Z's on BAT and other places collection

[bluez]

On 12/9/2022 at 11:21 PM, zspert said:

Did someone mention V-3 kit? 

The following is an edited version of an article I wrote for the Z Car Club of Northern Virginia many moons ago when we still had a monthly newsletter.

1972/73 found me working as a mechanic at a Datsun dealer in Bethesda, MD. We sold our first 73 240 to a member of the Redskins football team as a promotion.  Only problem was it got towed back to the dealership for the next 3 consecutive evenings - so much for the promotion.  This was in the early fall when the weather was still pretty warm and the car was exhibiting very rich symptoms. The owner of the dealership was pretty pissed as his name was starting to turn to mud with the guy who had bought the car with a lot of hype. Long story short, about a week later we were visited by 2 engineers from Nissan Japan. 

We were the only dealer within bunch of miles of the Eastern headquarters in NJ that had a modern chassis dynamometer. For the next week or so these engineers and one of our mechanics spent most of their time with the Z in question on the dyno and on the roads surrounding greater Bethesda. 

The result of their work was the V-3 kit. The kit included an electric fuel pump, fuel pump relay, asbestos like/aluminized engine compartment fuel line wrapping, carb floats and needles and a handful of other parts that,  when the weather was warm, did little to address the problem(s).

Until Datsun/Nissan could start fitting the kits at the factory it was up to dealer mechanics to install the V-3s to those cars already in distributor/dealer hands. A real rush was put on the program and we started getting kits about a week or so later. 

What was the problem? Adding an EGR system to the induction system raised under hood temps a great deal and moving the float bowls from the side of the carb to the bottom of the carb often resulted in fuel percolation as there was almost no movement of air in the very confined space between the float bowls and the exhaust manifold. .

The 1969-1972 240s vented the carb float bowls into the atmosphere through the air filter housing. The 73s and 74s couldn't do that anymore because of tightened emissions regulations. Those years vented the float bowl, now mounted in a confined and hot space,  directly into the venturi. Now you had hot fuel vapors, unmetered, entering the venturi resulting in a very rich condition and LOUSY performance. 

More later.

 

This reminds me the issues I had with my 260z, back in the late 70’s. Tried numerous fixes, second electric fuel pump, wrapped lines, even ran copper tubing in front of radiator (not a good idea). Stopped by Bob Sharp Racing spoke with manager, he said swap out carbs, and get triple Solex.  I think they were about $500 back then. 

[Captain Obvious]

@zspert , That's a great story about the flat top investigation work. I would have loved to be there for that.

On 12/9/2022 at 11:21 PM, zspert said:

The 1969-1972 240s vented the carb float bowls into the atmosphere through the air filter housing. The 73s and 74s couldn't do that anymore because of tightened emissions regulations. Those years vented the float bowl, now mounted in a confined and hot space,  directly into the venturi. Now you had hot fuel vapors, unmetered, entering the venturi resulting in a very rich condition and LOUSY performance. 

I do, however, want to suggest that the bowl vents do not exit into the venturi, but in fact vent to the surface where the air cleaner bolts to the carbs. It essentially vents to the clean side of the air cleaner just like the round tops do. It's piped in upstream of the reduced area (the venturi section) of the carb.

Here's a pic detailing the bowl vent, and the venturi is located a couple inches away at the bottom center of the piston.:

[DatsunZGuy]

9 hours ago, Zed Head said:

These guys are still business.  The Z's look a lot better though.  They had a few that came straight from the wrecking yard for way too much, in the past.

https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/inventory.htm?make=[Datsun]&orderby=make,year

Beverly Hills has really gone downhill recently 😉

[Racer X]

13 minutes ago, DatsunZGuy said:

Beverly Hills has really gone downhill recently 😉

Looks like it is on “the other side of the tracks”.

[Racer X]

9 hours ago, Zed Head said:

That's not a bid, it's a price.

Looks like a consignment shop.  The cars are all in different locations.  Sell, sell, sell...

https://www.ebay.com/str/exoticcartrader

I saw that after I posted. Still, sixty grand for a lemon is a lot of scratch, eh?

[Zed Head]

19 minutes ago, DatsunZGuy said:

Beverly Hills has really gone downhill recently 😉

 

I hadn't thought about the old Google Maps.  It's usually one of my go-to's.

https://goo.gl/maps/nukesb6RXc6yStYc6

Edited December 12, 2022 by Zed Head

[Racer X]

2 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

I hadn't thought about the old Google Maps.  It's usually one of my go-to's.

https://goo.gl/maps/nukesb6RXc6yStYc6

Look! A job opening!

[Zed Head]

43 minutes ago, Racer X said:

I saw that after I posted. Still, sixty grand for a lemon is a lot of scratch, eh?

They're all the same I think.  The internet multiplies the population of potential victims.   The internet makes conning people much much easier.

Edited December 12, 2022 by Zed Head

[bartsscooterservice]

14 hours ago, Racer X said:

Fender flares.

 

I jest.

 

Really, that car is a mess. In addition to other deficiencies pointed out here, the tires are nearly flat, and the left rear has excessive negative camber.

 

Certainly not worthy of the current bid of nearly sixty grand. Someone is going to get a lemon.

Exactly....  Seems a lot of guys want to jump in the Z hype $$$$  quick refurb and ask big bucks. Some sucker is going to fall for it though...🤣

[bartsscooterservice]

On 12/11/2022 at 1:42 AM, gundee said:

That is the correct position to put a Z on a lift.

There is no other way.

Its better like this, the front could be acceptable ,but the further you go under the floorboard, weaker it gets. Some wood under it would be MUCH better.

The floors are a weak point sadly so many people put a jack under there in the early days pushing the floors in.

[zspert]

Yes, and the wood blocks seal the deal.

[Carl Beck]

SERIES II For Sale at Mecum Auction Kissimmee, FL  Jan. 4-15, 2023

A Series II  BMW 507 - A Million Dollar Offering?  I'll have to attend the auction, just to see one in person.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0123-545398/1959-bmw-507-roadster/

FWIW,

Carl B.