AxtellZ

i am no mechanic, nor engine builder, But... i can tell you that there is an article in the new SportZ magazine on the very subject. Just got it yesterday, and haven't read it, but i know its a 3.1 stroker that uses the diesel maxima crank. FWIW.. as a side note, anyone who loves Z cars should have a subscription- my favorite (and only) magazine!

Welcome Kellan! If you search the site, i am sure you'll find a bazillion posts with respect to condition. also, check www.zhome.com Carl Beck has really good info there, plus he's in Clearwater. As far as rust- obviously you want as little as possible! The "killer" spots are frame rails/floors, and around the battery box/firewall seam. Little spots, fenders. doors etc are really not a problem to fix. the frame rails and floors are available to replace, but it becomes a big job really fast. On the plus side, you can find nearly every z part for sale somewhere, so just find the best you can, and build up. seems to me you can find a beater for 2000 or so, and a really decent car for 4 to 6, plus a wide variety inbetween. Just hang around here and at zhome, you'll learn a ton if u want! Good luck. Jeremiah

The manual says it, and Scott Bruning of Ztherapy.com said it, so i installed mine flush. I suppose either way will work, as you'll compensate when tuning the carbs. FWIW, Jeremiah

i know nothing about it, but z-list member Pete Paraska has a friends car on his website (its in Maryland) http://mywebpages.comcast.net/pparaska/kenz4sale.htm Good luck! Jeremiah

yep, sounds like condensor. as far as 2 cond on the auto, both are screwed to the dizzy- the third deal by the coil is for radio hum.

You may get a better response if you give some details.. like your location, how far you'll travel for it, etc. Also, are you looking for "good condition" to begin a restore/refresh, or just drive or ??? No, i am not selling mine Good luck!

Hey Moby, still got the carbs? need the linkage between 'em too. Dont need the manifold, but if you prefer to unbolt it as a unit that would do.. Let me know if available. Thanks! Jeremiah

Send an email to my friend, Rod at: disco_rod@hotmail.com He has a 260 he is changing from brown to black at some point. not sure of the condition of the piece(s) you need, but he can tell you. Zya, if you can't get ahold of him, email me back, or CC me when you send him a note, Jeremiah axrph@wycol.com

Glad to hear of your success! But, does this mean my fuel gauge is gonna crap out yet again? I just did the emery cloth trick once, and it worked. BUT, it's still friggin' winter here in NY, so it's had no real use, other than re-install & check if it worked! Hope mine lasts forever, cuz i got big hands too..

Ditto to what Keith has said. 2 more things: i have heard Wick Humble's book may not be available, at least from Amazon (i do have 2 copies, if someone needs 1) also, depending on your longterm plans/budget etc. You may look into POR-15, or Eastwood's "rust encapsulator" both are epoxy primer systems that seal the metal extremely well. My 73 had surface rust over the battery due to an idiot (me) leaving a battery charging for way too long- boiled over & ate paint & metal DUH! I cleaned-etched-painted with the POR-15 and it is in really nice shape still. For holes all the way through though, there's no substitute for replacement. Good luck, JSA

There's a local guy here that runs "the install shop"- he mounts front speakers in front of the doors, angled back toward the passengers. Takes up a little more room, but the sound is good. He also has built a combo speaker enclosure/strut tower brace in the hatch. That burns up ALOT of space, but really stiffens the back, and leaves a huge amount of space for speakers...the one i most recently saw used 12" woofers. Really loud, and good quality sound, but IMO, way overboard. But if your into thumpin' music, its an option!

All above answers have been spot-on! i own a 3/73 240, and a 10/74 260. I would do this in a heartbeat, especially for $500! As has been said, you'll find a couple minor items, but really nothing to keep you from going through with it. If you find any specific problems, give a shout- you'll find the answer here. Zya, Jeremiah

I second that emotion, 2Many- although the L28 would make for a fun drive, i would certainly keep the original as you say. Looks like a very nice find- have fun with it, and keep us up to date when you work on her! JSA

ps- i forgot to mention my first car- now remember folks, it was free: 1976 Ford Pinto Wagon, it was a bit rusty, so my father borrowed it one day- the next day the entire lower 2/3rds of it was covered in WOOD! (he's a handy farmer-type) he thought a "woody" would be cool. I thought i'd die of embarassment. If only he could see the woody PT Cruiser today!

