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Hey again everyone! After getting tons of help from the great people on this forum and making a lot of mistakes, my 78 280z is finally back on the road (legal this time!). I'm gonna type up more when I get home, but here's some pictures to tide you over until then.

Thanks siteunseen and esmit. Those comments do make a difference. I just received a couple photos from my mechanic and they are true teasers, but just look at them. The factory finish on the engine bay, the proper oil filter in the right position, the voluptuous header, the slots, the springs....I'm going to let the photos tell all. You tell me what you think. Ben

The oil rings are tricky to align and space the gaps. Thank goodness I bought the Tom Monroe book, How to Rebuild the L motor. Glad you got everything, it's a Christmas Miracle! Gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling...no wait that's the eggnog.

Each 240z fuel and brake line insulator was reproduced in a urethane plastic on a milling machine, which made for a very high quality master insulator. Each insulator is then cast in a two part high quality silicone mold. The insulators are cast in a urethane rubber with a shore hardness of 70A. The urethane has been degassed in a vacuum chamber, then cast and cured in a pressure pot for 24hrs. After curing for 24hrs the insulator have been heated to 150deg for 8 hrs for post-curing. It takes two day to make one complete set of insulators. 70-72 has 15 large insulators, 6 brake line insulators and 4 flow guide valve insulators. 73 have 14 large insulators, 6 brake line insulators and 4 flow guide valve insulators. Insulator sets are available in either the auto or manual transmission 240z. The price for a complete set of insulators is $150.00 plus $6 shipping inside the usa, on a limited few sets, then Zeddsaver.com will be selling the sets via the website at a higher price. Reproduced a steering rack expansion reservoir, in a beige color, for the 70 and early 71 240z with a 12mmx1.0 threads. This is a solid piece without a reservoir; this is for nostalgia look only. This was reproduced in a urethane resin that cures to a solid plastic with a shore hardness of 83D beige color. Make sure you have the 12mmx1.0 opening on your steering racks since later models either have a 10mmx1.0 or no hole. The Price is $14.00 plus $6 shipping inside the usa. thanks Steve

