Another New Guy -- ME!

[conedodger]

My problem is that I'm DIY-challenged. I'm the kind of guy who screws up the job and breaks the tools. And I'm picky too. My daily driver is a '69 Porsche 911E. I've got a world class mechanic (Otto's Venice) who wrenches it because I track the car regularly at Willow Springs & Cal Speedway with the Porsche Owners Club. I'm looking for someone to inject a little black magic into my Z the way Otto does with my Porsche. By the way, this Z is WAY faster than my Porsche. Fun!

! I daily drive a 911 as well, though mine is an '84 with low miles. I know Otto by reputation. Who in Porsche world doesn't! I am mostly a 914 guy on the Porsche side of my garage. If you go to Willow Springs with Cal Club look for another 240Z that is so well prepared it looks like its greasy parts could have meals served on them. The owner is a Skunk Works engineer I met while I was attached to NASA at Dryden. He does most of his own work though his engine was built by a guy in the LA basin. He can give you the set up you need for "The Fastest Road On Earth". Very nice guy. Lives in Lancaster on the West side...

Look at your carbs. If they have a flat top on them you have a problem. Otherwise you are probably good. My '73 has triple Webers. I would have to guess that any '73 that isn't owned by a concours weenie has had those carbs ripped out by their evil throats. Otherwise, it is sitting in a field rusting away because it couldn't be tuned.

[Zealous]

Don't know if that thing is on DVD, but get that if it is. Searching through VHS is a pain.

I have purchased the DVDs they are a little more but worth it for skipping chapters and watching on laptop while working on the car.

[Travel'n Man]

SandyI-

Looks like you have quite the gift, congrats to owning one of the funnest cars ever built. These are real head turners and the folks that actually remember them will twist all the way around as you drive by them. I actually had one guy last week pull out his cell phone and take pictures as I was driving by.

Anyway, the guys at MSA are very good with their product line, they can offer great advise and trust me, I'm sure most of us that have done restorations have given them a lot of our money. It just depends on what your car needs and how far you want to go with it. I just installed the 3 point seat belts from MSA and they bolted right in, the only challange I have is the recieving end tends to get lost between the seat and the center console so you may want to look around and see if you can find one that has a firmer recieving end that will not flop between those areas.

Send us all some pictures when you get a chance I'm sure we all would like to see it.

Welcome to the site!

[SandyI]

Very cool to begin my Z journey on this board. Great info. Many thanks to all.

Right now, I've got the car under a cover and a tarp until the rain stops on Saturday (hopefully). At that time, I'll check on the carbs. (Knowing my father-in-law, who was quite demanding when it came to engine response and tuning, I'm figuring he has the round tops.) I also take a few pictures and post them.

By the way, if you see me on the road, my license plate is "ZDONFLY." Don's my very cool F-I-L. I'm going to keep the plate even though my name's Sandy.

I've already ordered the new retractable seatbelts from Motorsport Auto. That will be my first installation experiment. I'll start with the passenger side. Make my mistakes. Fix my mistakes. Then be able to do the drivers side the right way the first time.

As for owning an early 911 and the Z, my first thoughts when driving the Z home from Santa Barbara was realizing how much effort it takes to drive my 911E. But then my 911E has a very aggressive set-up for street and track including a factory LSD. But it was the huge difference in HP that got me smiling. They say it's fun to drive a slow car fast. Then you get in a fast car and wonder why.

I can already envision myself heading into Turn 9 at Willow Springs in the Z. After some serious track prep and improvements.

Having a great time admiring everyone's car on this board.

Dave -- Thanks for the tips on the upgrades. I'm going to check to see if any of those things have been done. When I make my decision on the wheels and tires, that's when I'll probably do the brake upgrade.

Mike -- Thanks for the tip on the shop in Canoga Park. I've found that the best mechanics are never cheap. But if you create a relationship over time, some times they give you a break. Of course, if Otto had kids, I would have put them through college by now.

Hey Mitchell -- your wheel/tire set-up is very cool. Are those the 15" MSA "Flashback" wheels? What size tires do you run?

Again, thanks to all. You'll be hearing from me soon.

[Travel'n Man]

SandyI-

My wheels are American Racing Ansen Sprint -I purchased them through Summit Racing - Free Ship - The PO has the two different tire sizes and I was rubbing with my old wheels. I did not want to replace all wheels and tires at one time so I opted for wheel replacement first and then I work on correcting the tires at a later date when these get down to the wear bars.

MSA does not offer the "Flashback" at this time

15 x 7 // Zero offset // 4" backspace

My front tires are:

195-60-15

My rear tires are:

225-60-15

Keep us updated with pictures!!

Edited February 6, 2009 by Travel'n Man
error

[1 Bravo 6]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but, I've always understood that changing the wheel/tyre size from that recomended by the vehicle manufacturer COULD effect the acuracy of the vehicle's speedo.

Rick.

:devious::devious:

[Travel'n Man]

Rick,

There are several guides on tires and the diameter and radius's that show the exact difference on the speedo. The 205-60-15 differs the most at a gain of 3.6mph / the 195-65-15 differs the least at -4.3mph. Stock was a 195-60-14, they differ 0, so the tires size is really up the individual and the looks that the owner is after. My fronts are -2.75 and my rear are -1.7 so I'm always a couple of MPH slower than my speedo says. Somebody correct me if my research is in-correct

Rick brought up a good point if your trying to avoid tickets but actually the difference is very little unless your running 15+ over the posted speed limit, then it could really make a difference, if you are on the gain side (or it could be a good reason to talk the occifer (wait.......... I haven't been drinking) officer out of giving you the ticket - the old "I've got an old car and my tires are oversized - I didn't know story":stupid:).

[SandyI]

Here are the pics. Excuse the filth. Rain washed the dirt in the cover onto the car.

What type of wheels do I have? Are they from a 280Z?

My F-I-L added those side moulding things. Can't wait to get rid of them.

Plus, the car was originally green. Painted red some time in the '70's. Would love to get it back to green some time soon.

Maybe add one of those front scoops too? Especially if I put the car on the track.

Those are "round tops," yes?

Thanks.

[ChrisZ]

It looks as Fairlady 432 wheels, i'm not sure http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30147&highlight=432 if so you got a sweet gift there, you better hold on to that woman.

Chris

[hls30.com]

You have Standard issue 280Z plastic hubcaps on standard issue steel wheels.

But they look to be in great condition-which makes them rare!

Will

[ChrisZ]

You have Standard issue 280Z plastic hubcaps on standard issue steel wheels.

But they look to be in great condition-which makes them rare!

Will

And i tried to zoom in and all, still didn't look as hub caps, i think i need glasses

Chris

[hls30.com]

I doubt you need glasses, I am just waaaay to familiar with Zs!!

Will