Bambikiller240

The fact remains that they were not designed to provide power or performance. They were solely used to satisfy the EPA requirements for emissions. They were used here for 2 years and dropped like a hot rock by the people (Nissan) who chose to use them on their product. Did the HP of the L24 drop when Flat Tops (and the late E88 head) were added? Absolutely. Can they be made to operate satisfactorily? Probably. Can "Patience and skill" overcome the inherent design of the Flat Top carbs? I strongly doubt it. Do Round Top carbs out perform them? Regularly. When was the last time any of you heard of a Z with Flat Tops running 12 sec quarter mile times like Norm? N.E.V.E.R.

Good Point Stephen. The suspension was "refined" (altered) in the 280Z years (as opposed to 240Z years) I think that they (Nissan) made many alterations, like most auto manufacturers do.

We get LOWER octane than many parts of the country. I think Vicky mentioned that in Florida they can get 98 octane or something like that. Other states have 95 octane. The choices we have in Cali are 87, 89, and 91. But it's not just that the octane is low in Cali, the recipe includes funky chemicals that are claimed to reduce smog. Of course, one of the last additives they put in our gasoline (called MTBE) turned out to be a poisen that accumulated in our lakes and streams quite rapidly. The oil industry touted this poison as the "be all / end all" of chemicals to reduce smog. Our foolish leaders then jumped the gun and mandated it's use almost immediately. In spite of the concerns of many chemists and scientists who warned that more study was needed before using this chemical. Well, the result is that it's been used for 5 or more years now, and this chemical now shows up in many lakes, streams, and underground water tables. They are going to remove it from gasoline soon, but the damage has been done. http://www.waterindustry.org/mtbe-harmful.htm

You guys talk funny!

Of course it is your choice. However, the consensus of the vast majority of people who have had Flat Tops on their own car is that they are JUNK when compared to Round Tops. MOM's Flat Tops may be manufactured to perform differently than what you have in your USA delivered Z. (since he lives in another country far, far away from US Emissions standards) Make your own decision, but don't ignore the opinions of the many, due to a few lone discenting voices.

The springs are different between 240 and 280. Wouldn't that mandate a different location for the spring perches, even if the body stayed the same? I have a bunch of springs and some 240 and 280 Strut tubes buried in the garage. I should look, but it's the wet season and I'm really not too motivated.

Alfa: I've heard various estimates for how much of our oil consumption is domesticly produced. Sadly, the numbers are not high. The numbers I have heard bounced around are in the neighborhood of 2/3 of our consuption is supplied from foreign producers, and 1/3 of consuption produced domesticly. Even the oil we produce in Alaska is shipped to other countries like Japan to feed the greed of the oil companies. Our country really needs to work on this. Dependence on foreign oil is a huge problem for this country and results in our government making strange bedfellows with some really unsavory governments around the world. (Not to mention providing an excuse to park thousands of our young men and women half way around the world where they are dying every day) The huricanes may have an impact on gasoline supplies in the Eastern and Southern parts of the USA, but not in California. Our (CA) politicians have mandated a far different recipe for gasoline than is used in most (if not all) other states of the union. California's gas is produced solely within our state. Which is part of the reason that our gas prices are typically higher than other areas of the country. In most other states, if supplies fall, gas from neighboring states can be brought in to fill the shortfall. In CA that can't happen because the refineries in other states are not set up to produce the "recipe" that is mandated in CA. When our California supply gets low, we are up sh*t creek without a paddle.........and here come the oil companies to jack up the prices even further than they do in other area of the country.

It is made for the specific application. Only one mod required: "Take it out of the box it came in".

Flat Top SU Carbs = Boat Achors Round Top SU's = Good Carburetors www.ZTherapy.com

There are two ways to go about this: 1. "The right part for the right job". (MSA#23-4201 @ $109.95) 2. "The Jed Clampett Method" ("I can fix it. My Dad is a TV repairman. He's got the ultimate set of tools" - Jeff Spicoli of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

What brand cartridges did you use?

Yes, the market forces are generally of an international bent. As I said, other countries may be experiencing them ( to a greater or lessor degree) as we are. When I said that the price differences between OZ , UK, etc and the USA are largely based on differences in taxes applied to gasoline by our respective governments, I was refering to the situation explained (more eloquently) by Walter Moore. Since you asked........I'll WHINE...... IMO, the gas price hikes we are seeing are caused by several things. (in no particular order) The increasing international demand for petroleum (like China, for one example), unbridled speculation (greed) in the "futures" market where oil prices are bid higher and higher, greed of the US oil refiners who raise the "at pump prices" before the oil purchased at a higher price even reaches our shores. Lastly, the little excusion into Iraq (by our foolish leaders) which has done a great deal to destabilize the Middle East (where a significant portion of our oil imports originate. END OF WHINE (I'm not getting drawn into a debate about whether I'm right or not. Others may live in a different "fantasyland" than the one I live in.)

Nope, not saying that, just meant that the reason your (and other countries) current prices are different than in USA is largely due to taxes. The daily price increases that we are experiencing are due to matters that have almost nothing to do with taxes. Your country (and others) may also be experiencing some of this. (I don't know) yes, meant "aren't", not "are aren't".

Try out our search function. These sort of questions have been answered quite often and you will find lots of info in our archives.

did you mean whining (only 1 "g") we are aren't. Just comparing differences around the LARGE country. ....and the reason for that price difference (between USA and OZ / UK) would be largely in TAXES. The prices are rising for very different reasons (at this time) in the USA.

Just drove by the SAME station as last night. It's now $2.48.9 for 87 octane, and $2.72.9 for 91 octane. :mad:

$2.44 for 87 Octane, $2.68 for 91 Octane; as of last night 10-17-2004

Here's a link to an article on insulating a car. Has a good description, and link to the manufacturer of "Brown Bread" insulation http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_2/car-audio-sound-deadening-6-2003.html

No to both parts.

If you were to treat the area's pictured with POR's "Metal Ready" product, the holes would be enlarged considerably. Bearing that in mind, and what little of the rocker panels that can be seen, I'd opt for replacement of the entire floorpans, and rockers (if needed) AND treatment of the entire area with POR15. This is the kind of work that you only want to do once,............................ unless you have lots of money, and time to burn. Just my $.02

Hello Mark: For a Daily Driver, I'd stick with either the European OEM Springs, or Eibach Progressive spring set; and either KYB's, Tokico Blues, or Illumina's for struts. Coil-overs, while convenient for the reasons that you mentioned will be noisier (and IMHO) not worth the effort. Sorry, No part numbers. Now if you were racing the car............................ suggestions would be somewhat different.

I'm no injection wiz, but the injectors themselves can fail, the sensors that the computer uses to control the injectors can fail, and lastly the computer itself can fail. Troubleshooting the complete system with a shop manual is the best way to determine what is causing the issue on your engine. Sorry. There really is no simple answer to this sort of thing.

Previous Owners. Gotta Love them.........NOT! :mad:

White Rectangle documented.