Pop's Z

hd240z, Thanks for the reply. Sorry you can't make it. The show is sponsored by the Silver Grill cafe and is held every year about that time. Hope to see you next year. Cheers, Mike

I'm bumping this thread to try and get a response. I just know that you Colorado guys would love to be in a car show. Yes? Cheers, Mike

This is a shout out to any Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, or Nebraska Z car guys: The Fort Collins, Colorado, Old Town Car Show will be on June 9 from 11-5:30(arrive and check-in from 9-11am). Registration(before June 1st is $15, after is $20) can be obtained by going to : www.DowntownFortCollins.com. It is mostly a hot rod show, but I was in it two years ago and kenz240z was in it last year. The Zs are very well received and everybody's got a Z car story. It would be great if we could have a row of Z cars in the show this year. PM me with any questions or comments. After going to the MSA show this weekend I am really psyched to have some Z cars in this show. Thanks, Mike

Hi all, Just got back from the show(flew out w/ kenz240z) and I have to say it was the best show that I have been to in the three years I've gone! Great venue and fairly good organization...kudos to MSA. They don't really have to do this show, yet they do it every year for the last 12(and it's gotten better every year). We went to the auto cross at El Toro( that was weird standing on the runway that I flew out to Viet Nam 41 years ago...and returned to 40 years ago at the same time of year) and saw some fun driving on a great course. Thanks to the SCSCCA for putting on the event. Thanks also to GroupZ for the kick-off BBQ. We had an awsome time and are thinking seriously of returning next year with our cars. Mike, I'll be sending you a CD of the 70 odd pics I took. (I find it too much of a PITA to upload them all to the site what with trying to modify them so they'll load, etc.) Missed all the Oregon/Washington contingent...Arne, Mike, Dave, etc. Hope to see you next year. All in all a good time was had by all. Cheers, Mike

I would not have gotten the arm rest with the cup holders. They don't hold any cups I have and are too shallow to grip anything enough to keep it from falling out. It will hold a 12oz soda can but you will hit it with your elbow when you shift helping it to fall out. I ended up taking the ashtray out and using the hole for a small water bottle. Works for me. The arm rest is too high to be very comfortable and your elbow rests on the cup holder part. FWIW if I had it to do over I would have bought the regular arm rest. Cheers, Mike

61(62 in July) 1st Z in 74. 2nd one in 05. Time flies when you're having fun. Not only suffering from "CRS", but "CRAFT" also. Cheers, Mike

Mike, You haven't answered the question yet...Are you bringing your car to the MSA show in April? With a new location it should be really nice. Would it be possible to have a group from Classic Zcar? I will be flying in from Colorado again. I hope to see you there(and all you other Z guys, too). Cheers, Mike G.

Will, I have the original owners manual for my '73(the one that came in the glove box). You are more than welcome to use it. Let me know. Mike

I got my first Z in 1974. I was 29 and a Captain on the Fire department in Ft. Collins, Colorado. It was a Blue coupe w/ off-white interior. I had 2 Datsun 2000 roadsters before that, a 68 and a 69. My Z came with EMPI 8-spoke aluminum wheels which I haven't seen since, but would love to get my hands on a set. I truly loved that car, but when I moved to the mountains I had to trade it in for a 4-wheel drive pickup. Much water has flowed under the bridge since then and last year I was seriously bitten by the Z-bug again. I bought the car you see in my avatar and my photo file. I bought it from the original owner with 69,000 actual miles on it. NO RUST!!! I've had a great time emptying my bank account on it...sort of like a mistress(one that my wife will accept). I love the way it drives and I spend many happy hours behind the wheel. There's just something about a Z... Cheers, Mike

Ed, FWIW I lived aboard a boat for 16 years and multiple deep-cycle batteries and their associated equipment were pretty standard, Go to www.westmarine.com (I also worked for them for a time...good outfit)and check out their on-line catalog. They have battery combiners, isolaters, gel deep cycle batteries, switches, etc. In fact I am adding a battery cut-off switch I obtained from them as soon as I put together the rest of the parts I need to complete the project. There might even be a West Marine store near you...you can find out on their web site. Hope this helps. Mike

James, On my 73 the instrument lamps are clear, but the housings are greenish. Hope this helps. Cheers, Mike

I called them to re-do a 75 280 Z wheel. Their quote was $300. I thought that was a bit much and ordered a Wheelskin from MSA. Very satisfied with the outcome and I second the heavy gloves use to install...the thread will tear your hands up.

Since I bought my car last year(it had 69,980 miles on it) I've driven it 3,000 miles mostly on sunny days. Because I live real close to the mountains these trips are canyon runs usually early in the morning to avoid traffic. In fact just yesterday I drove up Poudre canyon(Colorado Highway 14) to the top of Cameron Pass. I only had to pass 4 cars and wasn't real concerned about the speed limit...great grins. Not a daily driver. Cheers, Mike

Hi all, I'm about to store my Z for the winter. I would like to disconnect the battery and have been looking for a disconnect switch as I don't really want to take the terminal off and on if I want to go for a cruise on those really nice days. Any suggestions? What do you all use? What's the good ones...what's the ones to avoid? Thanks in advance. Mike

Blaine, Carl Beck knows of which he speaks. I bought a "perfect" 73 in Denver last year for $8,000. It had 69,000 original miles(real) and I bought it from the first owner who had kept it garaged all it's life. It had NO rust and although I felt I probably overpaid I have very few of the issues others have had with their more "used" cars. Then came the fun...had to get rid of the white vinyl roof(dealer installed and beginning to peel, that required a new paint job. Then a few rubber parts, then a new exhaust system, then new struts,and as long as I was doing that,new bushings, ball joints, tie-rod ends. I was unable to tune the 71 S.U.s so off they went to Ztherapy. Then the seats were saggy and my 60 year old butt just needed some new foam. Then, of course I needed some tunes.......you see where this goes. I'm now into the car for a lot more than I paid for it and I will never get the money out of it, BUT, I don't care. I'm having so much fun with this car that the money just doesn't matter all that much. I can do 90% of the work myself which is very satisfying and then I can do like I did on Monday and take the Z for a spin in the mountains up to Estes Park and over Peak to Peak down to Boulder and that is really a blast and a great stress reliever. It really doesn't matter how much you pay, you will pay more as time goes by. As Carl said when I was first looking..."get the BEST car you can afford and go from there". Check out my picture gallery to see what I have been talking about. Good luck with your search and remember these cars are not an investment that will make you money. They are for fun and that's worth a lot. Cheers, Mike

Richard, That console is repairable. Go to www.ztherapy.com. and order the 240Z tuneup video. Not only does it tell you how to tune up your Z, but it also tells you how to repair your console and strenghten your choke mount. Really good stuff. I followed their directions and repaired the console on my 73. At the same time I lubed the choke wires and it is very smooth and puts no strain on the console. It was not very hard to do and you have to look real closely to tell it was broken in 3 places. Cheers, Mike

Ian, You can add my name to the Ztherapy band wagon. They did my S.U.s and even jetted/needled them for my altitude(5000 ft.). They made a MAJOR difference in the way the car performs. they were definitely worth the $$$. FWIW you can't know how many miles have been put on the carbs...my car only had 69,000 miles on it, but because it is a 73 the old flat tops had been replaced w/ 71s and I had no idea how worn out they were. I know that $600 sounds like a lot, but believe me it is a bargain. Cheers, Mike