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I have been absent from this wonderful board for a while and I miss talking the Z. Went down the roadster rabbit hole, then started collecting watches. Why the deviation? Well kids time has been the most important thing to me for a while. Corona messed up my timelimes for a lot of fun activities. Also the Z and Roadster have just not needed anything but an occasional drive to keep them in tip top condition. Both have been dead reliable for the past 3 years. But I felt I needed to get back on the board again to talk Z's again and connect with this excellent community I have been away from. This community which has been with me the whole way through the Z ownership experience. I thought about selling the Datsuns and moving on as they were not getting driven enough, but I felt that all long term relationships have ebbs and tides and keeping the Z and Roadster during this lull is the smart play. Hope everybody is doing well and enjoying their Z cars! Hope to contribute more again.

We can get pilots and are hiring about 20 a month and there is a global pilot shortage( in the order of tens of thousands) we are the best place to be as a commercial pilots and people want to fly for us. Its the drivers and people who load the trucks and planes we are short on. It’s everywhere I go. . This trip to Europe; and before I say it I don’t want forum members who live there to be offended. I love to old charm of Europe, the history and food but you can really see how fast to world is changing when you are there. Things are coming to a head, I can’t explain it but there is tension everywhere. The UK was having fuel shortages, people were in the streets talking about food shortages and prices were off the chart. I watched a lady die 40 ft from me at a outdoor restaurant (not sure what happened) and not a single people tried to give CPR or any assistance other than her friend. Someone called an ambulance and they took her away. I was blown away. I really don’t know how the average person survives or prospers there. Food, fuel, services are all 50% higher than the US. I believe it’s coming here to the US and soon. The world is so politically divided, Covid stress, geopolitical tensions, social norms changing, financial strain and debt all are compounding it. I hope I’m wrong. I need a drink [emoji1634] now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, they’re bottomed put, and yes the align perfectly. I’ve decided to shorten them with my grinder from 14mm to 10mm. The shoulder sticks out 4mm past flywheel surface now. Was thinking like Chas that they would fly out if I just bored out the pressure plate holes and be bouncing around the tranny bell housing. They fit nicely ground down to 10mm Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank goodness there weren't video cameras in everyone's hands when we were younger..

I'm in the "if they want..." group. Repo guys can get anyting. So with their knowledge and equipment anybodies stuff is steal-able. To add, my car lives in a garage and is never left alone at car shows, isn't parked as a normal car. My Camry is my DD. The only thing more important is my dog.

The biggest insurance policy vintage car owners have these days is that fewer criminals know how to operate a manual transmission. That said, a roll-back defeats pretty much any/all anti-theft devices, and if someone really wants your car, they'll get it.

I agree with you on the free money for the young folks but I've had about 25% taken out of my pay for over 30 years. I pay for public education but haven't any kids. My next door neighbors home school their kids and get some kind of tax refund. I do not get that refund money even though I have no kids. Life sucks then we die they say. Bring it on!

Yeah, but the beach scene in Boise is indescribable.

One of the 240Z's restored by Bill Reagan in Texas - he also did the Franklin Mint Z. 842 was last sold in April 2019 on BAT

Very nice!! From green funk to that...

FYI, I installed a Fidenza flywheel a few months ago and had the same issue with the dowel pins. One of the 3 fit properly, the two others were .002 bigger, the length was correct. Had to machine the dowels to fit the flywheel pin holes. The flywheel holes were correct, the pins were the problem.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had a Z stolen. While probably a few of us have had a car stolen (I've had two - a Toyota Camry and a Porsche 914), hearing the details of a stolen Z could be informative.

I wish it were true that is that easy to get recruits. I was briefed once by USMC manpower HQ and they said 82% of age eligible citizens do not meet the minimum qualifications to join the military. No HS Diploma, drug usage, law offenses,, weight, medical, allergies, psychological and then entry test scores. It’s that bad! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Headers and an N42 intake off a '75 or '76. Pre EGR.

Getting that free money to stay home. Scary to think where you work is an open door to start a career and have benefits for a lifetime. Very Sad

Not sure, but is the dowel in far enough? I thought the dowel shoulder was flush with the flywheel surface. The shoulder prevents the dowel falling out once the pressure plate is fitted. Now the pressure plate is riding on the dowel shoulder.

Will try not to steal your thread here, but yes, this is our dream home in the foothills complete with 1500 sq-ft garage. Meeting with the epoxy floor coater tomorrow. Will start posting on the Garage Majal thread here soon. So you will have to post some pictures of your current Z(s) and roadster here. Gotta have the pics!

