RolfSis

THANK YOU THANK YOU! Hubby got the seat off for me and it's on the living room rug in all its splendor! There is no webbing that I can see, but do see the quilting kind of under the vinyl or leather, whichever it is. Also strange green-straps. I may well have bitten off more than I can chew at my age, tsk tsk. Alas, now that the seat is off, I must do something and will explore the information you've shared with gratitude. Thanks also, Carl B. We've had it in a shop and up on a lift where they did some diagnostics, etc., and snapped lots of pictures. Many of the pictures I've shown were taken before much was done to just spiff things up. Although I don't yet know what frame rails are, I do see that there is some rust under the battery area. Rear deck lid lower lip, not so sure; I guess you mean the hatchback? This is my brother's car I'm helping him sell and fiddling to fix up, and he's already paid to have shop work done. I am a novice novice novice as well you can see, and will definitely get the camera going to update pictures. Not sure which you saw, but there are oodles. http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240Z-12.htm http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/KickingTires.htm http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/OctoberUpdates.htm

We're in the same boat, the driver's side seat bottom of our 1971 240Z needs new foam, needs the original cover resewn (sun wiped out the stitching), and those little green straps underneath that apppear to hold it all together need be replaced. Does all this stuff come in a kit, or can you do things yourself with alternate things? In our case 3 of 4 seats are great (tops & bottoms). Also curious what the rings are you mentioned, perhaps that's part of the greet strap array ?? Sorry to sound out of it, but truly a novice.

Apologies, meant to include link to seat pictures before we took it all apart: http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240z_work_in_progres.htm

Brilliant, Mike, thank you! WOW, I never realized how complex seats are, especially this one! I'd never have gotten it out, thank goodness for Hubbies that have the knack. He did take out the entire assembly, and the top piece looks quite good, the bottom stitching is mostly sun-wiped-out! And what a job this will be, the foam needs to be addressed/replaced and restitching maybe on the bottom seat (hope my sewing machine can do this). It smells and feels like leather, wonder if it could be on the original 1971 240Z, though I heard many talking about them as vinyl. Then on the bottom of the seat were some kinds of strappings that apparantly once held things together; not so much now, so that needs to be addressed. It amazes me what a huge difference just that one piece of seating has vs. all the rest of the seat pieces. All 3 other pieces look pretty nifty, the passenger seat like new, go figure. We're all really attached to it, and getting up in years so we are definitely selling it (sniff sniff). The mind-boggler is do we keep putting more money into it to fix things up and increase the price, or sell as is for others better able to do the work themselves who love and preserve classics like this. Again, thank you so much for your time and help, and thanks to you janaka for posting this thread. The colors of both your Zs are beautiful!!!!!

Thanks everyone. Back from the shop, and brakes are at 70% front and 50% back, which sounds good to me. Now regarding the seats, another whole story. I went out there tools in hand and worked on and off for a couple of days and just can't get the bottom of the driver's seat out, which is the only part that needs help. I'm hoping when my husband returns, he can give it a go. Any other hints are very much appreciated. All the rest of the seats look great, as seen here: http://asta.bizhosting.com/240z_work_in_progres.htm Whew.

Thanks, Rockr69, sorry for delayed response, didn't get notif of this update via email. When you said "but you can do it yourself as the seats do come apart very easily" I sure got excited and popped right out there with tools in hand. Days later, still no go. Asked my husband to help so he may be able to work the magic I couldn't. Any hints? In our case, all the seats are quite fine, with the exception of the driver's bottom part of the seat which I want to refill with new foam and try to sew myself. Not sure it'll work, though. We're selling this family treasure, and wanted to make the seat better first. Here are some pictures that may be helpful. Thank you so much. http://asta.bizhosting.com/240z_work_in_progres.htm

:surprised I'm baffled because it's SO tough to get the bottom of the driver's seat out, and hope my husband can get it done for me. All seats are original and in good shape with the exception of the bottom of the driver's seat, so was hoping to take it out all by itself, and try to fix myself. This thread is very informative, and happy you've found alternatives and options if my hope doesn't work out and we haven't yet sold this by then. I keep reading through threads hoping to find specific clues and others who went about fixing vs. replacing the bottom of the driver's seat. In our case, the seats look really good, it's the stitching from the 36 years of California sun that got munched up. Seat pictures in the following link, with thumbnail of problem here (if the thumbnail upload actually works for me): http://asta.bizhosting.com/240z_work_in_progres.htm Thank you.

