Carl Beck

Hi Steve: They look pretty nice - a few questions: Is the mount attached by just sheet metal screws - or are they nuts/bolts? Do they use the original mounting holes in the Driver Door? Or do you have to drill additional holes? Let us know how much wind noise they add or don't add - windows up and windows down. thanks, Carl B.

In California - $11K is a very strong bid. Given the condition of the paint/body that the seller describes - I don't see $15K. FWIW, Carl B.

Looking at your Picture - If the width of the New and Old U-Joint bodies are the same {without the cups on each end} - - it would seem that you would have to completely smash the rubber seal on the new cap - to get the circle clip groves to match up in the yoke... Maybe I am not understanding what your measuring... FWIW, Carl B.

No - that is not normal. The Fresh Air Vents in the Dash should not have air coming though them, when the selector lever is moved to "HEAT". They should have fresh air coming in only when "VENT" is selected. Fresh air comes in though the cowl - and there is a "flap" or "door" that opens/closes to control the fresh air flow. If you have cold air coming in - something is not allowing that door to close when it should - or the seals on that door are shot, or the cable that controls it may not be adjusted correctly. It may be time to remove the Blower Assy - clean and reseal the air flow control flaps/doors. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Charlie: You'll have to post some pictures of the car when you get it... Always kind of sad to see an original owner have to let go of his/her 240Z, but it sounds like you picked up a nice one. FWIW, Carl B.

My daughter is home from college for spring break - so we watched it last night. Enjoyed the movie.. fun, light entertainment.. thanks, Carl B.

Hi Jon: Weren't Ring & Pinion sets sold in matched set's, which you didn't get if you ordered the parts individually? I recall running into that problem at one time... FWIW, Carl B.

A Daily Driver? A well cared for USED 370Z. You can pick one up with less than 25K miles for around $24K or less. You don't have to crawl into it - it has useful cargo area - is fast enough and reliable enough. Want a Convertible? - 2010 370Z Touring - 17K miles asking $26K.. You could most likely buy it for $23K .. Put another $23K in GOLD and five years from now you'll be happy with both purchases. 2010 Nissan 370Z for sale in Miami, Florida >> 38797704 | GetAuto.com Hard to beat for a DD.. FWIW, Carl B.

Around here - a good used R180 3.36 will be $175.00 - if it's been cleaned up, with new rear cover seal, and you can easily remove the drain and fill plugs - $225.00 would not be out of the question. FWIW, Carl B.

Yes - that is true. They are a wood fiber and epoxy composition. They can be stripped, sanded and re-stained/re-finished. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Sean: Cutting 1 1/2 to 2 coils off the Euro Spec.'s will slightly increase their spring rate, but that is not a problem. Just use a hacksaw - not a torch as you don't want to heat them. Reviewing Arne's E-Mail report from Feb 10, 2007, he reported cutting 1 1/2 coils off the front and 1 1/4 off the rear - to get the car back close to original ride height. Even then it was still sitting 1/8" higher in front and 1/4" higher in the rear. He was going to drive it that way to see if things settled down a bit more ... That pretty much matched the experience my son and I had when we put them on my son's Z. FWIW, Carl B.

Sean - I have an NOS set of Euro Specs $425 plus shipping - As I recall - Arne recommended 1 1/2 to 2 coils be cut off the Euro Spec's when used with non-gas pressure shocks to get close to the original ride height. FWIW, Carl B.

Great write-up. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. Carl B.

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Are you sure that Blue Vintage Z was a 72? We have a car that looks the same - color/wheels etc - that is registered as a 71 240Z sold by Courtesy. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi ollie: The Z looks fabulous ! Why do you believe it doesn't have the original engine? FWIW, Carl B.

