orange-Z

55 and feeling younger now I have the Z. Wife is keeping score as the $$ for parts adds up and I get these nice photos of me and the Z in the mail!! :(

Try 4H Smash Repairs in Darra. I needed rest repair behind the drivers door to get my rwc a couple of years ago. They cut out and replaced the metal and matched the paint beautifully. Cost was $550. I was very happy with them. They normally do insurance work so may be hard to get them to take the job. Good Luck

Zedback I am looking for the spare wheel well for the re-build we are doing on my son's 2+2. Would this be available on the shell you are cutting up? We are located in Bellbowrie so are close to you. Thanks Alan

I am looking for an Auto Electrician in Brisbane with experience in z cars to fix/rewire/upgrade my headlights. Does anybody have any recommendations? Thanks Alan

Put the 5's in mine about 6 months ago because I also read the recommendation for non-daily drivers. Put approx 2k on them. Had a look at them this evening and they are in almost perfect condition. Just a little tan colour. Motor is working better than on the 6's.

Craig & I will probably show up also but not show the Z. Alan

Would love to go also but completly tied up this weekend. Will try to make the next run.

Went to pick my wife up at work the other evening (she had been there 14 hrs and was keen to get home) and the 260z didn't have any instrument lights. All other lights worked ok and there was no other vehicle available so decided to go anyway. Got her just fine but she immediatly noticed the lack of instrument lights and made the usual comments about my great little machine. Got half way home on a dark rural road and both headlights went out - but the good news is the instrument lights came on!!. Pulled over to the side once I could see a little bit. Wife is really impressed now. Checked fuses and all ok. After some mucking around I found that the tail and brake lights were ok and the fog/driving lights worked so eventually got the car and my wife safely home. Now, the headlight switch checks out ok, the fusible links by the brake booster (green and black) and the black fuse holder in the engine bay are ok. I changed out the passing and dimmer relay with another from my parts car and it didn't make a difference. I don't know if the replacement relay is working. I tried to check the relay out as shown in the service manual but can't sort out the terminal numbers. The manual shows the terminals at the other end of the wiring harness which I can't easily get to. The wiring diagram in the service manual shows a brown fusible link but I have not been able to find it. Can anybody tell me where it is located and also what else I should check. The car is a 1974 model 2+2. Thanks for any help. I don't understand what could cause first the instrument lights not to work then for them to turn on when both headlights (high & low beam) go out. Alan (In the dog house again)

Z is making pinging and clunking noises under load. Also starting to vibrate a lot. Mechanics says one or more of the universal joints are stuffed. Figure I should replace the lot while I am at it - but haven't done it before. Mechanic says it may take him most of the day to do it so I am thinking of tackling it myself. First half shaft came out easy. Now - are there any special tricks to getting the old joints out and the new ones in - other than the procedure with the vise shown on the net? I don't have a vise so this may be the excuse to get one.

Stevo; Craig & I will be along for the BBQ. Won't be able to make it for the drive. The Z is off the road again. There is a pinging sound and vibration from underneath when under load. Suspect U-joints. Some have movement in both drive line and half shafts. Will remove half-shaft from parts (Craig's) car and put it on mine and see if things improve. See you Sunday. Will bring chairs and small portable BBQ. Alan

Had a look at it yesterday avo. Very tempted. This with my parts car would make a very nice runner. Just don't have the time or space at the moment. Rusted through in drivers door sill and paint has many small bubbles. Underneath looked solid based on a short look. Will post some more photos of the outside later.

Stevo; I will also try to make it and bring Craig along. I will confirm as the date gets closer. At least I will be in town. It will be good to meet all the Qld Z people. Thanks Alan

Apologies but I can't make this event. We have visitors on the weekend, my car is still off the road and I leave town for 2 weeks starting Monday. It has been 2 months since I have been able to even turn the car over and this is very depressing. It is time to get my life in order and my priorities sorted out - Z comes first. Have a good time. Alan

Does anybody in the Brisbane area want this rad (260Z with auto tranny) or should I just take it to the tip? Must be picked up in Bellbowrie or may be able to meet somebody in the city.

Love to make it but - I am on the road (planes) again. tomorrow - Perth Wed. - Tom Price Thurs & Fri - Perth Sat. - Johannesburg SA Sun. to Sat - Swakopmund, Namibia Sun. to Monday - Swakopmund, Johannesburg, Sydney, Brisbane. I will check out the cars in Namibia but I probably won't see and Z's. Alan

I am out of action for at least a couple of months due to travel. Canada for 4 weeks then Perth, South Africa, Namiba followed by probably another 2 weeks in Tom Price. I have short breaks in Brisbane in between. Not even time to get the carbies fixed. I hope the meetings continue and Craig may show up. Alan

More comparisons to Porsche. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25490278-5018056,00.html

I am looking at upgrading the suspension of my 74 260z 2+2 because it is soft and won't hold an alignment. The car is just used for cruising. I am planning on replacing the bushings with urethane ones then new shocks and any other steering parts that are worn. There are a number of manufacturers of urethane bushings including Energy Suspension, SuperPro, Nolathane etc. Which are better? Energy Suspension have a complete kit for the 260z's. Are they easy to install and do they work well? I will talk to Fulcrum about the shocks and bushings but I am hoping to get some other information before doing this.

Do you have any of these extractors still available? I am in the market for some so if anybody can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

What seats are you putting in? We have to get seats for my son's 260z 2+2. Rodents had been living in the vehicle so the seats had to be completly stripped back to metal. Now is the question of getting the seats re-built or finding lowest cost replacement. Cost is the biggest issue - He has just graduated and can't find a job. A great time to enter the work force!!

I am helping out at the mine (Drilling & Blasting) - currently on a 2 week on and 2 week off rotation though still have to work when I am back in Brissi. We lived in TP for a couple of years more than 25 yrs ago - This dates me. Watched the first game of the footy season here last night - very good game but some sore people today as they dragged themselves into work. With all this travel I am not getting time to work on my or my son's Z. The sacrifices for the $$$.

I am back in Tom Price WA this week and next so I can't make it. Seems to be a regular story for the near future. I haven't seen any z's here yet.

I will be there also. My son will be with me. We are in the process of trying to get my "parts car" on the road for him. It hasn't been running in +12 years so I am told. I will write this drama up as a separate post and we will be looking for lots of advice. Alan

If you are talking about April Fool's day then I should be able to make it but if you are planning on this week (25 March) then it is not possible for me. I am in lovely Tom Price last week and this coming week enjoying the heat and red dirt.

Thanks everybody for their help on this. Quotes for the cost of re-coring the rad were $430 - $480. We ordered a rad fron the US. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissan-Datsun-240z-260z-3Row-Aluminum-Radiator-1970-75_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem150331059940QQitemZ150331059940QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories Terrible exchange rate but cost similar to re-coring when shipping is added. Will post pics when it arrives and let you know how it installs. It should just bolt in with no modifications - maybe.