Carl Beck

As sold in the 70's/80's the Bilsteins for the 240Z required no drilling - they were a direct bolt in - with the "D" shaped shock rod to fit in the stock mounts. As Jon mentioned - you just have to run the nut down with an impact wrench. I had a machine shop drill to hole in the top mount out -for some other shocks, on another car - - given the original "D" shape and the fact that its hardened steel -I wouldn't recommend doing it with a hand drill... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Randy: For some unknown reason - the L28 I run in one of the 72Z's also ran above normal temps. Everything in the engine was new - everything in the cooling system was new - everything checked out as operating properly {radiator flow rates, water pump, thermostat, fan clutch and fan etc etc} The engine was broken in - had about 2000 miles - and it still ran warmer than I wanted. Same stop/go traffic overheating fears that you have.... I switched to Mobile 1 - - and that dropped the temp about 10 degrees. Next I added Redline Water Wetter and that dropped the temp. gauge to the middle. In 1995 we had the car at the Z Car Convention in Atlanta - - record high temps there - over 100 degrees during the day. Even then, in stop/go traffic jams on the freeways - the temp. gauge barely got above the center line. Redline Water Wetter - contains a water pump lubricant, as well as corrosion inhibitors for aluminum heads/cast iron blocks. You don't need "anti-Freeze"... I'd flush the system and refill with water and Redline Water Wetter.. as well as running synthetic oil {if your not already}.... You can buy Redline Water Wetter at many chain Auto Parts Stores... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Michael: Your Z looks fabulous!! However the picture you Posted is WAY TO SMALL.. Do it again and upload a larger format... at least 1024 wide.. That is great picture... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: I'm not sure how I screwed that up - but checking back over my notes I see that I did. I'll correct the register - good catch... FWIW. Carl B.

Hi Steve: Pete Evanow worked for Nissan and was assigned to add some management focus to the Vintage Z Program well after it got underway. I had been asking Nissan to document and release the VIN's on the VZ's for years after the program was ended. Pete was kind enough to provide me with a list of the cars VIN's, but would not allow publication until after his book was published. At least that way I could verify for potential buyers - that the cars they were looking at were indeed real VZ's. Once the book was out - I put the list on the Z Car Home Page, on the Vintage Z Register - to discourage counterfeits, or mistaken representations etc. When he was finalizing his book - Pete went to the Nissan Warehouse to get the VIN's for the cars that Nissan hadn't sold to the public, and in the dark, dirty environment - he wound up putting the VIN of one Z that was in very nice shape - but which wasn't actually a VZ on his list. So the hard copy book shows 38 VIN's when in fact it should have been 37. One of our members here owned that mistaken VZ car - I tried to help the person that did most of the looking/buying of 240-Z's for the VZ Program. He sent me copies of the Quality Control Check Lists, the accounting done to track the free publicity the Program generated etc. All in all about 59 240-Z's were purchased by Nissan for the program {might have been 58, might have been 60 - some were just parts cars and their VIN's weren't accounted for}. Many were used for parts, many were crushed after being stripped and as we know 37 were completed. Pierre sold 3 cars to Nissan for the Program, and Les sold one to Nissan for the Program. I know that Mr. Sages sons found the car they had put through the Program for their father.. According to Pete - only ONE Official VZ was actually completed after the official "shut down" came from H.Q. - and was sold as a VZ - that was one that Datsun Alley had 98% complete at shut-down. Pete said he sent the paperwork, the official dash plaque etc to Mark for the customer. That one is included in the 37 listed. Mark had as I recall about four or five body shells in various stages of competition which he sold off after the program shut down. We all saw one of the cars on E-Bay - that was bought by a father/son as a project.. FWIW, Carl B.

The price on the window sticker also indicates that it was one of perhaps the first six or eight cars done. Nissan raised the MSRP pretty quickly after they started to accumulate the actual costs of remanufacture etc. I'm pretty sure that the engine history on the Z Home VZ Register is accurate. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Jim: As I recall - I put Bilstein Shocks in my 72 240-Z around 1975. They have been in there ever since, and performing just like new. They have a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser. Years ago I spoke to a Bilstein Representative at the Daytona Raceway. I was complaining that the "life time" warranty didn't do me much good, since they no longer make shocks for the 240-Z. He said that if they went bad, just take the out and send them back to Bilstein - if they couldn't replace them, they would rebuild them - - but in any case they would honor the warranty. As I said - so far they are fine. They are the best shock I've ever had on a 240-Z with stock springs. Firm when they need to be, soft ride but not too soft... As I recall, back in 75 they were advertised as being filled with nitrogen gas to reduce foaming, but not advertised as "Gas Pressure"... Today several racers use various Bilstein shocks - selected via the shocks dimensions, and/or valve spec.'s. I'm sure someone else will know far more about that... I'm amazed at the condition of the inserts - they look like new. I also don't recall the Part Numbers from the 70's - so really don't know how old the one's you have would be.. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: Thanks for pointing this out. The VIN was listed in Pete's book and thus was on the VZ Register at ZHome.com Now we have a picture of it, and a little more information about it. We now have 29 of the 37 VZ's at least accounted for. It is one of the VZ's that did not retain its original engine to begin with, so now the question is "did the owner retain the VZ engine installed, that would match the paperwork - if one wanted to return it to its VZ configuration. As far as the market value goes - I'd have to say that the future value, once we are out of this recession, would have to be negatively effected... VZ Collectors want Vintage Z's not street mod'ed Z's. In todays market who knows? At any rate I doubt he'll be getting many bids above $20K to $25K. The fact that it had to be put on E-Bay should tell us something, as most VZ's have changed hands privately over the past two or three years. If the reserve isn't set too high - someone will get a very nice car for reasonable money. FWIW. Carl B.

