When you haven’t done it for 40 years....

[zKars]

Well it took two days, about 8 hours of work, and a lot of sweat (it’s actually a heat wave here right now, +23C yesterday) but I did it. Boy is my right arm sore.

I got this thing started. Was last running in 1981.  Yup

Edited November 3, 2020 by zKars

[zKars]

[lonetreesteve]

9 minutes ago, zKars said:

Well it took two days, about 8 hours of work, and a lot of sweat (it’s actually a heat wave here right now, +23C yesterday) but I did it. Boy is my right arm sore.

I got this thing started. Was last running in 1981.  Yup

Wow, your '71 240Z sat for almost 40 years without being started - incredible!  Just think about that for a moment, the car was only 10 years old when you parked it.  Congrats on bringing the old girl back to life! 

[zKars]

I cannot claim to be its first owner, just the second. It just arrived in my care last week. 

Apparently the rear brakes failed in 81, then never got fixed.

Now if I can change the clutch hydraulics, I might take it for a spin. Who needs brakes anyway

Edited November 3, 2020 by zKars

[zKars]

Here is how nice the engine looks inside. Runs without a puff of anything white or blue out the tail pipe.

Heater valve leaks. Good thing there are holes in the floor to let it out on the ground.

[siteunseen]

1 hour ago, zKars said:

Heater valve leaks. Good thing there are holes in the floor to let it out on the ground.

That valve and the dense PO that kept adding coolant without considering where it was going caused the hole on mine.

 

Edited November 3, 2020 by siteunseen

[zKars]

Clutch master and slave are new. Wouldn’t push fluid to the slave. Turns out the soft line was plugged with crud. Fixed that, and now the clutch works. Can technically make it move under its own power. SU’s need to be dismantled and cleaned, the jet tubes are frozen and it’s tough to get the mix rich enough. Runs but way too lean. Will take care of that this evening. 

It has to move into my yard for winter. Don’t feel like pushing it uphill, so it will get itself there, even if I use the starter motor to do it. 

[Richard McDonel]

Jim,

You are a bear for punishment!  

No idea what you paid for it, but I'll bet it was a pretty penny particularly since it came with a trailer hitch.  Just don't see that every day.

Good luck with your latest project.  

[siteunseen]

5 hours ago, siteunseen said:

That valve and the dense PO that kept adding coolant without considering where it was going caused the hole on mine.

 

I know Mr Arnett, it's a cancer. But I have it in remission. Thankfully I can get a new pan for that side.

[240260280]

Took a day to get the "chicken coop" Z going. then drove it 600km straight to get home.  A couple of stops to flush the rad. It performed better the longer it ran.

It sat in a Chicken Coop since 1986 and we got it going in 2007.

Edited November 4, 2020 by 240260280

[Racer X]

18 hours ago, zKars said:

 

Boy is my right arm sore.

 

 

You should switch hands once in awhile, eh?

😁

 

Edited November 4, 2020 by Racer X

[Richard McDonel]

Jim,

I'm amazed you found the engine to be so clean after four decades.  Coincidentally, just last week I began disassembly of an old Chev 327 V-8 (I know, I know, sacrilege on this site; forgive me).  The fellow I got it from believes that it last ran in (another coincidence) in 1981.  The oil is disgusting.  It is sludge.  Days after I began stripping the engine, there are still bits of black greasy stuff falling off the block.  I used a spoon to get some of it off the top surface of the heads. 

I have to admit, I've never before taken apart an engine  that has been idle for so long.  Any chemists out there know why Jim's engine would be clean, while mine is such a mess?