andyk_79

Might be best off buying one of the repro ones that are out there from msa or z rubber parts. I have 2 factory ones but they're both broken and from what I know most factory ones have not survived the test of time. MSA do an aluminium one for a bit more durability.

I'm going to echo someone else's signature on here that making decisions that you're not 100% happy with in the name of resale value is like avoiding making love to your significant other so that they're more attractive to their next partner......... In other words if you want to paint it then paint it. I got my car resprayed in the factory colour because I liked the factory colour and I like originality to an extent, but that was my personal choice for my enjoyment of the car with no regard for any future value (never selling it anyway!)

Actually you could be right - an ADR retractable that only used the factory mount points / bolts should be OK. I was told by a blue slip inspector I was talking to ages ago you couldn't fit retractables but that was on the assumption that any retractable system would require a new mount point and would not just bolt in to the existing

Random one - I have no spare. Anyone have a steely lying around that is excess to requirements (not worried about original topy's etc)

You're probably across this but retractable belts won't pass rego in a 240z without being certified by an engineer

I've made the phonecall Gav - the men in white coats will be around soon as you're clearly mental to take on a third project Z ha ha ha. Jokes aside congratulations and I know you'll do it justice!

Is it just me or does the paint job look like "slap it on to hide the rust" job.

I got mine through Fleabay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Datsun-240Z-1970-73-Door-Card-Panel-Set-Black-Pair-Panels-NEW-754-/322430493547?hash=item4b125ae36b:g:mlEAAOSw0QFXDTWm and supplier's own website (same product and supplier) is zcardepot which a lot of people on here have purchased various products through: https://zcardepot.com/interior/interior-panels/door-panel-card-set-black-240z-1970-73-new.html

Thanks for the offer Pete. I'm probably sticking with the existing rims for now but will keep it in mind if circumstances change.

Thanks for this Lurch. I'll join the list of followers!

They're the same ones I got. Definitely a decent repro just watch the trim clip holes. Mine were all in the wrong place!

Congrats Pete. Well deserved.

Interested in the z power steering commentary - had one of their kits sitting on the shelf for about 2 years waiting until I've got enough stuff I want to do to talk to an engineer

Looks good. Best colour too!

Thanks for the prompt. Well the couple of months I thought it would be got some what delayed!! I finally brought the car home in October. After the body shop it went to a nearby trimmer who put in the carpet and vinyl kits I had, recovered and installed the seats with my MSA seat foams and Interior Innovations seat covers (which I had failed miserably at doing myself). That was around the end of May the trimmer finished. It then went to a brake shop to sort out the seized soft lines and service the brakes. They also do mechanical work so they were putting in the Fujitsubo exhaust for me. I learnt a valuable lesson - even if it's true NEVER tell a mechanic you are not in a rush for something to be finished! The brakes and exhaust got done in the first couple of months it was there. I posted in another thread but the Fujitsubo system does not fit out of the box on an auto - it had to go to a custom exhaust shop with mandrel bend equipment so that it clears the sump on trans. After that the mechanic offered that because the factory heatshield no longer fitted, and the throttle return spring mounts are on the heatshield, that they would fabricate something for me for a heatshield, get the spring mounted and get the car running again (it had never really not been running but hadn't been started for a while). With me chasing them weekly and always getting the same answer (they had gotten busy and there were other jobs that had to take priority) the car sat idle in their shop for a few months. I ended up on one phonecall just saying to them "Look should I just come and pick the car up?" to which they replied "Yeah that'd probably be best"........... They had at least done the return spring! On the day we picked it up: Since then I've been trying to spend a couple of hours a week on the car when time permits. So far have gotten through: Got the engine running again with some help from my brother Installed the "Dave" plug and play headlight relay kit (http://datsun-240z-upgrades.net/product-info/) Transplanted some parts in the indicator switch so the hi/lo beam is back on the stalk (rather than through a crappy food pedal switch a PO had installed) and replaced the indicator relay (which turned out to be the source of the indicator issues) Fitted up some semi-sealed beam lamps that were parts that came with the car. This in turn led to the discovery that the relay still switches on the earth side and semi-sealed beam H4 lamps earth to the car body, so when connected they are permanently on ! I'm going to pull the headlight buckets to confirm this (ie test with them not earthed to the car) and then will looked at getting a set of the sealed beam lamps from Toyota Replaced the external regulator on the alternator after discovering the alternator was putting out 16 to 17 volts and there was a suspicious bubbling noise in the vicinity of the battery Put in a Honda Civic fan (Thanks @CraigZ http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/14893-datsun-240z-honda-civic-heater-blower-motor-fan-upgrade-ac-air-conditioner/)and finally got the fan assembly installed at the weekend !! A couple of little things to do but the fan/heater etc are just about then sorted Been working on the centre console that was in 2 pieces when I got the car. I've put in one of those choke brackets that screws into the trans tunnel to get rid of the load on the console. Console I plastic welded on top and fibreglassed underneath where the break had been. Have filled where the screw holes had been turned into gaping holes with breakage and it is currently sitting in primer filler waiting on a sand down before final round of primer filler and paint Bailey channels replaced so I can wind the windows up now. Have a set of the repro door cards off ebay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Datsun-240Z-1970-73-Door-Card-Panel-Set-Black-Pair-Panels-NEW-754-/322430493547?hash=item4b125ae36b:g:mlEAAOSw0QFXDTWm). The quality is OK and not a bad copy. The trim clip holes are ALL in the wrong places though - out by about 15 to 20mm and not all in the same direction which is annoying. I'll have to fill the holes and recut. Not sure if these are required for blue slip but intent is to do them anyway just so the car looks finished. Seeing a definite light at the end of the tunnel ! Blue slip now is pretty much just tyres and a number plate light after getting the fan blowing up at the windscreen. The number plate light I have the original but the globes have slowly fatigued and melted the light body to the point where it's not repairable with my low skill set - I've been looking at some of the places that sell repro ones out of the states. One thing I'm hoping is just the old (we're gueesing about 20 years), hardened tyres is the passenger front is up and down when driving along. Most of the suspension components were replaced by the mecahnic I had the car with after I first bought it so I'm hoping they haven't missed something there. Also does the passenger side usually sit 10 to 15mm lower than the driver side when unloaded ? Anyway another photo with my little one claiming her stake:

Happy customer here also. Good quality and visually not far off the originals

If they had nitrogen or some other special filling I could understand but this seems silly!

Repco sell pressed metal by the sheet that I've seen used on a few cars

Mate I feel your pain with Blacktown Council - been going through some of the same with a granny flat for the mother-in-law! It's a pre-fab / demountable granny flat and they charged us about 15% of the build cost in levies.

Gav Craigz was working on a plug and play kit so that things would be kept original. SE thread here: http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/15300-datsun-240z-260z-honda-wiper-motor-upgrade-65/

I would be checking every possible web classifieds you can - I think they tend to get snapped up by the USA

I saw this car at Sydney Datsun Day. Very tidy car that's obviously had a lot of work put into it. Owner runs his own metal fabrication business.

There are 2 at the fuse box end on the sides that screw into the side of the tunnel from memory (was doing some work on mine last night).

Date stamp on a wheel is definitely beyond my originality desires!!

Gotta love that era of scantily clad women looking under the bonnet of worked cars