New Z owner

[grannyknot]

Hi Gents,

I was ten yrs old when the 240Z came out and I wanted one so bad. Fast forward, I just bought a 1970

240Z HLS30-01955 not perfect but a Very good driver. No rust, oiled every year, came with a file folder 4"

thick with documentation back to the original owner. Lots of upgrades but none that are irreversible. It took me a bit less than a year to find one worth buying and man did I look at a lot of rust buckets in that time. ( I have fixed lots of rust before on other cars but it does get tiresome after a while)

So I have been hunting through the archives of this incredible site and finding answers and options.

Not really sure what I'm going to do with it. I thought I would strip it down to the shell and reseal and paint it some other colour than the Hugger Orange it has always been.

Part of me wants to keep it bone stock original because of the low production number and condition

and another part of me wants to drop a V8 or highly modified L28 in it. Just don't know at this point.

There are just so many options these days... or maybe clean it up and sell it to some serious ORIGINAL

guy and use the money to build a street/track 260z with all the goodies.

Would appreciate any advice on possible routes to follow. Don't want to radically alter a good early car unless there is lots of them still around.

Thanks,

Chris

[kjohnson2444]

Welcome aboard. Photos?

[d240zx2]

Well, grannyknot, as the saying goes, the world is your oyster. You have, literally, a blank slate. Some of us like to keep the car as bone stock as possible. Others like to modify the car for looks, performance, safety, etc. I find myself among that latter group as the S30 today operates in an environment unforseen 40+ years ago. Make no mistake in thinking an original is bad, because it isn't. It's precious. It gives us all a reference point.

I wish you the best of all things Z. Just be true to yourself.

[Hardway]

Congratulations Chris on your Z! I echo Frank's comments on what do with your newly acquired 240z. There is a lot to be said for keeping a low production number car all original. I think you might be on to something about making it original as possible and re-selling it on to a passionate Z enthusiast willing to pay good money for a good car. If a track car is what you want there are plenty of cars out there that are either stalled projects due to lack of funds or time and other cars already modded or at least with the hard stuff done for what you want. However in the end your Z is YOUR Z. Make it what you want and enjoy doing it. I, myself just picked up my first 240z earlier this week after owning several 280z's and a few 300zx's. I know the choices you are weighing and hope you make the right one that makes you happy. We would love to see some pics of Hugger Orange Z when you can post them up. Good luck and welcome to the club!

[72 OJ]

Congrats, welcome to Z land......keep her old school

[Travel'n Man]

Chris -

Welcome to the site!

[Carl Beck]

Post some clear pictures up - that show the details of the car - so we can see what it should be worth to a person that wants to restore one. Then you'll have an idea if you could profit from selling it, then pick up a less expensive rolling shell to modify or build.

It's your car - but it is also your money. Better to start a modification with the best and least expensive rolling shell you can find - then put your money into the modifications. Why pay Classic Car premium prices for a shell?

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Gary in NJ]

Welcome aboard. Photos?

Yeah, what Keith said.

Enjoy the-Z experience.

[jeanp]

Hi grannyknot i have almost the dilemna as you have i bought my latest Z November 2010 it is in very good Shape it is a early 71.

It was modified by first owner he was usng on track only so it as a rollcage improoved suspension and brakes but from back then

the only thing i had to change was the twice pipes that i canot run on the road in Canada so i chenged it. the car as less then 60000miles

i know that i want to repaint it. I know that i will change all the bushings I am juggling do i reupsol the seats or do i change them for

Racing seats etc... I am not sure yet... my heart say tweak it with todays performance parts. but but but...

[ryanonthevedder]

I am in the old school crowd. Keep it stock. If you want to mod one out get a '73. They are less desirable in stock condition and make a willing participant for updating and changes. Mine looks fairly stock under the hood except for round tops and a ZX distributor. Further inspection reveals an N42 head and non #'s block. Looks like the real thing and improvements increased value and drivability over stock. Plus I welded in a new floor and repaired the firewall - took a lot of work, but a good Z is hard to find!

If yours is #s matching and in good condition keep it that way and enjoy it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76440933@N08/

[ZCurves]

I agree with Carl Beck. My own opinion is to keep stock for the most part instead of re-engineering this and then compensating for that, then having to alter.... It goes on and on. In the end you will have sunk way too much $$$ and far more time than you will ever re-coup. Besides, when you substantially alter your Z it removes the commonality that we all share and depend on when we are helping one another out with problems.

[grannyknot]

Well, after a bit of digging I found that the L24 engine isn't original, it's number is 005164 and that seems awfully high for a car that is 1955 th off the line. Also started digging around underneath with an old chisel and realize now I have to replace both floors and rails. I should know better, if it seems to good to be true it is! To the PO's credit, that is some of the best

camouflaged rust I've ever seen. Beautifully crafted bultyl and roof tar covering riveted sheet metal, a work of art.

Oh well, at least it will get fixed properly this time. No more worries about abusing an original. Seems like Zedd Findings is the place to floor panels. Thanks for all the great advice, once I get the rust sorted out I'll need it.

Thanks,

Chris