HUNTER'S YELLOW 1973 240Z

Firstly a huge THANKS to:

Fufu (for checking the car out for me and writing a very comprehensive condition report, with pictures)

Rev (for selling me a perfectly serviced set of carbs on short notice, at a bargain price and dropping them off.)

sfc751 (for picking me up from the airport, running me around, selling the car and parts to me at a very reasonable price.)

Alex & Sarah (for letting me stay and cooking tea for me every night, but I would not expect anything less lol.)

A SPECIAL HUGE THANKS TO MAYHEM.

For running me around to multiple shops for parts or to fix parts on the car. The loan of his workshop for 4 days and making a huge mess of it while getting the car going. His help, technical knowledge, industry contacts, late nights and generally going out of his way for a near complete stranger.

Without this club and its helpful members this car would still be in Melbourne and would have taken me a lot more trips, money and time to be able to drive it home to Tassie.

Owning a couple a 260Z 2+2’s and just selling my 1989 Failady Z32 DETT, which is currently being prepared for Targa Tasmania 2009, with the spare cash from the sale I decided to start looking for either a 240Z or 260Z 2 seater.

After looking at a few and having one deal fall through, I decided on this YELLOW 1973 240Z. Here is the original ad.

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,2356.0.html

The following is a condition report as given to me by fufu. It has a link to photos he took; these can also be found in my albums.

THIS IS FU'S REVIEW

Hi Chicken Andrew Hunter,

I just got back from checking the Zed.

It looks very structurally sound.

http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/tarutamahome/Hunter%20Zed%20Check/

A few tiny rust areas that may need to be looked at.

Floor has a small surface rust, wheel well surface rust.

Small dimple of rust on of the rear flare section

Small crack, due to rust bubble on the front driver side fender.

Small rust dimple on radiator support from removing the engine. Slight surface rust on the joint triangles of the radiator support.

From the bottom section down you can see and feel a little difference in the paint work. I think its some stone chipping protection or something as he has the same thing on his Supra. I’ve never seen this personally on any of the cars I’ve owned.

It feels very rough and not as smooth as say the bonnet or the roof. Hardly noticeable so I presume there was some thought into this when the car was restored.

Passenger front strut housing was beated in due to previous owner having a RB engine in there and needed space for intercooler piping. On the same wheel well section a small section was beated in as well for the previous turbo to fit.

No rust on the engine frame.

Doors looks like it was properly repaired and I didn’t feel any rust roughness on the inside.

Fenders also looked like it was rust repaired and it was smooth on the underside from what I could see and feel.

It has been seem welded.

Centre console area parts are missing and so are the interior panels for the rear section as can be seen in the photos. Even the door panels were screwed in, its missing the clips. Other things to note a lot of the panels aren’t permanently fixed in as you can see from the fenders its missing the main bolts.

In order to get this on the road, the wiring harness needs to be re-plugged to the engine and 2 rear tires are needed to get it rolling. The battery has been relocated to the cabin, as there is no battery terminal in the engine bay due to the previous RB engine. I didn’t get a chance to sit and check the brakes as it totally slipped my mind, sorry about that. But yea, I don’t think it can drive off on its own, as it is, without a few hours of work. Highly recommended to hire a company to do the interstate transit.

It will be hard to find a company, that does chassis transport, but I’ve used www.doortodoorcars.com.au for my Datsun from Sydney to Melbourne.

What also comes with the sale… is the FRB bonnet and the old metal rusted bonnet. A second cowl main panel. Front spoiler (brand new). Exhaust system mocked up designed for the L28 extractors. 2.5” piping from the gearbox out to the back with fairly big hotdog and 2.5” piping to the exhaust.

There is a box of front brake components I’m not sure if he removed it from the car or if it’s secondary but that’s also included. Also he said 2 sets of carbs are included.

He did tell me that his willing to drop the price to 6000 in order to clear his garage. But his in no rush to sell. If he doesn’t get over 6000 then his going to keep it and restore it at a later date.

To be honest I feel that 6000 is a bargain for a car that has that much panel work done. But once again you would need to redo the panel works that are affected by the rust.

