Doehring

Como stas,Rui? I agree with Z-point. For improvements we have to look for US dealers . Some original Datsun parts are still available at some Nissan dealers, but it's becoming more and more difficult. Many parts have been collected also in Europe when Nissan USA decided to restore some 240Z 2 or 3 years ago. Try for instance to get a new engineblock - nothing, not even for a 280 ZX. I tried to convince some big dealers here in Germany to collect and centralise the parts from smaller collegues , no response and no support from Nissan Germany. These people are only interested in selling their boring new bread'n'butter cars and don't have an interest in history. At the moment they start to show some interest in 240 Zs for the presentation of the new 350Z, but in the long run that's a fake, it's not in their heart. European producers are here very different. Look at all the company museums like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes or VW/Audi. They are proud of their history and developments. What we have are some private initiatives from national Z and ZX clubs to collect parts (new and used). Are you a member to a Z club? If there isn't one in Portugal get in contact with Fred Caen from the french or Steve Burns from the british club.Some dealers are in the UK (look at the pages of the british Z/ZX club). Some of them gather orders to get better discounts and to lower the transportation costs. But: Until you have the parts in Portugal you have to pay another amount of transportation costs. So you can order directly in the US. Watch the changing rates € to $ and ask for special prices. Bom dia Rolf

Ivan, thank you for the good info. Nevertheless it's a pity. I liked that Cheetah. There is not much information on the Cheetahs here in Germany. I think even most car enthusiasts don't even know about Cheetah. How is it in the US ? Rolf

Brando, there is always a risk with a 30 years old car. Don't hesitate too long. Good 240Z's are still available but they become rarer every day. Did you look at the tyres, new tyres are expensive. Just an idea to work a little bit for a little lower price . Rolf

I wouldn't miss them any more. Good buy. Rolf

Look at the photo of the interior. This seems to be a dream buy for someone who has space and time. It's worth a good painting. Nevertheless I would sell that whale tail and the plastics under the doors , but every taste is different. Rolf

Brando, for comparisons look at www.ebay.com at motors, collectibles, Datsun, Zcar. It's good to get a feeling for prices. I think your 2500 $ is okay as long as there are no problems, for instance a not working generator or other electrical problems that will nerve you. Can you arrange a test drive or at least let the engine run. To get a battery to start the engine should be possible. Rolf

mperdue, you are so right. Searching these bloody pins ... . My first improvement was to use an emptied vacuum cleaner. For reuse of the clips I now take matches ,cut them to size and colour them finally at the end. Rolf

Hi all, it's a pity that another vendor stopped Z conversions. I like the VR GTO spyder that I saw on pictures. Did you see the yellow one in www.ebay.com under cars/oldtimer/kitcars ? Nice car, would be nice to have. Years ago I read an article about another kit car, a Cheetah !!! The kit producer was located near Phoenix/Az. I wrote a letter to the adress that was mentioned in that article.The letter came back. Does anyone have informations on that car ? Rolf

Looks nice, your Camaro Z . The virtual welder is a great thing. Would like to play with that, for instance in combining a Ferrari 250 SWB front to the Z. Rolf

Zedrallye, yesterday I read that the later 240 Z got stiffer front and rear springs stock, in front much stiffer than at the rear. The result was that the car became a bad understeerer. to solve that problem Datsun built in the rear swaybar. So: If you can get the stock springs of that year when Datsun made the rear swaybar stock you have the stiffer springs you are looking for, may be now you need a rear swaybar, too. By the way, do your rules for historic rallying allow 15' rims ? I think 7J-14 was the biggest homologated wheel. Rolf

Afterburners !! See Z fly .

Zedrally, I have the same set up as XYZ because I mainly drive on tared roads here. For special stages off the tared roads I would also try to get the car higher, as you said. At first I would take the original springs in turns and length, but stiffer, if available. In every case I would install urethane bump stops to be protected against the hardest shocks after jumps. Why do you need larger rims on these roads ? On the "roads" you mentioned earlier I would take the original alloy rims from the early 280 ZX (5,5 J I think) with 195/70-14 tyres and M+S (Mud and Snow) or similar block profile. This brings more grip on gravel or mud, the tyres have a bigger diameter (what brings the car another 2-3 cm up) and they are softer when landing after a jump. The profile is also a better protection against sharp stones on the track. The acceleration may suffer a little, top speed might rise but normally these tyres are not for top speed but fast enaugh to "play with the music", as we say here (means: to be within the top) Rolf

260Z, if your VIN is correct your car should be a 240Z built in Dec./71 or Jan. 72 zhome. has a lot of informations. Take time to get used to it. Rolf

2manyZ, there are 2 plastic model kits from a japanese producer (Fujimi ???) 1n 1:12, very,very much detailed and big fun to build, a 240 Z in the Safari Rallye version (Hermann/Schuller) and a ZG. Rolf

260Z, driving in Finland must be fun. The best rallye drivers are "flying fins". As far as I know from my friend Esa-Jukka in Helsinki you often have wet conditions. In my first 260Z I had rust problems inside the front fenders. In Finland I found a good solution , a Lokari- sisaelokasuoja (correct?), a Lokari inner mudguard (you can see it in my gallery), produced by Ky Leo Laine in Rauma/Finland , also for the Datsun Z. Good luck and happy Zedding Rolf

Hi all, the Franklin Mint is 1:24. The 1:18 model shown is by Sun. Compared to the price it is quite nice but the rear section is not in harmony to the original shape. Already the quarter and the rear windows are not correct. The Kyosho models are much better but also much more expensive. They have many variattions but unfortunately not (yet ?) the BRE racer. This is my favorite in 1:43 from Ebbro. Ebbro just published a nice red 280ZX in 1:43, too. If you can get the Revell 1:24 BRE, be happy ! Rolf

Dstrong, instead of the PVC you may take a K&N filter (From MSA for instance) or you lead a hose to an additional reservoir underneath you coil or you lead a hose to a hole in the backside plate of one of your carbs. In that case you must be aware that this carb may become too rich. Is it possible that the plastic tubes should ber connected to the distributor's vacuum box ? Whatever it is, avoid unfiltered openings. Rolf

The straight six is in it's basics a Mercedes-Benz engine. So awards should have gone to Mercedes already before. Datsun got the licence when it took over an other japanese producer that bought the licence from the german producer. Rolf