EScanlon

Sounds as though they plumbed it direct without a valve, so your heat is "always" on. Then again that you still haven't noticed any heat, makes me wonder if it's heating up to temp. 2¢ Enrique

That fusible link you are waiting for...that's the one that COMPLETELY disconnects the entire electrical system. Wait for the fusible link for the repair, don't know if I would advise running the car with a coat hanger in it's place. Enrique

Did you check the vacuum advance on the dizzy? That's a known problem on the Z dizzy. The bearing holder dries up and it won't operate smoothly or properly. I know that is a long shot, but takes only a minute. It sounds as though we can discount the electrical connections on the dizzy. When you mention it dies, have you described HOW it dies? Is it a sudden...click...and then off, or does it sputter to death? What if you accelerated, etc.? E

An immobilizer is ideal only if it actually does just that. Can the car be started with a simple cross connect of the ignition switch wires? If it delays the start of the car for any length of time then it has helped dissuade the individual or make him more determined. If you were to disable the brake system in such a way as to lock up the car, and additionally made it difficult to tow, that would be additional deterrents. Sadly, the more complex you make the system, the more than likely that you will bypass it yourself. All of these systems should be painfully hidden while working with the knowledge that they'll be looking for them. Even better if they arm passively, meaning without action on your part. If some of the additional features were to activate some of the de-activated electronic alarm system, it would play havoc on his attempts. Food for thought. Enrique

I say to double check that dizzy install. But would you answer a couple questions? Is the tach original? If so, does it operate well? Has the resistor been removed and what was done with the wires leading to it? Was the new dizzy tested? Is the mechanical vacuum advance still operating correctly and most importantly SMOOTHLY? Noticed any change in the brake fluid levels? Was the dizzy installed when the car was in running order or after? Just operating for 15 minutes and then dying, with what appears to be a cool down reset. That might also be an indication of flexing or venting of the system. Could the head be warped? Exhaust manifold? Just my 2¢ Enrique

Victor: Good News! Be sure to annotate and account for everything you require to bring her back to the state she was in. If they ever catch the crook and convict him, WHETHER OR NOT he serves time for the crime, SUE him for the amount of the repairs. The OJ trial showed us two ways of skinning a rat. Enrique

At the risk of jumping on a soap box, Too Intense Restoration may be too expensive for folks on an extremely tight budget, but for those of us who want correct, many times original, advice, options, and AVAILABILITY, Troy Thacker's busines is tops. Can you find it for less money someplace else? Sometimes, not always and then you run the hazard of is it right. Case in point, I bought a replacement convertible top for my Roadster. Billed as sewn to original specs and the closest thing to original. Well, it was cheaper, about $300 cheaper. Powerful incentive. I bit and got it. It IS cut to original specs, except, it doesn't have the extra material in the wear points of the top bow. The wire spring reinforcement cables for around the side windows and the pockets they go in, not there. No possible way of adding them in without some serious tailoring. Not something to be tackled lightly. Quote by upholstery shop that specializes in interiors and refitting convertible tops...$250 plus $100 to install it. Then I bring it back in the summer after it's "seated" and they'll re-waterproof the seams again. I would be better off buying the proper top at $450 and saved myself the hazzle. Still thinking of opting that way as it's becoming extremely difficult to find those side pieces. What's the nmoral? Sometimes what seems expensive to someone else may in the long run be the most ECONOMICAL way of fixing it, fix it promptly and most importantly RIGHT. So with that, I'll admit some of his prices may seem high. However, I'll pay for availability on a simple phone call as opposed to 3 weeks of trolling on e-bay, and then taking my chances. 2¢ Enrique

First check your Hazard Flasher. Swap it out with tne Turn Signal Flasher. If that causes the hazards to work, but not the turn signals then you've pinpointed the flasher as the bad guy. If the hazards still don't work, then check to make sure that the connections to your hazard flasher switch are making good contact. This is usually the cause of the problem. Enrique

New car loans, I guesstimate about $17 per hundred borrowed. Not a hard fast accurate rule, but close enough to know when something is way out of budget. Used Car loans, now you're having to determine the length of loan and other stuff. 5 year loan and you can use the above formula. 2 years and I use $5 per hundred IF the loan would be through a bank. These "Rules of Thumb" are just MY Thumb Rule. Adjust to your needs as you see fit. Enrique

The seller obviously does not know what car this belongs to, and has probably NEVER seen a Z. Or.... Has anyone ever seen one of those low-budget outrageous car modification nightmares? Remember the VW Beetle with the fake "Rolls-Royce" front end? Personally, I think the Bug carries that look off well, but I have seen autos that have had the same transformation effected to them. Imagine a Ford Pinto or Mercury Bobcat. The Bobcat had a small grille that ~kinda~ suggested the RR Grille. Well, I saw one done that way, except the Rad/Grille was at least 5" deep. I don't think the original is that big. Additionally it had the Continental Spare Tire kit in back that was only the top HALF of the kit. (No room or space to allow the spare to be full size.) To top the whole thing off, a Landau Vinyl Top had been added, with a 2" Chrome edging. Last but not least.......a Lighted Flying Unicorn Radiator "knob". Way too much if you ask me...... Then I saw this on e-Bay and I figured I'd go trolling....... The emblem I ~believe~ is actually from the Mercury Zephyr. Anyone remember the Ford Fairmont? The Zephyr was it's twin for Mercury. As to whether I would ~actually~ mount it on a car of mine, well, who knows, I do have a parts car to get rid of ... Enrique

What do you guys think of this Z emblem? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2454968311&category=33643 Personally, I think it would look good when I finally get my chopped and lowered Rolls Royce Radiator Grille installed. Anyone know where I can find a Continental Spare Tire Kit for the back end? Due to the shortened height of the back end, I think the Half kit would be best. Thoughts? Enrique

POR requires that the next coat of paint be applied EITHER After a period of time after the last coat of POR was applied when the last coat is "finger-dry". "Finger-dry" being when you can drag your finger on the surface and feel the drag on your finger, but not when you would still disturb the "skin". This goes for additional coats of POR as well as any other top coat. OR After applying their activating primer "Tie-Coat". OR After proper preparation of the prior coat. This means sanding or scuffing. Personally, I opted for number 1. The couple occassions when I had to scuff, I felt it was a laborious chore at 400 grit. I switched to 220 and knocked it off in just a few minutes. If I had to do more sanding I think I would opt for the lower grade even going down to 180, especially if I were to be applying a subsequent layer of POR. 2¢ Enrique

Wait a minute!! If you've allowed the POR to completely dry to the point that there is dust on it, then you'll need to scuff up or re-activate the surface before it will allow more POR to bond to it. POR sells a primer that will allow you to paint either more POR or some other paint over it AFTER it has dried. You can paint over it shortly after you've painted the ORIGINAL coat of POR but you need to let it set to the "finger-drag" stage. 2¢ Enrique

EEEEEWWWWWW!!!! Band Nerds!!!! :classic:

As crazy as it sounds, it is such a common occurrence for the floor to buckle due to a misplaced jack that that is why you've heard from several members stating that that may be the cause of it. As to the similarity of your floor dent with a friend's car with the "same" or similar dent? Again, it is a COMMON occurrence. Next ask about Rust in the Floorpans, or in the bottom of the front fenders, or in the hatch area, or.... Get my drift? Good Luck Enrique

Carl beat me to it. If you look at My Gallery you'll see how I did it. I took a PVC 45° elbow and fitted it into the drain hose from the cowl, then used ziplock tie straps and some silicone to ensure they stayed fastened. To the lower section of the elbow I inserted some clear flexible PVC tubing that I had exit the fenders behind the rubber flaps. I cut the PVC at an angle facing towards the back and down to the ground so that it wouldn't catch air as I drove along. As far as the fresh air vents that are located right by the cowl drain hoses, they receive their intake way up front by the radiator. If you've had the fenders off the car then you've noticed that big "frame" member above the tire and out from the shock. That tunnel is actually the fresh air intake feed tube. Hope this helps. Enrique

I concur with Carl. More than likely a misplaced floor jack caused that dent, or hitting a concrete parking lot railroad tie. If it didn't affect the reinforcing channel under the floor, you should be able to pound it out with a sledge hammer. Hope this helps Enrique

Stephen's polished rim look is OUTSTANDING! I admit that I'm not a big fan of the Iron Cross look, but the way they look polished really sets them off. If you were to insist on painting them, the original look is to paint the inner part of the cross black, but I think that if you were to OUTLINE the center parts with either black or another high contrast color the effect might also be remarkable. 2¢ Enrique

When my fan started making noise, I had access to a Z only boneyard here in the NW. I bought a replacement MOTOR and the cage came with it. I didn't get to install it till later, that's when I discovered that it was the CAGE and not the motor. Now I have a spare motor and a bad cage. You might ask Chloe if she can source it. Enrique

There is little cross through ventilation going on through those holes. The Z's that I've seen have had the vinyl glued to the inner rocker panel in such a way that those holes were sealed. Additionally the rocker panel has two drain holes as well as being opened to the reinforcing panel for the door hinges as well as to the rear fender area just behind the locking mechanism. I used POR as a rust protectant inside the rocker panel, so I wasn't too concerned about leaving it open to ventilation. I did seal all the holes on the inner rocker panel, the inner rear fender (in front of the rear wheel) and the result is that the car is so much quieter than any other Z I've driven in. 2¢ Enrique

If you'll note those "holes" actually are pressed into the metal such that they have an indented edge. That indent provides for a lot of structural strength to a piece of metal. You CAN cover those holes up, just be sure that you've shot some sort of rust protectant into the cavity behind as that is your rocker panel. When I closed mine off, I used pieces of plastic "cardboard" cut into the size of the hole and then siliconed in place before I covered them with Q-Pad sound deadeners. In my opinion, that makes the car that much LESS noisier. 2¢ Enrique

I'll take the blame. Rick's original post was a conversation starter, and I objected to my perception of Carl and Victor's replies and may have made a hairy nuisance of myself. I'm the one that got deep and proceeded to dig further. I will excuse myself with the following: I will admit to responding to posts with more than a dash of thought provoking commentary (or at least, I HOPE it's thought provoking). The members of this group in general, give their best replies to thought provoking discussions. Then again, we're all guilty of the bonehead response to one or another topic. I'm not refering to debates on the best method to remove the center instruments, or how to remove the spindle pin, as these tend to generate agreement over time, as the different methods are tried and dismissed. I'm referring to topics such as Alan's "Interior Ergonomics" post. There are others, but that one has to be the all time winner with regards to responses that continue to engender other posts. It is these thought provoking posts that, to me, make this site as interesting as it is. Yes our group tends to be a bit more "conservative" than other sites which will remain nameless. And maybe it is that conservatism that has drawn such notable folks as Carl Beck, Carl Stahlnecker, Alan T., Victor Laury, Ken Mack, M. Perdue, and so many others that it is my lack of total recall that limits the list and not their notability. We do have our younger and our older, and maybe conservative is not the term I should use. Some might explain it away as dedication to the "true spirit" of the Z that Mr. K introduced in 1969. So many of us fell in love with the true blue limited sports cars of those days and found our dreams far exceeded the availability of the cars and that only by winning the Irish Sweepstakes might we be able to achieve them. The Z offered us a way to fulfill those dreams. It was and is yet, affordable and available. It's distinct lines, appeal, and speed are but the tip of why we love them. Again, this post is guilty of being a bit deep. Happily the members of this site are miners. 2¢ Enrique

The early Z's did not have automatic self-adjusting seatbelts. Even I find myself somewhat "strapped" in when I adjust the seat and shoulder belts to where they will hold me. 2¢ Enrique

I hope that we can continue this without anyone taking offense, and I will once again apologize to anyone that feels that my comments were offensive. Opinions are like derrieres, everyone has one, some are extremely comely and others would scare a baboon whilst others would gag a maggot. Regarding corporate sponsorship of most (if not all) major events...no argument. Sadly there are few opportunities where people get together and effect worthwhile and notable events without someone in the corporate world seeing it as a viable mode of advertising. Then again, and also sadly, there are way too many individuals out there whose "altruism" is a thinly veiled veneer for massive greed. Those individuals would sell their mother's hide if they could. Unfortunately, nowdays without some form of sponsorship from someone with the bucks, few events would be produced. "Altruism" is a label used for some of these people's motives, when in fact, Self-Agrandizement best describes it. Maybe I'm too much of a cynic, but behind so many "altruistic" motives lies a big chunk of selfish ego building. Oh well, maybe sometime in the future we'll begin once again being helpful without expecting something. This club is a good example of what a true altruistic forum can be. We help each other out with information, advise and even exchange parts in the hopes that our fellow Z owners will also have a Z to admire. Is there a touch of selfishness there? Probably, whether it's recognition amongst our peers, or the hope that all Z's end up being desireable therefore evaluating their own or.....? 2¢ Enrique

BEFORE you go buying a new motor, take your unit apart. You may find that the ONLY problem with it is the connection of the plastic squirrel cage to the motor. What you might need might be JUST the squirrel cage. I had the same problem with my Z, and since I did have a replacement motor, I went to do the transplant. When I removed the squealing motor, I discovered that the squirrel cage had literally reamed it's splined shaft hub. Additionally, the remainder of the hub showed some stress cracks all the way through. Repair was deemed a loosing proposition, I replaced the cage and eliminated the squealing. Unfortunately, if you do NOT have a replacement cage, it might be a bit of a challenge to fix it as the hub not only needs splined teeth within it's shaft opening, but the whole hub is integral to the strength of the cage. 2¢ Enrique