Warty

@sweatybetty: thanks! I've been lurking on your project thread for like forever, btw. Very inspirational! Makes me want to win the lottery, quit work, and buy a junker Z to restore to beauty. Hmm. I should get on that plan... @siteunseen: I think I remember seeing that in 1970, they didn't have white interiors yet. I've seen a couple Zs like that. I don't like white interiors myself either (but love tan/saddle often), but I think it would be fun to have a white interior Z, just because it's such an uncommon combination. I imagine keeping it scuff-free would be a nightmare though. I wish they had a light tan/beige interior panels available, I'd be tempted to do a custom tan leather interior at that point. @jfa.series1: Thanks. Love your car, btw. And thank you for using belly buttons, instead of what I usually see there . Looks like next Z is in Atlanta. Long drive, but at least it's not in the summer. If I get this Z sorted by then, I might think about that.

Hi All, I recently acquired a 1970 240Z. It's in great shape for the most part, but there are a few things I want to work on in the interior. The car came with lap-only belts (as you would expect from a 1970 Z). I prefer not to put my head through the wooden steering wheel, so I am looking to install a 3 point harness. Oddly enough, there is already a shoulder mounting 3rd point on the car, but not used. I guess a PO wanted it to look more original, and took out that seat belt. I wish they hadn't taken out the original mounting bolts, and replaced them with regular bolts you'd get at a hardware store, but... Anyway, I'm ordering a replacement, and need some advice on the length of the buckle side rigid stalk/sleeve. Seatbelts plus has 6 and 12 inch versions: http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product/WSCH14134C-6.html http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product/WSCH14134C-12.html Wesco has 8 and 11 inch versions: http://www.wescoperformance.com/welr-seatbelt-bucket-help.html The 6" looks short to me, the 12" feels like it might be too long. But I'm just guesstimating here. From people who have installed these, what is your recommendation for length?

HI All, In 1987 or so, I test drove a 1978 280Z, I think it was $1500-2000, in that range. I don't remember why I passed on it, other than it was the first car I had looked at in that search, and I wanted to check out some others. I ended up buying a 1979 RX-7. This was pre-internet, you have to remember. While that was a cool car (flip up headlights!) it didn't have that awesome "sitting in a cockpit" feel that the Z had. Well, that and the engine blew almost immediately, but hey... Fast forward 30 years, I finally reversed the decision, and got a 240Z. I have been tracking them for a few years. I didn't want a project car, I know I'll never find time to get it out of the project stage. I didn't want a concours car, because then I'd be terrified to drive it. Finally found a good candidate, in my price range, and shipped it up here from AZ. HLS30-01427, January 1970. The car came with a lot of service records. The thing that stuck out to me in reading them is just how frustrated the first and second owners must have been. The amount of work done on the car is stupendous. Makes me appreciate every 1990+ car I ever owned, even more (in terms of build quality, I mean). None of the previous owners did anything crazy, it is largely original in nature, I would say, but wow a lot of repairs and replacements were made. For example, completely re-upholstered in 1979 (only 8 years in??). It also had a refresh done by a PO (in the 80s I think). Has an airdam, metal "grill" trim (and shoulder-height trim), and wrong blue. And a non-matching L24. Immediate Plans: Find a mechanic in MN to help me with it. Install 3 point seatbelts (lots of good threads here on that). I don't have to worry about re-sale value going down because I make a 3rd anchor point for the belt, do I? My gut feeling is that this car is unoriginal enough that something like that won't matter a bit. Am I right about that though? Find the gas leak(s). Car has a permanent smell of gas, even if it hasn't run in days. First purchase made: fire extinguisher. Rig up MSA rear speaker bar. AM radio long-gone of course, but tape deck powers on. At some point, some other speakers were installed, but no trace of them now except the speaker wires going no where. Work on dampening squeaks in the cockpit. Couple good threads about that here. Not sure how crazy I want to go on that, but it seems like some work with the panels will probably cut it down a lot. Longer-term Plans: Not at all sure. Not restore it to perfection, that much I know. Maybe swap out the engine for an L28, maybe ZX 5 speed. Current engine feels tired. Since it's not the original anyway, that might be considered an upgrade? Maybe restore the interior. The 1979 or so re-upholstering has carpet everywhere (which is fine, very modern, but kind of feels not like a Z without the cheesy vinyl diamonds). Maybe completely restomod the interior, with custom leather, new seats, new color. Restore dash. Maybe new wheels. The 6 spoke (280ZX?) wheels are kind of growing on me though. Anyway, happy to be here. Wish I was going to the Z con in austin!

I finally got a Z car (240Z series 1), would be great to be able to share info with other Z owners in the area.