Grubb240Z

I have recently seen one that the new owner paid $40,000 for. He already has another that is probably worth in the mid $30,000. Gorgeous, original, one-owner cars. Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

My son and I did our first brake work. Trying to chase down some howling from the right side front disc. Remove the wheel and brake pads. Cleaned the rotor and calipers, cleaned and sanded the pads. Added some “brake quiet” goop on the back of the pads and reinstalled everything. Seems good so far… Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Those lights are Hella cool [emoji57] Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Do you look nice. Looking online, I see they are around $35 each – half of what some other options I have seen cost. Can these be simply added to the car with all the stock equipment still there? Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Dear Sue, So just to be clear, when I say high/low beam switch and you say “dimmer“. We are talking about the same thing, right? I took the cover off the switches on the steering column last night and cleaned things up a bit. It did seem to brighten headlights some. I will do some cleaning up of connectors here and there, but I do plan to upgrade the harnesses and have the column levers/switches reconditioned. Then I’ll have to deal with the fact that the previous owner, who obviously gave up on fixing the “dimmer” switch, added a 3-position toggle switch under the dash to control high/off/low settings. Probably not difficult to undo, but I don’t have a background in these things. Sent from my iPad using Classic Zcar Club mobile

On a 240Z? I am not sure what you mean by “dimmer switch”. You must not mean it in the normal sense I am used to (As in a rheostat for dimming the lights on the dashboard or over the dinner table). Are you referring to a high-low beam switch? I have not looked inside the column at the switches. Maybe I should do that. Sent from my iPad using Classic Zcar Club mobile

I'll look for those connections. I wonder if there's anything I can apply to the connections to help keep them in good shape after I've cleaned them? Something that can be sprayed/painted on. I'll add shrink tubing where applicable on any new connections I make.

You guys are awesome! Thank you for such great advice. I bought some electrical connection cleaner yesterday and worked on the headlight connectors, which did gamy some brightness – possibly enough to drive at night. I just read the Daniel Stern article, which was excellent - even for a non-pro like me. I have a document where I am saving links to the things I want to add to our Z. Those Cibie lights are on there. Also, I’m talking to Dave Irwin about his harnesses and also to help me fix the high/low beam switch on the steering column. So glad you guys hooked me up with him! Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Steve - thanks for the greatest advice - in addition to other things, I did get him the fender cover and the synchrometer.

Bought this - devouring it now.

The headlights on our "new" '72 240Z are all but useless (especially in the rain as we're learning this week). I need the quickest route to better lighting. I have received some great advice on the subject from my original thread (http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/59179-brand-new-owner-need-help-w-christmas-gift-ideas-for-my-kid/) and I DO plan to take it. I will upgrade the alternator to a modern unit and buy the headlight wiring harness (http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic10l/12-4651) that y'all recommended. But at the moment, I HAVE to address our exhaust system (setting off neighbors' alarms, etc) and I can't tackle everything at once. The car is an everyday driver for my son. Assuming that I'm running stock-type lights, is there anything I can do to get more volume of light with a quick fix to get me through the next couple of months until I can address the electrical system in a more holistic way? If the upgraded alternator (moving up to 60W?) IS the best next move, I'll do it. The car really isn't safe to drive (at night) as it is now. Thanks!

Yes, it looked identical to me and I’m sure it’s great. When I opened it I noticed it was different from the OEM strut so I returned it, hoping I could find one more similar to the OEM. I couldn’t, and then I saw the Strong Arm version, which is less than half the price. Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

I have also read that. I installed it the way I did because it's how the manufacturer instructed it to be done. I might just flip it around, though. Thanks for the reminder.

She got the pleasure of seeing her big brother happy. No, she did all right. Her top gift was a 13” screen iPad Pro. New iPhone 8 also. It was a big year for Apple at my house. Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

You asked for it - here it is! 6 min. long but worth every second https://youtu.be/j1Or4N_O-3A Always fun to see a kid get a wish fulfilled -- even if the kid is taller than you. The first video was shot at around 2:00am - trying to sneak the car into the driveway from a couple blocks away.

I called a while after placing the order. They told me that the hardware wasn't included. But the guy I talked to said he was going to throw a couple in the box. Sounds like they are pretty short, which makes me happier. The shorter they are, the less torque they'll apply to the brackets, which weren't made for it. As long as I don't run into any clearance problems... Good news is that they are right here in So. Cal so I should have it tomorrow or the next day - they said they'd get it out in today's shipment.

Ours seems a little tweaked. When closed, it seems to be a little lifted on the left side, as though it has been warped by being supported on the left side only.

Ha! Not yet. My kid is tall at 6'-1" so he can probably see more than I can. Hasn't been a big problem yet, but it is something to think about when parking. I tend to pull forward a little too far. Good to leave it back a little so people can see you before they start pulling into the space!

I just placed an order for the same strut. A question that came up in my mind right after we hung up is this: do the proper ball end shafts come in the kit? I see a little bag with them in it in your photo so I am hopeful they do. Did the nuts come with them? Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Just picked this guy up a minute ago at Motorsport Auto. Thanks for the great advice. Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Wow – that’s EXACTLY the kind of thread I was looking for. I don’t know why I didn’t find it when I searched before creating my own thread. Anyway, it looks just like the one I bought at Motorsport Auto for $50. And yours he uses exactly the same type of mounting. I guess one thing I should be concerned about is that my car has aluminum louvers (and spoiler) on the back window. I wonder if that extra weight will overwhelm even a brand new spring. I am guessing the louvers have been there for many years, or possibly since the car was new. I have no way of knowing if the strut worked properly in its early years, but it hasn’t worked since we bought the car a month ago. Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

I stopped by motorsport auto today and picked up a replacement strut for the hatch on my 1970 240Z. When I opened it at home I realized it was different from the original strut in how it attaches to the car. At first I thought they gave me the wrong one, but now I think this is their suggested replacement. The original used a simple bolt and nut where it attaches to the body and a pressed pin to attach a “wishbone” to a bracket on the decklid. The new one uses a ball and socket connection on both sides. I assume it will work fine, but I am a little concerned about the extra torque it will put on the brackets - especially the one attached to the door opening, which already feels a little weak. Has anybody else used this type of strut? Is there a reasonably priced replacement that is identical to the original? Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Took my son up to a new home development that is under construction for a session of manual transmission driver training. He is doing great. Part of me is going to be sad when he is ready to drive it on his own. I don’t think I will ever see it again! [emoji22] Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

So this thing, eh? - http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/11-3271 It seems from some past posts I just read that it may be possible to replace the sender without dropping the fuel tank, which I don't have the wherewithal to do at home.