Interesting... Now that the sale is published I see the VIN. I have that VIN being sold by a Dealer in Sioux Falls, SD in Feb. 2012 with 39,375 miles. Now sold again a year later with 35535 miles in Madison, GA. Encouraging that it brought $24K at auction. We may have discussed it here last year.. I recall a Dealer in SD that didn't want to "DEAL" on the price - when someone else was interested... FWIW, Carl B.

A friend of mine {Ruben Lopez}, said he had a friend that used to race Datsun Roadsters. Ken Baterson lives here in Clearwater, so I gave him a call one day. That was around the middle to end of 2001. As Ken and I were talking, he mentioned that he had a friend that lived in the Orlando, Florida area - that also used to race Datsun Roadster's - and he had one of the BRE Roadsters - which happen to be for sale. So of course I had to follow through on that... I called Ken's friend in Orlando {John Robertson}, and sure enough he said he had one of the BRE Roadsters, a second spare rolling roadster plus three of four engines, transmissions, wheels/tires etc. and a bunch of other stuff. It was ALL for sale - on a take it all or none basis. He estimated that everything would fit in an 18 wheeler.. I ask him about the history of the BRE roadster - and ask as many questions as I could - knowing very little about them myself. Then I wrote Les for more info. Les supplied what info he could. After a few phone calls back and fourth between the owner and I - I called John Morton. I ask John if there was any unique items on the #44 roadster that might help identify it or eliminate others etc. John replied that the #44 roadster was equipped with a Watts Link on the rear suspension, which wasn't carried over to the #46 roadster. Sure enough the owner had previously described the car as having a Panhard Rod or Watts Link on the rear axle. The owner would not sell just the roadster..even when offered the asking price for the entire lot.. He wanted it ALL GONE.. My garage and storage facility were already full. I called Ken back to see if he would take some of the spares.. NO. Les had his shop full at the time as well.. A few months passed and someone from South Florida bought the lot.. and as I understand it he and his father put the car back on the track for a few events. Then the hurricane went through South Florida in 2005 and they lost most of their racing parts, spares, cars etc. Sometime after that Les contacted the owners in South Florida and picked the roadster up... It has had an Amazing restoration at Les's hands. FWIW, Carl B.

It could be a Roaster Tranny, if it has already been set up to use in a Z. To put the Roadster 5spd. in a 240Z - you use the 240Z Bellhousing and change out the tail housing, main shaft an striking rod assy. Nissan Comp. used to sell a kit that contained all the necessary parts. It is most likey a Type A 4 spd. FWIW, Carl B.

I find Mason's comments about the Styling of the 240Z interesting on several levels. First - at age 26 he represents a couple of generations that are younger than me. That shows clearly that the Styling of the 240Z is timeless - ie. A Classic Car. If car guys love them now 43 years later because they are beautiful, car guys will love them for the next 43 years as well. The discussions related to how much HP one wants, and/or how to attain it - are also interesting and really boil down to personal preferences. Along that line - I belive that there is another Thread where the only logical answer IMHO is given - buy two. One for speed and one to drive as a Modern Classic GT. FWIW, Carl B.

And a Great Story it is - thanks for sharing it with us Mason. Carl B.

Wow.. just jump right in and start spending money on improvements and upgrades!! No sense in putting it off, we all seem to wind up doing that anyway - As others have said - more pictures - and give us the full story about why a 240Z, when you started looking and why this one etc... oh yes and give us the VIN.. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Gary: Thanks for letting us know. That is very sad news indeed. So young too... I think everyone has pretty much said it - a great guy to have in any group. Courteous, thoughtful, intelligent and always willing to help others. Always told it like it was. I enjoyed our discussions, because that is what they always were. Discussion with communications flowing both ways and always respectful of differing views. RIP "E"... I hope Gary can convey our condolences and thoughts to E's family. Carl B.

That is exactly the item I was thinking of - when you described yours. I recall them being sold in the late 50's and early 60's. At least now you know you have a "collectible" - and not just junk. FWIW Carl B.

You can't shift a 4 speed into 5 gear.... FWIW, Carl B.