the ultimate question

[jcdozier]

MATT:

You're getting good advice here. And don't get too worried about being able to work on the car. As pointed out, the Z is a good car to learn on - proof that fast and fun don't have to be complex and difficult. I echo the advice to look for a 240 - 71, 72 or 73 - if your objective is eating rice for lunch. These years provide a little more structural "beef" than the 70 and early 71 Type-I cars and don't have the smog/emission "stuff" that started with the 260 and later. Finding the "right" Z may turn out to be the easy part.

Now for the hard part - patience:( . (I didn't have any patience when I was 18, and delayed gratification isn't very staisfying now either.) Your first items of interest should be brakes and suspension - Go-Fast is only good if you can stay out of the ditches and trees. Deferring the speed/muscle upgrades until after you get the handling right will pay off in the long run.

The upgrade to Toyota 4WD front calipers is easy and relatively inexpensive. Replacing all of the old rubber suspension and steering bushings will give you MUCH better handling, as well as great learning experience. Just put it up on jack stands and remove all of the running gear - should take you and a friend about one weekend to drop everything, (the friend is needed so you don't REALLY drop things, like the differential) and clean the parts. This is also a good time for the 3.90/4.11 differential swap. Don't forget to check the strut inserts - this is a good time to replace them as well if they need it.

You may not have a rice burner when you finish the brakes and suspension upgrade, but you will have a car that is ready to "accept" the bigger and better things - one that will make cooking rice a really satisying experience.

[WishN4DaZ]

I REALLY appreciate everyones responces to my question.

Now when you say change out all the bushing are you talking about on page 64 of the MSA catalog..the Urethane bushing kits?

and is there a book or something i should get? becuase im not sure exactly what your talking about..

when you say drop everyting do you mean the rear mounts and driveshafts and front steering rack and so on and so forth?

as i said im really new and being detailed is the best way to keep me from asking the same questions over and over again

thanks alot for your help

Matt:cool:

[jcdozier]

MATT:

MSA's Urethane Bushing Kit is a good start. (They are actually POLYurethane, I think - much sturdier than the OEM rubber.) You'll want not only the suspension "kit" but also the bushings for the steering rack and also the steering coupler (pop he hood and look at the steering shaft under the brake master cylinder - you'll see the coupler).

I have three books I use as reference manuals:

-the DATSUN 249Z, 260Z & 280Z (1970 thru 1978) HAYNES Automotive Repair Manual

-How to Restore Your Datsun Z-Car by Wick Humble (Fisher Books)

-How to Modify Your Nissan & Datsun OHC Engine by Frank Honsoweitz (Fisher Books)

The Haynes manual can be found at many parts stores - I got the other two on the internet. I'm neither restoring nor engine modifying, but find the two Fisher Books are handy in that they provide supplemental info not in the Haynes book, and lots of pictures. Others here may have additional references for you.

By "drop everything" I mean pretty much take everything from under the car - if you can't throw a cat from one end to the other you haven't taken enough off. The only thing left under my '71 240 when we did the "refresh" was the transmission and the fuel tank. (In addition to bushings, we installed new springs, strut inserts, Toyota 4WD front calipers, stainless brake lines and cleaned/painted anything that didn't fight back.)

Don't be concerned about asking questions. You've found the best 240Z forum known to man. Folks here thrive on Z-car questions.

[WishN4DaZ]

thank you very much.

I'll post when i have another question...

Matt

[Mike]

Originally posted by grantman240z

240z...its the lightest and fastest, even without swapping the engine. But you should at least put a 3.9 or 4.11 diff on it.

I hear this is the 'thing' to do... but, why? If the engine is a stock L24, that should be plenty enough to do what he needs to do.

I thought about swapping mine, but, I really don't see the need unless I'm going with a bigger engine that has more torque. Don't think the stock diff can handle an L28.

Or, do these other diff's give you better driving performance? I'm just asking.............