Zedsabbath

Gav, I've stopped making the boots. An air cavity problem has developed in the moulding process that needs eliminating before I go any further with them. Up until now I've been able to fix any problems fairly quickly and successfully but this latest problem has me really scratching my head. The cavity is appearing in one spot in one of the boots every time and I only have a vague idea what's causing it. I'm work on it but for the time being I've ceased production while I sort it out The moulding process is more complicated than that youtube because these boot moulds have seven segments neatly fitting together like an old Roman stone wall. It would be impossible to remove the casting (boot) with any less pieces than that, as I found out to my horror when I first began making the boots, lots of rubber was consumed getting the mould design right I'm definitely not selling these boots for 2+2s, I'll tell everyone now and I changed the ebay listing to include "Not for 2+2s" after a refund or two. I wasn't sure and paid the penalty even though the original listing stated: "May fit other Zs" .... Obviously that wasn't accurate enough Pete

RIP

Nissan Executive Known as 'Father of the Z' Dies at 105 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFEB. 21, 2015, 2:27 A.M. E.S.T.TOKYO — Yutaka Katayama, a former president of Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. unit who built the Z sportscar into a powerful global brand in the 1970s, has died. He was 105. Known as the "father of the Z," Katayama won international respect for the Datsun Z as an affordable sportscar at a time when Japan-made products were synonymous with slipshod quality. Katayama, who died Thursday, retired from Nissan in 1977. Carlos Ghosn, who has led a turnaround at the Japanese automaker under an alliance with Renault SA of France, resurrected Katayama's legendary status at Nissan and brought back the Z. Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in both the U.S. and Japan, Katayama is revered by Z fan clubs around the world. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/02/21/world/asia/ap-as-obit-japan-father-of-the-z.html?ref=world

After a long absence I'm coming back in to say well done Adam, very pleazing to the eye, un-mistakingly "Z" ... and using it as a visual wish list for my 240, when I finally get around to stating on it again Pete

Just what the doctor ordered for our friend in SA http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/roxburgh-park/cars-vans-utes/1975-datsun-260z-coupe/1017297894

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sydney-region/cars-vans-utes/1976-datsun-260z-for-sale/1016192230

Folks Refrain from using Methylated Spirits to clean the hinge boots, testing it has shown that it can spoil the surface of the rubber If you received the Fitting instruction guide paper with your boots, cross out "Methylated Spirits" as a cleaning agent .... use one of the other cleaning agents as described in the Guide Thanks - Pete

Interior view

I'm on constant lookout for Zeds at Pick & Payless wreckers at Blacktown in Sydney and they show up on rare occasions, this time a 300ZX for parts or $850 for whole car but diff is gone Lot no of car is 482 if you make a phone call, quote that number If anyone wants me to check car again for particular parts, I can do that Pete

I've got a rear bar as well, it's 240 but I think it's same

Does the fuse box cover look like this ?

I have two Washer Bottles for sale, one off a '72 (Sold) and one off a '76. One ('76) has broken spout on pump. Both motors run (tested just before photos taken) Bottles are a 1/2 shade yellower than photos show. The caps and straps on both Bottles are in good order. The bottles are old so there'll be a few marks around but no splits or holes or dents. I tested for leaks, they're both ok The '76 is the one with the plug on the wires $10 each Thanks - Peter

Thanks for your positive testimonial Steve Folks, making of the Hinge Boots will be suspended for a while, I'm planning and organizing a move from my present city location to a rural area and need to concentrate on that till I get set up again to continue making boots plus doing some long overdue work on my Zed. One main problem I must sort out after moving is getting back on line because there's only satellite coverage where I'm going and that means paying for installation so I will be off line altogether in about 1 1/2 months time then back on line about a month after that After I move and settle in, I'll get stuck into making more boots and those other rubber parts as requested in earlier posts Pete

Blasphemy ! that's what it is

Welcome, keep up the good Zed work, looking forward to photos Pete

One '76 wiring loom, seems OK but cad plating on steel bits is fading, some plugs and sockets yellowing, most are still white, the large firewall grommet is still very flexible and not cut in any way, the large donut grommet and the rubbers around the plugs which have those rubbers are in good shape also, there is one park light rubber gasket with bulb still attached to loom just needs a clean, the de-mister switch is still attached - $55

Folks, sorry for late photos but here they are of original re-inforcing plate and factory adjustment shims for the hatch hinges. If you have some re-inforcing plates and want to use them chances are they'll be bent and twisted so carefully straighten them back to original shape ensuing that the narrow bottom section provides just enough pressure on the bottom lip of the hinge boot to push it against the opening in the body shell. With a coating of sealant as well, moisture can't get past The factory shims were fitted in between the re-inforcing plate and the hinge, metal to metal both sides, that's important. They would have been made in different thicknesses to get the hatch door gaps around the door to comply with the factory specs and to get the door catch to freely lock. So if your door is not fitting right, it probably needs those shims, should be easy to knock some up after you calculate the adjustment required, then select some steel the same thickness

Crikey check out the winning bid ! I only caught this auction in it's last minutes, not that I need it, but nearly fell of the chair http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300661324101#ht_500wt_1026

Folks I just struggled through my first experience ever at filling out the "sell" form on Ebay to sell a set of hinge boots, geez I hope it gets easier for future listings but the boots sold in about twelve hours under "Buy it Now". You might have seen them there, I did my best with the photo, not easy to photograph black coloured items But what I wanted to say is if members here still need boots , do yourself a favour and continue to PM through Auszcar to get your discount, it's still working that way Btw, all my seconds sold, the ones with small defects that don't affect the fitting or operation of the boots, months ago....but I have one more set here since then, at a much reduced price if anybody wants them Regards, Pete

Must investigate that Gumption, sounds like good stuff I tried RayRay's method years ago to remove deep scratches, fine emery first then used the old Repo car polish, worked well For 240Z tail lights to make them like new, I used a loose (not stitched all the way out to outer edge) cloth buffing wheel on a bench grinder and a small amount of fine buffing rouge, very lightly buffing the tail light lenses, too heavy and the plastic burns, so practiced on an old broken one first....results were pretty spectacular Pete

What's happening with donation facility Gav, did you win lotto ? went to donate, all closed up

Everyone who has ordered boots lately is on the new list, even if I haven't PM'd, you're still on it. Just a reminder that new boots have a very thin coating of rubber grease all over to help protect the surface but for glue or paint to adhere the grease must be removed first by washing or wiping with petrol, thinners or turps Pete

Bruce, ok but only the moulds are improved, the boots remain basically the same, the repair work on the moulds is nearly finished, resuming making boots again soon Pete

Folks, many thanks for your excellent co-operation while I was filling the orders, it made the job that much easier. I now have a set of hinge boots fitted to my Zed and now I can move on to finish that hatch region, all that's left to do there is fit the hatch door catch and the door itself when it's painted. The guy in the US receive his and seems happy with them judging by the feedback email he sent. The Kiwis' got theirs and one set went to Europe The price has gone up a little but still below fifty, it was a bit low to begin with but more power to those who got in quick. I'm doing some maintenance on the moulds at present which will take about 3 weeks duration working on them a bit each night after work and that means I won't have any boots available for that time, a spare set I did have here just sold and then there was none Once again thanks and I'll try to expand this hobby by making different parts in the future, it's just that time beats me, but I'm still working on it Pete

Hi Chipp, I also have a spare 240 tank, I'm not far from Penrith Pete