mdbrandy

Oops. Forgot the picture...

And this is what he's got of the front of the passenger side framerail. Apparently the channel was welded into the front frame portion behind the T/C rod pocket. So, more opinions! Keep me honest! 26th-Z has the right idea, that all I really want out of this car is to drive the heck out of it for a few years while I finish #215. But it has to last a few years without lots of structural work. I can whip out the MIG and retack some of the stuff that looks suspect, but there sure is a lot of "surface" rust showing in these pictures. 2ManyZ's question about whether I want another project is well taken too - I don't. At least not a big project. I have another 3 months before the kid can drive anyway, so I could work on it for that long and not have it hamper what I am really trying to get out of it. Anyway, thanks.

A shot down the driver's side, apparently from back to front along the floor.

And here's what they've done as it wraps up the back on the passenger side...

OK, a few more pics. Apparently when he said they replaced the floor frame with a channel, he meant a channel. looks like a 280Z frame now. This is apparently the rear end of the passenger floor and frame.

ROFL Not making fun of you Tim. :classic: Original series Z cars are notorious for rust. Search these forums for the word "Rust", and you'll come up with many, many discussions of rust problems, from major to minor. And the vast majority of us here don't have ZX's so we don't know anything about power windows, since the original series Z's didn't have them. There are a few ZX owners here. Maybe one of them knows. Good luck!

On the picture October_001, there is something on the rocker panel below the drivers door. Is that shadow, paint, mud, or missing rocker metal?

Better drivers than I will undoubtedly answer, but basically, understeer is the tendancy of the car to continue going in a straight line, front end first - i.e., if you're going around a curve too fast, the front end of the car will continue off the edge of the curve. Oversteer means that the back end of the car tends to come around and the car will spin. Better definitions?

He has posted a picture of the data plate. The production date is in 5/70.

Gotta be able to drive it. Any Z is a project, but it can't be one that takes it off the road for big chunks of time right now. I've asked him for more pics of the underside, frame, rockers, rear wheelwell, rear hatch shelf, etc. We'll see if he sends them. Thanks to you all - the reason I posted is to keep my head out of the Z clouds by getting opinions from other Z-sperts without any vested interest. If he sends me anything else, I'll post it. Without more info on the possible rust, I'll probably pass now... If he sends me good pics, I'll have to agonize some more...

Firewall and a little of the rail on the drivers side:

Yup, that's the kind of stuff I've asked him for. He actually has now responded with a little of the info. Near Battery tray:

Pick away. That's why I posted. Hard to be objective here in the midwest, where you rarely see a Z anywhere. He hasn't answered my e-mail to him yet. Thanks for the thread link on the cover - I remember the beginning of that thread, but I don't think I followed it through. Wouldn't have known what to call the thing to search for it. Unfortunately, I will have to decide whether to gamble or not. Auction ends Friday, and there's no way I can get up there before that. There is a yellow '73 240 in Indianapolis on e-bay too, but after corresponding with the guy, he's had a channel welded over the frame rails, sheetmetal screwed over holes in the floor, etc. He thinks that since he's put $2000+ into it otherwise, he should get $2000+ back out of it. Fat chance.

I never really paid attention to this detail yet, but from my picture stock, I see that mine just says "oil".

In one of the pictures he has posted on the site linked to the auction, there is a piece of some material apparently stretched across the luggage area. In the pic with the hatch open, it appears to cover the luggage area under the hatch, but be attached to the hatch so that it raises along with it. Don't know why. To cover your suitcases perhaps?

I noted the stupid leather-seat comment he made, and I've sent him a big list of questions. We'll see what he says. And in terms of first cars, it is going to still be my car. My parents didn't buy me my first car, and I'm not buying my kids cars either. I'll provide them one to use while they are still living at home, but all the vehicles will be mine, and they'll drive what I let them. So I'm not worried about him having to deal with the maintenance :classic:. And my insurance agent tells me that for liability only, the costs aren't any more for a Z than for a civic. For a $2500 car, I'd go with liability only anyway. Anyway, I'm still investigating the car. We'll see what else is "half-arsed" as you well note .

Anybody want to levy an opinion on this car: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6187&item=2438471019 I'm looking for a third car for the family, since my oldest son is soon to be driving, and hey, I could buy another Z and let him drive the camry :classic: . Basically, this car is only 6 hours or so from me, and sounds interesting. I wouldn't have to feel bad about modding it since it is already far from stock... Its certainly not stock, but looks pretty cool. All opinions welcome...

The luggage stop moldings are, however, a little different now than they used to be. They are wider than the one example I have, and Chloe says they are even wider than later examples she has seen. Go figure. Looks nice, though :classic: .

Is that what that bar is! That pic is from the same car on e-bay that I got my pic of the pigtail cover from. I wondered if it was some total aftermarket thing or an option that I've never seen. And Bambi, it is $70 and not $7000. I bought one too. Chloe at MidwestZ was kind enough to find two NOS ones. :classic:

Warm ups will be good. In terms of cruise, I had a '75 280Z that I put an aftermarket (Sears) cruise system on that worked very well. I used to drive that car cross-country (Los Angeles to Illinois) a couple times a year, and it was nice to have. Now, however, my Z will be for driving fun and not daily driving, and thus why would I want to have cruise control? I want to DRIVE the car! :devious:

Sounds like no one else makes them (although I haven't looked yet), so you could probably go into business! I don't have one to pattern anything of of so I'd surely take you up on your offer if it's that easly...hardest part might be getting the right-looking snaps.

Figures. The simple things seem to be the rare ones. Seems simple enough for someone to repro - maybe classicdatsun or somebody makes one. Now I'll have to go searching....

I was looking at the pics for 240Z #476 that is on e-bay right now, and came across the attached pic of the passenger interior. Two questions: What is that big box under the dash? Something for air conditioning, like the evaporator maybe? And second, there seems to be a vinyl covering over wiring just at the end of the console - you can see three snaps on it in the picture. Is this something standard? My car doesn't have either the under-dash box or the vinyl cover. I may have to look for one of the vinyl covers if it is normally there... Thanks.

I had to get a throttle lever at least, even if I leave the cable unconnected at the pedal. I'd decide that later. The car has the hand throttle already, but no cable or lever handle. Now it will :classic: . The car will not be a daily driver, so we'll have to see whether it is more important to have it "right" than to have it "safe" . Time will tell. On the wheels, I am not sure. They came with the car and I've never looked over them closely to see if they have a manufacturer's marking or anything. Next time I have time to get out in the garage (it's been about 2 months since I've been out there now ), I'll try to remember to look.

And from the same guy, I got 4 brand-new, in-the-bag "D" hubcaps. 4.5" rims to go with them too. You'd think I was a concours guy .