Leave stock or not leave stock

[aRCH-Z]

Normally I'd say 'modify modify modify!!' but since its such an early Z.. it'd be best to leave it stock i'd say..

Or if you do decide to give it that personal touch.. don't do anything that couldn't be returned to stock at a later date if you wanted to sell the car as a 'stock original '69 240z' as like people above have said.. it will sell for quite a bit more the closer it looks to stock inside and out..

modifications are so fun though :-D

[thefastestz]

#319?!

stock all the way! You lucky person!

[mdbrandy]

Well, I was going to ask a similar question, but I guess all I had to do was read this thread. :classic: I just bought an 11/69 production 240Z with VIN #215. It's stock except that the vinyl was gone on the interior (carpet everywhere), and the transmission has been changed out (and needs work - reverse works intermittantly). Now, there's floor and frame rust, but that's another story...

So, since I need new carpets anyway, I should find the ugly vinyl and get original carpets? How about the dash - mine is pretty badly cracked, and the early 240 dash is different than the late 240 dash in several respects - is a dash cover OK, or will I need to look for a "real" replacement? I'm not looking to make a show car, but I'll make it nice over time, and I'll probably keep it as stock as I can. All the rust comes first, but in some (many?) months I'll be looking to do the interior...

[2ManyZs]

Unless you want to spend in excess of 800 bucks on a NOS dash, I'd go with a full dash cover for the time being. There are some companies that will recover them, if you use the search feature here you should find a few posts on the dash subject.

As far as the vinyl/carpet, I'd say it's your car, do whichever you like best. It's not that much of a modification to hurt the value of the car... not like coil-over suspensions, fender flares etc....

The main thing to do is not get into a situation where you will regret something you did later, when someone says they would have bought it for X amount if it were entirely stock. In other words, make your modifications ones that are easy to change back to stock.

If you have an original engine and want to hot rod it, pull the original out and store it, and do your mods to another engine to save the original.

[mdbrandy]

$800 for a dash, huh. Probably not . I'll search for those companies you mention, and probably go with the cover. I suppose you're right about the vinyl. That wouldn't be hard for someone to put back if they wanted. I'll think about it. I've got time :classic:.

The motor is original with the right number, the SU's, etc. The only mod I can find is a set of rusty headers. The PO told me that he cracked the exhaust manifold, so just put headers on it. I think I can be quite happy with a well-tuned stock L24 in this car. My speed-freak days are over. Zippy and nimble is the name of the game now. Since the transmission is already not stock (the PO says it is a "truck transmission" although I don't really know what he means by that), I'm thinking about taking the 5 speed out of the 280Z I have. However, from what I've read, I'd have to cut a few inches out of the transmission tunnel on this early Z, and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that. Don't know what other drivetrain mods would be necessary if I did, either. I also have a 4 speed out of a 1971 240Z that I could use. The PO got access to a 71 parting out, and I have several boxes of misc. parts from it. Just thinking right now.

Thanks for the input. I can use all I can get!