grimlynsan

I think I have a set buried in the back of the garage. I can have a rummage if there's no luck elsewhere.

Yep I'm coming too. Should prolly go wash the car in preparation now, actually.

Yep, and always dubious to pull a sicky on a day for which you were previously denied leave... You'd have to take off the day before and half of the following week to make it look legit On the bright side, this would give you time to get the cam set up!

I spoke with my uncle this morning and mentioned there might be a few Z guys there and he suggested you get a wriggle on and register because it is filling up quickly. The link is posted in this thread a few posts back. Lee

I have a spare set of these (used but in perfect working order) that were removed when I installed coilovers. If you are a future reader of this thread feel free to PM me cause I'll prolly still have them.

woohoo another Z (even if it is a new one)

Oh sorry you did say it was for a 350...

If you are stuck I have a spare diff mount and strap you can take off my hands. I bought new items from the Z store when I had my diff installed and the ones they removed were in perfect working order.

I'm going to QR on Friday 13th for an ominous second outing. Again, it is being run by the BMW club. Apparently they will have 3 circuits running all at once and I can do even more laps! My uncle said they have a few spots left but you'd need to get in quick. You can enter here if you're keen. http://www.bmwcq.com.au/events/bmw-club-track-day-queensland-raceway/ It's $225 inc lap timer. BARGAIN (if you don't crash). Also am excited to report I managed to acquire some 15x8 "performance" superlights with some pre-abused slicks. Now I just need a trolley jack and a breaker bar. Oh and a pit crew. Would be great to have some more Zeds down there!!! C'mon lads! Lee

I was looking into these covers also before I bought these seats actually. But the 260z seats with recliner have a slightly different hole shape cut out the side from what I understand - has anyone used these kits and are they easy to install yourself? And what about the foam padding? I spoke with an autotrimmer when I was looking into all of this a year or two ago (showed him the webpage) and he scared me off doing it myself which is why I got these. These kits from the US do look nice though! Anyway... hopefully someone out there actually needs some complete seats (with rails BTW - forgot to mention that before!).

I am a new member to the club, and if I am honest, I joined to qualify for SIV registration. However since I have joined I can confirm they do seem to put on a few events and it's a shame there is not better communication between the club and the site. You would think someone in the club would have the responsibility of posting all events being held to relevant fora. That said, I guess it is a club, so their duty is to their members, not to internet people. I like both :-) But let's not forget there are some seats for sale at a great price ;-)

I am in the Qld Z Club and they sent out a newsletter recently advising of a swap meet. It was today, out at the bay. I would have thought if you're in the club you'd get the newsletter. I'm not sure why they don't post to this forum in the events section, regardless of any politics, we all like Z cars!

Don't politicise my FS thread!

Hi All, Up for sale are a pair of nicely re-trimmed black 240z seats. I now have no use for them and don't want them to get ruined in storage. Why am I selling them? Well, when my 260z 2+2 was at a mate's place, his dog jumped in the front window and decided to eat the drivers' seat. Needless to say, I was displeased. (Luckily he works at an exhaust shop and made up for it by mandrel bending me up a SS exhaust!). Anyway, in order to get it roadworthy certified, I needed to have a driver's seat so I got this pair from another forum member and they have served me well since (well, actually I haven't even unwrapped the passenger seat, I've only been using the drivers', I assume it is also in excellent condition). Today I went to the Qld Z Club swap meet and swapped an old open R200 diff I had for a pair of front 260z seats that match my interior and, crucially, have the recliner mechanism! So I am going to put these in and take out the 240z drivers seat. Now I have too many seats in my garage. So someone should buy these bad boys. Here the original for sale post: http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,10659.15.html where you can see photos of them. I'm happy to take more photos if there is interest. There is a 10c sized frayed fabric/hole in the usual place where it rubs when you get in and out. The foam seems much more solid than the one's I got today so I assume they have been refoamed and whatnot when the PO had them retrimmed. Perhaps he can chime in with that information... The driver's seat has been very comfortable and I am only changing because I want the upholstery to match and the ability to get in the back seat of course! These are located Brisbane Northside. I am looking for $400 ono. Thanks, Lee

Ha ha diplomatically put! With so many conflicting opinions on all of these topics it's hard to know the best way to do things! Lee

Thanks for the comments guys. I have much to learn but am hoping the installation of a catch can and some aesthetically pleasing hoses is not beyond my DIY skills. I want to plan the whole thing before I buy any components so it has a complete look instead of looking like it was cobbled together from spares. If you are in the mood, I have about a billion more questions! Well, as I'm no mechanic, they are more me guessing how things work based on years and years or forum reading and would appreciate if I have said something incorrect that you can correct me! A) Is this a fuel return line? I don't have one of these, but I like the idea of having the fuel continually circulating so it doesn't heat up. B) I note this doesn't have a filter. Is this a different type of setup to the catch can we have been talking about so far or are there holes in it I can't see? C) I imagine this hose must circle back on itself and go into the catch can. But what is the other hose? if it is the crank case breather they have camouflaged it nicely cause I can't see how it gets there! D) I beleive this to be vacuum from the manifold to the brake booster. Are there any other components that require vacuum in the engine? E) I really like this fuel rail! F) I think this is a pressure regulator. It ensures the carbies are not overfed. Is this correct? Where is the fuel pump? Is it in the tank? G) Looks like a fuel filter. connected directly to the pressure regulator. Mine is at the back, next to the tank. H) Looks like a dark hose coming out of the crankcase breather. I can't tell if it is going to the catch-can or somewhere else. I) There are two hoses here. I think one is this the continuation of the fuel return line and is directing fuel passing the carbs back to the tank. What is the other hose? I am guessing it is the fuel supply from the tank? Maybe connected to a fuel block out of vision as it seems very highly positioned... After sputtering at the end of the straight on my recent outing despite having plenty of fuel, I'd like to incorporate some kind of surge tank/fuel block into the design. J) There is no carbon canister. So where does vapour breather from the fuel tank go? K) Is this the correct order? Fuel tank with inbuilt pump -> surge tank -> regulator -> filter -> fuel rail -> carbies -> return line -> hard line back to tank If my engine bay can look a fraction as good as this one I will be a happy man! Thanks again all who take the time to put me right :-) Lee

