow down the action. When my engine was running rich I found that the idle speed would drop lower when the the pedal was lifted. Sounds more like a minor tuning problem than a loss of coil power. You can use the dashpot adjustment to bandaid it while you fine-tune the rest. Also, advancing the timing caused my idle sped to drop more on throttle lift. Lots of little things can add up. Good that you're in to the small details now though. Check the roll pins in the shift fork if you get it that far apart. Also the wear pads on the shift fork. And the coupling sleeve. And the bearing, and the nut on the end of the shaft. Check the drain plug magnet for metal "clues" and the fluid for plastic or brass clues.

I washed mine. For the first time. Since buying it a year ago. Why so long? Because it didn't run until yesterday! So glad it's running finally! Sent from my XT1254 using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Couple of progress pics and the fender rolls.

I like beer, and people who show up with beer.

If your Miata is reliable, it will be your daily driver. At least for a while.

Dear JSM... My oh my, you guys assume that Z cars should only be owned by MEN. Not so in this case. I am a 74 you old, waiting by the phone right now for my first great grand child to be born, LADY who has had Z's all my life. Well 2 that is. My first, a 1971 240Z- Redwing took me 259,000 miles. Did you know that is almost exactly the distance to the Moon? Yes I drove to N.H., and climbed that mountain, with my son alone. No one else. I asked on the CB if I could follow a certain semi thru NYC, he said "sure if you think you can keep up". When we got thru NYC, with me still tailing him, he said "lady you are a bodacious driver!" I thanked him saying "I always wanted to be a racecar driver". His was one of the finest compliments I've ever had, made my day. Ha! And, we wore seat belts from the first moment, driving her home after my purchasing her! Sooo, now you have the straight poop.... Should I sign it Rock'in Grandma Jai ???

Unfortunately, some people like me can get pretty anal about this stuff. (I apologize in advance) In addition to the clamps, It would be nice to have the radiator and heater hoses braided as well. These are available at http://jdm-car-parts.com/ . I would recommend the smog hoses as well from http://jdm-car-parts.com/, but it appears that the smog system has been entirely deleted. The plug wires are obnoxious with all of the white markings. Better ones are available. I am sure there is more that I am missing, but these are the obvious stand-outs and for me would be cause for reduction of the $70K asking price.

I would request all new correct hose clamps for the Orange Z.

$70K? Wow! I remember seeing one in 2004 when my son and I visited Peak Nissan in nearby Littleton, CO. It was originally purchased in 1996 or 1997 by a gentleman in Florida and Peak Nissan had it on their showroom floor. Asking price back then was $30K. Here are a few pictures that my son took of the car. By the way, Chris, I would love to buy a copy as well.

Laurel C130 motorized chrome fender mirrors. Suit C110 as well, very similar in shape. A pair (chrome not as good, without switch) went for 58,000 yen (close to US$750) recently on Yahoo! Japan Auction http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w69385713 These are mine; I'm open to offers. Please send a pm if interested. Thanks

I was going to say polishing compound and wax, but Dave's method works better if you have the time/patience/energy. Polishing compound is a little less coarse so you don't need as many steps afterward and you can do it by hand, but it won't do as good a job as his suggestion. Still, I've had a bunch of old 70's cars and polishing and then waxing gets most of them up to snuff if you're not super picky.