The present plan is to leave here around Friday noon - that should put us in Atlanta some time around 8:00 - 9:00 PM. All depends on a number of things out of my control.. When are you planning on going up? I'm going to call Bill C. and Rich tomorrow.. hope to see you there, Carl B.

Hi Mike: Great Video - thanks for sharing it with us. Perhaps a subject for another thread - but what specific camera etc do you have mounted? I've been looking at different options. BTW - You can drop the NISSAN logos/advertising - they don't pay the contingency money to the customers here in the U.S. that race their cars any longer.:stupid: I think that the contingency money, very small support that it was; and the Competition Dept staying open - was really the main reason one would see a Datsun 240-Z here in the States with NISSAN advertising. . FWIW, Carl B.

Outstanding!!! The broken stub axle is a real bummer. thanks Mark Carl B.

See if this helps: http://ZHome.com/ZCMnL/tech/ThomasMSD.htm That was the only "Chrysler" part I could find - many that is what you were thinking about. FWIW, Carl B.

Only a few more days - get your act together and BE THERE. This is a great event, wonder cars, great people and time to enjoy it all. http://classicmotorsports.net/events/mitty-09/ So who is planing on being at the Mitty? FWIW, Carl B.

Andy - what off-road sites do you hang out at? Carl B.

I removed it on my White 72 - the only way to tell is to take the rear panels out - or drop the fuel tank. Of course the other way to tell is the car doesn't smell like gasoline.. Carl B

Hi JD: I think we'd have to at least see lots of clear images, that show the details of the car. Additionally we'd have know the original mileage, and if the car still has its original engine. One person's "mint condition" is another person's "restorable car"... The value of a Datsun 240Z today is about 85% determined by the actual condition of the entire vehicle... About 10 to 15% is dependant upon the location or market into which it will sell. FWIW, Carl B.

1. Several Original Owners including myself have used nothing but Armor-All on our dash for the past 36 to 40 years. Our dashes are still crack free and we are still using Armor-All. Might not be "scientific" enough for some - but it certainly represents a very long term experiment, with observable and positive results. There are better protectant products for use on tires today.. 2. What you use on an old dash - the previous care and maintenance of which is unknown - will most likely be a shot in the dark. If there are areas that are turning gray and feel stiff, you are most likely looking at vinyl with U.V. damage. I'd coat that dash with Vaseline Petroleum Jelly and let it soak in for a couple of days - then wipe it dry with a soft towel. Far more important than what you use - is how you care for it going forward. Keep it out of direct sun, and avoid subjecting it to broad thermal cycles. If possible, you want to avoid shock and vibration. Don't put stress on the dash by installing larger radio's, or taking the dash out and bolting it back in. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi David: Here is a fairly high resolution picture - that might show you what your asking about... Download it to your computer - and scrol around. It's a fairly large file.. http://www2.zhome.com:81/78EngineFront.jpg hope that helps, Carl

Seriously - if you have to ask - the answer is most likely - NO. Keep looking until you find a car you want - rather than a price that's nice. FWIW, Carl B.

Hello Valerij: It would be helpful if you let us know what price range you are looking in. Can you spend $20K+ Euro's for a very nice example, or are you looking for a car to start a restoration project on? Can you arrange the shipping, and handle the import paperwork? Or are would you want a professional importer to handle the entire transaction? Give us more detailed information and perhaps someone can help... regards, Carl B.

yes - the picture on the Left is the original - and I'm glad to see you could still get new one's. Now we just have to make sure that someone still offers the rubber replacement blades that fit/work... If you take the wiper arms off - it might be a good time to go ahead and take the cowel panel off - and clean/grease the entire drive assembly. Amazing how much that improves the preformance of the windshield wipers FWIW, Carl B.

Here are the BRE Instructions. You will notice that there are three places at the rear of the spook - that should line up with the existing captive nuts on the bottom of the radiator core support {aka Front Cross Member}. Arne's doesn't seem to reach back there. The Spooks that I bought from Les are exactly the same as the original .. and mount to the underside of the radiator core support.. FWIW, Carl B.

The picture on the Left is the correct and original. That part has more than likely been superceded to a newer replacement. Nissan supplies the newer part, even if you use the old part number - as long as the newer part supplies the same form, fit and function. Cosmetic details aside. You might - just might - find a New Old Stock {NOS} pair on E-Bay, or you might find very good used replacements. FWIW, Carl B.

This is correct. The throw-out bearing collar has to match the Pressure Plate used. The throw-out bearing is the same 70-83 non-turbo. For the most part today - it is almost impossible to find an OEM spec. 240-Z Pressure Plate. The Nissan replacement parts are 280Z/280ZX Pressure Plates - no matter what you order. FWIW, Carl B.

Hello David: Good to have you here. Your "English" is far better than many of us here in the U.S. and most certainly far better than most in Canada. Did you live in a country, in the past, where English was the standard language? At any rate - good luck with your wood working project. I'll go through some of my files and see if there is anything that would be of use, that you already don't have. regards, Carl B. Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com