This writing is not as technical as the majority of the content posted on forums. This is a personal account of my 260Z in a nutshell upto this point. If it were not for members of this forum my car would not be where it is today. Thus, I am very thankful. I hope that some of you get a laugh or some inspiration out of this story. You can also be critical of me as I am trying to hone my writing. Sometimes I just do not know what I am doing. I am spending a lot of money on my 260Z and there is no justifiable reason. Its money I have that I should be saving for the future or for my family, but strangely the car has called. The Z started as my college car 14 years ago and I have held onto it. I drove it regularly during that time going from school to home a hundred miles away, to the coffee shop where I studied, and to where ever I desired. It was the freedom of having a car; an American dream. I then went on to dental school and the largely original 260Z went to my best friend Rich’s backyard where it sat in the baking sun. My intent was to visit the car, cover it, or drive it. Dental school was way too demanding and the car was put to the back of my mind. Once I moved off campus a year later my dad and I went to Rich’s house. The 260Z had been my father’s car and he had loaned it to me as I needed my own transportation and he was at his wits end. The Z had broken down on him too many times. But when my father and I saw the car after that year of being in the open, tears welled up in his eyes. It had cobwebs, corrosion on the chrome and the paint was faded. That was all he saw, but all I saw was my car and its potential. It had not fared well, but there was nothing I could have done. My father would have preferred to get rid of it right then and there to start anew with some other car. I kept it and over the course of nearly ten years the car was used on and off and eventually it sat in a carport dormant and neglected once again. Layers of dust caked on its surface as I was too busy for the car. The 260Z was an eyesore and even more, a stab to my car enthusiast’s heart. I could not do anything with it and nor was I ready. It was blocked from my mind and the shear mention of the car from a family member put me in panic-mode. Sports cars had failed me in some way. I worked for a dentist that put himself before his patients doing too much work and at a sub-par level to fund his car hobby. I needed a break from having been obsessed with cars for so long. I also lived two miles from work so I rode my bicycle. My wife and I then had a newborn son and I was now the one at my wits end with the car. It was time to sell. I did all the necessary things to ready the car for the new owner; tires, fluids, new battery and a thorough cleaning. I still remember the day I started it up for the first time and drove it around the block. The wiggle needed to unlock the door, the finesse of the throttle, and the quirkiness of the four speed all for smooth driving. There was an understanding of this car I still possessed as though it had been on the road all along. What was happening? I was reacquainting myself with the Z from a better place in life. My wife said she had a buyer. Her father. Why? I thought. For his grandson. My son!!! I was crying. It would be at my in-laws in their backyard under a tarp. There was no way that I was going to let the little car be forgotten again. A new chapter was opened and the future was uncertain. I got reacquainted with cars and the car scene I had missed for so long. Life got in the way, but now I had a bit of time. Over the course of a year and a half I drove the car, made improvements and realized that this was my car. I have had the pleasure of driving many sports cars, but the 260Z fit me better than the rest. If I could describe why that is I would. Years of this car’s existence has been in dormancy. Prior to my father and me owning the car it sat in a garage in Wisconsin for seventeen years. My dad resurrected the car respraying it in the original color, new bumpers, new vinyl seat covers, and a set of 72’ SU carburetors. The history of the car is now changing and there is no turning back. As a college student I searched the internet and Japanese car magazines to come up with my idea of the ultimate Z. That idea was always there and now with the help of a highly skilled mechanic it is becoming a reality. I only wish I was the one doing the restoration, but with a carport, few tools, and no time outside of work and family I have placed this project in the hands of Rob Fuller at the Zcar Garage. My vision is to build the 260Z into something largely original down to the colors and the appearance of the engine bay. Underneath will lurk a beast. The engine will be a 3.0 liter built by Rebello, TechnoToy coil overs, a Fujitsubo Legalis R exhaust, and a Datsun competition interior (driver's bucket seat, steering wheel, and shift knob). Much of the inspiration of my car is from a silver 72’ Fairlady Z in Japan owned by Dr. Suzuki. Exteriorly the only modifications are the ride height, Watanabe wheels, factory headlight covers, and the exhaust. Earlier I mentioned that I don’t know what I am doing and why I am placing so much effort and money into this car, but it has everything to do with my lifelong passion for sports cars. Since the time I can remember I have been afflicted with the car-bug. What is it that excites car enthusiasts? The sound, the speed, motorsport, the sleek lines of a sport cars? All of that I am not sure, but the persona of me the driver and the driving experience is what attracts me most. I have a passion for nearly all cars and to say I am a Zcar guy would be wrong. This Z encapsulates all cars in some unexplainable way and I can’t wait to share my passion when its finished. This writing has been long in the making and my story of the car will continue. My goal is to put as many miles on the 260Z as I possibly can. I ultimately want to do a cross country road trip with my son for the 50th anniversary of the Z. Thank you all for the knowledge and inspiration and I will keep you posted on my car’s progress. Sincerely, Ben inkbendental@gmail.com

Haha, here is one I did on my 911

Look at some of their finished work. Will they cut and buff the car for the quoted price? Talk to a local paint supplier "quietly" and see if they will give you any recommendations. Don't ask in front of other customers!

http://www.mjpshop.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=155_78_113

That is beautiful box! Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Decision is made! Frame rails and floor pans are ordered! Looking forward to your thread and again thanks for taking the time to reply to my post.

Update: This is the junk from one spindle pin tube:

I'd also question how much dyno R+D was done on the tapered box...... bet it was equal to not much at all.

I did not notice a disparity between my cylinders because of my non tapered box. I think the capacity was enough not to choke air volume to any cylinder .

Crowded corner at Mid America Raceway in the 1970’s.

You could use a 1" diameter bar or tube with a chamfer on the end to push it back in.

I found a few spare minutes to indulge the OCD in all of us. Mystery solved. I have a single disassembled 240 rack housing. It has the two plastic plugs. I drilled one out, and found that the plastic only goes in about a 1/8". Then I hit metal. Same for the other plug. Well if you look at the construction of the thing, you have the steel round main housing, and the aluminum pinion housing (with drivers side bushing flange) casting that is "Attached" to the steel housing. If you look in from the end, you can see the steel center inside the aluminum part. What do you suppose keeps them together and prevents the two from rotating? Well friction for sure, but those two holes have steel pins in them that lock the two together. The plastic just fills the remaining hole to the surface of the bushing housing. To prove the pin theory, I used an 1/8 punch and whacked one of the holes until something emerged into the ID of the bore. It was not easy to move. I'm not convinced its a pin, but something emerges from the hole into the ID. Here ya go. You may notice a little dimple sticking into the bore at 3:00 o'clock. This is from my punching. It sure as the heck isn't plastic. So I don't really think the kind of plastic is important. Nor is filling the hole at all. Fill if you feel you must. If you drilled right through, I think you might want to put something back in there to keep the two parts from wanting to part ways or rotate. Any ideas on pushing that knubbn back in? Rack ain't going back in with that thing sticking out like that....

I forgot about that album, thank goodness. Sammy Hagar sang "why can't this be love?" Because you SUCK! David Lee is Van Halen. Those brothers were just in his band.

I think a 3.364 gear would be great in a Z used for long trips (like going to Zcon in October).

I too am where you are in many ways, children, wife, job (not my own business) but requires me being there. Like yourself the imagination keeps me going. I have often imagined rolling up at Spa Francorchamps or The Circuit De La Sarthe in mine with one of my sons. Stories like yours inspire me to keep forging ahead with mine although being able to afford ZCAR Garage is off the table for me. Good luck keep us updated.

Happy New Year! The car is making progress! I spoke with the lead mechanic recently and we went over the parts to be cad plated, silver plated, and powder-coated. I am really going for a factory finish, but with hidden modifications. Even looking at the engine bay I plan for it to be OEM in appearance. One of the latest developments is the installation of the Datsun Competition bucket seat. This seat has gone from closet to closet in the various dorm rooms, houses and apartments I have lived in over the past 15 years. I was always hesitant to install the seat due to my interior being cream and the seat being black, but I had to put my style eye aside and put where it belongs. The car is literally a shell with an interior at the moment as there is no suspension or drive train installed. We have figured out the big pieces to the car, but the brakes are a challenge with the 14" wheels. If I was willing to go with a 15" wheel a larger set of brakes would fit with no problem, but I am not willing to do that as I love the look of the small wheels and the tall sidewalls. It goes along with the overall look I am going for; original 260 meets Works Monte Carlo Rally car. The mechanic was thinking of a custom set of Stoptech 4 piston calipers, but the wheels do not have enough clearance. He is going to try a very thin spacer and see if that frees up enough room, but if it doesn't we're back to square one. I stress the need for better brakes because I have always had a problem with the braking power of the car. I was not sure why as everyone raves about the original units working so well. The calipers are red and I always thought they were the original units that a previous owner had repainted, but when I got out the thick manila envelope of records sometime in the late 1970's they were swapped for a set of Midas calipers! My dream was to put MK63 calipers on, but my mechanic has already recommended against this. I cannot imagine why as they were used on the factory race cars, but I am also not about to tell my mechanic to do something he doesn't want to do. Do any of you guys have any recommendations for an excellent set of brakes that will fit 14" wheels? I would prefer not to have to change the master cylinder if possible. I have been without the car for nearly 8 months and I really miss driving it. At the same time I am not sure where the time is going to come for me to drive it the way I imagine. I have a 2.5 year old son, a 7 month old daughter (who is sleeping on my lap as I write this) and a wife that all keep me very busy. I will find the time to at least stretch the car's legs once a week presumably early in the morning or late at night. I love the cool weather and the quiet roads during these hours. This entire journey with mechanically restoring a car is a fun one. I have the collector instinct and if money, time, and space permitted I would have multiple cars. However, all my excess resources are going to this car and part of me hopes that in some way it will always be a project. I love that project approach in that dreams are not yet realized. Thus, the magic of the mind is still there. This is presumably why people go on to different cars once one project is over. However, I am not yet the builder. I am the driver and plans for driving are infinite; autocross, a cross country trip, track days, coffee shop runs, and the list goes on. In my lifetime I would love to visit Kenya and touch the dirt that was kicked up by the famous Works Rally Z's of the early 70's, maybe even participate in the Safari classic or the Peking to Paris rally. This is what makes it all fun for me as there is never an end to the imagination. I am 35 years old and still don't feel that I understand the Z car. I ultimately want to learn Japanese, travel to the Land of the Rising Sun, and learn more. Unfortunately, a lot of the people that brought the Z to where it is today from design to motorsport are no longer with us. The car is turning 50 soon and the people that were with it from the beginning are in their 70's, 80's, and beyond if still around. This is a window in time in which a good number of those people are still alive. Who am I kidding as I have a family and a business to run. All these things are at my fingertips, but no matter how much I look at Japanese magazines or browse the internet it is not enough. Time is both on my side and not. I look forward to giving updates with the car and ultimately reporting on the driving experience. Sincerely, Ben

Dash caps look terrible in my opinion. As soon as I see one I am disappointed in the car and suspect of anything else that has been done to it. It’s just a half step in my opinion. New dash, restored dash or original dash. A cap just looks fake to me. Sorry if I offend anyone that has one, but I just can’t get past the look....

Hello I am Denrée from France. I restor 1972 240Z import from US Here soon 11 months that i work on... Thank you !

Moog and Timken are good replacement brands. I would also add Spicer u-joints to the list.

Hmmmm that may be a better reason then my 50th birthday, although, I was born in 69 so we kind of share the same birth day.

I have been told by Rob at the Z Car Garage that him and his team are working like "gangbusters" on my car. Check out that Nissan blue engine block! I am so excited to get the old girl back on the road. I am planning for an early morning drive through the forests of Woodside once it is done. It looks like this will be sometime in the fall so all you enthusiasts in the SF Bay Area keep your eyes open and make a mental note for a sunrise drive on a weekend soon. Z's are not required, but bring an appetite for food and conversation as we will be talking cars, eating breakfast at Alice's in Woodside at the fabled four corners, and the coffee will be flowing. The roads are divine for some spirited and safe driving. I am not sure how well I can plan a drive like this, but I figure with the internet we can do anything! All the best, Ben

The vinyl should pull up to the end of the tunnel. That is sewn incorrectly. Fit your console over it to check, but I think you could cut a hole in it to fit the bracket.

Hello everyone and thank you for the positive feedback. I will keep you posted on the progress. I haven't heard anything new from my mechanic, but I am not one for updates and I don't want to interfere. He has free reign. It's hard for me to let go as I am not one to just trust anyone with my pride and joy, but he is a person I truly believe that treats other people's cars as his own. Upon meeting Rob I quickly understood that he gives everyone special treatment. I do hope that my son and daughter get into the hobby of cars somehow or some way as it is so dynamic as we all know. Even if they enjoyed cars a bit it would be fun. There is an infinite number of lessons to learn from a car; critical thinking, patience, perseverance, discovery, and escape among other things. My kids have attended a ton of car shows and my son has gone to the Monterey Historics two years in a row. I changed his diaper at the world famous corkscrew!!! As a dad I have no shame. I am also lathering them in sunscreen and the ear protection is on at all times. I am not trying to create 'car-kids', but I am living my life and until they start telling me where to go and what to do I am going to continue educating them on cars. On a funny-note, we were at the Hillsborough Concours and a row of Ferrari's were in the distance and my 2 year old son turned to me and said, 'let's go check out that Datsun.' I was a proud papa. Maybe a Daytona to a toddler looks like a Z. I will never know. Here is my son at the Historics this year with our own Ron Carter's 2000 roadster. Sincerely, Ben