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SOLD !

Thanks Gav, Shame about that roudy Skyline, but I think the video gives us a reasonably good idea of what's what. I could hear that slightly whiney kameari chain adjuster too, which made for a slightly more metallic sound. I saw that flame, very quickly at 0.38! James needs to do quite a bit more tuning and will be reseating the carbs to eliminate the air leak. Next time we do it, hopefully its registered and driving. Thanks again for your help and interest today Gav. Adam

Have just swapped my adjustable koni reds for koni yellow's in my 240Z. These struts look to be in good condition and fit inside the standard 240Z , however as I have not used them before, I cannot offer any guarantees. Note that these shocks were installed with brand new King Springs when I bought the car (that i have never driven), so I can only assume they are in good working order. 2 Front and 2 Rear - adjustable Koni Red Shock absorbers - $300 + freight. PM if interested.

and the last one.

more pics

Had to write this up ... Just back from seeing the Hornet down at Jim's MIA Engine Service where I met for the first time Gavin Doolan (who I briefly mistook for a rock star!). Good news is the car starts and runs, but needs tuning. James said he wants to take off the carbs and re-seat as there is a slight vacuum leak, and idle speed is yet to be set. First thing I noticed was just how quickly the engine revs, I guess as a result of the very light flywheel in it. One breath on the throttle and very fast throttle response. Gav took a movie, so depending on quality we'll post that up today or thereabouts. We saw a nice and big backfire through the front carb too - with flame! - that may also be in the vid. Car is lowered at the rear and front, but may need just some adjustment as time passes and the interior is completed and the car settles. Despite concern over clearance, there is plenty below the car wrt the exhaust, so at least that won't present a problem. Sound is very nice too, without being obtrusive or plain loud. Thanks to Peter Mac, I can highly recommend the Mangaflow mufflers. James build a very smart looking heat shield too, that sit atop the engine pipe and runs under the passengers (Wife's) seat. We took out the old struts, but I note they are Koni Red. I have no idea of condition (they look clean), but if anyone wants a set of red koni's for their Z, let me know. Here are the pics, Jims car is in the foreground! Adam

Hey Dave, Thanks so much mate, appreciate the kind words. Must say, yours and others on here like John's AMG car are total works of art, mine ultimately a fairly standard car (with hopefully a good sting in its tail!). Gav just mentioned he might like to pop over if James is there tomorrow, so if that's the case I can meet Gav, and take some more pics. Suspect i'll be looking for a milk crate or spare tyre to throw in there to AT LEAST drive the thing around the industrial park. I have never ever driven this car, as it was a total pile of p00 when I bought it. God it's been epic build! Adam

Thanks Gav, Gotta say, Jimmy's car has got it all over mine, it is completely superb. Having said that, i'd love to have a run with James. He's got an L24 with slight overbore, NISMO OEM ceramic coat headers, 44 Mikuni's and Mallory ignition (i think) against my 2.5, SWR headers, 45mm O.E.R's and stock electronic 280Z dizzy. He's got 205/50 R15 panasports with Dunlop Formula R's, and i've got the same but in Ultralight spec with Dunlop Direzza star specs (that I note Billy in WA has just also fitted, along with Koni Yellows too). Jim's also running 3.9:1 open diff, same as me, him 240Z box, me 260Z box, his Tokico Illuminas, mine Koni Sport Yellows and we both have 1" King Springs. Very similar cars in mechanical spec, but it will be interesting to see how far apart the in the differences set them. His brakes are all OEM, but I have the Mk63's at the front. Suspect he'd eat me alive, given all that Group S practise though! I am going to remove my rear tail light garnish, as the ones on the car are without the factory chrome trim, and so I had Nat paint up a mint set in new OEM grey paint. Also thinking I will add a set of front driving lights in the grill somehow, based on this look (250SWB). Might need a little work to get right, but I think this would be a great addition. Might see if I can pop over tomorrow and have a look, will take more pics, and of course THAT VIDEO, if I do !!!

here's a few rough pics James sent me today.

Suspect Easterm Creek might be a stretch next weekend, its not warn in, and is still missing the seats and belts which are yet to be installed. Now I think i'll go and find a genuine radio and electric arial to get some tunes happening! still twitching at the thought of having a 'new' 240Z and despite driving in Sydney's bumper to bumper traffic every single day, i've not seen a 240Z on the road in literally a decade!! This thing is going to be an absolute treat!

OMG ..... The Brown Hornet is ALIVE!!! as in it RUNS AND GOES ...... seriously!!!! Called up James today for an update and Brett says to me; "we got the suspension in and finished, we've connected up the electric dizzy and fuel pump, and we started the car". OMG ... i'm speechless! Adam: "so what does it sound like?" Brett: "um yeah, it sounds good" Adam: "have you put the Mk63's on?" Brett: :"Yep, they're on" Adam: "what does it GO like?" Brett: "we've not driven it yet, just started it, revved it, set the carbies up and ensured everything is working ... it needs running in and dyno time now" Adam: "........" (this is me being speechless) Brett: "James is going out to Eastern Creek to some Zee fest next weekend, wanna take the car out?" Adam: "ummm better ask the Missus" Brett: "Ok, call James back tomorrow and he'll send you some photos of the car and he can run you through everything" Unbelievable........ its been 4.5 years since I started this build, and I have never driven it, or heard it running. Feeling all emotional like :0 Adam.

