Nigel Mulvey

Do it once do it right! (May be George Bush Snr should have followed that axiom).

Congratulations and welcome. I'm sure you'll find this club useful, there are plenty of people here with a lot of Z knowledge and I have found that there is always someone who can help you with problems. Good luck and enjoy.

The set of D style hubcaps on e-bay went for US$450. :surprised That's AUS$766 which is half what I paid for a whole car (albeit a 260). Seems a bit steep to me! Any comments?

Alfa, Sometimes I thinkI might be confusing things myself. Being a Pom in Australia trying to communicate with such a worldwide group of Z fanatics. Hence my use of the terms wheel trims rather than hub caps. I just had a look at the Victoria British cattle dog and they call the piece a "centre cap". This comes of the centre of my mag wheels. Check out my picture gallery to see the wheels. Please excuse my rambling, I am typing this after several bottles of Wynns Coonawarra.

Well said Enrique. QED.

According to those who should know at the Sydney Z Car Club, Skyline hubcaps look like this ...

My wife used the 2+2 as her daily driver before I had the accident. I compensated her by buying a new Camry with all the mod cons so she is not interested in the 240z without aircon, retractable seat belts etc. etc. - no skin off my nose!

Mark, I was actually curious as to whether you had the interior blasted.

Does anyone know where I might be able to lay my hands on some of the 'D' style wheel trims from the 1970/71 model 240's. I have 260 style mags (actually with Skyline caps) and I would really like to return the car to a more authentic appearance. Here is a picture of the trims that I am after.

I'm in the process of tearing down the body of my 260 although I know there is a fair amount of rust in that. Well done on yours though, it's looking good. I look forward to seeing more photo's as the project progresses. Did you have the interior stripped? I can't make it out from the photo. What about underneath? Excuse the questions but I'm trying to formulate a strategy for my own project.

I live about half way between Sydney's CBD and Canberra and the air here has been very smokey for some time. The meteorologists say it is blowing up from Canberra - they are big fires for sure. Apparently, additional areas of the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) are on high alert today.

Saw on the news this morning that it was actually 44C yesterday where I live. That's around 118F. Believe me, you don't want to be here.

Well, I took your advice and have decided to remove the tar matting. I can see already that there is some rust that has crept under the edges so this is definitely a good move - I have only done a small part of the hatch area so far. I read with interest considerable debate over the best way to remove the stuff. I have found today that it came up very easily with a flat scraper, although I also used an old screwdriver and a chisel for the more stubborn bits. I read that some people heat it up before attacking it but here today it was over 40C (110F) and I thought it might actually be easier if it were cold - it almost just snaps off. Anyway with the little bits that are left, I just wiped them off with kerosene which just lifted them right off. I couldn't believe how easy it was. Here's a photo of the finished article. Thanks again!

You'll find the info you need (including photo's) at: http://zhome.com/Classic/Restore/HubCaps.htm Cheers,

The law enforcement agencies in Australia undertook a similar exercise. A white rabbit into the forest just outside Canberra. The Victorian Police go in. They return 15 minutes later with a koala, a kangaroo and a tree fern all shot to pieces. "They looked like dangerous rabbits we had to act in self defence" is their explanation. The NSW Police go in. Surveillance tapes later reveal top ranking officers and rabbits dancing naked around a gum tree stoned out of their brains. F***ing, s**t, is the only intelligible phrase picked up by the microphone. The QLD Police go in. Shortly afterwards, they come out driving a brand new Mercedes, scantily clad rabbits draped all over them. The QLD Premier congratulates them on maintaining traditional family values. The NCA (Nat Crime Auth) couldn't catch the rabbit, but promise if they are given a budget increase they can recover 90 million from the rabbit in unpaid taxes and proceeds of crime. The WA police went into the forest and caught the white rabbit, but the rabbit inexplicably hung itself in the cell when the attending officer "slipped out momentarily" for a cup of coffee. The NT and SA police join forces to belt the crap out of every rabbit in the forest except the white one. They know it is the black ones who cause all the trouble. The Aust Federal Police refuse to go. They examine the issues, particularly cost and decide that because of the low priority and cost to the organisation as a whole, the matter should be rejected and returned to the referring department for investigation. ASIO went to the wrong forest.

Is that with Z's or Skylines?

I've read a lot on this site about how people are going about removing the "rubbery" insulation on the inside flooring of their z's. My question is why bother? Surely if the surface of the insulation is free of serious penetrations no water could get underneath it and any dampness that was under there when the cars were built would have caused damage clearly visible from below. My plan with my resto project is to wire brush the metal surfaces of the interior and POR those, I will then use their White Cote to completely paint the interior so it will match the exterior. Anyone got any thoughts?

Geoff, I'm going to try and get there if I can. I've been meaning to drop in for some time now. Hope to see you then!

Anyone interested in on-line security should check this out. http://users.chartertn.net/tonytemplin/FBI_eyes/

Cheers guys. Your responses have been most informative and reassuring. I guess my main concern was the tear in the metal and the bulge rather than any dents. Thanks again.

My 74 doesn't have hazards but my 77 does so I would assume they were introduced somewhere in between.

D'oh!

I just received a visit from a neighbour who knew I was into Z's and thought I might be interested in a car he spotted for sale today. As my garage is currently full (as is the driveway) I have to pass but in case anyone out there is interested: 1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2 (Automatic), immaculate original condition, 43,000 km on the clock, air-con, original plates, one owner, September rego, pink slip but no warranty, white, garaged for the majority of the last 3 years. Contact: John Turner at Windford Motors, Windsor (west of Sydney) on 4587 7111 - they are asking AUS$7,990 but will negotiate. Please note I have no connection with this vehiclenor have I seen it. The description above comes straight from my neighbour.

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