Gents,

I don't post much because I find this forum gives me upgradeitus & feeding that habit gets expensive!

I'm down - damned near burned my z to the ground last night. Pulled out of the parking garage & plastic-burning-smoke was curling up through the defrost vents. Some wires caught fire above the heater. Don't know why - I put out the fire, pulled all the fuses & drove it home without lights. Fortunately it's daylight savings time.

Seems like I never get to drive my baby. She looks good, but it's constant problems - just did the brakes, before that it was a busted shock, before that overheating, before that ignition, headliner, aircon, wiring (had lots of wiring probs on this one) and I've still got lots to go. Car's starting to rust in the louisiana weather, need to replace all the rubber elements in the suspension, tach doesn't work, fuel sender doesn't work, etc...

So disgusted, I parked it & am thinking about selling it. It's a European 74 260Z. Pretty good shape, except for being bad luck to me -I bought when I lived in Holland and brought it back with me.

I guess this will pass, I've been here before. Sometimes a Z car is like a rocky marriage - when it's hot, it's really hot & when it's not, you're ready for divorce papers.

Dave:tapemouth

My current Z has been pretty good to me it's all about preventative maintenance rather than fixing things when they break.

I had many problems with my previous Z due to PO's and poor rewiring taking shortcuts etc.. The way i look at my z is more of a weekend car, I take public transport and rarely drive it during the week.

The only way you can really daily drive it is to spend lots of money on servicing, yep sure sometimes you wanna sell it but think about how many other cars have problems.

Even new cars break down, I remember a lady was getting into her brand new car Holden Vectra at my parking lot where i attend Uni and I could tell she was turning the key not action I said can i help at all and she was like it's brand new it's not supposed to do this.

She had called for help and I said i won't jump start it then just incase as some new cars don't like it.

I laughed as i turned the key in my 30+ yrd car and she fired over first time hehe.

Another words dont get too down maybe your not spending enough money on it and fixing the right things before they become problems??

Gav

We all feel your pain I am sure but , its rare to find one without some issues , either you get one where the guy put all the money in fixing all the 30 year old car probs and you get better end but pay for it in the price and yet still wonder if they are done right or kinda pay as you go . I would recommend replacing your fuse box asap, alot of the wiring issues are from the build up of corrostion on the contacts there in raising the resisitance and causing those issues. But I doubt you would find another euro car as nice as your or maybe ever . I would take comfort knowing the thing you have done hopefully won't have to be fixed in hopefully another 30 years or such . Glad to see you decided to see a Z shrink before leaving her . Stick with her I regretably did what you were considering and wish I hadn't . Enjoy the ride

It always seems the grass is greener on the other side, but once over there we will still find problems that need to be delt with. What matters is what comes from solving a problem. Education and growth. I'll tell you what- I won't go home from a track day with carb problems any more!

Along with pride of ownership you get from a classic Z, is also the pains of these machines growing old. How often I feel I need a little more TLC as I grow older too. So it becomes part of your job to keep your baby happy by spending alittle more preventitive maintanance time. I'm sure the return will be 3 fold as you drive her while others watch and admire!

Gambatte Kudasai! Hang in there!

:classic:

I was having electrical problems in my '73 comming from PO cobbing up the wireing. Things like the elect fuel pump would continue to run as well as the engine , if I turned off the ignition with the head lights still on. Just little things like that . My friend and I removed the entire wire loomb completely and I am replacing it with a good one that has not been chopped into. From a parts car. Because the Z is not my sole trans. and I have a garage to work in this helps. Some times when people start trying to modify these cars and they really dont know what they are doing it can all go to hell in a hand basket. Hang inthere and do things right. Keep youre eyes on the prize . When your done you will have a beautiful car unlike the bloted new ones that are now being stuffed down our gullets. Did the Euro. Zs have the flat top carbs ? If so dump them . All the best to you . Gary I would send a picture but I dont want to depress you any farther . , on secound thought it might cheer you up , since I have so far to go before my Z is road worthy.

keep your head up thats for sure. and if its any comfort I have 5 z cars and aren;t driving any of them at the moment. my red 74 is just about ready to drive as soon as gather the funds together for the insurance down payment.

remember one thing, you have something rare. a european 260 is quite rare here and looking at the pic, it looks like yours is in great shape. Looks exactly like my 74 however mine isn't a 2+2.

take your time and do it right. it always pays in the long run rather than chasing your tail and do things in stages rather than focusing on the entire project at once.

Interested in whether it's RHD or LHD?

VIN num? see how close it's to mine?

Keep your chin up, and later your foot can press down! Aggravation with a Zcar is a part of the territory, but when she is running right, the juices more than make up for the dry spell-take a look at my gallery, see what I am getting ready to start, and the wee bit of progress already made, and remember as I do, she will be a sweet ride, worth more in enjoyment than you could ever pay in frustration-the members here will help tp keep the repairs on track, and the mistakes to a minimum!

Will

Well, I do a lot of maintenance - seems like since I got it back, I drive it for a few weeks, then bam -- something else to fix. I think it's time to make a list & go through every system. The electrical has been one of the biggest pain in the butts. It spent years in Holland, which is wet & humid and then in the South here - so lots of contact corrosion & low voltage issues due to v-drop.

Going to let it sit for a while, till I get my energy back. I did test drive a 350Z about a month ago, but to me they're just another new car. Nice, but no character. I kept hitting the rev limiter because I couldn't hear the engine! This one's a head turner. Kids wave at me & people ask me what I've got in it.

Confession time - it's actually a 1978. They kept selling the 260Z in Europe, even after they had switched to 280Z here. This is the last year (I believe) they sold the 260Z in Europe. I thought it was a 74 & imported it that way - kept the tags as a 74 because otherwise the licensing/inspection people don't know what to think of it. Just keeps life simple. I'm attaching the Dutch license tag - has the VIN on it.

It's LH drive. Had the flat top carbs & all the original pollution kit. That stuff's stored in the cupboard now, as I put the roundtop SU's on it. I've got a 6-1 MSA header and the Fireball ignition, but those are the only non-standard things I've done. Made a hell-of-a-difference in the driving excitement arena.

You're all right, just need to take a deep breath and tackle it methodically. The clock works, the air works - gotta be thankful for small favors.

Dave

Ah, a LHD 78 260, it would have to be the rarest zed ever!

Originally posted by Zedrally

Ah, a LHD 78 260, it would have to be the rarest zed ever!

Apparently not in Holland.