The tolerance between the dowel and the pressure plate is off a bit. Check for burrs on the dowels and PP holes. The dowels should be snug but should not impede the PP from clamping down tight against the flywheel. If you must, gently file the holes just enough so they slide over the dowel pins.

Great to have you back! Always enjoyed your comments and feedback. Will be getting involved a bit more myself here once we finish up our transition from San Diego to Boise.

Glad to have you back, buddy.

Wally, I did this resto myself and it wasn’t hard just time consuming. I did like the others mentioned (and filled the forum advice). I stripped the spikes to the metal, primed and the put several coats of satin. On the resin/wood portion just sand smooth, wipe off any dust and residue and then go with clear Poly. Clear poly isn’t a actually clear is has a light tint by it very nature. Puts a nice color on the wheel. I put about 4-5 coats of poly (spray). Darkens a bit with more coats. You don’t need any stain (this is a point of disagreement on the forum). I’d make it to your liking. Here’s techniques I used. Poly takes a long time to dry. I waited 12 hrs between coats, lightly sanded with like 600 grit sand paper between coats, wipe down between coats. Poly is fickle, it can sometimes lay uneven (it runs so lay it on thin) , it can get bubbles easily and dust can land on it during the long drying phase. The sanding in between should mitigate most of that. Be sure the area you are spaying is dust and wind free or else it will be a problem. Strip and paint the spokes first, then do the wheel. Good luck and post pics. He was mine, got from a junk yard. It was bad and the yard still charged me $40 or $50. Before: Middle: After: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the post Kickstand, well yes major progress. the last thing i did was put the dizzy back together and I got spark . Howshe still would run . It would turn over and start only when i put fuel in the intake . Dreading what the issue could be I ran the diagnostic I first did when I got her , Spark - Check Fuel Pressure_ check Spark plugs fouled - Check they are clean So what could it be ? Lets pull the injectors as see if they are firing , ( yes I know the electrical diagnosis for this procedure , But I found the last time it was way easier to just pull the fuel rail and put cups under them and see if they spray ) Pull out the rail and crank it over and WHAT!!!!!!! dripping from the injectors????? I quickly look over to see the pressure gauge at 45lbs I stop and try it again ... this time they barely drip. Are you kidding me ? their practically new . So I pull them out and ........ Ill let the pictures tell the story . YUp 2 pounds of sand and other debris in the tank . the injectors were clogged shut !!!!! Three days later of pulling out the whole fuel system ( tank, lines, injectors, pump ) with a full wire brush out of the gas tank. clean out of all fuel lines and repaint the tank ( which was in crazy good shape ) I am praying I can start putting everything back in this weekend . Ill keep you informed .

842 is on BAT, right up the way from @Racer X No reserve. I'm close too. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-datsun-240z-77/

Cool. I've not looked for makerspaces in my area, but that is something I should investigate. Been meaning to, but keep forgetting. I did pick up an el-cheapo CNC router not long ago and have made a few parts similar in concept to what you're trying to do. "They say" it's capable of doing some light duty milling in aluminum, but I don't think it's rigid enough. Everything I've cut so far has been plastic. So far, I've followed my typical pattern... Spend about half the time improving the machine and fixing the flaws with it, and the other half the time actually using the machine to make parts.

Thank goodness none of us were doing dumb things like this when we were younger !!

The grinder and their number should be on the front of the cam where the chain sprocket is.

Just posted mine in another thread, good timing!

I do exactly that for exactly those reasons! When away from home, in addition to electronic immobilisation, it’s wheel clamped. I also take the wheel clamp in the boot to use at overnight stay events. But even in that situation, if they want it, they will lift it off the ground or bring a battery powered angle grinder / power drill and drill out the lock. All you can do is delay them or make it difficult. Case in point as mentioned, modern cars!

Many people would ask why why why anyone would use a n42 head unless you are going to weld and reshape the chamber.

Greeting all. I joined this forum but have not spent much time on it. I have re-designed the plastic bearing retainer that is broken in your distributor. I sell them for 2.00. Here is a picture of my broken retainer, an origional and my re-designed retainer. I removed all the week spots and beefed up the holes where the ball bearing sit. This will fit any 4 or 6 cylinder matchbox distributor. HAS TO BE A MATCHBOX DISTRIBUTOR. I have these posted on another Z site or if you search 280zx distributor repair kit you will find my story. Good luck.

I agree, everyone is looking for quality workers these days. Not an easy task. Where I work we are sort thousands of workers and we can’t fill the positions...not even close. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk