MickyG

It's baaaaaack... But Buy It Now is down to $14k: Item number: 110408245363 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Datsun-240z-Series-1-260z-280Z_W0QQitemZ110408245363QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item19b4d82073&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 Unfortunately it's still green, (which I could just live with), & it still has a vinyl roof, (which I couldn't.)

As someone spending 15-30 minutes a day, every day, (for months), searching various online sources for a suitable 240, I would suggest that viczcar classified have a far higher success rate than ebay/carsales/carpoint/drive/my105/carsguide/etc. There are cars that have been listed for months on some of these sites & there are numerous Zeds that are listed over & over again on ebay with no result. If you want to sell a Zed, I think this is the place to do it, (my 260, sadly, will end up here when I find my 240. ), particularly if you are keen to see the car go to another Zed enthusiast. In response to Lurch's comment re restricting access, it depends what you want to achieve. If you want to sign up the most people you can, make everyone create an account to view classifieds but if you want to create a community of Zed car enthusiasts, (even those who are keen on 2+2s), who are willing to contribute, leave everything open & let those who are interested join in when they are ready. I lurked here for a couple of years before I signed up & a high proportion of introductions state the same in their 1st post...

I think we all agree the car is a bargain @ $7,500 but it is unrealistic to expect the car to have sold within 3 days. (It was only advertised on the 26th June.) Personally I think the 10-13k range is very achievable, (with a RWC), however there is a relatively limited market for 30+ year old sports cars, particularly in todays economic climate, so it may take some time to find the right buyer, (with suitable financial authority from their other half.) Having said that, how long would it have lasted if it was a 240 at that price?

NSW keeps stealing our Zeds & what happens? They let them rust: Item number: 130315147028 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130315147028&indexURL=2&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting Buy Now @ $10,000.

Been posted before on ebay as a lure. "Rare1970 240Z 432 2.0 litre twin cam available in Japan through Fat XXXX Imports. Only a handful of these twin cam models were produced with a Yamaha designed twin cam head. Go to www,fatXXXXimports.com.au We can locate and import rare and collectable Japanese models direct from Japan" <Sound of many bubbles bursting> Although if you can afford $48k for a toy you can probably afford to fly to Japan, inspect it before you buy & pay for RORO service to get it to Aus...

Ahhh Lurch - took you less than 7 minutes. Do you actually smell the new blood or do you have some 6th sense?

"Something different" does not adequately describe this zed. Interesting to note that I have never seen this zed in the "What do you want your zed to look like?" thread.

More the point - which bastard put it on there in the 1st place??? Was this factory fitted, an Aussie dealer option or a previous owner with questionable judgement? Are there any other zeds out there with vinyl? (I've never seen one.) If it wasn't for the vinyl & the green paint I would probably already be $18k poorer...

Set of Watanabes, (plus free 260Z), for $6k anyone? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/datsun-240z-260z-2seater-74_W0QQitemZ130311637696QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item1e572dcac0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 Item #: 130311637696

mmmmmm - tan leather interior... Starting bid:$16,000 Buy now: $20,000 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Datsun-240Z-1973_W0QQitemZ300317110346QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item45ec4b704a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Apparently $3,000 is sufficient. From sydneydatsunclub.com:

And that, my friends, is why he is the self proclaimed "Oracle of bullshit".

You should see what you get if you google "Lurch" with caps lock on...

Mine was the same cack gold originally - you can see the original colour through the cracks in the metallic grey previous owner sprayed straight over the top.... Lurch is right, you don't see this colour much any more. It's ugly so everyone resprays ASAP.

Looks like you got the $15k you wanted on ebay? I hope this helps resolve some of your business issues. Anyone on here the buyer?