Thanks for feedback guys and for your offer Jason. I want to create a simplified and pretty engine bay so am trying to avoid olive oil cans and whatnot. So oil that comes out of either vent, if directed to a catch can, should NOT be recirculated back into the engine, I should just empty the catch can every now and then? And if the vent on the tappet cover is sucking in air, does it matter that it is dirty air from a shared catch-can? Would it not be more optimal if the tappet cover vent was sucking from a separate can with a supply of clean air? Or does this make no bearing? Thanks again, Lee

Hi all, After my recent trip to Lakeside, it highlighted the need to do something with the oil shot out the side of the block as I went down the straight. You can see in the pics, there is oil splattered out the filter at the top, and also out the breather on the side. I want to do something better than an olive oil can to eliminate the mess and have searched the internet high and low for inspiration. I even got out my trusty Haynes manual and ever since doing so, I am confused! I thought that as originally plumbed, there was a hose coming out of the tappet cover, and into the intake manifold. This would create a vacuum and SUCK oily vapour from the top of the engine into the intake where it would be burned. But in the diagram in the Haynes is has arrows indicating the opposite, and that air is being sucked INTO the top of the engine. If they Haynes manual is right and I have been wrong all this time (which is highly likely I am sure!), why is there oil splatter on the tappet cover, seemingly from oil 'blowing' out? Or is the answer that it goes both ways at different times? Similarly, the diagram seems to show the oil emitted from my currently nude crankcase breather is redirected somehow to the intake. I thought I understood how this worked and now I am very confused! When I google image search 'l28 triple' (I do this a lot!) images of engines where this is hooked up are almost non-existent! Regarding the crankcase breather I have seen setups where there's a hollow rod coming out of it, some with a filter on the end. I have also seen a larger filter mounted directly to the block. But I want a sealed setup. That's why I got the manual out to begin with as I was interested to know if the breather at the top and the bottom could both be directed to the same place, one of those little ebay oil catch can jobbies - with a drain at the bottom to return oil to the system somehow. I read this great article about how the oil flows through the engine and how the pressure effects that. They said that if there is a vacuum in the top it provides a better seal so I wanted my new setup to somehow replace that, however routing the breather in the tappet cover to a catch can will not replicate this vacuum effect. And if it is indeed beneficial, why does basically no one do it? Please masters, guide me :-) Lee

I went carbies for the sound of triples. I think it is hard to give up and people are willing to work a bit harder to keep it. Actually, I have never heard a blow or draw through carbie setup. Do you still get that lusty induction noise or is it masked by airboxes and whatnot?

I'm out. Mrs wont let me change the calendar :-(

I am... Wonder how many entries they will take and laps you get for the $200

Action shots

I did get down to 67.5secs! How did you know that already Jason?!?!?!? I am very happy with this result. The car went great except for some oil sprayed throughout the engine bay... better install a catch can before the next one. Regarding suspension, I started of set to medium and it went well. next run i went full soft. it was bad. Then i went to half a turn less than as firm as possible and loved it so i left it there for the rest of the day. Boy does it feel good to nail that double apex! Had a few nervous moments at the kink but learned to cross in the right place as the day went on, I got in about 55 laps. The day organised today was the BMW (QLD Z club was officially invited as I told my uncle who is the motorsport coordinater for the BMW club that our day was being cancelled). The one coming up later this month is the Jap Nats http://www.qldraceways.com.au/all-jap-national-titles I would love to do this again, I had a ball and only thought I was going to die about 5 times. The only problem for me is that the cheapest days where you get the most laps in are during the week. As a BMW club member it was only $195. And I could have done 60-70 laps excep that I ran out of fuel :-( Oh, and to go back to the topic of suspension, the kid behind the counter at lakeside reckons that standard practice is to put them full soft, and then firm the fronts only until the car is is not wallowy as you turn into corners. Once you have found the right spot, then leave the fronts and start working on the rears, hardening them up until if your harden them anymore you will get the back end out. I think at my skill level it still wouldn't make much difference. Once I am more competent I will maybe mess with it some more.

I was worried there would be debate about this with no clear answer. Given my level of experience it probably wont make much of a difference anyway. I guess I'll try a few things given this conflicting advice and see if I can feel my way to success. They are 17" 255/45 rear and 245/50 front. Falken something or other street tyres. The BMW Club who are organising the day advised those using street tyres to put them at 40-45 PSI to avoid them peeling off. I put them at 42PSI just this evening. Can always go down when I get there, I have a gauge.

Just had a standard wheel alignment done on it - whatever it is they do - nothing special. This has always been a road going car so it's never had anything like that done. I've had the suspension on the softest setting since I got it cause after a week or so on hard I could no longer take the jarring from Brisbane City Council's finest percolated tarmac. I will do this. I figured I'd start at the hardest and then if I found vehicle not handling right, I could soften it up using the logic "if not for the racetrack, why do we have a hard setting?". But your idea sounds safer :-) Agreed. I have no idea what I'm doing and any data I do gather will probably be false positives. Will do. Thanks for the advice. I've been waiting so long to finally get on the track and drive this car like it should be driven. I just have to be careful so I can do it again! The way people talk about Lakeside is like just when you feel like you're getting the hang of it, that's when it bites you in the ar$e. Must show respect at all times.