psdenno

Who WOULDN'T want a 260Z 2+2 with automatic? Does it have mud flaps? No offense meant to any current owners of such a car in this group. Dennis

ARA unit installed by a Chevrolet dealer shortly after I sought the Z new in '71. Dennis

Glad you have the ash tray. That saves you a few hundred dollars. As others have mentioned, if the car has been sitting for years, change the brake fluid, Trans fluid, oil, get rid of the old gas. My Z had been sitting for about 15 years in storage and I changed all the fluids, plugs, plug wires, fuel lines, brake calipers, fan belts, air & gas filters, and gave it a tune up. Lots of crud in the gas tank. Good luck with the project, and as you start pouring money into it, remember that the car was free. Dennis

Welcome to the group! Glad to see another early Z in Palm Springs, besides mine. From the pictures, it looks like just about everything needing attention is fixable or replaceable. The ash tray that covers the fuse box will be a little pricey, but they show up on ebay from time to time. If you need the name of a good local mechanic for mechanical and electrical issues, let me know and I'll give you the name of the place that works on mine. He also installed the A/C on my '71, in case you decide you need it for the 108 degree weather. Dennis

Entertaining. Making something from nothing is always fun to watch. There was no pretense, no flash, and no made up drama. Just a couple guys with a goal. Dennis

This thread has strayed so far from the original topic that it's neither informative nor pleasant to be a participant. It's dead to me and I'm moving on. Dennis

I could care less about his current car or how he paid for it. Please stay on topic. Why I asked is because it is related to your initial post since he wants a V8 Z and you want to know the value of such a car. Values of such a car have a wide range based on type of engine, quality of installation, build quality of the Z. Your stepson's budget will determine the level of converted car he can consider buying. Depending on the budget, it may be a very nice complete car or a hastily put together conversion with a fresh coat of paint. Perhaps, it would be more appropriate for your stepson to be asking the questions on this forum. Dennis

What's your step son's budget? What's the most he's prepared to spend? Dennis

No problem. Have we reached consensus based on the responses so far? Do you feel we can reach consensus? How will we know when we reach consensus? Does diversity hinder consensus? Dennis

No, the other one - Stupid is as stupid does.

What was your first clue - weak English skills, V8 Z obsession, lives in MD, baits comments, makes no sense, doesn't listen to reason? I blocked OJ on this forum long ago. Then he moved to Hybridz and I blocked inane posts there. Now, I'll probably have to do it here, again. Forrest Gump was right. Dennis

That would be a neat package. My Infiniti G37 convertible has 325 HP and makes a great sound on acceleration. Converting an original 240Z to a 3.7 Nissan drivetrain would make it a modern 370Z with a much lighter vintage Z body. An interesting concept. As for V8 conversions, I've always felt that if I had the desire for a "go fast" Corvette powered sports car, I'd buy a Corvette. Dennis

Mike, You're right about the sun, so I got out of the desert for the summer. Much cooler here in Lake Arrowhead and it helps the lucid thinking process Dennis

The "Rule of Thumb" tends to be that you NEVER get back what you put into a restoration either stock or restomod. Maybe 50 cents on the dollar if you're lucky. The finished product may be priceless to the owner, but not to potential buyers. Your query asks for a tangible answer to an intangible question. You'll get opinions, but no definitive answers, and as they say, "Opinions are like belly buttons. Everybody has one.". Soooooo, while it's a thought and debate provoking question, there is no answer. You're comparing unequals with too many variables. In reference to the V8 Zs in the pictures above, the real answer to your question is that they may or may not be worth more than a nicely restored early Z. It's in the eye, and wallet, of the beholder. Dennis

Horse trailer...of course......why didn't I ever think to look for a vintage Z in a horse trailer? Seems like a logical place to store a car.......especially if you keep your horses in the garage.

Have you tried to clean it up and lube the pivots? Not much to it. If that doesn't work, a Z in a wrecking yard would be your best bet unless someone is parting one out and can ship it to you. Dennis

I always thought they were like socks in a dryer and just disappeared forever.

What's also cool is coordinating their performance at an air show. I had the opportunity to do that last century at the air base where I was stationed. The term Prima Donna comes to mind when I think about their requests/demands. Each had to have a brand new Pontiac Trans Am waiting next to the spot where where they would park their planes when they arrived at the base. They landed, taxied to their parking spots, deplaned, jumped into the Firebirds, and sped away. Special accommodations, meals, and fawning masses awaited. They're very skilled pilots and very full of themselves. Military rock stars. Dennis

Outstanding transformation! Almost as good as the one the aliens did on your wife Dennis

Hi Carl, Thanks for responding. I didn't catch that you already had the new knob when I read your post. How's the wood grain/color and feel of the shape of the knob compared to the original? Dennis

Also, the shift pattern emblem is cloisonné (enameled metal), not plastic, as the originals were on the early cars. I'll be interested in hearing what you think of it when it arrives. Certainly looks like a viable alternative at a fairly reasonable price. Dennis

A little rough around the edges for that asking price. Seller does seem proud of the front end, however, based on the number of pictures. I'd pass. Dennis

It doesn't look like anything is in need of immediate attention. Your "starting point" looks like what most of us wish our "finished" project looked like. Dennis

Looks good! Do you plan to leave the tail light surrounds body color? Dennis

Take time to look at the door gaps on both doors when they're closed. Look especially at the gap on the latch side of the door. If the Z is sagging in the middle, the gap will be tighter at the top than at the bottom - a sure sign of weak structure reinforcement. Hard to tell from the posted pictures. Nice looking car, however. Dennis