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Just because I like GTO's. Even though it would feel like piloting a supertanker after driving a Z. I used to think of the 65 GTO as the small one. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-pontiac-gto-41/

Not sure why the floor pan rails aren't being reproduced by anyone yet, they certainly take a lot of abuse. Fortunately mine were in pretty shape except for some rust at the tail end, I got those finished up today and welded on. There is also a big hole in the rails just in front of those end pieces, comes like that from the factory. Maybe there was a rubber plug in there at one point but uncovered it just acts like a scoop picking up rain water from the road, I think I might weld those shut.

So I discovered something interesting over the past week regarding the age old issue of clutch throw out bearing collar height selection. We have discussed many many times how to determine what height the throwout collar has to be to achieve the now well accepted total 92 mm total height, based on your particular choice of clutch cover. What I remember in the many discussions I heard, is how the struggle to get a long enough collar almost always comes up. This lead me to assume that all that was available in new parts are clutch covers that are much thinner than the old stock 240z covers. What is new here, is that I have definitive measurements on two popular Exedy Clutch kits with very different heights! You can now choose the one that most closely matches your existing cover, and not worry much about finding a “matching” collar. In my recent experience of replacing several clutches for various cars, I have been buying the 280z spec clutch, 06009 part number, and it is much thinner (requiring a longer collar) than any of the stock OEM 240 clutch covers I’ve seen in the past (requiring a short-ish collar). My parts hoard has accumulated several of the shorter collars, and I’m always struggling to find longer collars to go with the thin pressure plates. I’ve even considered designing a two piece adjustable length collar to handle any situation. Well it turns out I ordered a 06029 kit the other day for a customer after having an old age brain fade, spec’ed for 240 and early 260. Got it out of the box and found the clutch cover is nearly 3/8 -1/2” inch taller than the 06009 kit. I will add the exact height of the spring finger tips with the cover bolted to a flywheel (yes, it very different) to use in your 92mm collar selection calculations shortly. Clearly Exedy has it straight since most 240 owners would have shorter collars, and need a thicker cover. 280’s have longer collars, needing thinner clutch covers. Not sure how I missed this, but what it means, is that there is a choice in clutch cover heights out there, you don’t always have to go hunting down the right(er) length collar. Just by the right clutch! I should note that the clutch disk in both kits are identical. Technically they have different part numbers, I can not see or measure any difference in the disks. Note this handles only the 225mm clutches, not the 2+2 240mm clutches. There were no 240mm spec clutches for 240z. It would be great to have a database of all the popular clutch brands and their clutch cover heights, something you can’t find in their published specs. So every time you replace your clutch, measure the cover height and record it here. Thank you.

Here are some pictures of the two covers.

Okay, I was able to accomplish a few things this week: I received and installed the hatch bracket from @zKars and put the strut in. This made it a lot easier to get the final alignment of the hatch done. I polished up the storage box handles I got from @7tooZ (photo taken between for comparison) And I cleaned up the 280ZX master cylinder I got on eBay I have lots of cleaning on the MC parts to do and various rebuild parts coming in the mail, so that will take a while. I should be able to get the brakes totally finished by the end of February.

I've measured tires tread with a penny but not a trunk with a dollar. I have seen strippers with large trunks covered inside and out with paper momey, not dollars though. I guess a dollar is similar to a hand when measuring horses?

If my memory is correct, the Buick top was from a Skylark. Question for those in the know? Did Nissan and Toyota share some body panels back around 1984? The reason I ask is, I parked my son's 84 Camry next to a Nissan ? of around the same year. I was amazed to see that both trunk lids appeared to be identical. I confirmed it by measuring both with a dollar bill..

They are good quality leds, and the problem was I still had one set of incandescent bulbs in when I tested before. The LED compatible flashers were faulty. I ordered new ones and this should solve the problem. I put the incandescent bulbs back in and everything works so obviously the flashers are not LED compatible, even though they advertised they were.. grrrrr. Live and learn.

Another clean 78, 5 speed. I don't know how the bumper rubber can last so long. A driver survivor, looks like somebody rattle-canned the undercarriage for the pictures. But none of the usual speed bump, curb jump, incorrect jack placement dents in the subframe rails. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-datsun-280z-82/

That would make sense. GM's intermediate line cars were identical in some ways, very similar in others. They often shared body shells. If you want to see this in action, check the early 50's Chevrolet - Olds - Pontiac - Buick sedans, especially the rear ends. The rear fenders were nearly identical in those cars, but side trim and grilles differed. Just IMHO - to my eye, the 1966 and 1967 GTOs were some of the most beautiful cars GM ever built. The styling from front to back was eye-catching, graceful and lovely. But it's true, they completely abandoned the squared-off look of the earlier GTO/Lemans models.

I'm guessing why they changed the body style after one year has to do with shared sheet metal with other GM brands. My old friend's dad was a hot-rodder back in the sixties. He bought a 64 GTO that had been rolled. Everything was repairable with the exception of the top. He couldn't find a top for a 64 GTO but he did find that a 64 Buick top was identical except for some added chrome strips that came with the Buick top. It was a perfect fit.

Yes! And it sitting flat too.

That's what the potentiometer does, trick the ecu to richen or lean the fuel/air mixture. The 3rd hole advances the the cam timing. It's just some drinking thinking I've pickled around with, you know stirring the pot a little more. I get bored...

A good friend of mine got one of the first 1964 GTO’s in Ohio. His Mother owned part of the local Pontiac Dealership. When word of the GTO’s reached the Dealerships, the Sales Manager ordered one for him. 2dr., Post Sedan, White with a Black Vinyl top. Perhaps the best American Car I’ve ever driven. Fastest thing on the street. Five or six months after he got it - the Service Manager ordered a “Performance Package” from Royal Oak Pontiac - made it even faster. But straight line performance wasn’t its only strong suite. It was just as much fun on long road trips, short wheel base and light weight with a stiffer than normal suspension. Very little of the usual American Car body roll. He let me drive it often over the following year - but the 65 or 66 Models came out and that time he got a 421 Catalina 2+2. If I bought a GTO - it would have be the 1964.

You have the fever! I got it a few years ago and wound up with 3 Z cars and a storage building full of parts. Money in the bank! You can't go wrong unless you get duped by some scum bag.

Wait until you ask about cams or the best oil. We have a lot of back and fourths, opinions I guess, but it's all fun.

To me the whole "ambiance" inside the cabin is what matters. That includes all switches and knobs looking good and working properly, including the radio. I really don't mind if the radio was repaired with old or new technology as long as it looks era correct, but the best sound possible it emits is truly appreciated.