What would you do to your 240z if on a $3500 budget?

[tehmbrick]

All,

 

Background - I have a near-stock '73 240. Over the course of many years I expect to be doing a fair amount to improve the car. This year, I have a bit of money stashed for an incremental improvement. I am evaluating what to do - continue to save to enable doing a punch of stuff at once, or take on one incremental improvement area (for example - I could focus on suspension upgrades/improvements this year).

 

I have a budget, for the next year or so, of up to $3500. What would you suggest I consider?

 

Some specifics:

 

1973 240

No rust, body and interior in 9/10 shape

All stock with the exception of the following:

-previous owner rebuilt the engine (don't know specifics but Dyno results attached - post tune and exhaust upgrade)

-2.5" exhaust (stock header)

-aluminum radiator

-Halogen headlight upgrade

-Round-top/SU carbs

-Poly bushings

-16" panasport wheels & new tires

 

Current thoughts:

 

Suspension

-I live in the SF Bay area and there are plenty of driver's roads. This car is fairly loose and bouncy up front, and stiff in the back, at present. One day I'd like to have some light track fun.

-I've seen this debated at length but without budget clarity .. if I wanted to do coil-overs (thinking of this as the ultimate end-state with best combination of ride height customization and performance setup), what kind of $$ does it take for labor + parts to do the coil-overs? I'd love to tackle some of the labor myself but realistically I don't have the experience to trust myself taking this on (or the tools + space). I'd rather have a veteran or pro do it.

 

Engine

-I want to go L28 NA, at some point. This seems like a $7500+ project. This is slotted for the long term (not enough $$ to think about for at least the next few years).

-My thinking is just leave it as-is, for now. It's healthy.

 

Other

-Bumpers: I have stock bumpers & don't like 'em (front one has some damage and needs full replacement); Would like to replace front and "hug" it to the body; Would like to get rid of bump stops on the back and refurbish.

-Fuse box: Appears to have been a melt-down (the common one) at some point in the car's history. A DIY fix was completed. Considering the Motorsport aftermarket fuse box. No current problems, wiring cleanup on a 40 year old car just seems like a decent preventative maintenance investment.

-Rear diff: R200 seems like the long-term move. In my mind I've parked this as it doesn't seem beneficial until after engine work.

-General suspension goodies: Lots of shiny stuff with lower control arms, mustache bars, etc. Do I tackle any of this incrementally?

-Brakes: "big brake upgrade" - seems like a good move to build the car's foundation before getting to the engine stuff.

 

NOW, I realize there is a ton of material in the archives, and this is a highly subjective and opinion-based topic to bring up ... but given all of that, and all of the above, anyone up for sharing some perspectives on how they would think about this?

 

Appreciate the input.

 

-TD

[Patcon]

Relay upgrades for headlights and parking lights. Brakes 100% good then suspension and struts. Coil overs are fine if you need the clearance but plenty of guys just run good struts and Eibachs. Then engine cooling but you probably already got that covered. Then interior comfort, AC, stereo, power windows maybe, seats, seat heaters????

[Oiluj]

I agree.  Get the electrics sorted out first.  Upgrade the ignition, then maybe AC and the wiper motor upgrade.  

[siteunseen]

Upgrade to the ZX E12-80 electronic distributor, I bought mine for a '79 ZX from amazon.com for $100, made a difference to me.  The light relays are on my list too.

 

Choke lever bracket from Art Singer on e-bay, he's on this forum too, was a nice improvement for mine.

 

Euro bumpers from futofab.com are really nice looking, no bumperettes and shiny for less than rechroming the OEs.  I bought new tail lights from them also, really made the car look good.

 

That's a little over a $1,000 of your budget. 

[djwarner]

If I had a $3500 chunk of change at one time, I'd be sorely tempted to buy a G37 totaled in the rear and do a transplant.

[John Coffey]

1.  Fix everything that is broken or not functioning on the car.

 

That should burn up most of the $3,500 right there.

[240260280z]

Buy a smart car

[CEgg11]

I started to give some advice, but I am already about 4500 in, and I don't even have a running driving car. It's still a shell. So, listen to these guys. Maybe I should have....

[Hodgimus-maximus]

Do what would make the car more enjoyable now until you have the money to make a hefty upgrade.  So I would go with fixing the suspension and the electronics. That should take you up to if not a little over the $3500. also, reversing the words of the house of stark "summer is coming" which is the best time to enjoy the car.

[Sean240Z]

TD - I've also got a '73. If I were you I'd do the following:

- $158 - Relay upgrades for headlights http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic10d06/12-4651;

- $62 - Parking Light Relay Harness from MSA - which one depends on date of manufacture of your '73;

- $199 - MSA fuse box (I installed mine 10+ yrs ago and have had no issues since) http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic10a03/50-5010; 

- $130 - Upgrade to internally regulated alternator - http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/12-4068

- ~$100 - if you're still running points, do as suggested by Siteunseen, upgrade to the ZX E12-80 electronic distributor, I did this in 1998 and have had no issues since;

 

- ~$160 - inspect & replace ball joints, tie rod ends if required

- ~$100 - high performance brake pads, I've been running Hawk HP+ pads on my 240z for ten years, dusty, noisy if you don't brake hard occasionally, work good when cold but OMG do they work when warmed up! IMHO the stock brakes with upgraded pads work very well;

- ~$20 - speed bleeders for front and rear brakes, can't believe it took me 24yrs to install SB's, makes bleeding brakes a simple one man job!

- ~$20 - quality brake fluid to flush and bleed your brakes;

 

- $35 - MSA Tension rod kit, http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic20j/23-4190, just installed it this winter, wish I'd done it years ago

- $14 - 2x Tension Rod Rubber bushings for the back side ot the MSA Tension rod kit (IMHO you don't want urethane bushings on the T/C rod mount);

- $600 - replacement strut cartridges, I just installed Tokico Blues

- $45 - don't forget to change the front strut bearings and rear strut spacers when you change the inserts

- $45 - strut bellows to protect your shiny new strut inserts - http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1209170&parttype=7592

- $240 - lowering stiffer springs, I installed Suspension Techniques Sport Springs 15yrs ago and love the way the car handles

- $230 - sway bar kit, I installed Suspension Techniques kit 15yrs ago with above springs, love my Z's handling 

 

- $720 - front and rear JDM style clean bumpers, http://www.futofab.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131&Itemid=118

- $70 - early 240z front bumper mounts, required to install smaller front bumper on '73 240z, '73 rear bumper mounts will work with early rear bumper

 

Total - $2,938 + shipping, tax, etc may be close to $3,000.

 

If you do the above, I think you'd be very pleased with the results. Let us know what you chose to do and how it turns out.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Sean240Z

[tehmbrick]

Do what would make the car more enjoyable now until you have the money to make a hefty upgrade.  So I would go with fixing the suspension and the electronics. That should take you up to if not a little over the $3500. also, reversing the words of the house of stark "summer is coming" which is the best time to enjoy the car.

True .. however, having spent most of my years in cold climates I have to say that it still feels like summer year-round in California. Doing work on the car at any point in the calendar year can eat away at great driving days. Nice problem to have! 

[tehmbrick]

1.  Fix everything that is broken or not functioning on the car.

 

That should burn up most of the $3,500 right there.

On this car that's actually a pretty short list. There are things like the suspension that are 40 years old and due for an upgrade but aside from that kind of thing I have the luxury of focusing on making working stuff better.