TIM260 - The Story

[oldmates260z]

Hi All

 

Thought it was time that I logged the history of my Zed, not as a project car but more as journal of the history of the car in the family.

 

After buying my first Datsun (also my first car) which was a 1600 that I picked up cheap from the Lidcombe motor auctions I was hooked on the Datsun brand. With a (unknown to me at the time) blue printed L18 engine it was able to spin the wheels in ALL four gears, it was a rocket. This car I wrapped around a Keep Left sign on my way home from school after I had my licence for 6 days.

 

From there I bought another 1600 which my best mate rolled after I had it a month, then another one which I had a wrote off on my honeymoon.

 

The last 1600 I wanted to replace with a 2000 Sports but now as a mature married man I bought a Nissan Bluebird, 4 cylinder limousine instead

 

So as one can appreciate when my eldest son was looking for his first car there was much reminiscing. So he saved up and bought the first Zed car in the family

 

[oldmates260z]

At the same time I decided it was time for me to get a Zed too and spent over 6 months looking.

 

To keep the family tradition, we worked on this car had it registered just in time for the end of Year 12 and he took it to Schoolies where someone ran up the rear of it and wrote it off.

 

The weekend before this accident I had offers in for two 260's. One 20 minutes from home at Tamborine (Gunmetal Grey) and another in Albury (Green). Both accepted and all of a sudden there were Zed's everywhere.

 

So 2006 the journey begins

[George]

Both accepted and all of a sudden there was Zed's everywhere.

 

 

A good problem to have.

 

Here's hoping your run of accidents ends and you filled your life's quota in your early years.

[oldmates260z]

Thanks George, yes as the story continues writing off cars (at least the Zed's) ends.....

[oldmates260z]

So Zed no 1:

- Purchased new from Ira Berk on 13th Jan 1978

- Originally gold in colour had a bare metal respray in 2005

- L26 engine with slight cam

- 240Z SU's

- Extractors

- Aftermarket Sunroof

- Rear and front spoilers

 

With this spec obviously a young persons car, this one is my sons car

 

Zed No 2:

- Purchased new from Capital Motors on 25th June 1975

- Bare metal respray in 2 pac to original green colour in 1997

- L26 engine never touch, matching numbers

- 240Z SU's

- Everything stock standard

 

This is an old blokes car, so this one was for me

 

[oldmates260z]

I bought my Zed from a lovely lady named Lisa, who was a member of the NSW Zed club, without even seeing it in the flesh. I bought a air ticket from Brisbane to Albury and one for my brother from Sydney so the "boys" could do a road trip.

 

We flew down on a Sunday morning and thankfully the car was as described. It was wheeled out of the shed, started and ran a bit rough but it was only 6 hour drive to Sydney so a couple of old engineers should be able to fix up whatever happed to it...after all it is a Datsun.

 

Had not travelled 2 k's and dropped it back to second to find no syncro left so I knew what the first job I need to do 

 

Out on the open road it was a pleasure to drive even in the stock standard trim. The next issue was the massive pinging whenever we loaded it up in third going up a hill. So out can the factory 10mm open ender and the manual timing adjustment, problem solved...I love these cars

 

The rest of the way it did not miss a beat until we arrived into Sydney with the typical Sydney traffic  If I applied the brakes just a tad too hard the rear left locked up.

 

The next day waking up bright and keen I hopped in the Zed off on my way home to Brisbane. I have often done this trip in many different cars and I would say without doubt this was the most enjoyable drive ever, cruising in a sports car in really touring.

[Yo-Yo]

great write up. Always good to hear the stories attached to cars as old as these.

One day I'll pass on my own stories to bore my future children 

 

keen to hear more of the story mate

[Yo-Yo]

great write up. Always good to hear the history attached to cars as old as these.

One day I'll pass on my own stories to bore my future children 

 

keen to hear more of the story mate

[oldmates260z]

Thanks Yo-Yo....the story continues

 

Having NSW rego I need a RWC for the transfer to QLD. Taking the car to the local mechanic it failed with a worn steering rack. With little time and too much work the Zed was parked.

 

Meanwhile there was a QLD registered one at home (my son's) for me to drive. As the "boy" owed money on it (to me) so he could not drive it until it was paid off....in full---every last cent....one of those things a dad does hey! Maximum incentive - a Zed in the shed that is yours that you cannot drive until you pay for it. This has resulted true sense of earning the ownership of a classic car that he will now never sell.

 

Slowly I started to get my Zed sorted:

- steering rack (off a member of this site)

- Pioneer radio

- steering rubbers and bushes

- new set of plugs, points, distributor cap, rotor button

 

Even bought a timing light as now I can tune a car again (had not done that since the Bluebird)

 

Finally in April 2007 I am registered and TIM260 is on the road.

 

The gearbox was a pig, second gear synco was driving me mad and the gear change was not too nice. Remembering the smoothness and nice gear change of the Bluebird box I decided to fit one. So new clutch, pressure plate and 2 1/2 hours work and the old box was out and the new box was in.

 

This reminded me of the Datsun 1600 days. The box in these were very weak, with my blue printed motor I would be the boy racer and drop the clutch to spin the wheels and there would be no forward movement. Yes, another cluster gear would bit the dust and I would have to limp home without first gear. Home after work at 5pm, pull out the spare box (always had a spare), swap it and on my way out again showered and shaved by 7pm.

 

Yet again you have to love the Datsun's in the 70's. The 1600 was so easy to work on and all the same technology was in the 240/260Z's.

