Looks like I'm getting my first z car =)

[BTF/PTM]

For realz this time!

First, thanks big time to Motorman7 for meeting with me this past saturday. He showed me his own cars and tutored me on what to look for when shopping. We went to look at one together, turned out to need quite a bit more rust repair than claimed. One frame rail was hollowed out, and the same-side door and fender were just about keeping pace.

As I was leaving his house, he mentioned one on Craigslist that he thought would be a good buy if the bottom looked as clean as the top. Turns out the car was just a short distance from there, so I went to look at it. Below is a link to what I found.

http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q27/AwwsChwA/72%20240z%202p8L%20R200/

It's a 5/72 car. Clean, solid chassis and a paint job that was done pretty well except for a couple rust spots on the hatch deck that will need to be treated before they get out of hand. The area under the right tail light on the rear valence had been mildly hit, so it was straightened and smoothed. Rust spots were treated at the rims of the rear fenders and also a couple spots on the driver door. Glass was all removed to do the paint, and the car was down to bare metal while rust and dents was repaired.

It's got an L28 and a non-LSD R200 in it already, and I'm picking up a later model 5-speed with the car. It's basically the power train I wanted to do without having to search for anything. It's got stock 240z ignition that either needs tuning or upgrading. Started up without the slightest hesitation after sitting long enough for the battery to die, and aside from mild stuttering at certain RPM it ran really well. Smooth shifts, good acceleration, didn't smell any oil burning, good clutch feel, brakes that didn't pull or squeal. The car does have a 15/16" master cylinder in it with otherwise stock brakes, though, so they felt weak. Gauges all work, but the clock is dead.

Front bumper is present, but not the rear. This is ok, I'd like to powdercoat a pair of bumpers eventually so finding a less-than-perfect piece should be fairly easy. Oh, and the sugar scoops are metal.

Center console is beat up and dash is cracked and some of the trunk trim is missing, but the seats are good and adjust properly. Carpets are in good shape, and it has the original steering wheel in it. I think I'll keep that

The car is on its third or fourth coat of paint, it's hard to tell. The utility compartments behind the seats are lime green, so I think that was the original color, but the trunk metal and spare tire bowl are white. Is that what the lime color does when it fades? Also, at some point the car was painted black, or at least parts of it were. It's orange now, and it happens to be a color that I think is very fitting to a 240z

The VIN plate is gone from the windshield area, but the plates on the strut tower and door sill both match.

Again, thanks to Motorman7 for going over everything with me. Thanks to BobC also, for looking at so many links and pictures for me. I think I've found a good starting platform for my project. The car comes with quite a few extra goodies not mentioned, I'll address that later. All opinions are welcome, even if you don't like it. You don't gotta like it

Edited March 2, 2010 by BTF/PTM

[mally002]

Congrats..........

[motorman7]

Yes, congrats! I love the color and it seems to have most of the items you were looking for. Very nice start!

[Arne]

Excellent! Looks like a solid start. Kudos to motorman7 for helping out!

[geezer]

Congrats! Did you question the missing VIN tag? The previous owner may have set it aside during some resto work? I hope that won't be a problem for you. You have been getting great advise and the only thing I could reiterate is, keep your priorities straight. Make it safe, make it reliable and everything else will fall into place. It looks like a fairly solid car that will clean up nicely. Good luck with it!

[Kathy & Rick]

Ron (Geezer) said what I was thinking about the missing VIN tag. But then again I am a bug on numbers-matching.

So as long as the other 3 (data plate on driver side door jamb, data plate on R/F strut tower, and engraved on the firewall just above the brake booster)

all match, then you are set. But as Ron said it would be nice to have them

all. Oh yes, and the engine S/N on the strut tower data plate should agree

with the number on the top right/rear of the block, i.e., above the starter.

Othewise the engine has been replaced at some point in time.

Wishing you many thousands of miles of happy driving!..........Kathy & Rick

Edited March 2, 2010 by Kathy & Rick

[Mike B]

Ron (Geezer) said what I was thinking about the missing VIN tag. But then again I am a bug on numbers-matching.

So as long as the other 3 (data plate on driver side door jamb, data plate on R/F strut tower, and engraved on the firewall just above the brake booster)

all match, then you are set. But as Ron said it would be nice to have them

all. Oh yes, and the engine S/N on the strut tower data plate should agree

with the number on the top right/rear of the block, i.e., above the starter.

Othewise the engine has been replaced at some point in time.

It's a 5/72 car.

It's got an L28 and a non-LSD R200 in it already, and I'm picking up a later model 5-speed with the car.

Rick, it's a 1972 with an L28 in it now, so it is not going to be a numbers matching car anymore. However, it sounds like it that isn't important to him and it is the drivetrain he is looking for.

-Mike

[Reverend]

Jeez! You got the same color as i do. And mine is also originally lime green!

[bobc]

Andy,

Congrats and good luck with it!

Bob

[WingZr0]

Awesome! Now when you get it home don't go overdosing yourself on Z car

[ZCurves]

Congrats! I dig the color! I am Blue with envy!

[BTF/PTM]

So she's officially home, parked in my garage. Got me from San Marcos back to San Diego with no problems at all other than mirrors that shifted to a completely useless position almost immediately.

First thing tomorrow morning, Z Whizz Auto Repair (which is right near where I work) is gonna look at the brake system, mostly to check the vacuum booster. The car stops, but it really takes some effort on the pedal. The hand brake cable needs to be adjusted, too, so I'll see if they can do that. As mentioned above, I gotta get the safety stuff done first - a car that goes like mad isn't much good if it doesn't stop. I've already got a pair of new 3-point Motorsport Auto seat belts to go in, those old belts need to be updated.

The next big thing, and this is a safety thing, too, is how to seal (or vent) the cabin so it doesn't continually pull in exhaust fumes. I'm told almost all z cars do that, so hopefully some new sealing rubber and some tricks from the experts can help.

I'm excited, I have my first z car!! :beer: