psdenno

There's a metal trim ring that holds the larger boot in place on the tunnel with screws. When I put a 5 speed in my '71 Z, I enlarged the hole in the tunnel, got the later style boot, and used the boot as a template for making a new trim ring with screw holes matched to the holes in the boot. Actually, the metal shop class at the local high school made the ring for me based on the paper template I gave them. All went together nicely. Dennis

After you take out all of the screws that attach the console to the Z, disconnect the battery and take the lid off of the fuse box. Then pull the console toward the rear of the car. You'll also want to disconnect both the choke lever from the bottom of the console and the rear window defrost switch electrical connection. And don't forget to disconnect the battery or you'll blow fuses and cause sparks to fly as the console slide out. Dennis

Can't go too wrong with a '71 Z. Welcome to the group! Dennis

It's been done, but requires quite a bit of fabrication. I have a spare set in my garage and looked them over before deciding to go with BMW seats - which also required fabrication to mate the seats to Z seat rails. There's no back recline on the 914 seats, but the original Porsche adjuster lets you put a little slant on the base of the seat. They are a comfortable and lightweight seat compared to others. Dennis

I wonder if Permatex would sell it by the pint or half pint instead of the little bottles. However, even at the price you paid, that's not bad for getting the defroster back on line. Enjoy having one of the few early Zs with a working grid! Dennis

Hoping to shed some Christmas light on the subject.....according to the book I found under the tree this morning, "How To Make A Small Fortune Maintaining Your Porsche", Chapter One is titled, "Start With a Large Fortune and a Used Porsche". As the long time owner of a six cylinder 1970 Porsche and a 1971 Datsun Z, I can assure you that the Z is less demanding on the bank account. While there was a significant cost variance between the two when new, it becomes a moot point 40 years later when both have proven themselves to be enjoyable, spirited, modes of transportation. Dennis

The Z is definitely less expensive to maintain and buy parts for than a contemporary Porsche or most German cars in general based on my 39 years as a Z owner. Having owned several Porsche 914s, including the 914-6 I still have, a 944, and an Audi, I am only too familiar with the costs. We went back to a Japanese car when we recently sold the family Audi and replaced it with an Infiniti G37 Convertible. Perhaps the Datsun Z should have been called "The Rich Man's Porsche" due to the HUGE amount of money that could be saved in maintenance costs over the term of ownership when compared to the cost of maintaining any Porsche. Dennis

If you've turned it over (started it with starting spray) you've already moved the pistons in the cylinders. It's a good idea to change all the fluids if it's been sitting a couple years. The gas is probably quite icky by now. Don't forget the brake fluid and clutch cylinder fluid. You may find that you have leaks at/in the master cylinder, brake cylinders, or clutch cylinders. You don't want to find out that the brakes are bad during that first spirited run when you finally get it started. I speak from experience with too many underused older cars. :stupid: Dennis

Also, let us know what your "FREE" Z ends up costing Welcome to the group! Dennis

If the price is right and the quality closer to original than what's currently available, you should have no trouble moving 20 sets. Personally, I wouldn't care about early vs late hole configuration. However, I wouldn't want to drill & chrome a set. Dennis

The Yen to US Dollar rate at that time was 360 to 1. So 16,000 Yen works out to about $44.45 which seems like a bargain even 40 years ago. Dennis

Why don't airports validate for parking? Why do highway signs say, "Lodge Road Exit 1/4 Mile" or "Next Rest Stop 3/4 Miles"? No instrument on a car measures distance in quarter mile increments. Dennis

I agree that it doesn't appear to be the right one for your car. Interesting that the width looks right. How does it look when you slide it to the top of the glass and leave a gap at the bottom? Dennis

Perhaps a forum survey to measure interest would be appropriate. It would be great to have a set engineered for the Z to minimize user improvisation. Mine have been DOA for decades. Dennis

I love deadlines...especially the whooshing noise they make as they go by. I have a 1963 Studebaker Avanti in the garage that I bought in 1975 with intentions of restoring. Still a work in progress after numerous missed deadlines. Anyone have an unfinished car project that they started before '75? Dennis

Power On AchilleZ, live the dream! I don't know how you could set off on a greater adventure for only $400. I think I'd set a deadline, however. Like if it's not on the road by the time you're 30, consider moving on. You can probably part it out and recoup more than your $400 investment. Many of us have taken on a project like the one you propose and wouldn't let anyone talk us out of doing it. That's part of the fun of the old car hobby. Keep us posted on your progress. Dennis

$20K? The unpolluted 28 year old air in the tires could be worth that much, alone. Dennis

Have a couple spare fuel filters on hand. Crud and corruption from the gas tank will rattle loose and clog filters. You'll notice a lack of power as the filter clogs and restricts fuel flow. Dennis

Does your fuel pump deliver a constant flow or deliver only on demand? Seems to me that blocking off the return line makes no sense as the pump will continue to pump and the excess fuel has to go somewhere. Why do you not want the pump to run constantly? Dennis

Did you sign up for an ID card after joining? Just $250. Dennis

Snugly - depends on how the panel holes may have stretched or been reamed. You may have to slightly enlarge some holes with a small round file if too tight a squeeze. But, the price is right - about 10 cents per rivet! They come in a plastic box of 20 and are called POM Rivets. Size 5mm x 15.8mm Dennis

Harbor Freight has them, too. Slightly larger than original, but way less expensive. Ztrain is right, this is riveting! Dennis

Plastic Rivets......similar to those that hold the inner plastic panels in place. Dennis

Hi Paul, Welcome to the group! Nice looking start to a project. Bummer about the right front fender. The dent in the leading edge of the hood should be a little easier to deal with. Dennis

Your mounting system is far more elegant than mine. Unfortunately, there were no mount points on the bottoms of my BMW seats, so I had to attach the angle iron pieces to the mounting points for the BMW rails. Those points were extensions that protruded down from the sides of the seat bases. Dennis