Bambikiller240

Hi Enrique: I (dare I say WE) appreciate your points of view and your wisdom. There really isn't a need for anyone to "take blame" for anythng in this thread. There are differing opinions on many subjects and we are all entitled to our own. Sometimes airing them to our compatriots will moderate those opinions even if it doesn't *change* them. It's all good to me, and as stated before "Different strokes for different folks." PS No one has ever mistaken me for someone who is "conservative", though some have mistaken me for a "liberal". I don't feel that I fit in either mould. I tend to vote as much one way as the other. I am a registerd Libertarian. I make a consious effort to make up my own mind on any subject and I avoid believing what anyone tells me I *should* believe until I come to understand the subject to the best of my ability. (Whew, guess I'm a bit wordy tonight.) TTFN, Carl

Last time I spoke with MSA about weatherstrip needs (1 year ago), they indicated that they can still supply OEM pieces, though they are not listed in the catalog. I'm quite sure the price would be significantly higher than for repro (Precision) parts. No surprise there. I always use OEM weatherstrips. The additional cost is worth it to me. No Hassles, better fit, IMHO.

Well said!

Interesting that ZCCA allows one dealer installed option (A/C) in the "stock" class, but deducts points for other dealer installed options. Seems a bit :stupid: to me. IMHO consistancy should be strictly maintained in a "stock" class or it isn't really "stock".

Great! Thank you!

Is there a link to Tom Holt's site with this document? I did a quick Google search on the mans name and there is like 20+ pages of hits for various Tom Holts.

Hi Ben: Yes, indeed. The 1974 260Z (US market) was available with factory installed A/C. First year is was available installed at the factory. Carl

First, I'm not calling myself an "expert", but I consider myself somewhat "knowledgable" on 240Z's, having owned and taken several apart and carefully put them back together. I've also read quite a bit about them. However, there are certainly more knowledgable folks than I out there. All seams where body panels are joined by welding have some sort of filler to smooth the transitions. On the Z they are (were) filled with lead (an "old school method" that is becoming a lost art). Beyond that I said bondo MAY have been applied as well. I have seen some spot weld marks on certain body panels, generally very "low" on the body where they would be difficult to see by the casual observer. I wouldn't call these spots "production flaws" since they occur on every car and could have easily (and would have) been covered IF Nissan had desired to do so. These cars were not meant to be "perfect" like one would expect of a low volume specialty car. They were being built quickly, in quantity, and to a price point that made them affordable. I can only tell you that I have owned 3 240Z's since 1973 and that none of them showed a visable "seam" where the quarter panel joins the roof. I have not examined them with a microscope, but I've looked carefully by eye, & I haven't seen it on my cars, though I have seen cracked paint/filler in this area on 240Z's owned by other people. Regarding what was and was not available from the "factory", there was only one option from the factory in 1972 for US market 240Z's, and that was the Automatic Transmission. I know this as I shopped for and bought one when they were new. I refer you to www.ZHome.com as that site and it's owner/operator Carl Beck can tell you exactly what was available on 240Z's from the factory. Generally dealers sourced the "Factory Authorized" options from several sources. None of my 240Z's ever had A/C so I cannot tell you any of the brands involved, but I'm sure others with cars fitted with these units can tell you.

Thanks Steve, Yeah, that is what I was thinking they were. That is what I had on the Earls hoses I bought in the early 80's. They proably still have that available too. The MSA hose sets built specifically for Z's (MSA) have something similar except that there is no female AN threaded end, the M10 X 1.0 "adapter" is integral to the hose. See the attached (modified) pic from the website you referred to.

You crack me up!

Hi Enrique: I am sure that Ricks comments were sincere and heartfelt and many people feel the same way. My comment are sincere and heartfelt as well. Not everyone likes this parade, or Republicans, Democrats, Tossed Salad, Beef, Modern Art, Fords, Polar Bears, Soup, or Nutz. Different strokes for different folks. We're all entitled to our opinion(s). No flame meant here either, but........... Actually the fact is that this event is for those COUCH POTATOS (I'm outside, or elsewhere DOING something when it airs) who have nothing else to do but sit in front of the tube and watch it and time pass by. My opinion is that it exists solely as a vehicle for Corporate America advertise and to fill space between commercials, until the football games begin. Stuff on TV is not broadcast because it has any redeeming social value, it is broadcast only because someone will pay for commercials surrounding it. When the advertisers go away, so does the programming, no matter who, or how many people like it. Flowers are beautiful and I appreciate viewing them, but they are best appreciated in a natural setting (garden) and not plucted and glued to a flatbed truck in the design of a duck or whatever. (Mrs. Rick understands this, as he indicated) Steve, If you like flowers, you'll LOVE Bouchart Gardens! An amazing place well worth a visit.