Thanks for your thoughts dazzed. Does this apply only to L26 pistons, or can I apply this to other aspects of my life? I guess everyone has their own opinion regarding "appropriate" mods. I'm happy to clean up the head, change cam, pistons, carbs etc. but boring out to fit larger pistons just isn't something I would do. (Nor would I fit a V8, turbo, RB etc. Nothing wrong with any of these alternatives, just not what I want to do with my Z.) I'm sure my plans make someone restoring a Z wince. (Although being purists they wouldn't be interested in a 260 as everything went downhill after the 240 anyway...) One mod I can't decide on is a rear disc conversion. From a performance perspective discs are the obvious choice, but for some reason this is a bridge too far for me & I don't think this is a mod I will complete. Clearly the only way to resolve all these issues is to have multiple Zs; concours restoration, tarmac rally, highly modded street car, daily driver, circuit race & one of those black & white Japanese police cars with the whirly light. If I wanted kW in a Z I'd go RB26DETT Z2 but reality frequently intrudes on my existence.

I just call it how I see it Pauly.

I drove past the Datsun Performance Centre in Elma Road about 2 weeks ago & there were still signs on the building but everything was closed up & no one answers their phone number. I wasn't sure if it was just closed for Xmas but the place looked like it hadn't been opened for months. Not too surprised to hear it's no longer a going concern. I was wondering what happened to Datrally - thx for the heads up. Yet more inappropriate comments from Lurch? Or have I taken this out of context?

Thanks for the contact details guys. I'll make some phone calls & post some details when I've decided how to progress. Finger crossed there should be another Z back on the road in coming months. I was tempted to share a current photo of my car under 5mm dust, stuck behind 2 motor bikes & the lawn mower & used as storage for camping gear but the image is probably too sacrilegious for many of the purists on the site. Can anyone confirm if suitable flattops for the L26 are part number RY2516? I've seen new/old stock of these on ebay & a Co. in NZ appears to make an equivalent. Some catalogues list these as a L24/L26 part which makes sense? (L24 & L26 bore were the same @ 83mm?) Although if Lou Mondello has a source, I guess he could confirm or deny for me or sell me his pistons.

Reverendzed Sorry to read of your issues, although it sounds as if the resulting engine is OK even if not what you were expecting. Given my search for a trustworthy & recommended engine builder for an L26 in Melbourne, are you willing to share the name of your builder so I can try to avoid similar issues? (If you're not comfortable to name & shame publicly, would you PM me details?) Thx Mick

Ahhhhh Lurch. I've been a member less than 24 hours & yet it has already brought me so much joy. Anyway - what about my list of engine builders? (Thanks for the name & pending mobile # Glen.)

Lurch - Thx for the welcome. Stop picking on newbies. (i.e. me.) Thought I'd added my location as I'm aware "some members" have an issue with this, but I clearly stuffed it up. Wouldn't want to annoy anyone... Sulio - Think I saw your car on the ring road just after Xmas. Must have been something wrong with my tool of trade falcon because I couldn't seem to keep up? Alan - I think I've read your post about a dozen times over the last few months. Thanks for at least 90% of my inspiration! Was Datsota the main contributor to your engine work? Glen - Thanks for the overview of what sounds like a very similar project. I had a $5k budget in the back of my mind so it's good to have this reinforced. This might be a dumb Q, but who's Len & how can I get in touch?

Long time reader - 1st time poster. Given the traffic here over the last few days, I wish I had a basic grasp of english & a V8 Z to sell so I could start another war... What I do have is a '75 260 2 seater which is stock apart from an auto to manual swap, (a previous owner had swapped the auto for a 4 speed which I swiftly swapped for a 5 speed), relatively inoffensive 80's alloys & the addition of really crap metallic grey paint over the original "gold". The car has been sitting in the shed untouched for many years & I now have the cash & enthusiasm to get it back on the road without the necessary time, knowledge or experience to do the work myself. Starting point is the engine as it hasn't even been turned over in years. I'd like to keep the original L26, (car has matching #'s), but I'd like it to be far more enthusiastic than it once was. (Think ported head, new cam, valves, springs, carbs, flattops, lightened crank, etc.) I'd like to talk to someone in Melbourne who knows L series engines inside out & back to front & can be trusted to give good advice & do good work. Any suggestions gratefully received. Thankyou in anticipation, (& my apologies if this info is already on here somewhere - I looked but couldn't find it.)