matt drago

Hey all, Just thought I'd drop a quick note to let you all know how the rebuild is going. After nearly 2 years of work, last weekend Dad and I have gotten the car to the point that we were able to give her a coat of undercoat. It looks great to see her all in one colour again. We've now moved onto getting the mechanics and under the car fixed up. This weekend we pulled the engine out. Now I have to work out what I am going to be doing with the suspension and to source bits and pieces to freshen the mechanics up a bit. Check out the pics on my blog at http://240z.drago.com.au Cheers, Matt

Been there, done that. I had the same problem. When I started to strip the paint I decided to take it back to metal. I'm very happy that I made that decision as I found a lot more rust than I would have if I hadn't stripped my Z to metal. Glad to say though, after Dad and I refabricated quite a few spots on the car, she has finally gotten a lick of etch primer, woot! It took a long time to cut out all the rust and repair, but we are both happy with the result. It may look like a lot of work (and it is), but just keep the end result in mind. Cheers, Matt

I've been a Datsun/Nissan fan all my life (only non-nissan car I've owned is my wife's Mazda SP20). In my youth I spent some time in a vintage/veteran car club and was amazed that you could still get parts for those cars I've already utilized the readily available parts for the Z (imported a bonnet and badges, etc). Just a shame that more things like lights, etc aren't available. Whoa, just noticed that the conversation has gone from whole car pricing to parts availability Love the way conversations morph

I believe that you can still get parts for the Model-T Ford.

Hey Warren, Thank you very much for the photos, exactly what I wanted to see. The installation looks neat and I think I like the idea of mounting the real to the wheel arch rather than building a bracket for the top of the strut tower. Cheers, Matt

Hey Guys, I've uploaded my shots to my server http://www.drago.com.au/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=33. If you like any of them, you can download the full size image by clicking the image (just be patient as I have a slow uplink speed). I haven't had a chance to touch-up any of the shots up yet. They are all straight from the camera. Gav, great shots. Sorry for getting in the way of a few :oops: Cheers, Matt Drago

Hey Guys, I'm hoping to come along with the SLR (Canon EOS 10D), just depends on the time. I'll be driving the Mazda or the Pulsar as the Z is in no shape to be cruisin' in

Was thinking about chroming the standard grill, but thought that there would be too much chrome with the bumper and overriders. Decided on spraying it back to the original grey (currently black).

For a few of the minor holes that I had on the doors, we used a bit of gal plate and welded it as a patch to the hole that we cut out to get rid of the rust. At least then the bog will only be to smooth things out rather than to fill the hole, if you know what I mean. Check out http://240z.drago.com.au/?p=34 for pics.

I tried that link but is was a frameset. I think I found the page that you meant with the info on it though http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/matching/nissan.htm Cheers, Matt

And if you do take off the over riders, I'd be more than glad to talk to you about purchasing them from you

Hey guys, My brother sent this link to me today. http://www.frappr.com/zowners. It is a map view of zowners around the world. Currently there are about 436 members, with 4 in Australia Cheers, Matt Drago

Hey Sulio, How do you guys do the BBQ thing? Was thinking about dropping in before heading to the concourse. It'd be great to meet you guys and put a face to the name, or evan a car to the name Cheers, Matt Drago

Went along as a spectator and took about 90 odd shots. I've posted a small selection on my gallery site at http://www.drago.com.au/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=26 If you went along, let me know what your number was, and if I have a photo, I'll post it. Cheers, Matt[/url]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I tried the local fastener shop, but they delt mainly in building based nuts'n'bolts rather than automotive. I did find a few bolt kits in the states, but none that covered what I am looking for. Check out http://www.courtesyparts.com/s30_zcar-creations.html for the kits that I found. Once I find what I'm looking for, I'll pass on the info. Cheers, Matt D

Hey Guys, Well the stripping is more or less done and it is time to start putting things back together. Of course, there were some casualties during the stripping and I need to get hold of new nuts'n'bolts for assembly. The ones that I am looking for are those to attach the guards to the body, etc. Does anyone know of anywhere that I can get nuts'n'bolts for automotive applications? I can recall seeing kits online, but I don't think they were for what I want/need. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Matt Drago

Ah okay, thanks guys. I had seen a few references to the link that Gav had posted before. Now I have some actual places in Vic to go to. Sweet.

I must be missing something. On the contacts page, these guys are located in QLD. To the guys that have used their services, did you freight your dash to them or have they got a Vic factory as well?

Welcome to the site I was looknig for a car about a year ago. Every time I found one cheap, by the time I had made contact with the seller, it was already sold and I was going through all the car ads online that I could find everyday. So my tip when looking for a cheapy is to put your life into. Nothing else can take your attention away from getting the car I finally found a '73 240Z. Prolly paid more than what I should have, but it was in pretty good nick. But I'm still stripping it back to metal for the rebuild . I'm going to be keeping the car pretty original, so haven't really considered options for the engine. I think if I did anything, it would be with the old L series engines. Also, my dad and I are doing most of the work on the car (prolly get the interior done though). Also, a good way to tell the difference between a 2+2 and a 2 seater is that the rear quater window is squarish for a 2+2 and triangular for a 2 seater. Good luck with your search and I hope that you find something sonner rather than later

But I've already bought a steel one from Japan

Yeah, I'm looking into the solution that Warren put forward as well. I emailed the company last night for info on the products, but I have had not reply yet. I might just give them a call and see what they have to say. Hey Warren, if you have that stuff installed, could you take some pics of the installation so I can get an idea of how/where to put the new mount. Cheers, Matt D

Sulio, Are you refering to the pocket that the later models had on the floor for the reel to fit into? I was reading some site that mentioned that the later models had a pocket for the floor reel to fit into. The sites mentioned that you could, if you had access to, do a cut and paste job of the pocket from a late model to an early model. Note that they were talking about US early and late models though.

Hey Guys, Getting close to finishing up with all the welding that I need to do to the car and wanted to get the belts organised before I start to paint (in case welding was required). Would anyone that has converted to inertia belts be able to post a pic or two of the installation. I'm mainly interested in the reel anchoring and the clip on the sidewall. I have a 73 240Z that I want to replace the belts on. I drove it around a bit before starting the rebuild and did not like the fixed length belts at all. Thanks in advance, Matt

Hey Gav, I'm using CopperMine Photo Gallery on my site for the family to post photos, etc. I think I can recall that you can post movies to it. I think that it can also get an image out of the movie to be used as a thumbnail. Although, I have yet to test it out Cheers, Matt D

Thanks a heap for the info warren. Greatly appreciated. Matt