New old z owner

[Paplein260]

As I was 6 months into my waiting list for my '73 Z, I drove by another local dealer and saw the most beautiful Z I'd ever seen. Sterling Silver early 260Z and still on the car carrier. I made a barely legal u-turn and inquired about its status. Extra shipment, all mine 2 hours later. Well as far as love at first site, we were still in the afterglow 13 years later when I had to sell it for parts. Dang midwest winters ate up the body as was so common to a daily driver. 97.000 miles and the engine was super strong and tight still. That's why it hurt so much to part with it. With the proceeds of the sale, bought an '87 200SX and kept it for 18 years. It too was mechanically sound, and the body showed no rust. Victim of a crack-head rear ending it outside my home one night in 2005. Of course he was driving a 75 Buick Riviera, a tank. So much for my sports car stage. Went out and bought a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 to surround myself in metal. With my old Z a distant memory, in Dec of 2005 my son saw an add on Carsoup.com for a late '74. Back in the saddle again! Had it in the shop for it's first six months getting a 5 speed put in to replace the automatic. Replaced the flat tops with Webers and new brakes all around. The body was in great shape with small areas of pop-corn rust. After the mechanical work, we had the body work done, a new dogleg for the passenger side and repainted the original 305 Blue. Replaced the dented hood with and original Nissan from Japan. Since it's been out of the shop, my son and I have taken it back to as original as possible, many small replacements. The original AM-FM radio was found and reinstalled with the electronic antennae. My next project was reconditioning for old 5 slot Shelby Cal 500 mags for it. New bumpers and rubber trim all around. It is a beauty, even with the BigBumpers which still detract from the lines, but wanted to go as original as possible. Might consider putting round tops back on it in the future. Although it runs like a top, one problem developed. It has a hairline crack in the block which leaks a small amount of coolant. I know that it won't get better on own. I've tried all the block sealants, ceramic and such, but looks like I'll have to replace it someday. Thanks for looking! Mike

Edited January 30, 2009 by Paplein260

[whamo]

Nice looking car. As far as the leak goes,I would start looking for a rebuildable shortblock. An engine replacement is a snap in these cars.

[ajmcforester]

Take the block to a really good engine restorer many times a cracked block can be repaired, but you need some of the best to do it. I swapped an engine in my truck and the truck never felt the same, and I loved that truck.

[ajmcforester]

Another point is these engines lasted longer than the car so you can find a lot of good engine blocks in the junk yards. I don't know a Z guy that would blame you for taking out the flattops they are bad compared to the other SUs. By the way I do like your car when I restore my current one I think I'll put some pictures up also.