[oldmates260z]

The next improvement was to fit A/C. Being in the A/C industry I had a head start. I travelled out to a guy that had a few Zed in a paddock in Walloon and I found the basics of what I need:

- condenser

- evaporator and internal box assembly

- compressor mount

I then bought:

- new late model compressor

- idler pulley

- receiver drier

- TX valve

- new hoses and fitting

It was a major job to fit with most of the dash coming out but in a weekend to job was done and took it to work to gas it up.

 

[oldmates260z]

While I enjoyed looking at the Zed, driving it was not too fantastic. In completely stock trim, tired suspension, tired motor and the interior looking very second hand it was time to either do some major work or to move it on.

 

Its now 2009, life is very busy and we are working through the GFC ..... the time to play with toys is ending.

 

So with much regret my first time with a Zed was coming to an end... :'(

 

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,3568.0.html

 

[oldmates260z]

It was encouraging to see the Zed go to someone who was looking into a hobby to rebuild the car to what was the next logical step for me to do.....if I had the ability and time.

 

A sad day in deed but she was off to a better place.....well at least for a while

[oldmates260z]

What I was looking for in a weekend drive was something that had some "punch" and was fun to drive so I spent another 6 months looking all over Australia for a good example of a manual XR8....only had to drive to Newcastle this time to get what I wanted (below).

 

This car was a rocket, fun to drive and suited my personalised plates again (TIM260 but instead of standing for 2600cc it was 260kW!). I loved driving it but it was not like owning and driving a Zed....the shine did not last long and I sold it for a Nissan Navara ... what the?

 

However I still found myself coming back to this site and always looking at "260Z's for sale". There was always a connection back to these cars, some may think an obsession.....

 

Then I end up buying a set of mag off a 260Z ..... why the hell would you buy a set of mags for a car you don't have?

[oldmates260z]

Finally decided that I needed to have a Zed again so I started trolling the web.....

 

After a couple of months this one appeared:

[oldmates260z]

I could not believe my luck, everything I wanted to be done to the Zed was done and done well. But could I go back and buy the same car I has sold 4 years earlier? Seemed a bit wrong to go back to something I had had before, a little strange really.

 

I eagerly waited for someone else to buy it....I waited...and waited.....and waited...but alias it sat on the net tempting me  :D so dam it I just had to have it back 

 

And as said by George Costanza...."I'm back, baby I'm back!"

 

All it needed was a Boob Job (said by the famous "Sydney Mike") and the mags had somewhere to show their curves.

[oldmates260z]

To complete the story to say how I have ended up as a middle aged man with a need to own a Zed ..... there is a trail that lead to my condition

 

1977-1977 Datsun 1600 White – wrapped around a Kept Left sign

1978-1978 Datsun 1600 Burnt Orange – rolled on its roof by best mate

1979-1983 Datsun 1600 Baby Pooh Yellow – written off on honeymoon

1982-1987 Datsun 1600 Baby Pooh Yellow – wife’s car, look matching…….

1983-1984 Datsun 180BSSS – first Datsun I ever sold (and did not write off)

1984-1987 Datsun 180B Wagon

1987-1991 Datsun Bluebird LX

 

[peter t]

Similar story to me only take out the 240k, and add in a 200b SX. in place of the wagon, then a 720 dual cab sports wagon, 1200 coupe way before that, 1600, Sunny, Bluebird, Pintara, Skyline, Skyline Wagon, I think that is all. Could call me a Datsun Nut. ;D ;D ;D Now a proud 260 Z 2+2 owner. This will mostly likely be my last Datsun. :'( Daughter has a Pulsar, Son has a Pintara. ;)

[oldmates260z]

Attempted to remove the tail lights to repair/replace their seal to hopefully stop the fumes getting in to the car but had little luck. When I tried to unscrew the clips on the top (see photos below) most of them broke. What am I doing wrong and where do I buy some more?

There are also a couple of other clips in the back section with a centre pin as well. How do they come out?

[reverendzed]

Hey Tim,

They do break with age.  There is a flat fork type tool to pry them out but honestly snap them off and start fresh.  You can get them on eBay and I'm sure I bought some at either auto Pro, Repco or super cheap - let me know if you have a hassle, I might have some here.

Cheers,

Rev

[oldmates260z]

Thanks Rev, I just bought a set of tools for the Bimmer that will likely do it. I think all those type of clips are likely one use only

 

I will check what I can get from Supercheap

[chris240]

Look for a carosel type rack at super cheap, they come in small packs of 8 and they call them canoe clips. $3-4..

If I wasnt lazy I'd go to the shed and take a pic for you..

[Brabham]

If you can get a small flat blade under the head of the Philips part of the clip you may be able to lever the Center out, it doesn't actually screw in, it pushes in. The lower clip you need to punch out the dowel in the Center of it. Try not to lose it when it comes out.

 

Cheers

[sydney mike]

Can't believe I missed this thread earlier-LOVE IT! Especially the old photos.

 

Not much of a technical, more of a pictures bloke I am! 

 

One of these days I will start my journal  .

 

cheers, Mike

 

 

[oldmates260z]

Thanks for heads up guys.

 

Mike I think we all have a series of experiences that leads to our love of Zeds. It's another reason why some are worth so much...mating numbers or not....2 seater or 2+2....custom look or stock....early build or later .... or them all.

[zcar63]

It was encouraging to see the Zed go to someone who was looking into a hobby to rebuild the car to what was the next logical step for me to do.....if I had the ability and time.

 

A sad day in deed but she was off to a better place.....well at least for a while

(hey that's me in the blue shirt)