aussie240z

i called rare spares a few weeks back re the RH skin and was told NLA and they are dropping the LH as well. The ones listed will be the last ones from them.

It was great to catch up albeit briefly and sans zed at the Scarborough pub today. As was mentioned during that catch up, I just bought a new screen for the zed (due to the crappy roll over and crush on the a pillar) and bought from these guys http://www.autoglasswarehouse.com.au/datsun-260z-2dr-coupe-1971-1978-front Ex stock, ordered online Thursday, picked up Friday at their ops at Riverwood. The guy I dealt with in Brisbane (he called me within 30 minutes of placing the order) and advised pick up etc. Very easy purchase, pick up and they also do some other items, side/door glass as noted here http://www.autoglasswarehouse.com.au/240z-260z-s30-2-dr-coupe-1971-to-1978-240z-260z-s3/ All seemed pretty easy.

apologies all. mixed up the weekends Thanks Peter Was also just talking to one of my staff and he highlighted the date too. Hope the weather clears and it actually happens then.

apologies all. mixed up the weekends

Guys Just thought it may be worth highlighting that this Sunday is the Sydney to the Gong bike race that already has clearways from Sutherland to Wollongong along highways, Lawrence Hargrave Drive and so on from early AM Sunday to late afternoon. Add to that Bulli Pass has been closed for around a month and will remain so until early December apart from a short period this weekend due to the impending cruise liner visit on Sunday at Port Kembla and so I suspect it is going to a complete dog fight in the whole area. Not sure on the weather front, but the traffic issues are going to be pretty bad. Just a thought Ian

Hi Would you still have drivers side A pillar? Cheers Ian

After my recent off and working through parts needed, likely I may be able to rescue the drivers side door but will need glass to suit (the thousand or so "bits" are being cleaned out slowly. Any options, availability appreciated.nplease advise if you can help Thanks in advance Ian

Dual axle car trailer with electric brakes Has not been registered for quite some time. Was refurbishing and now need to move it out as change of plans. Has light weight but strong frame, low ride height, checker plate adjustable tracks (295mm wide). Is currently set for the 240Z and the car sits neatly with small overhang at the front over the front rail of the trailer. Has been stripped, wire brushed, rust proofed and then painted. Has all needed cables for re wiring, LED lights, cable clips etc. as well as new cable and adjuster for holding brake. Has tyre rack with retaining bar on front. Will hold around 6 tyres depending upon format. Has spare tyre for trailer as well. Needs: wiring, check/possible overhaul of brakes, tyres, registration etc Am in Woonona NSW and can PM, email (ian at ticketserv.com) or text zero four three eight, eight four zreo one zero zero Looking around the $1100 negotiable mark

As a result of my recent "mishap" near Inverell, I will be doing a a car trailer (empty) run to Grafton from the Gong on 8th Sept and then return (with the zed) on the 9th. If of any assistance/need, let me know. Am aiming to be early departure to Grafton and then back to stay overnight Coffs on the 8th and then run from Coffs to the Gong on the 9th Let me know Ian

Thanks Peter. When you say you made them, did you mould them up or source them?

Still road registered so not sure the fibreglass option would work, thanks. Was already considering the lean option as the winders take a beating. The car is currently in Grafton at another trek participants business so arranging trailer to go and bring it home. Once back will check how bad the drivers door actually is so maybe a skin will suffice but looked pretty hammered when we gout out of it. Thanks re the trademe links and sportclassic. Have looked at parts there before too. Definitely options. Thanks

So after an eventful trek4kidz rally this week and an argument with a 2m bank and a 3 point roll my Zed needs a little tlc. Need both doors plus a few othe pieces of trim. The doors are prime to start - at least drivers door and glass. If anyone has options please let me know. Have to get the beast back on the road for next years trek and fundraising. Thanks in advance if any optionss.

To any members in or around Coffs, I am coming in to town today at the end of the week long Trek4kidz charity car rally in support of the Starlight foundation. Travelling in the Zed in a fleet of old holden and fords has shown the Zed to its best. Fast gravel, mud, water crossings and lots of fun. If anyone is around wants to say hi, we should be in town around 4 and overnight stop. We will be at the Pacific Bay resort. Cheers

thanks for the comments. Have left under and removed the wheel well so to keep at least a bit of boot space (Ia m travelling with my wife so must have room for some changes of clothes over the week at least). Looked at spare wheel well option but the volume/cost option for a custom tank verses the $220 and nearly 40ltrs in the mods I did, worked well. I have fitted the spares on the rack (works fine and,a s per the tank, means I can still have some clothes etc. in the car.) and makes throwing a spare on pretty quick/easy too. Always options for sure Cheers

As some of you know, I "play in the dirt" with my zed and, in line with that need for some of the charity rallies I compete in, I have been prepping for the next one in August. This is www.trek4kidz.com and will cover about 3500kms over the week, with about 85% on dirt, tracks etc. Some details of my entry here www.car240.com.au While past event day to day distances have been adequately covered with 2 x 10ltr jerry cans on the roof racks along with the spare tyres, this next event has a first day run of nearly 460km with no fuel stops at all, so what I can carry on board is it. Looking at possible options, I was contemplating fuel cells, adapting a long range fuel tank from something like a statesman or similar or seeing what could be done with a zed tank. So, me being a little bit more on the DIY approach, i went down the path of an adapted zed tank. While doing this, I also wanted to alleviate the breather pipe issue that was causing air locks and the resultant inability to get a full tank of fuel. The idea was to source a second fuel tank, make some mods, remove the wheel well and remount the tank. Benefits of using the zed tank was that the fuel filler neck remained as is, fuel sender remained as is and, with any luck, the tank mountings would remain pretty close to "as is". Like most good plans, there were a few "oh dear" re think moments but ultimately, it all worked out. Step 1 was source the tank and, thanks to another great forum member, i was able to get a (260) tank which formed the basis of the new plan. Step 2, got the tank cleaned and modified by expanding the main part of the tank that normally sits under the wheel well. In doing this, I had the fellow who did the mods look at extra baffles and a few mods to inlet and breather pipes. The new shape of the tank has been built over the original skin with extra holes in the old top of the original tank to also add some baffling. The breather pipe was remade to be a short sleeve and a (nearly right angle) joiner pipe to connect directly from within the boot through the same area where the rubber breather hose would normally go. The tank was checked with fuel for leaks, rotated and left on various sides to check if any issues. None found at all. Step 3 removed the wheel well, going around the spot welds with a spot weld drill bit and taking out the wheel well in one piece. it is in good nick so will keep this for later/possible re insertion. Step 4 With the wheel well out, make a new plate to cover the opening and, using M6 captive nuts make ready for securing. Step 5 With the wheel well gone, the support for one of the tank straps is also removed, so I needed to fabricate something that would address that as well. So, some angle, a bit of work with drill, file, grinder to create a key hole mounting of the inboard strap mounting was created. A flat strap on the floor of the boot provided the support bar to mount this key hole strap to. (not the most elegant but sufficient for now, removable at a later stage while strong enough to withstand the extra load of the larger tank. Step 6. Recognizing that the tank straps were potentially too short (the tank is a 260 tank and, compared to the 240 unit - it is deeper below the side joining sill) I had to decide to either make new straps altogether or come up with a way to mount the existing straps. The passenger side strap was also definitely too short now with the different mounting point due to the modifications needed sans wheel well. So, after a bit of head scratching (as well as head bumping on various suspension areas - with little hair in the way to cushion the noggin) I made an extension of 20mm square tube with metric nuts welded in each end to suit the existing hanger bolts and a new high tensile bolt up from the fuel strap. Step 7. After wrestling with the tank under the car and positioning the new breather neck, I ended up making a flap opening in the boot floor close to where the old breather pipe came through, connecting my new right angle breather pipe connector with a short piece of fuel line and hose clamps and leading the new pipe to a direct connection to the fuel filler neck. No kinks, right angles etc. A rubber flap was made to isolate the breather neck pipe, seal off the floor and then secured with again the 6mm captive nuts. Final Assembly. After gluing new rubber pad strips to the top of the tank, positioning all in place and securing the tank, it all fits, and works. I had about 20lt of fuel in in plastic fuel cans to put back in and then went to the local garage to fill up. Drove up to the premium unleaded and started pumping. When i got to $100 i stopped and through there goes the weekends drinking money. My estimate of the tank capacity, based on the old tank standard capacity and what would be added in the volume of the new tank area, was approximately 90 to 100 litres. Based on the fuel i used from the cans and the from the bowser, I suspect it is closer to the 100 litre mark. A few observations: Working single handed to get a tank in, positioned, located, tested, out again, then back and so on, is not the most friendly thing to do Likewise, using mounting bolts through floors where bolt head needs securing while doing up nut underneath requires a "creative" approach to tightening them up. Another set of hands is ideal (my wife did assist with a few) but a large magnet and ring spanner strategically placed can also work wonders A heat gun on the fuel filler neck joiner makes the fitting of the tank neck way easier than wrestling with a stubborn, hard, 40 year old connection. Wearing some sort/any sort of hat, beanie, anything, makes the difference between a nice smooth, nearly bald, head and one that looks like a hack golfer has taken divots out every 3cms across the scalp. The zed has been in the garage and with the tank pretty full and sitting now for nearly a week and no visibility of leaks or issues. I am looking at adding a further high quality fuel filter in the engine bay and likely replacing the fuel sender unit ( i had checked the guauge by earthing the circuit and showed that it worked fine however I should have checked the sender unit as well.) I will also likely add an extra "emergency strap" as a secondary load support, working on the "just in case" basis. I will be doing some trial distance runs before we go in August but I think the distance on day one should now be a little easier to accomplish, even if running hard. In regard to the event, we are supporting the Starlight Foundation as the primary charity and, with the way the event is run, 100% of all donations/sponsorship goes to them, which we found to a great incentive to get involved (The last couple of rallies we did with Camp Quality, lost a bit with paid staff etc, while Trek is all volunteers) I will be adding a tracking page to www.car240.com.au and will use GPS tracking from the car to provide the route following during the progress of the rally. Cheers Ian

I recently bought complete arms/blades from https://www.sparesbox.com.au/The wiper blades arent genuine obviously, but fit straight on and are nice and tight arms. The blade kits I bought are these: https://www.sparesbox.com.au/wiper-blade-tridon-tbl18-106296-tbl18 . Suspect you could also get from a Tridon distributor somewhere too. Online supply/leadtime was very good

Congrats on the new bub

Hey guys, doesn't look like I will be able to make it. Thought I would progress the new long range tank on the zed earlier than this, but at present, still a little ways off. Enjoy the day, hopefully the weather will be kind. Cheers Ian

Hi All Barring any issues with prep for the trek in August, i will be there. Cheers Ian

I set up mine with a waterproof /marine plug and went into the lift panel near the battery as more concerned with easy access than other. have spare lids regardless if needed to bring back to 'standard" (which my zed isn't anywhere near), so works well, easy to connect/disconnect when back in the garage and waterproof for use when out on the beaten track. I will try and grab some pix and post next week.

I also have one of the ctek units. not the cheapest but certainly works well. I fitted a surface mount waterproof cig plug and ran the lines to the battery. In the garage, the ctek then plugs into that connector and all good. when i want to get the car out, just unplug and cobver with the waterproof boot. since the zed only gets out every few months currently, has proven very good.

would have enjoyed getting together, but we are operating the Wings over Illawarra airshow Saturday and Sunday of that weekend. 200 plus classic cars as well as the airshow Saturday and Sunday. enjoy the get together

Congrats to all, new arrival, mum and even dad!!! And keep the keys hidden for as long as possible!

Thanks Peter and yes, down south will work. I can head up to Loftus and then down, so afterwards easy run home. Just need to mix it with the bikes and the various police patrols along the national parks roads.

Really sorry to have missed this one, looks like it was a great day/get together. Have the wrist out of plaster as of this am so needing to get some strength back and the into it again. Have the Trek rally in August so have to be 100% for that. Anyone interested to know more on that front, have a look at http://trek4kidz.com/ and our entry is shown on the donations page, Car 240. Hopefully see you on the next drive day. Cheers