Captain Obvious

I'm not really concerned by the compression test results. They're all consistent, but a little low. Sounds to me like it's an old Z engine in typical condition. No problem. As for your carb issues... It's all in the adjustment of the carbs. The front carb has no vacuum at idle because it's all the way closed shut. And when it's all the way closed, it doesn't contribute anything to the running of the engine. You're idling completely on the rear carb. Once you get off idle and the linkage opens the front carb, it runs off both carbs and you're OK. But at idle, the front carb butterfly is adjusted completely shut and that carb isn't doing anything. Bottom line? Close the rear carb some and open the front. Adjust them so both carbs are doing something, even at idle.

If you had one carb completely off, all six cylinders had a pretty clear path direct to atmosphere. Three of them (obviously) direct, and the other three almost as good to atmosphere through the balance tube. Point is... I don't think you have to run the test again simply with the throttle held open. I think your previous test already took care of that.

Sending you a PM about the tach. ☺️

Haha!!

"Acid solution containing Hydrofluoric acid, Sulfuric acid, and Nonylphenoxy Ethoxy Ethanol Have a 0.13% solution of zepharin chloride solution on hand" Yikes. For those who don't know anything about hydrofluoric... If I remember correctly, the zepharin chloride is an emergency measure to give it a calcium target that it likes better than the calcium in your body. Like your bones. Classic tradeoff between safety and effectiveness. That stuff probably works great.

Roger that. Figured there was an easy answer. This issue is fresh in my mind as I've been helping a local guy with his Z and that was one of the issues with his motor. He was running uber-lean for many reasons, and one of them was a mismatch between gasket design and fuel delivery design. He didn't do it, but his motor came to him with the wrong gasket style. Here's a pic looking into the intake manifold while holding the gasket in place. The gasket pretty much blocks off the injector holes completely. His injectors were spraying into a closed door:

Pic shows an intake/exhaust gasket for carbureted applications which blocks off the fuel injector holes. Are you switching to carbs? Or is just a mechanical mock-up? I'm sure there's a simple answer, but I just have to ask.

I will take a look to see if I have one of those switches. If not, I'm assuming the aftermarket add-on you have installed (functionally) does the same thing? What the stock switch does is connects the blue/white to ground any time the switch is in any position other than OFF. Your switch may not do the exact same thing electrically, but functionally within the system, it should serve the same function (to turn the compressor off unless the fan is spinning).

And I had the pleasure of spending significant time with you at both. Here's to hoping we can do that again at a future event!

Thinking about it for another second though, there is one detail that bears mention... The "Fan is not in the OFF position" signal is built into the four speed switch that came with the A/C cars. Since your car did not come with A/C and has the three speed switch, you need that auxiliary aftermarket installed switch. Here's a couple pics of the four speed switch:

Yes, the resistor is different. You see..... The non-A/C cars (like yours) have three fan speeds while the A/C equipped cars came with FOUR fan speeds: But the top speed bypasses the resistor in both cases so the highest speed is the same. Point is... Yes, the resistors are different, but really doesn't matter for what you're doing.

I assume the switch responding to the fan position disables the A/C it the fan is in the off position (so you don't slug the compressor). And the other switch probably cycles the compressor based on the temp of the air through the evaporator. I'm pretty sure you knew all that already, so I guess I'm not sure what the question was?

I'd love that. Toronto was even close enough that I drove my Z. If I get to Tampa, I'm pretty sure I won't be driving.

I'm not sure which was worse... Austin, Atlanta, or baking in a 130 degree Quonset hut in Memphis!!!?

Well I know it's in good hands now. The area that would worry me the most would be issues lurking in the body/paint category. I'm comfortable everywhere else on the car, but not in that area.

Why didn't you just switch the struts to the other side? Wow. Pistons? Really? I'm assuming that was not done by the current owner, right? You're not outing him here on the forum are you?

Actually looking at the second page of the instructions... That pic is the correct orientation for the NON-Z car applications (like the 510, 610, etc). So it's actually correct for some applications, but not the Z.

I think the parts are designed "OK". The real mess-up is this pic: That pic has the parts assembled incorrectly. It has the locations and orientations of the plastic bushing and the aluminum cup backwards. And it also doesn't show the original OEM required rubber bushing on the rear side of the mounting hole in the frame. You see... Never shown in the pics is the original big rubber bushing on the back side of the T/C rod before you install the washer(s) and nut. They mention it in the instructions, but the wording is really confusing. So that said... If you turn the aluminum cup around and put it on first, then that cup is stationary with respect to the T/C rod shaft (meaning that the hole in the middle is just fine to be a tight fit on the rod). And then the oversized tapered hole on the plastic bushing is where the rod wobbles around inside. So yes, the pivot point will be moved out away from the frame hole, but the rest of it looks reasonably designed conceptually. No evaluation of materials used or clearances involved, but at least the concept works. Compression is hard plastic. Tension is soft rubber. Kinda like using poly up front and rubber in the back.

Hop, skip, and a jump for you!!

Yup. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Good luck with the project!

I cut out the accordion section for the pic, but I eventually fashioned a different piece to take it's place. It's not pretty, but it works. Here's a pic pulled over from that other thread of another guys solution:

Sorry, but no. Everything comes out the front. You have to uncrimp the stainless cover on the side where you insert the key. That silver cover is known as a "facecap", and it's crimped in place. Here's a pic of the facecap removed and the lock partially disassembled:

Oh, and by the way.... I like your wheels. Haha!!

OK, here's a start: https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/55336-collapsing-shocks-to-push-bumpers-closer-to-body/ There's some pics in there, but the links to my pics are dead because photobucket sucks. Here's a couple pics of my front. This is with the bumper out at stock distance: And here it is pushed all the way in:

Glad you got the bumper shocks figured out. I didn't mention it before, but the shocks are a lot easier to move independently without the bumper connecting the two. With the bumper in place, things can get cocked to one direction or the other and bind up. Easier with the bumper removed. I'll be interested in what you do for bumper ends. There are pics around here that show some options and I'll find them if someone else doesn't first. I pushed my front bumper in, but left the rear alone. I think the front makes a big difference. Those pics are probably in the same place.