I went to look at a 71 240Z today. It had a l26 engine with the original hitachi carbs on it. had a custom exhaust system...was lowered and had after market wheels on it(some kind of 5 stars).

it had the floor and inner front fenders replaced about a year ago.

the vin # was HL530 30115.

how do i check to see if it's really an l26 or really a 71 240Z?

i plan on purchasing this car. there was only one small rust spot on the left rear quarter panel. it's just starting to bubble. there is no open rust showing anywhere. i plan on bringing it to the shop i work at for my boss to check out.

is there anything in particular i should look at before i purchase it?

talked him down to $5000 CDN from $6500 CDN.

oh yeah and i can smell exhaust fumes when i roll down the window...leak at the headers?...

thanks for any help.

first off...those fumes are to be expected, its just one of those Z things. A really easy way to tell if it is a L26 is to check for the "flattop carbs" unless he put the 71 "roundtops" on it thats your surefire sign. Also check for smog equiment and such.

Things to look for...check inside the wheel wells for rust. The water collects in there and just rusts the hell out of it. Lift the carpeting and check for bubbles there also. If you pop the hatch open and look around the weather stripping on the body, rust tends to pop up there as well. Check the frame rails for both rust and bending. Thats all i can think of for now...

The engine designation (L24,L26,L28) will be stamped on the block, just below the head right in front of the engine ID number. I can't rightly remember if it's on the driver's or passenger's side but I think it's on the driver's side toward the front.

That's the only true way to tell what engine block is in your car.

thanks for your input guys... i checked inside the wheel wells already and they are rust free...as for the floor he pulled up the passenger side carpet and showed me where the new floor was welded...as for the carbs he has the original 71 carbs on the l26 he said....

how do you differentiate between 70-71 and 72-73 240z's?

well, to tell the year of a z, you open the driver-side door, and there's a metal plate with a manufacture date (i.e. 12/72 for my 1973). if you have a 1972 it can range from ?september? of 1971 until ?august? of 1972. i don't know if that makes sense, or if i got the proper months, but it's a general idea.

simply look at the dash and center console. If the cig adapter is next to the steering wheel on the dash...its 72-73. If the cig adapter is on the center console just above the ashtray...youve got a 70-71

thats about the easiest. the engine designation is on the passenger side front of the engine