halz

err... well I didn't actually buy the magazine I just had a quick peek in the local auto-book shop to see what it was about (and to spot a 'famous' face!). I read a similar comparison in a local W.A. magazine here in Perth which compared a 350z and a well-sorted 240Z (with performance prepped L28). The comparison was favourable but of course the 240Z was tweaked in all areas as a classic racer... a truly original car would not have fared as well I suspect. I do look forward to the 'future article' on your car though, Alan. Promise I'll buy the magazine then!

Heh, heh...I agree. A better photo of the HS30H would have been nice. Alan's comments on the 350z echo my own thoughts. Think of all the Fridges that have now been denied legitimate door handles since the 350z went into production...

26th, I took a bus tour with my wife from L.A. through Arizona, Utah, Nevada to San Francisco and saw a lot of the 'canyonlands'. I agree with you it is spectacular country. As an aside, I would have found studying for my Geology/Geophysics degree if I'd done it in America and had those beautiful formations fo look at. Australian rocks by contrast are very old, weathered and deformed - much harder to understand basic G+G principles when looking at our local formations... But enough. I had a chuckle at you comment re: "lets tell the boss we'll be road-testing the cars in the USA!" would the Japanese sense of humour allowed them to try that one on?

Great discussion guys, keep it up. The topic of cold weather testing makes me wonder if 'hot' weather testing also took place...and if so, where? Australia is a modern day favoured locaiton for extreme hot weather testing (eg Porche Cayene)...but what about back in the 60s and 70s? Was such testing done? Would it have been done on the US mainland?

Good idea. When I get time I'll approach the Transport department to see what we can get out of them.

Gav, Word of mouth and day-to-day sightings might help us to discover 10% of the cars out there. Government databases will probably get us another 50-60%. Anything not registered and/or on the road in public view may never be found in the 'short term'. These cars will either vanish or occasionally rejoin the registered or 'known about' cars if their owners restore them So what am I saying? By far the biggest win for all of us would be getting information from the government. Might be time to start hitting them with FOI requests as per Mr.C's suggestion...

The number of surviving Zs can be determined but I do not have the access or contacts to do it. Every surviving (and registered) Z in Australia must exist on the state motor authority registration database (eg Vicroads in Victoria, Mainroads in W.A.). This statement might sound like the Bl..dy obvious but I think its worth someone pointing out that the data (number, type, chassis, colour etc) does exist. The next step would be getting at the data which is most certainly protected by confidentiality laws. Does anyone have any contacts at their local motor authority?

I'm going to head off down the "right-to-life" tangent again and follow up on Alfadog's suggested list of "existence" points which were: When the bare shell is complete - When the VIN is stamped on - When the engine is placed in the car, and the VIN tag is attached (with VIN and engine number) - When the car is complete (at the end of the production line) - When the car has been OK'ed for quality control - When the car arrives in the country it is to be sold in - When the car is sold. I have a friend (a very thorough and pedantic friend) who has recently completed a 7-year restoration on an original series I 4.2 e-type Jaguar. His reply (which is not gospel) follows: "...Pedants are right mate! Well, I would have said that if a build date is stamped on the VIN/chassis plate then that’s the date. With the E, if I send the chassis plate details to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust they will check their records and come up with the build date. I reckon that date is when the car rolls off the production line. That is to say, it is now fully driveable and capable of being tested etc. It is now a car! However pedants being what they are, they will all have a personal view which will be about as malleable/changeable as the Rock of Gibraltar. When in doubt go to the source in this case the build date stamped on the VIN. There is NO way to work out when the bare shell was complete, or when the engine etc was placed in the car or when the VIN plate was stamped. My guess is that as soon as the car comes to the end of the production line and is ready to be driven off they whack on the VIN plate or stamp onto the riveted blank plate all the details. That’s when the plate guy can actually verify visually what the engine/gearbox/colour coded etc is. That’s my guess anyway for what it is worth!! Happy debating!" I will put a stake in the ground and say that when a VIN plate is fixed (which includes eng. and chassis no.s) a car is born. The next question is logically: at what point in the Z's production life is the VIN fixed? Comments?

Does anyone have a picture of a 280 ZX engine bay? I'm particularly interested in a shot that shows the appearance of throttle linkages as I'm considering buying some for a mod. to fix my sticky throttle. The engine they are coming off is an L28E and I'm wondering of the connector bushes on the throttle rod ends will snap onto my 240Z throttle linkages. Anyone?

hear-hear...no more butchered 240z with EFI L28s please... that's what 260Zs are for :tapemouth

Was #004 manufactured in 1969? If not, then there is no way that #160 could be. Apart from all this debate, I'm sure most would agree that #160 with matching numbers is still a desirable car!

Lets not get into a flame war here... 44014, can you give the date of manufacture as stamped on the compliance place as well as the Chassis number. There is often quite a difference between the manuf. date and the date of first registration...

Are any Australian members following this thread? I would be interested in hearing what make of headers you have fitted to your L24 and how they perform.

You should first of all be getting your car properly tuned with particular attention to mixture and timing. If the problem persists then it is likely that you have carbon deposits in the cylinders that are forming hotspots. The hotspots remain hot enough to ignite any mixture present after you shut off the ignition and that is what causes the annoying run-on you are experienceing.

At last someone has posted pictures of this fix - thanks! From my research into the problem, there appeared to be two methods to address the issue. Yours was one way. The other was to replace the short rod that connects the throttle shaft to the parallel throttle actuator with a slightly longer version that has a slight curve in it. Both methods aim to overcome the initial resistance in the throttle assembly that we all experience in the standard setup. You have spurred be to address this problem once and for all!

The new covers...

The vent..

There is a red 2+2 that parks in Nicholson Rd. Subiaco and a bronze 260 2 seater in subi centro (I think he visits this site). I've popped a wazregister web address under the windshields of both. Also saw a yellow 2+2 turning onto the road beside Subiaco oval. Also... there is a silver 240 for sale in WA on autotrader.com.au

I got therm from here: http://www.classicdatsun.com/ The guy I dealt with (Les Canaday) is very helpful. The seat covers took about 8 weeks to arive in Perth from L.A. The weekend was spend doing family stuff and I didn't want to be rushed during the visit of the museum. I hope it was a good day. I'm about to make membership cards for 10 supporters who have paid their dosh to Vaughan.

Hey Nick, mine arrive on Tuesday! I bought them when the dollar was at about $US 0.765 so I'm happy. They are Tan, they have the metal vents and they look (and smell!) very authentic. Now I can start planning the interior refurbishment on Lance's old car!

Ahhh, the 'other' De Tomaso!

I thought so too but the rear hatch glass and tail-light treatment looked very different to the DeToms I've seen. It also had obscenely fat rubber on the rear!