Leaderboard

Well shimming the r-180, backlash, pre load and wipe pattern took most of a couple days after work and most of a Saturday morning. I think I took it apart 20+ times. Finally happy with the wipe pattern. Luckily I didn’t have to change the pinion shim. Edit: I think in a perfect world I would have had a special tool to set the pinion nut at the factory 125-150ftlb. Then used different shims to get the bearing pre load perfect. But I had no way, so a couple of hits with the impact is what I used to set pre load, I found that info on here and a few youtube videos. It's not precise at all, just hopeful the factory had it correct enough. A bunch of site posts and a few guru told me to just reuse the pinion shim and move on. Everyone basically told me backlash is the most important. Ended up with 5 thousandths for backlash give or take and then ring side backlash shim if .05 and other side of .07. Total inch pounds is around 8-10 on the pinion. No carrier I had around 3 inch pounds for the pinion. This is worth paying someone to do. Just FYI. I had fun. But super frustrating.

Clearly (and not surprisingly), there are people viewing both this ClassicZ thread and that BAT sale. Right after I brought it up here, they started talking about the dash cap on BAT and they're all over it now. It's an easy issue to fix. Expensive, but simple. "there has been some discussion of this car on a prominent Z car website, Classiczcars.com" Woot. We're prominent!! So just to be clear... I don't see anywhere where the seller ever portrayed this car to be a "completely correct" example. So all the chatter from people (like me) about the things that are "wrong" is info for the next owner who wants to make it better. That car isn't done, but it's a beautiful starting point!

"The present world system is based on a conceptual framework where owning represents an investment of our life, our time, our name, our character, or any other aspect of our being, for the sake of control over the thing owned. It's difficult to realize the depth of devastation this has brought to humanity, but every historical record that presently exists attests to the visible devastation wrought in wars of conquest and subjugation of peoples for the sake of ownership!"

Hey, just joined. Bought this 71 #33909 off BaT a few days ago form an owner of 30 years. The car is straight, all original sheet metal and rust free so I have a nice base. The car is now with Robert at the 240Z Guild down in Madill, OK for an evaluation and some refreshing. Have had lots and lots of cars but my first Z so this will be a learning experience. Also, I'm decent at the conceptual stuff but an unskilled fairly miserable wrencher so I got that going for me ?

Looking at the "before" pictures again, this project epitomizes the phrase "The Greater the Struggle, The Sweeter the Victory" So glad to see it reach this point! Keep up the great work.

Here are calipers in FSM that was photographed probably summer of 1969: Sumitomo on the casting.

From facebook, the annual Donington Park Historic Festival is this weekend in the UK, and once again it includes a gathering of Samuri Z’s. https://www.samurimotorcompany.com/history-of-samuri-motor-company Jonathan Kinghorn photo.

Howdy, I just wanted to share this super cool shift knob that @Captain Obvious finished for me last week. I wanted to repurpose my skateboard that I was using in high school after seeing these cool 917 shifters online. The Captain took the time to take the sections cut and glued, and shaped it to be just like the OEM shifter. He even was able to replicate the lower plastic portion out of aluminum as a final touch. We decided the correct thing would be to increase the diameter slightly due to having larger hands. With the small increase, I don't feel my pinky hit my palm like the OEM one does. I'd show it inside the car but I pulled off the interior to install the AC!

ps I'm in Rhode Island

Nope, the point I am making is ALL HUMANS on the planet can trace their ancestors to Africa!!! Very profound unification.

I would rather bid on this and put $20K+ in to it and know it was done right. Not a low vin but a nice 70 none the less. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Datsun-Z-Series/323796794406?hash=item4b63cafc26:g:5EcAAOSwLVhczKwT Of course no rust or rot, Blue chip special too.

I like the shot next to the original wood knob. That's a great contrast between old and new!

MSA 6-1 headers with Z Story JDM muffler. No drone, not too loud, not too quiet, just right. Awesome sound! Trust me on this! A little cut and weld to make for perfect fitment but not bad at all.

Nice. TFC has been great. I am making my starter pretty (vapor) Plus my r180 cover. Starter will get a nos solenoid, then some zinc and some black paint. I can’t get the side screws out so they will get painted. Should look nice.

It's on the edge of being a 72 if it was built in 10/71. What does the title show? "Better off" depends on what your plans are. If you're going to flip it then there's a bunch of options. The resto-mods seem to be doing well. If you're going to keep it and drive it then whatever you want to do is best. A "Series 2" with Series 1 parts is still a Series 2. I don't think that anyone will think that you're "ruining" an early Z whatever you decide to do. You'll be saving a Z if you get it back on the road.

Once the shell was complete and back in my garage it sat untouched for a whole year. Since then progress has happened in short bursts but the latest one has been very productive and long. I always beat myself up for not doing more but I am pleased with how it's turning out. Here's my apprentice testing the steering.

Similarly, made it to a local show yesterday - about 125 entries. Four members of our club attended, I managed to snag a Best in Class award in the Post-War Import class. Voting was a People's Choice process by the entrants, a nice recognition for my car from peers. Quite a few rare and unique cars entered in addition to domestic restorations and rods. Check out the FB link below for pics of some very interesting cars. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2425401730816296&type=3