How did you get the seat out? I'm trying to take out the bottom of the driver's seat to fix it, replace foam, etc., and just can't get it off. Sorry to be off topic, but you sound like you'd know. Thanks a lot.

OOps, that font bites! I guess we'd better reassess the price at which to sell our baby. thoughts?

Yay! Brakes at 70% .... pretty nifty! Some good news on the Z front. :knockedou I'm knocked out with smiles! ":0)))))))

Sorry, apparently I'm lost and no idea how I got into this thread and off topic. ":0(

OOps, blushing.

This sounded SO promising, but being a novice and trying to get our Z buyer-ready with minimal expense and effort leads me to deduce that it's not for us; I was thinking maybe around the exhaust pipes where in one spot they could use a little spiffing up, but probably not wise; any thoughts? The FAQs were interesting, and a GREAT thread here, and thanks for it. http://www.goldtouchinc.com/cosmichrome/faq.html Q. Can it be applied to exhaust pipes? A: No, The maximum temperature is 250ºC/ 121ºC. Even hexavalent chromium plating will discolor on many high temperature parts. Many plastics melt below these temperatures. Just talking to myself, saying not for us and our project, but very interested in alternative ways to keep the initial beauty of a '71 240Z, it's integrity and minimize the cash to 'fix' and 'sell'. My bro kept our gem up for 36 years or so for his son to find that his son was no longer into it. Now time to get over it and find a new home. Sure do appreciate the insights and wisdoms you all are giving.............. ":0) Asta

Thanks for the help. I'm hoping that when the Z gets back from the shop from the brake work, I can get into disassembling the driver's seat and checking things out close and personal. Once done, and I can compare my skills to the job at hand, can better judge the next logical less costly step. Appreciate the offer to explore alternative seat replacements, but would really like to be able to keep the original baby together (so to speak), in as much of its original form and format and then sell to someone who, like us, appreciate the original beauty they delivered when they created the 1971 240Z. The fact that we replaced the original 240Z with a 260Z engine is real, but don't think it detracts but rather attracts; although not the original part. That said, again THANKS THANKS AND THANKS! I'm also currently fixing up my '88 Acura LS Integra, which has been a real gem to me, and read that their seats are nearly perfect for this series Z. A few of the stitchings have also separated, like the Z driver seat stitching, so experimenting on it to see how easy it is to mend/resew the seams. NOT EASY!!!! Whew, so much more to do and learn. :rambo: Asta - workin' it and learnin lots.

Sweet looking car as well! Thanks for the details and pics. Sounds very hopeful for sure! I will post more pics. It's great how you got those thumbnails up there with your comment, I haven't figured that out yet. ":0) Asta

Having issue publishing updates there, so some before pictures of the driver's seat are below. The passenger seat looks great, and the driver's seat for the most part looks good on the exterior as you'll see from these photos which you can enlarge. The problem is where the seams have separated, probably due to sun dried stitching and the degraded internal foam. Again, your help is top notch and appreciated. http://asta.bizhosting.com/240z_work_in_progres.htm Once I get the car back from the shop doing the brake work, I'll get into it thanks to your help and take more photos. I did find some excellent foam at a local frabric shop .... before asking you all here. Hrmpf (but perhaps a viable alternative if we quit putting $s into improving it and let the eventual new owner modify as they want). Always decisions.

BRILLIANT stuff, thank you. It's in the shop getting brake work done after which I'll get into this with thanks to you for your help. I'll get more pictures and add them to this link when updated which I hope to get loaded later today. http://www.creativecustomizedsolutions.atfreeweb.com/240Z-inquiry_form.htm ":0) - Hopeful

:stupid: The more I learn, the less I know. Thought it would be easy to remove the original cover of the '71 Driver's Seat so I can repair/replace the sun damaged foam and re-stitch the seat leather or vinyl, whichever it is, but not so easy. Any guidance or hints on how to go about this? Thanks tons.