As can be seen in the picture it looks like the engine was never used. Brand new gasket, which has been sitting there since the purchase. The engine bottom end was re-sprayed so I presume it was rebuilt. If you’re not going to need the L28, I’d gladly take it off ya LOL.

Otherwise I’ll buy his spare L28 which also looks like in fine condition.

Also if you need engine parts his got his old L24(in pieces) and L26 (whole) to go with it, if you need it.

His willing to go under 6000 if you buy the other parts on his page. Eg. The suspension upgrade and so forth.

This is the deal I finally struck with Sfc751:

1973 240Z $6000

2 sets of carbs, (Flat top 260Z, Round Top Jag SU’s)

2.5 inch exhaust system.

Fiberglass bonnet.

Fresh air vent panel

Box of front brake components. (pair of slotted discs, pair of standard discs, standard calipers)

Brand new front spoiler in primer

Aluminum surge tank

Fuel Rail package - purchased from Pallnet consisting of:

- L28 11MM FUEL RAIL

- LIQUID FILLED GAUGE

- 6AN FUEL FITTINGS

- 11mm INJECTOR SEAL KIT

SUSPENSION and Brake Package.

NEW Tokico illumina shocks (5-way adjustable) for rear

NEW non adjustable Tokico HP for front.

Used king springs;

Complete bushing set

Carbon front and rear brake pads; front are for normal S30 brakes and the rear ones are for 280ZX rear disk brakes;

Extra throw in parts on arrival.

Plastic interior panels

Rear tail lights, one has a small hairline crack

NEW rear carpet

Three 280ZX Air Flow Meters, 280ZX computer

3 spare hatch struts

280ZX Fuel Pressure Regulator.

TOTAL $6750

Transportation

I debated different ways of getting the car back to Tasmania.

Transport company:

$692 http://www.movingcars.com.au/ (this was for a running car with no parts in it)

$930 Toll shipping (this was for a non running car with no parts in it.)

$1400 from some other company I can’t remember no parts as well.

All were too highly priced and left my parts in Melbourne.

To take a tandem trailer from Tasmania to Melbourne return

$1300 Boat Fare (so high because of the length of my X-Trail and Trailer 14m)

$250 Trailer hire

Fly over to Melbourne get car running and drive back to Tasmania. (Option I chose)

$63 Temporary Registration for car 28days

$65 Virgin Blue flight avoided an $80 surcharge with luggage

$237 for car and cruise seat for me (I managed to get an upgrade to a room through a friend)

Saturday 30th August

Flew over to Melbourne with 48kg of parts off my 260Z 2+2 and tools. Should of cost me $80 extra but they let my bags on for free. I had a fuel rail, fuel pumps, bolts, set of just running 260Z carbs, air cleaner etc.

Sfc751 picked me up from the airport and took me to have a look at the car for the first time in person. It was dark and quite packed in the shed so could not get as good a look as I wanted. The paint was a little rougher than in the pics I had previously seen. The car had also been repaired from a front right hand accident some time in its life, but generally I was impressed.

Sfc751 and I went out to find a hotel for me and to have a bit of a mung at a local restaurant.

Sunday 31st August

Sfc751 picked me up from the hotel and we set out to get all the parts I had purchased plus extras together and in the car.

After spending half the day scrounging around in the garage, a few cups of tea and some Russian cakes. We finally had all the parts in the car and 3 tires pumped up; one had a split in it. I went to a friend’s house to stay for the rest of the time I was in Melbourne.

Monday 1st September

In the morning I done some shopping that I could not do in Tasmania. I met up with Mayhem in the afternoon to collect the car on his custom built lightweight trailer for Zeds. We took some of Mayhems spare wheels so we could winch the car onto the trailer easier.

Once we got it back to Mayhems work shop we were able to check the car out better. Only rust was a little bit of surface rust as in my albums and fufus description, the car had been professionally repaired, but the body seemed to be just a little bit out of alignment with the gaps in the bonnet either side, but that could also be the crappy bonnet that is on it.

