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Hello all, I am going to document my build. Basically I have a garage kept series 1 240z. That hasn't driven since 1986, it needed brakes which she couldn't afford so it has sat since. It was resprayed in the 80s as well. Some bad overspray but overall it's a very rust free car. I actually found it in my neighbors garage. My goal is to drive it and enjoy it, but it needs some TLC. First and foremost I got it running, and that is when I made the decision to keep it and I have fallen in love. I will keep it mostly original, minus some brakes upgrades, wheels and BC coilovers. Maybe someday have a built motor for it, but not for now. Everything I take off will be either professionally painted, re - zinc coated or powder coated when it goes back on. I am going to try and stay away from painting it. Everything I do will be reversible and I am keeping all parts I pull off/ upgrade. First thing I did was get it cleaned. Which took a long long time. I started this on Hybriz but I don't think it's the correct build for their site. So I am going to move it over here. I am new to Z's but have been building cars since high school. This is my 2nd major build.

It had a heat stroke. We're close to '70s then '50s after the sun goes down. Life is good in Alabama as long as Air Force One stays the hell away.

Put on a nice grill badge : ) Any flag can be chosen.

Thanks!

Check the plugs and the fuel filter. You may need to change the filter if you put fresh gas in an empty tank (rust or corrosion build up). Also check to make sure your fuel lines aren’t brittle because a fuel leak can be dangerous. You may want to change the oil and the filter. On first start make sure you have oil pressure. Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

I'd pull the valve cover and crank it over in stages (to prevent overheating the starter) until it gets oil pressure while watching for oil circulation to the cam and valve train. It also would be a good idea to check rocker clearances before starting. The thrill of firing up an old engine and hearing it run good gives me goose bumps. I love it.

Hi everyone, I have the refurbished heater valve installed. I’m just about ready to reinstall the instrument panel, however for the life of me I have no clue where these two parts go. I’m pretty good at taking pictures but I can’t find one pic that contains these two parts. Any ideas where they are installed? Howard ’74 260z

I actually live in Sandpoint. I love it here. I don't see a lot of z's in my area. Got the front mostly installed. Some of the zinc chromate seems to rub off with lots of handling. I will need to contact the platers. Googling it seems to say the same thing, can be rubbed off and gets harder with time. It was plated 2 days ago. Hopefully it changes. Or maybe they did something wrong? Zinc is the part that is electroplated. The chromate (yellow) is just a coating. Sure looks pretty

Nice, I think they have those here, but you're really limited as to when you can drive it (parades only, not to work or school, etc...) So you're saying those were the plates issued in 1972 or whatever year Z you have? Or they're just "antique" plates? Your car looks great BTW, jealous of that garage setup. Really liking the spoiler, how did you attach it? So the original 240z's had no holes and indentations below the bumper, or you smoothed it out? Member that old Valvoline commercial, where they're going down the block in the suburbs and they get to that house where it's just a huge garge, and a tent in the yard? That's a 80's Monte SS in the driveway! Then they say "You know the guys who use Valvoline". Haha! I've never been able to find that commercial online, which is weird. There was also a "rare" aerocoupe version in 86 and 87, basically a big hatchback type window. Don't care for it, ruins the body lines IMO. Old Aerocoupe Monte SS ad: (they call it a fastback in the commercial). They did this since the Monte's aerodynamics were horrible, it's boxy. So for the NASCAR racing, they had to produce one to the public to be able to use it. I'm pretty much an expert on the 4th gen Montes. (1983-1988). Very good looking cars when done right. The stock 305 was too weak for the weight of the car, I think stock Zs have similar horsepower. I think white and blue were the only color options initially, but later you could get maroon, black, silver, white. I think blue was only a 1983/4 option. I could tell you every variation they made, like side mirros, rear bumper and tail lights changed in the later years. The wheels and spoiler also changed. The decals also changed several times over the years. The color of the decals (SS) depended on the color of the car. There were gold, red, orange, maybe some other decal colors. Still have the 87 style decals from Phoenix grafix, had planned to use them if I ever repainted it. My color was the stock dark maroon metallic, repainted the same color. Very nice color, looked nearly black. Close to "Black Cherry". Yeah those Grand Nationals were awesome, actually faster than the Corvettes of the same year. Only came in black. And there was the limited edition GNX, only 547 were made. They're $50,000 cars nowadays, if you can find one. Here was my Monte SS, real SS. The rally stripes were removed when it was repainted dark maroon. Those aren't the stock wheels, they came with the car. I still have the stock Monte rally wheels sitting next to the Z. My head did that to the windshield from the driver's seat. Probably lucky to walk away alive from that, just a broken collarbone, bruised rib, and cuts to the forehead. And a broken heart haha. I think the solid metal helped a lot, as some modern cars would've been in much worse shape. Hit a concrete divider going 45 mph. I loved that car, the bad thing is they attract the wrong kind of attention, lots of thugs like them, and they are stolen a lot. Cops also profile people in them. The Z is actually funner and seems to get better appreciation and attention on the roads. The later ones (87-88) had a computer controlled carburetor, which was a pain. I ended up removing all of the sensors and computer, since my Service Engine light was always on, which made the computer go into default mode which made it a dog. Just used an Edelbrock carb and HEI non CC distributor, and plugged the holes left from the sensors. Ran much better after that.

