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

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.

Welcome, there is some work to do there...everyone will be keen to see how you go...and offer some suggestions along the way. The looks like the same colour my son's Zed was before the respray

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.

It looks like a Hearse .... Has anyone seen a 2+2 with the roof redone as like a 2 seater without the stepped part ... that I would like see

I have covers on mine but as I do not drive it in the rain (not because I do not want to, it just never rains) so I have not had any water ingress issues. I would say (not from experience) that you need only to have drain holes to let the water out, not to let air in. Any opening in the direction of travel will allow water to get in while driving and then with the heat of the head light you may and fogging issues.

I'll take the Weber and manifold if no one else grabs it... will send a PM

Oops missed the question, from Haynes manual 1.5 litres for standard 5 speed. When I did it last time I am sure it overflowed out of the filler before I added the nominated capacity

Why is it so? You can spend many thousands on engines, drivelines and suspension.....but a car always looks much faster with a great set of mags Mine looked ordinary until I put the right mags on it That looks fantastic!

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.

Keen to see photos and the journal for the work done to it

Peter's is a nice white: http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,6247.150.html

Looks great on the road.....very nice.

My 2+2 interior was originally white and was changed to black which I think looks really good and will wear better. I do not think a 2+2 would devalue on something like that but a 2 Seater may if you were trying to keep it original. If black was an option with your external colour it should still be considered a original configuration and therefore OK

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

From the photos, that looks like a Zed that easily is worth +$20k

Umm, $4k is a lowballer offer, we have all seen granny spec cars gping from anywhere from $10k to $15k Agree this sounds like what it would be worth

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

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

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

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/pialba/cars-vans-utes/1974-datsun-260z-coupe/1052457798

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/pialba/cars-vans-utes/1974-datsun-260z-coupe/1052457798

Its a first....Mazda 260Z http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kingswood-2747/cars-vans-utes/1980-mazda-other-hatchback/1052310523

I assume the VIN number was HS30-00099? If that was the case you should be able to do a do a REV's check and possibly find some of its history. You could try http://www.carfacts.com.au/ I put in my 260Z 2+2 and could not find it though....may be if you call them up they could help more

Makes sense that there could be something wrong up front to cause brakes to lock. Do the fronts lock? If I were you I would do all the seals in the master and all other brake cylinders. You cannot afford to be without brakes This car may have sat around for a long time and the seals and bores in the cylinders could be in poor condition. Cheers Tim