You're making me feel a little sick, 2ManyZs! BTW, i read your bio- coolest tribute to Dad- gotta love it. Zya

Hey--if you like the Zcar, you'll never be over-the-hill!!! (and you will always look good at least.)

Well, as one of the 33 year-olds, i'd say that we were all at a very impressionable age when we saw our first Z cars! I remember riding in the back of the family cruiser as a kid, lusting for all those "cool" cars i'd see hauling around. Luckily i was able to buy my 73 in 1993, and my 74 last summer. I still stop/gawk/turn around when i spy a first generation Z-car! Luckily, my family has gotten used to it...as far as the later Zcars- i respect the title and the 300zxtt has awesome performance, but my heart will always beat for the early Z. That's how i see it, BTW, thanks everyone for sharing a little - like they say "i love you, man...." Jeremiah

Hey car_dumi, i am only 33 (the pharmacist) and i'll tell you: been married since i was 17 (quite happily still i might add!), I worked on a potato farm back then to pay for school. 70 hrs a week picking rocks out of a field BY HAND for 3.15/hour. I crawled by arse out of meager beginnings and do okay now- if i could do it, so can anyone... BTW, the title is cool, the moneys decent, but i'm still broke (there's a difference between broke & poor) Ask my wife where half my extra money and extra love go... (hint* startz with "Z") Keep flipping the burgers and aim high- you'll get there! Zya, Jeremiah

Hi Everyone! Seems in the past year or so, a bunch of us on the 240z list gave a brief bio., so we all were more familiar with one another. Anyone wanna join in? Here's me: Jeremiah Axtell, 33yo pharmacist in Nunda (western) New York. Married, 4 kids. own 2 Z's, a 73 and a 74, and am always looking to add to my collection! Have owned a Z since 1993, having wanted one since i was about 7 years old. Well, that's enough off the top of my head- feel free to share whatever you like...Zya

I didn't check before this post, but i'm fairly sure Carl posted a tech write-up on this at Zhome.com You may check there if you haven't. I've read also that folks at MSA and at Crane can hook you up, assuming it's one of their products. Good luck, Jeremiah

as a follow-up: took apart the gauge as mentioned- i emery boarded the contacts (basically a set of points), and checked it with a 6V flashlight battery. Sho 'nuf, it worked again! I am psyched, and thank you all for your help with this. Anyone like me who may be afraid to dive into this- just do it, it would be hard to screw it up, i think. Jeremiah

For the cost difference, go with the full cover.. I have seen both, and yes, both look better than cracks, etc.- but the half cover looks half-assed, IMO. From a distance, not noticeable really, but when you sit in the car on a regular basis, it will "stick out like a sore thumb". Everytime you drive, you'd think "i shoulda spent another $40!" If little stuff doesn't bother you, it may be okay, but that's my opinion! Good luck, Zya Jeremiah 73,74

May i ask, what was done with the coolant lines when the carbs were swapped? My 260 had 3 lines from the thermostat vicinity, 1 through the original carbs, 1 through manifold, 1 through balance tube, if i recall. I just put a 4 inch piece of heater hose & plugged the ends with a bolt of appropriate size. (for the carb line, the other 2 i let be) [outlet-hose-bolt]. Recently i've developed a leak in one of the other 2 lines- thought the head gasket went at first, but i just found it with a mirror & light! I may just go ahead and block off all three now. As has been said before, the only downside may be the "coldbloodedness", by eliminating the warm radiator fluid through the intake manifolds. good luck, Jeremiah

i would check the condtion/balance of the carbs. How long since a tune-up? Try pulling the plugs to check for fouling, and the balance/rich vs leaness of the carbs. At least you can begin to rule out stuff. Good luck, Jeremiah

Thanks for the tip! i found i had a 280 amp/fuel gauge in a parts box, so i switched them today- good news, fuel gauge works, bad news, amp appears not to. 280 gauge has 3 more wires than the 260, i put in the 280 for now, but i'll mess with the 260 gauge now that i have a clue what to try. Thanks a bunch! Jeremiah:)