Excellent information here, and you're so right, a great site! We're also fixing up my brother's 1971 240Z for sale, and find that this native California car has been sitting in the California sun curbside for decades, driven less than 3 or 4,000 miles since the 240Z was replaced with a 260Z engine. We've had quite a lot of work done since we've decided to sell it, with more in progress now at the shop. It's hard to find things like driver's seat fixes for this year, though Ebay had a set for sale but even those looked like the driver's seat was dipped really low and worn. Guess it's just the way it is with 36 year old classic treasures like this. Anyway, appreciate the information shared here, and just wanted to say thanks and chime in with our work in progress and goal to sell here in the Bay Area. ":0) Asta

Novice here wondering about 'fixing' old seats as a viable solution for the 240Z. We have a 1971 we're fixing and selling, and the passenger seat is great, but California sun dried out the driver's seat (stitching undone and stuffing-foam type seat degraded), so that's the seat we will repair. Does it make sense to not try that? I found this link to some possible part solutions, in case it helps. http://www.zcarsource.com/specials.html#overstock I noticed through the past months 240Z seats for sale as well, but those also had a big dip on the driver's side, so didn't make sense to pursue. The original '71 240Z seats are perfect, and would be a shame to have to replace them with other types if we can't fix them to our satisfaction. Just wondering. Thanks, ":0) Asta

We are going to repair a '71 240Z driver's seat, and doing similar shopping for our 240Z and found this link that "may" be of help to you. http://www.zcarsource.com/z_car_parts.html

Great info, Exdamyankee, thank you. Sorry for the delay, didn't see your response until now. The Z is back and sounds really good! I was finally able to get some snapshots of the underside while up on the lift, and will include them here. My brother replaced spark plugs and the shop did this stuff: September 19, 2007: 24-6 YR Delco Battery & Warranty, new spark plugs, reset ignition points to 18 THOS. and set ignition timing to 7 BTDC. Replaced negative battery cable end. Bled the clutch system and ended up replacing the clutch master cylinder and clutch slave cylinder. It sounds really good, and want to fix the driver's seat this week and retest it; have to push down on the brakes hard. Might be what you said about brake cylinders leaking from age or pitting, though not likely since such few miles on the brakes themselves, but again, not sure. Pictures without any cleanup efforts of the underside, etc. as updated, here: http://asta.bizhosting.com/Sept-21-Updates.htm Thank you for the excellent information. We have definitely decided to sell her. ":0) Asta

Yahoo! Yipee! It's running GREAT and purring according to the "shop"! Getting ready to pick it up and check things out. Will post updates and take more photos. ":0)

ROFLROFL I sure missed your comment here, for which I apologize. I never saw that any responses happened.... Boo hoo. Anyway, thanks Arne for letting me know. The more I learn about our Z, the more I need to learn. I guess I should post the thread with updates to tie things together, though not sure that's the way to go. But, being a novice, here goes>>>>>>>>> http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?p=229958&posted=1#post229958 I sure wish I knew more than I do about the Z, thanks bunches, Asta

I'm sorry, 240ZGL, I never saw your response here, and sure didn't mean to ignore your comment. Sorry. YES! It is very frustrating to have a treasure you've cared for and loved for decades to be caught in a spot where you can't continue to give it your all (health reasons or other). To sit in this classic and experience it's uniqueness is truly something that only true Z Lovers can relate to. If you're lucky enough (as you must have been) to have the skills and willingness to work on it yourself and watch the magic happen is a blessing. Sadly, neither my Bro nor I have any of these skills. We can do lots of stuff in terms of manual labor to clean it up and hug it (tee hee), but lack the technical and engineering knowledge that most folks at this Classic Z Cars club have. I'm sad to hear that your health is in the way of your continuing on your dream path with your Z. It's a sad thing when we want stuff and can't quite get there. Crossing fingers and wishing for good stuff. ":0) Asta