Sean Dezart

Maybe I'm being too ambitious with my choice of makes. Can anyone propose me a choice of wooden rimmed, dished steering wheels that one can buy ready to fit onto a 1972 240Z ?

I'm gettin' really pissed - I'm getting nowhere and it aint your fault guys. The reason for choosing Hellas is to improve over the standard lighting but clearly there are now better lights out there although not of the sealed beam type or look. Are these 'diamond' lights going to look ok on a 1972 car , I don't want to associate myself with the 'tuning' brigade of add-on wannabes ? And so, does one choose Neon or 'krypton?' gas filled bulbs and at what strength - I hear someone say 90/110 but why ? Help, my head is hurting...

Dear GunnerRob, Euphenisms - a hidden way of describing something ! Don't apologise, it's just proff that a sickier wacko than the rest of you, put it another way, I'd like to see women Z drivers flashing thier perspectives at us ! GenZ you can take that any which way you like ! Personally, I stoop to all levels but aint small-minded.

Thanks Roger I'll check out the Hella aus site and thanks for the offer to supply. UK lights won't do 'cos they drive on the wrong side of the road and the beam angle is all wrong !

I love these euphenisms 'It's nice to have you as a member with a new perspective' I am definitely for more women Z/Zx drivers. Hey GenZ? If you had wanted a negative question to your original question, you'd have posted it on an MG or Camero site huh ? You are a class 1 manipulatrice - right on ! vroom...

Thanks Ian -I will. Do you have a photo of said adaptor ? My fear is that the wheel with all these adaptors will finsih by being ridiculously far away from the black trim holding the ignition lock assembly. Sean

So I've chosen the wheel I want - a Nardi Classico Polished 15". I 've emailed twice at the only concessionaire which comes up on Interent and on the third email, I got a reply. Yes, we can supply you with the wheel you want but it won't fit ! You need to buy a Grant boss and then we can sell you a Grant to Nardi adaptor, after which the Nardi will fit. I don't like people telling me that I must fit half a dozen things before I get to my first choice - I like the 240 'cos it's pure and SIMPLE ! Whatever happened to 'the client is king' ? Anyone got any suggestions (apart from choosing another wheel) ?

Thanks I'll check them out (ideal is to find them here in Europe but...) Iwant to share this with you Dear Mr. Dezart, Your E-Mail dtd. 02.12.02 was transferred to our department and after having checked your enquiry with our technicians who are responsible for lighting products we unfortunately have to inform you that we do not have any longer 7" headlamps in our range. As we do not stock products for Oldtimers we consequently can not offer corresponding headlamps for your Datsun 240 Z. The only possibility we see is that you contact your local dealer or accessory shops and ask for auxiliary lamps which are available as fog lamps or as driving lamps and which can be mounted onto the bumper respectively underneath it in addition to your old healdlamps. For example we can recommend here our Comet FF 200 (round) or Comet FF 300 (oval) which have achieved an excellent result in various tests which were also published in the automotive press. Best regards Heike Räbiger (Export Sales North,/West- and South Europe VG 2-1) They still list Datsun 100As, Silvias and 280ZXs amongst many others ! Aren't there enough Zeds out there to warrant continuing production ?

Damn, but you Germans are smart ! Well, they are ordered and will arrive just before Christmas. Thanks both of you. Sean

The general theme here I can see is thatit doesn't matter what car you drive, Z, ZX, whatever generation, Corvette or another classic car. It's the mentality behind that older car, kept on the road, glossy or in primer because those drivers love thier cars first and the looks come second. When I got my first 240Z (jeez, I sound old when I say 1st), everyone said I bought it for a p**** magnet. I siad I couldn't give two f*rts for that - I bought it strictly for my pleasure and if that means driving around on my own - so be it ! Classic car owners are different and Z owners take that a step further. Hope you guys and girls are lucky enough to find the 350Z owners who haven't bought one 'cos it's the latest trend. It does mean that their will be more of them about later to pick up cheaper in ten years though !

You're lucky I'm off the shelf and getting on a bit !

E-Types are gorgeous FHC or rag tops (early ones I mean) but they look so fragile. The Zs' package is graceful but muscular in a small, neat package and that's what so different - it's compact ! Worked for rallys and races. In Oct during a 6 hr race I watched a 240 finish ahead of every 911, Austin Healeys, a lightweight E-Type and two Chevrons! Incidentally, my introduction to Zeds was via en established Jaguar fan who still has his MK1 3.8 FHC. His son Steve has a 240Z and a Skyline !

Simple - if you love the car, persist and get it fixed ! I know people over here who'd kill for a 280ZX Turbo and a lot of people who don't know much about the Z series know there exists a 280ZXT. Rustle those lil' yellow feathers, take the advice here when you can find it and get flashing those other Z/ZX drivers but a word of advice, don't be too hasty giving out your address to these guys, some of them spend too much time in their garages or on their computers to date normally !

Honking doesn't work, can't hear it for the exhaust unless you're a p**** with a no-guts engine ! My last Z, with a flame popping un-environmental free-flow exhaust served as a horn for a year to warn other (dip the clutch and rev) until I realised it was bust ! Flashing those beauties is the way to go, the lights look so great reflecting in the scoops I sometimes drove with them on all day ! But what's my girlfriend gonna ask me to flash when I see another Z ? How do you keep the wheel straight "look no hands" ! Anyway, over here most times a car flashes you, it's a sign that there are cops ahead and there are laws for public indecency.

Thanks Rainer I'm gonna order 'em tomorrow! I didn't see your "pic" though ? Sean

Hey Rolf, I tried to email you but wasn't allowed - hope you get this. I've got the info from Thomas Hanna, the German agent and I'm nearly convinced. How do you fit these things on, are holes into the car necessary ? Thomas said they can be dismounted in 5 minutes - true ? Are you satisfied with the protection they offer and can you confirm they don't interfere with larger brakes (Wilwood) and lowered suspension with 15x8 minilite wheels ? Big questions but you're the man !

Can anyone help me findan outlet perhaps via Interent and the old world side of the Atlantic for some Hellas. None of my search engines can come up with an address ? I have followed your lighting discussions and will uprate the wires and fit more powerful bulbs but first, the lights. Thanks

At the risk of upsetting everyone, especially the adinistrators, I want to ask for your advice on behalf of a French Z owner who has a 1980 1.8l injection Silvia as well. His fuel consumption has gone up and the amount of CO has risen from 2 to 4. The motor runs cool (oil at 70 degrees instead of 110 and he therefore thinks that the injection unti believes the engine is always running from cold and gives the engine more fuel just as if the choke/starter is engaged. He has tried fitting an adjustable thermostat which has helped a bit but still the engine needs some insitance before starting. Before the engine fired up first time! There seems to be a loss of power on the road also. He believes that perhaps there is some air in the fuel system ? He's currently stuck with this problem which is a shame since it is a car in superb condition, especially for someone who lives in Brittany where it rains 1 day in 3 !

Thanks Rolf - I've emailed him so we'll see how commercial he is!

Engine - the weak spot ? I had a Renault 30 with that engine and albeit a heavy car with auto transmission - it was a stonker with never a problem! They did the same crown wheel job to fit the engine in a Lambo Muira kit in the '80s!