Carl Beck

Hi slo929: I live in Florida - I eliminated the vapor recovery system. I really didn't need the gasoline vapors leaking into the cabin. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19034&page=2 Note the 90 degree bend made with copper plumbing fittings - very important to do. If you don't the rubber hose will kink... and you won't be able to fill the upper part of the tank. Also important to replace the plastic connector between the vent line and fuel filler with a copper tube. The plastic cracks with age. A couple of diagrams from an earlier discussion - that I can't seem to find right now, are below FYI. This keeps the air/vapor return from the front of the car to the tank. FWIW, Carl. B

The speedo gear is matched to the rear-end gearing. So just use the speedo gear out of your stock 4spd. You may have to swap the speedo gear carrier... using the gear itself from your original 4spd., but put in the ZX speedo gear carrier. As I recall there is a "pin" that holds the speedo gear in the speedo gear carrier. (the carrier bolts into the transmission - and speedo gear is inside the carrier). If you have changed the rear gear ratio - then you need a speedo gear to match it. FWIW, Carl B.

Kim? in Idaho

Mally002 The chrome extensions on your twin tailpipes - look like they are only screwed on - and they are open in the back. So it is possible that some of the exhaust gases are being let out behind the chrome extensions.. between the chrome extensions and the actual tail pipe. Take the chrome tips off - and show me a picture of where the actual tail pipes end. There are "muffler sealers" that most muffler shops have on hand - they are about like modeling clay.. or plumbers putty. Try sealing the back of the chrome extensions to the tail pipe inside them.. and see if that helps. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Rob: After the stash of "as new" copies were sold off - I don't believe the price ever got much above the $65.00 range. I haven't seen any lately on E-Bay, but I'd have to guess that the initial demand from collectors had pretty much been satisfied. For the most part they seem to be selling in the $35.00 to $65.00 range depending on condition - and the luck of the draw. Nonetheless it is a pretty neat book for any Z Car Related Library. FWIW, Carl B.

If you are not going to worry about maintaining a "Stock" appearance, then there is no reason to pay the additional money for OEM replacements in most cases. Call a few of your local Auto Parts Stores - and find the one that carries metric size fuel and vacuum hoses. You can use US standard sizes, but they will not fit as well as the originally used metric sizes. I suggest taking a sample of the various sizes from the car to the Parts Store with you. Rubber Brake lines can also be purchased in the aftermarket - but you have to be careful that they are the correct type -so take an old line with you when you pick them up and compare fittings. There are a few places where Factory Hoses make sense. The two vacuum lines from the Brake Vacuum Booster to the manifold are a couple of examples. They have several formed 90+ degree curves... (but usually don't need to be replaced). The fuel lines on the bottom of the S.U.'s are another example - they are best replaced with a high grade vinyl tubing if necessary. Good luck with the car - sounds like it is well worth saving given its history with your family. FWIW, Carl B.

No - it isn't worth fixing. It's a parts car at best. There are lots of 280ZX's with solid bodies, and they are still very reasonably priced. You may have to take a short trip outside VA, but it would be well worth your time and money. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: I think the first thing to say is; Make No Attempt To Turn The Engine Over with a starting battery - Until you have first dropped the fuel tank and cleaned it out. Plus cleaning the hard fuel lines out and replacing all the high pressure rubber hoses. Once that is done - and after you have turned the engine over by hand (pulled the plugs, and put a few ounces of ATF down the cylinder bores); the dumped to old oil and put fresh oil and filters in place, and lubricated the cam/rockers... Add about 5 gallons of fresh gasoline, plus some fuel injector cleaner.... and start it up. With any luck, the fuel injectors will not be stuck with varnish... and the fresh fuel and injector cleaner will clear them out if they are working at all. Trying to crank a car that been sitting for years without doing the above - almost always results in varnish from the tank, being sucked into the lines and then into the injectors. The varnis is like jello.. it can be sucked though the fuel filter, because while it is thick and sticky... it usually doesn't have large particles that the filter will catch and hold. Past that point - you'll need to change all the high pressure rubber fuel lines... they decay with age and the higher pressures of the FI system will cause them to burst unexpectedly.. .not a good thing. I suggest doing one thing at a time when it comes to replacing items - - if you do too many things at one time - it's hard to figure out what if anything you did wrong - or left disconnected etc... FWIW, Carl B.

Buyer of the First one most likely got a pretty good deal... If he/she is back East - and they have it shipped inclosed -add $1500.00 to $1800.00 for transport. FWIW, Carl B.

In 2007, $3,500.00 from 1970 is worth: $18,684.27 using the Consumer Price Index $15,209.46 using the GDP deflator $20,843.67 using the value of consumer bundle * $20,843.67 using the unskilled wage * $31,673.48 using the nominal GDP per capita $46,648.58 using the relative share of GDP From: Measuring Worth dot com http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

While Mr. Sharp is certainly correct, in that the Datsun 240-Z took on the then reigning C-Production Champion 911's for the first time in 1970 - and beat them on the track! The Datsun 240-Z really took on the competition in the sports car Market in America, comprised of all other competitors in the $3500.00 price range ie..... MG-B, Triumph TR-6, Fiat 124 Sport Coupe/Spyder, Opel GT, Capri V6, Porsche 914. All had MSRP's within a few hundred dollars of the 240-Z. Too many people keep referring to the Datsun 240-Z's low price as the main reason for it's success - yet it was priced within the same price range as all of it's sports car market competitors. It put them out of business for the most part - and 38 years later Porsche is still doing well with its evolution of the 911. The Poor Mans Porsche - is a used Porsche that is 7 to 9 years old. Rich or Poor, if a man wants a Porsche - then nothing but a Porsche will do. FWIW, Carl B.