Got home to my friends house and they had a roast meal cooking for me. YUM.

Tuesday 2nd September

Woke up early and jumped on the train to get to the train station that was just down the road Mayhems workshop.

Started ripping all the parts out of my suitcases and installing the on the engine. hoses, accelerator linkages etc.

Tested the starter motor and compression of engine.

Went down to repco and bought some manifold bolts, and odds and ends.

Was deciding weather to risk putting my half stuffed 260Z carbies on or ring rev up and use his.

Wired up the starter motor, battery, coil and distributor. Connected up the wiring loom for the light and tested to make sure they work.

Drained the stale fuel out of the fuel tank and connected up the fuel lines.

Wednesday 3rd September

Got new tyres installed on the rims at $70 per tyre, and they looked like good wet weather tyres too. "AUSTYRE"

Installed mechanical fuel pump and L26 fuel rail, later had to take the mechanical fuel pump off because the cam did not have a lobe to work the arm of the fuel pump.

Changed the engine oil. Installed brake calipers and bleed, Installed bumper and spoiler so I did not have to cary them in car.

Rev bought a set of flat top su’s with side fuel bowls around. Supposedly there is a bit of conjecture if they are genuine 240z carbs. They look exactly like the ones I have in a manual. These carbs have had $900 spent on them and were used on Revs daily driver. I purchased these off rev.

Installed Revs carbies

Used a Facet fuel pump in Mayhems workshop to get fuel to the engine. As soon as there was fuel in the engine it fired up imediatley on 3 cylinders at first until we connected the Facet pump inline with the entire fuel rail to feed both carbies.

We were very suprised and lucky that after sitting for 5 years this engine would start with half a turn of the starter motor. THIS IS ALL THANKS TO REVS CARBS. This was without the chokes connected up too.

The car sounded like a NASCAR with exhaust running straight off the headers.

Cut welded and bent exhaust to fit car. was a bit of a head ache and still needs modification to sit up in the gearbox tunnel.

TESTED THE CAR AND THE BRAKES IN THE CARPARK.......ENDED UP BRAKING A UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE HALFSHAFT,

Thursday 4th September

Took the halfshaft in to get repaired and installed it later on in the afternoon.

Changed all fluids in the gear box and diff.

Was ready to take the car for a test drive when the radiator sprung a leak, had to take it to the radiator shop to be welded up and picked up Friday morning.

HAD AN EARLY NIGHT WONDERING IF I WOULD GET THE CAR HOME THIS TRIP.

Friday 5th September

Got the radiator fixed (core isolated) plumbed it back up and took the car around the block for a test drive and to wear in the brakes. Drove from Hallam to The Spirit Of Tasmania Port. The car ran perfectly except for a noisy throw out bearing and tailshaft uni cluncks from a worn universal joint.

HAD MAYHEMS NUMBER FOR BACK UP JUST INCASE ANYTHING BROKE, BUT WE BASICALLY HAD REPLACED, TINKERED OR FIXED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE SUSPENSION.

Saturday 6th September

More to come...with pics.

God, missed you when you were down in Melbourne.

I'm really glad i could help you out. What started was a simple stroll to see a L28, turned out to be a extensive analysis on a zed. But it was all fun and gave me insight to other things that i needed to know about the car.

Sounds like a memorable journey.

Good luck and best wishes with the Zed.

Yeah thanks FuFu I was a little bit busy and had some late nights during my stay. I will catch up with you on another meet and buy you those promised beers.

Big thanks to Scotty, Petes mechanic for taking the time out to come down, help deliver my new engine and help install.

Big thanks to Pete for delivering my new engine quite cheaply. Even though he got a free holiday on the best Zed Roads in Aus.

RB25DET ENGINE UPGRADE

MRP69 Peter Drove my new RB25DET down from Sydney, Installed in his car.

RB25DET

RB20DET Gearbox

Intercooler and Piping

Engine and Gearbox Mounts

Wolf 3D Computer. With Hand Contoller

Exhaust System

THE MISSION

Swap my L28 into Peters car so he could drive home.