Hi Gordon, Really sorry to hear of your loss here, particularly given the work and money you've put into the car. I will of course keep a watchful eye and ear out for the car, but my first bit of advise (without reading the whole thread, so sorry if its been mentioned before) would be the following; 1) Call Unique Cars, the Trading Post and Ebay and report the car and all its details as stolen, 2) Call all major national racetracks (perhaps its better to do this via CAMS) and report the car as stolen and ask they be vigillant to any new Z's at the track, 3) Call HSRCA and do the same, and 4) Keep a close eye on MY-105.com for a 240Z for sale, and report it there too. I will certainly keep my eyes and ears open to all 'Zee' talk and hope you find it. Best regards, Adam

The exhaust is done! I went for satin stainless mufflers to try and keep period correct in terms of finish. James needed to chop and re-weld the engine pipe as the junction was hitting the crossmember, but aside from this the job looks superb in my view. I believe they've done the suspension and front Mk63's too so i'll get out there in the coming weeks and have a look for some more photos.

Hi Brabham, I suspect they would not pass tests, and certainly not my test. I had a 240Z 15yrs back at it was very noisy just with extractors. I drove Jimmy Flett's hot L24 240Z the other week and I thought it noisy and that had only one rear hooker muffler with 2.5" pipe throughout. Without any I suspect it would be a very uncomfortable ride

Warren at All Z Parts told me had a set last month. He's charging $220 a corner from memory + freight to the US. For this very reason, I bought the yelloe Koni Sport adjustable cartridges instead, which judging by other owners success are an even better thing.

update. Magnaflow mufflers have arrived, as has all the mandrel bent pipes in 2.5" stainless. Koni Sport's are in and the struts lowered and installed, and the mk63's are on. James said we'll get it completed in a week or so, and is installing a heat sheild to keep things tolerable. Still needs seats, belts, blue slip of course and carpets and so on. Should have more photos soon.

Hi Dave, The reason for the change is that to simply cut the spring, reduces travel. To make the strut cartridge shorter (but cutting it) does two things; 1) it lowers the car by the amount cut out - in my case about 1.5", and 2) it allows the spring to travel its full original range and does not give a shorter (cut) spring in the same space to 'flop' around, potentially allowig it to pop out of its seating. I am not an expert on this, for the serious low-down on this, we should be asking NZeder, or Lurch, both serious afficionados on this very subject, and both of whom have told me that sectioning (cutting) the struts is the best way to lower a Z. Should also point out that Stewart Wilkins also told me that to lower a 240Z properly, he uses; 1) koni yellow sport struts, and 2) sectioned (shortened) struts.

Bit of an update. Spoke to James yesterday and he gave me the part numbers to order for the rear muffler and resonator. James suggested missing the resonator, but having a Wife and being closer to 40 than 20, the thought of bleeding ears after every drive is of little appeal these days. I ordered the parts on-line in Australia, only to find out that SUMMIT Racing had the exact parts, at 50% of the price (including freight to Sydney) than the local supplier. I'd normally buy locally, but for half the price, the decision was simple. On the suspension, James has admitted that they will be sectioning the struts, something that I had previously not intended to do. As you lot have suggested before now, this is the best way to lower a Z without the bumpstop issues, so this is what is being done. James will also fix all the wiring and have everything as it should be. Dropped the seat backs off to the local retrimmer to get the fit to be frankly better. They'll add some padding and fix them up they tell me. I really really want this thing running by Christmas (this year) and at the current rate, its looking very likely. Adam

Um, I am happy to have one made of the Brown Hornet, if a camera Guru can help?

doubt that setup would be road legal in Australia ... gotta love the back fire though!

yep ... old school hot L series moter, lowered, wheels and 'zorst. I have just ordered the white door cirlces!

www.petrolicious.com check out this monster, awesome!

I am a subscriber to this website. Watch the feature video now with volume LOUD. Glad I chose an early 240Z L25 powered hot rod for my project.. http://www.petrolicious.com/ Spine Tingling!

PM sent G. - The Brown Hornet -

Hi Chris, yes, I ordered the 1060 sport for all corners, as this was specifically what Topperformance said i need to do. They said they used to recommend using the different cartridges for the front (from a Toyota) but that they now only recommend the 1060 Sport for the 240Z, and they have released a specific tutorial to this effect. I spoke to James Flett today who looked at the cartridges and is happy with them and will be fitting up this week. Can't wait .. car will look wild now, abotu 2" lower front and rear!