Actually, as I understand it - magnesium wheels are very subject to corrosion, when the corrode they develop small surface pits - and it is the pits that lead to stress cracks developing. If the wheel has been protected by the proper coatings, sealing out air and water - the wheels useful life can be greatly extended. It takes special metal preparation processes and the proper types of primers and paints to protect the magnesium alloy wheels however. So inspection for corrosion pitting is more important than the age of the wheel. FWIW, Carl B.

If he is a "friend" - I wouldn't ask him to break the law and risk his job. There is no National DMV database. The DMV's exist at the State Level only. All DMV records are considered "private individual information" and all new or old are closed by the Federal Right to Privacy Laws. FWIW, Carl B.

Order a rebuilt from Nissan. FWIW, Carl B.

humm.... I wonder if that is why the IRS is auditing my tax return?? Make that 302,000+ miles FWIW, Carl B.

The Internet Z Car Club has a "Classic Z Car Register" on the Z Car Home Page at http://ZHome.com, for both Right and Left Hand Drive models. I wouldn't call it a "national" registry... we do have Z's from around the world there, but it is also limited to 69-73 Model Years... See: http://www.zhome.com/IZCC/ZRegisters/ FWIW, Carl B.

Gee...that looks just like the Supercharger on my 91 Thunderbird Super Coupe... FWIW, Carl B.

No problem Freaky... lots of people do engine swaps in Z's and still hang out with Z Car People... Of course they also have their own "domain"... hybridZ.org... Maybe there will be a need to start a hybrid510.org some day!! The original Z had lots of 510 DNA anyway... so a Z/510 transplant should do well. Of course I have to say you stopped a little short, by not swapping in an L28 as well.... welcome... Carl B.

Mr. K is I believe, currently employed by Nissan Motors Ltd. So if he was there, Nissan Motors Ltd was there. Ah.. it is the BRE 510 that they currently have in their collection.. and which they transport around the country. While the 240-Z is the main car for me - I am a DATSUN fan. It's my Datsun 510 Station Wagon that I drive most often, now with 3002,000 miles covered. FWIW, Carl B.

If they used it - they would be risking their jobs and perhaps prison time. The DMV data in most States used to be "Public Record" - and anyone could pay for a records search. In that case a simple search by VIN's for HLS30' with serial numbers ending before say 200000 would have yielded the results we wanted. Today however, do to new Federal Laws governing "Personal Privacy" those records are no longer open to the Public. In cases involving law enforcement, or court actions - they can be searched for specific information. FWIW, Carl B.

When Nissan Motors USA was located in California - they took their BRE 510 #46 to the Monterey Historics - and let John Morton race it there ! This past month, Nissan USA brought their BRE 510 to the Amelia Island Concours, to support John Morton and Peter Brock's seminar on the Trans/Am 2.5 Challenge Series from the 70's... Since 1995 at least Nissan Motors USA has supported/sponsored all the Z Car Club Association (ZCCA) annual conventions which feature DATSUN Z's and ZX's as well as the later NISSAN ZX's There certainly was a period after Mr. K was forced to retire in the late 70's - that Nissan Motors Ltd. did everything possible to eliminate the DATSUN Brand Name in the USA. However with the elevation of Mr. Hanawa to President of Nissan Motors Ltd in 1996 - a major effort to refresh the image of both the DATSUN Brand and Mr. K. had been made here in the US. I'm sure that due to budget constraints - Nissan USA can't respond to every request for support to local car shows.... however they have been very supportive of the major events when possible. I think you'll see Nissan/DATSUN at some of the All Japanese Auto Shows in the future as well. FWIW, Carl B.

The solution to your situation is pretty simple - just find and buy another low mileage 280ZX. There are lots of them still out there - and they are still very reasonably priced. Many very nice 280ZX's can still be purchased for between $3,500.00 and $4,500.00 with less than 100K miles on them. FWIW, Carl B.

It's just my "guess" at the auction results. Without knowing the actual condition of the cars. Both look pretty good in the pictures - but the A/T will hurt them as to the number of people that will be interested, and of course being in California will suppress the dollars bid as well. I note that the seller of the 36K mile car - did not make the claim that the mileage was "actual" or "documented"... What's your guess? FWIW, Carl B.

The first one with 36K miles - $10K to $12K The second one with ??? 92K miles - $7.5K to $8.5K my guess FWIW, Carl B.

Typically - around here - that's at least $2800.00 to $3100.00 worth of parts and labor - if it includes him assembling the short block. He's doing the rings, main and rod bearing - as well as the balancing.. so he should be held responsible for the assembly as well. FWIW, Carl B.