I have bought quite a bit of stuff from MSA over the past 4 years (though maybe not as much as you) and have been satisfied with virtually all of it. On the two items that I was not satisfied with, they offered and gave me full refunds including return shipping costs. Nissan OEM weatherstripping is (or was a year ago) available from MSA or Courtesy. Probably Chloe at Midwest Z also. MSA used to carry OEM and repro strips by Precision Replacement Product in Washington. I don't know about ones made in Thailand. When dealing with parts that come from various sources (OEM, different aftermarket sources) consistancy is going to be hard to come by. Talk to Sal Perno, the manager at MSA, he's always done right by me.

Hi Steve: This may be a PITA thing to ask, but do you have, or could you snap quick a pic of one of these fittings? I'm curious as to what they look like and how the fit to the mounting tab on the car. Thanks, Carl

I don't know about where you live, but in Northern CA it's available at almost an Checker/Schucks/Kragen store for $3-$4 a can. Last time I looked on Eastwood's website, it was available there too.

In order for the pictures to have any validity it would have to be KNOWN with 100% absolute assurance that the car pictured was not damaged, repaired or modified in any way. Otherwise it's all hearsay. This would be virtually impossible to verify in a open internet forum. i.e. How many of us are original owners of our 30+ year old cars and can document the entire history of said car? FWIW, No 1972 240Z's were imported with A/C from the factory, it simply was not available. Dealers added A/C units to vehicles, they can at best be described as "factory authorized". While the roof and quarter panels were welded together, the "seam" was "leaded in" (small amounts of bondo may have been used on top of that) at the factory and the seam was not visable on new cars, and should not be visable on a low mileage, well kept vehicle. It generally only appears after years of chassis flex, or damage to the car.

Would that be the same as a "poll"? My recollection (don't have my manuals with me at work) is that the vacuum hose should be disconnected and plugged up when setting timing. That is the way I have always done it.

The bumpers on 240Z's look great, I agree, but if you've ever been in a minor "fender-bender" with them you'll know that they fold up like cardboard. They provide virtually no protection to the bodywork. The larger and FUGLEY bumpers that began to appear on US market 1973 240Z's and continued to grow larger as years went on, have an energy absorbtion system that helps protect the bodywork MUCH better. PS To install thew 240 bumpers on a 280Z, I'm told (2nd hand info) that you need to remove all of the old bumper mountings (not just "collapse" them) and use the mount brackets for the 240Z style bumper

A good place t6 start is the How to Restore Your Datsun Z Car book by Wick Humble. Available from Motorsport Auto ( www.zcarparts.com ) among other places. www.ZHome.com has a lot of information on early Z cars also.

Quickest and Best way I can advise is to contact Chloe at Midwest Z. Her user name on our site is "mwz". Send her a Private Message or email her at parts@midwestz.com with your inquiry. Best price and best service you'll find.

Yep, that the one who sounds like he ingested a dozen Qualudes, and has the personality of a bar of soap.

OEM dashes are getting very hard to find and are very expensive when found, and they have not been manufactured for some years. One member has a fibreglass dash that he sells, but recommends it for race cars only (if I remember correctly). I have not seen or heard of anyplace else offering a dash for 240Z's

Just wondering how the members who sent dashes out to Dashboard Restorations really feel about the product that they received back. One person has vaguely mentioned some sort of dissatisfaction, wile another has indicated satisfaction. This service is something that I may be interested in in the future, so I'd like to hear in more detail what has pleased (and displeased) the folks who have done business with this vendor. If anyone is dissatisfied, have you discussed this with the vendor? I placed this thread in "Open Discusssions" as it doesn't seem appropriate to place it in the Vendors forum since someone may post dissatisfaction with the product/service.

I think that was Mario's WIMPY kid in the commercial.

Scirocco's were/are a Volkswagen product.

I enjoy many of the shows on SpeedTv, such as the F1 coverage, British Touring Car races, European Touring Car, Aussie V8 Supercars, World Rally Championship, Jet Boat races, (only the) "Inside NASCAR Show", and some of the "specials" about Porsches, Ferrari, old F1 documentary films, and Wind Tunnel w/ Dave Despain. HOWEVER, the "other" NAPCAR shows are a bore, the infomercials make me puke, and Speed Racer is an insult to the intelligence of viewers (at least this one, anyway). Most of the NAPCAR races are a total bore, though a few (Sears Point, Watkins Glen, Bristol come to mind) can be fun to watch.