sblake01

Like I said before just swap trannies if you really want the 5 speed in the 73. Put the auto in the 78, clean it up, and I'll bet you'd still be able to get $1500 for it. And cosidering that you paid $1300 for both cars, it would be like getting a 5 speed 73 240z for free. (The other $200 could be used for new clutch parts)

On mine it was the 'arrestor strap' (55425-N4300). It was split in half and dangling. I changed the mount also but the old one was solid.

I actually know where Trona is! I had the pleasure (!) of spending some tine at Fort Irwin back in the early 70s.

I think the front looks wide because the body is so narrow.

78 is the one and only S30 that came from the factory with an internally regulated alternator.

4 speed was standard on a 78, 5 speed and automatic were optional. Power steering was never offered on any S30 and didn't show up until the 280ZX in 1979. The sunroof which is an aftermarket item as they weren't offered on S30 either, is a negative IMO. Exhaust leaks are fixable. Don't know of anyone road racing a 280Z though I know quite a few that road race 240Z's. As far as a fair price, my opinion differs quite a bit from others here and I'll defer to them on that point but, to me, it seems a bit overpriced considering the condition.

Bill's sentiments sum it up fine for me. I'm not sad, however, I didn't know the man.

I've always liked Libre's. And they look great on your car but aren't the '4-spoke '78 mags' also period-correct?

I don't know. I think that' actually is the cap that goes on the LD28 valve cover.

In a word, no.

Kragen's prices are comparable if not better than Autozone's especially if you use the web price. I do play that game but Kragen's prices are ususlly lower to begin with.

Rick, I don't mind seeing the cars for sale in the threads. That wasn't my point. My response was to Stickerman's comment.

Pick apart what you want, or not. I don't really understand why the eBay cars get posted here so often, anyway. If someone is in the market for one, I imagine they'd seek one out on their own. I always got the impression the people link eBay ads to this site for the purpose of pointing out what's wrong with the car, or the ad, or the selller, or generally picking it apart, as you say. Anyway, that's what always happens.

For the chain stores, I've had my best luck with Checker/Shucks/Kragen or I'll go to Nissan themselves. I purchased a fan clutch from Autozone; exchanged it twice, ultimately ended up having to get a refund. I purchased a water pump from Autozone; it squealed, exchanged it once, ended up having to get a refund and the same goes for the alternator I bought from them for my 810. I just don't trust them anymore for S30 parts. Whoever does the rebuilding for them has to improve their quality control.

Maybe you should change that to: But seriously, Ruby should run great after all of that.

Did you get it at Autozone, Pep Boys, or Kragen or one of the chain type auto parts stores? I've had enough problems with parts from those places in the past that I won't buy starters, alternators, or water pumps from them.

Also, if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, there are two similar threads, 'Battery keeps dying' and 'Battery Dead after a few days', that addressed this type of problem last year and three years ago. They might also be helpful.

Okay, so you had a bad experience at Sears. That doesn't give you cause to denigrate them based on the language that someone speaks. I really wouldn't have expected that from you. You got your car fixed and they paid for it. Chalk it up. "They" didn't reverse the battery cables, one person did. I'm sure if you went there again, they'd remember you and you wouldn't have that type of experience again. Though reversing the battery cables is a stupid mistake, the origin of the person that did it has no bearing on the situation. But I'll bet that the fact that Sears had to pay for the repairs probably had a bearing on his employment situation.

When? I'm nearly 58 years old now.

Taking both of those quotes into consideration, Datsun actually built a 'sport coupe with four seats' for the US and nobody cared, so to speak, then or now. It's in the middle picture of my sig. line. Only about 4800 of those were ever built and people have a hard time giving them away when it comes time to sell them. NADA only values the 810 2dr at about $1275 average retail and $1900 high retail, which, I guess would mean pristine condition. (which mine isn't). So much for rarity. For the 74 2+2 the give an average retail of $6,325 and a high retail of $11,850. I always take NADA's valuation with a grain of salt but, to me, the 810 values seem low and the 260 2+2 values seem high.

In the case of this Z, I'll keep my refund check in my pocket. Low number notwithsanding, I just don't think this particular one is worth $7500. ROFLROFLROFLROFLDid he take a good look at the pictures he posted?

Sounds like you could have leaking hoses or a leaking heater core or heater valve. That would be anitfreeze if you have antifreeze in your cooling system. At any rate, it would be a leak and it would collect on the floor most likely in the passenger footwell. I don't know if your car has a/c. Some did and some didn't. It also sounds like you need to attain more knowlege of cars, in general, as well as Datsuns specifically. If you use the incorrect terminology in describing the components you're looking at, it's hard for us to understand what you mean. Pictures would be of more help in this case.

Glad I do my own maintainence.

Oh, I don't know, maybe I'm the lazy one. If I drill them out on the press, I don't have to deal with removing them. Removing them would save the threads but it's harder to do than drilling them on a press. Besides we don't have a McMaster around here, we have Fastenal and they don't have a clue about BSPT.

I'm not really sure if someone with 9 posts in five years should question why someone is part of a group.