Former lurker, now 240Z owner

[GTI-Z]

Just joined the forum yesterday and thought I should get more involved.

 

I purchased my 240Z about a week ago.  It's a 1972 model, manual, and pretty much bog stock original (down to the steel wheels and hubcaps).

Original paintjob, with pretty much no structural or body rust at all.

 

I bought the car with Vic registration, but the drive home convinced me to defer registering here in NSW until I do some mechanical rebuild - the car was on 4 cylinders when I got home.

Reading through the forum, and the pile of recipts that came with the car, the carbs have been running rich for quite a while - plus going through quite a bit of dashpot oil. 

Not too many mechanics seem to know how to work on the old Hitachi SU's these days.

 

From what I can see, the odometer is a genuine 62,000 miles, and the head has never been off in 38 years. 

 

This is actually my second Z, having previously owned a 1974 260Z 2 seater for about 5 years back in the 80's. 

Looking forward to having as much fun with this car as the last one. Plan on hanging on to a Z a lot longer this time.

 

Have been lurking around this forum for a few months now, trying to get the "vibes" of the membership.

Am glad to see the cameraderie that exists here, and the amount of information and help that flows between the members.

 

Sorry about the darkness of some of the pictures.  Blackberry's dont take great photos.

 

Cheers,

Brad

[Zedman240®]

Welcome to the forums... Looks like you have found a nice zed to start with. How did you come across this one if I can ask? Well done and hope we can help you when you need it..

[MaygZ]

Welcome aboard this ship of fools.

 

Nice pick up.  So tell us the story ..... how did you find her?  Or did she find you?  that would be more romantic 

[PeterAllen]

Welcome - from a fellow 'Shire boy'.

[GTI-Z]

How did I find her you ask......

 

I had been checking out all the on-line classifieds but most were either overpriced (I think there is still a $95,000 240Z in one of them),

or were 2+2's (I prefer the 2 seaters).

 

I had looked at another 240Z the looked good in the ad (and pictures) but was quite disappointing in the flesh. Claims of concourse type

restoration about 5-7 years ago, but plenty of large rust bubbles in the rear wheel arches and sills, wet carpets and rust in the footwells.

Had been asking $27K but was probably worth about $10k at best

 

I had been checking out the forum here and had seen reverendzed's magnificent 260Z that he just sold.

Would have loved that car, but then I wouldn't have had anything to do, just drive it and enjoy the workmanship that had gone into it!!

 

Anyway, my father has been keeping an eye out through his contacts in historic racing, and also the paper classifieds.

Called me last Friday to say there was a white 240Z for sale over Paddington.  We went over and had a look and decided there and then to buy.

 

Not a perfect car, but straight body and no structural or panel rust. A good project car.

 

The gentleman I bought the car from had owned it for the last 30 years, having purchased the car from his brother, who bought it new.

Always garaged and registered since new, the car has probably only done about 200 miles over the past 6 years.

 

Glad to see there are a few members down the south side of Sydney (I'll include Woolongong in that description).

 

Thanks all for the greetings.

 

As I start pulling things apart I'll start posting more photos.  The forum so far has been a great source for where I can get the parts

I need.  A lot of spares I had no idea they were still making - including reproductions.

 

[sydney mike]

Welcome Brad!

 

 

 

We have been losing quite a few Zeds interstate lately so it's good to get one back!

[FLEXZED]

Hey Brad

 

welcome to another sydney sider at this rate we might take over the the vic boys

 

i think sydney mike and myself are the only sydney guys who are active on here

 

Loui

[silverz]

Wow,

That is one sweet looking 240Z, congratulations.

 

I have bought quite a few parts from All Z parts and have found them very good to deal with, they have sent parts to both Darwin and Townsville for me (I ordered more today to get my car ready to drive to Albury/Wodonga in early January). All Z Parts are located in Hornsby so that should suit you. They have a site on the internet with contact details, in my experience it is better to ring them than send them emails. 

 

I am also amazed at the amount of parts that can be sourced at general suppliers if you look around. We have sourced complete sets of rear wheel bearings and all of the bearings and seals required to rebuild the diff here in Townsville from local bearing shops etc. Windscreens etc have also not been a problem locally.

 

I have been through the carb issues and could not find anyone I would trust to work on them without ripping me off to the max, it seemed many carb experts don't want to know about the hitachi carbs and try to sell you British SUs. With the help of the internet, a workshop manual and a few older friends coaching me (experienced with SU type carbies) I have managed to get my car running reasonably, the carbies are quite simple. Your fathers contacts in historic racing may be able to assist in this area.

 

With the symptoms you describe I would be looking first at ignition issues however - particularly if it is the original points type distributor with the ballast resistor.

 

Regards

Peter

[GongZ]

Welcome Brad,

 

Your car looks great and I hope you are quietly pleased with the price you paid for it.

(I am not prying - honestly!)

 

I saw that $95K 240Z somewhere too - so I have re-valued mine at $94,500.

 

May I ask what you plan to do with the car? It is just so original!! - are you going to

keep it that way or start modding?

 

Cheers

- Ian

[Brabham]

+1 for keeping it original, that thing looks mint and is almost a one-owner car! Looks awesome welcome mate.

[chris240]

welcome...

whooooo thats nice...

what is it about good old Paddy...before i bought mine, I checked out a 1970 low numbered mustard coloured one owner 240 in Paddington, it was totally original but the rust was too much for my liking...I still think about that car 

[GTI-Z]

GongZ,  haven't quite decided how far to go with the rebuild.  I'd like to keep fairly original with regards to the drivetrain and body, apart

from a set of extractors and good exhaust, but will look at some aftermarket seats ( the originals I was never too keen on anyway)

and a general cleanup of the interior.

 

Will probably go for a set of period alloy wheels - I had a bad experience years ago with the steel wheels and hubcaps - they don't let

the brakes cool to well if you have been punting it around on a windy road (got half way up the Putty Road and after a while found that

the brakes merely slowed me down a little).  Replaced the steels with a set of late model 280ZX alloys and never had a problem after that.

[Toecutter]

Welcome aboard this ship of fools.

 

 

Yes Welcome, very original, nice.

 

Sulio

[C.A.R.]

Welcome.

[GongZ]

GongZ,  haven't quite decided how far to go with the rebuild.  I'd like to keep fairly original ...

 

Will probably go for a set of period alloy wheels...<snip>

 

Hi again Brad,

 

Your plans sound good to me.

 

As far as wheel choice is concerned - here is my suggestion -

 

From what I have seen - a large proportion of the local (and for that matter, British and US 240Zs) cars were fitted with 'kidney bean' aka 'Jellybean' mags by the Datsun dealers. So much so - that I see them as default factory wheels.

 

My car stills runs the wheels it had in the showroom (according to the original owner), and they are Magnum brand 14" X 6(?)" as shown.

 

Some of the other 'period' alloys can look very out of place on a Zed.

 

I look forward to seeing more pictures and news of your progress.

 

- Ian

[Lynton]

The standard wheels and hub caps existed on the Zeds until 1975 and in 1976 the Nissan mags were supplied standard.

Funnily enough the Áunger jelly bean Mags' were very popular on Zeds in the 70's but there wasn't much variety back then although there were a couple of Aussie after market wheels available and MiniLites that was about it. I put these mags on mine in 1975.(see Pic) Lynton

[GTI-Z]

Lynton,

 

They are pretty much the wheels I had in mind.  14x6 would be fine but I would prefer 14x7 if I can find them

- just to get a bit of meat under the guards.

 

Brad

[benny]

ive got a good set of 14x6 jellybeans with 90% rubber left that will be for sale soon!! PM Me if your interested!!