Can't talk now, gotta get the oven back in the house before the wife gets home....

Hi awesome restoration. Can you believe that some people say that real men don't bake? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got the universal joint out of the upper steering column. Pressed it out today after soaking for a couple of weeks... The new Kawasaki u joint is very similar in size. The caps are the basically identical size. The spoke length overall is very close. Should work great... @Captain Obvious Opened it up today. Looks great! I had to solicit help from a lathe owner to help with some dies. I found some NOS bushings for the mustache bar. So CO was able to help me out...he might, eventually, sometime, somewhere post up some details... Worked on the lower rear control arms today. I couldn't get the bolts to thread in easily so I found a tap Retapped them I bought the cheapest tap I could find. I figured worst case scenario I would only have to tap 4 holes for now...

I recently bought a Covercraft poly/cotton cover and well pleased with my choice. The fit is excellent and the construction looks to be the same. The finish on the material is a bit hard, should probably soften up a bit with a couple of washings. My intended use is strictly indoor storage, the cover will likely outlive me!

40 years of off and on is a pretty good cover to me and I'm thinking Avanti's have some sharp edges. Covercraft or Beverly Hills it is. Thanks

Years ago, I was a distributor for Covercraft. Great covers and good people to work with. Not sure if Beverly Hills covers are sold by Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories, but if they are, another good choice. Covercraft makes covers for everyone and will custom make one to the size you choose. They have patterns for a bazillion different covers. Pick a material for your intended use. My Avanti has worn the same Beverly Hills cover for almost 40 years. Soft cotton, custom fit, sits in a covered garage, so it's mostly a dust cover. My 914-6 has a Covercraft poly cotton cover cover that keeps bird crap off the paint and will let moisture out if caught in the rain. It also sits in the garage most of the time and has had the same cover for about 25 years. I've used Covercraft poly cotton covers on a Porsche 944 and a Mustang GT 2+2 - both were "outside" cars. The covers lasted about four to five years under the desert 120º sun, all weather, strong winds, and the occasional sand storms. You'll need to wash the ouside uded cover from time to time to remove airborne grit that can scratch paint. Dennis

That be a big help to me. I'm needing one and looking at the Beverly hills one's too. I want to know if they're custom or universal fit.

Next my focus was on the rear. Same thoughts, pull apart, paint- powder and zinc. Rear end was slightly harder to take apart. But less grease! I am also going to replace all u - joints and wheel bearings while its all apart. Also poly bushings throughout. Still waiting on a local shop to press all the bearings out.

I have decided to tackle the front suspension/ steering work next. This mean all bolts, nuts, washer etc.. off to zinc and powder coating everything I can or stripping and 2 part painting stuff like the steering shaft and steering rack. It was a greasy gross mess, but it should look beautiful when done. Looks like someone slotted my cross-member (no clue what it's actually called). Luckily someone local had a series one for parts and that person made me a good deal on it.

Choke cable was stuck which made it hard to start. I greased the cable and I also tig welded the choke handle back together. I also have the electronic and all lighting to work. Took the cig port fully apart and detailed it and powder coated its bracket. Happy it all works now.

Covercraft makes custom fit for 240Z in several different materials. A little pricey. I had one of theirs for over 20 years and replaced it with a new one from them recently.

My Dad always used the flannel covers for inside storage. MSA has a nice custom fit one that I DO NOT own but it looks nice. http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/classic06g here's what I've been looking at, they are very popular car cover suppliers on the internet. Once again I don't own one yet but they look good and are custom fit supposedly. I'd call to make sure these are custom one mirror covers for our cars. http://www.beverlyhillsautocovers.com/car-covers.html?find=1972-nissan-240z-base-4223352 Let us know what you end up getting and how you like it. That's my next Christmas present to myself.

BRE sells a really nice one that is a custom fit for the Z car. I got a really nice one at Costco the other day, I got size small (no custom fit) and it works great for now. Seems to be of good quality it was only $30. Category_Code=car_covers