Swap Peters RB25DET into my car.

Do a 100,000 km Service, water pump, timing belt, seals etc.

In 7 Days well 6 work days, one piss up and parts purchasing.

PROBLEMS Work Done

Harmonic Balancer would not come off RB25, stripped bolts on original pulley, heating the pulley did not work.

Made a custom Pulley Puller from a set of heavy duty spring compressors and metal plate.

Finally got the pulley off at 2:30am

Differences in the 72 240Z Chassis and the 73 240Z Chassis

Gear box mounts were different (easy fix with slight modification) I retained my standard gearbox mounting tabs in tunnel with addition of four flat extention plates.

Pete had two bits of box plate added to 1973 standard gearbox mount to bolt up to the 72 mounts.

Rear differential carriers were different making neither tail shaft fit either car. Had to Shorten the tail shaft that went into Petes car so he could drive home.

Mine still needs lengthening but has enough of the spline holding into the gearbox to move the car around.

Done 100,000 km Service on RB25 engine.

Found a cam cover was leaking on the RB25 replaced the seals in both cam covers.

RB20DET Gearbox throw out bearing needed replacing.

RB25 had a broken Engine mount, Replaced that.

Paint stripped the wrinkle black paint off intercooler piping and resprayed Aluminium Silver.

Painted engine covers Yellow to match car.

Sanded back front spoiler and painted yellow.

Re-wire my bosch fuel pump and misc lift pump, Plumb up surge tank and mount suge tank properly.

Rear Drum brake overhaul, installed new brake hardware and slave cylinders. Cleaned up drums.

Run loom and hooked up computer in new mounting spot on passenger kick panel. Cut hole in fire wall for wiring.

THE TO DO LIST.

New Wheels, most likely Rota Grids, Sports Bronze

Suspension and brake setup, Most likely AZC.

Install Radiator that has the radiator inlet on the correct side (purchased from wazza)

Install oil cooler relocation kit, with oil thermostat.

Install SAAS Custom fixed bucket seats, Harness Bar and Harnesses.

Purchase and Install Speedhut Customised and Fully Progamable Gauges.

Purchase and Install Turbosmart Eboost 2

Interior work.

Polish and touch up.

DIRECTION OF BUILD

Basically from the outside the car is to look stock, I am breaking away from the current trend in Aus of flares etc. Going to put as wide a tyre as i can under the car with adjustable coilovers installed.

260Z door panels and armrests. All vinyl inside replaced with black carpet. Gauges to look stock but with a twist.

Currently has a Dark Purple 260Z vented Bonnet, This will be black.

NEW PICS OF BUILD TO COME SOON, BUT HERE IS A FEW.

Excuse the Mankini But I wear it so my clothes do not get dirty and oily while I work on my car. lol

Looking good, that is the car not so much the manikin.

regrads

Bruce

Looks pretty good mate. The RB looks right at home in the engine bay.

Hope you don't drive your Z around wearing that mankini!! 

You know how the weather is like the TROPICS down here in Tasmania. Have to keep cool somehow.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150212890776120.317431.555471119&type=3

Links to the Yellow Zeds Progress and other cars in the above album

You are Alive. Welcome back. Finished your mankini tour ? Welcome back Andrew.

Thought you must have fallen off the face of the world..........

Then I remembered............... You're Tasmanian! 

Welcome back 

Thanks guys, I will update the thread properly with pics when I get time. Well and truly alive. Many millennia ago Tassie was blown up at the top border and toed away from the mainland. This distance has slowed the auszcar communication down.

Been going through a few life issues with one of those mentally unstable two legged types (and I am not talking about a wallaby here. lol)

The 240z is nearly finished, all brand new interior, repainting the bonnet and tail lights, (The colour is a bit different, but should look good) http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron-16.4/configurator.html is a good site to help you select colours, Mocha M with Yeallow is what I am going.

Cheers Hunter

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A few final pics of the Zed during it's first car show

Apart from the bonnet........................... looks good! 

A few pics.

a few more pics

and one last one