Introduce yourself to the class?

[bahollings]

Guess I'll jump in on this thead its quickly turning into a novel. I'm 56 years old,live in the Phoenix area (Gilbert) I have a 74 260Z with 28,000 original miles on it. It is exactly like the one I bought new in 74 only I paid more for this one. The only bad thing is that it is just sitting because I'm working in beautiful Bagdad, Iraq at the moment (yes its just as wonderful as u see on TV) but in May I'll be back and then planning a three week trip in the Z.

[zguitar71]

Well as you can see I became a member in December of `04. I have had Zcars in my head for a log time now. I took a ride in a friends Z in 1988. I lived in Memphis TN at the time (great pavement there). I had just gotten out of high school (Memphis Central) and was going to Memphis State University now named University of Memphis. I was very impressed by the car. It was a `71 240 with a lot of the usual mods to the engine and suspension. The car was extremely clean inside and out. I had no money at the time so therefore I had no Zcar either. I moved to Montana in 1990 and a few years later bought a Saab 900. I started playing in a band who's drummer owned an import repair shop. He had pictures on the wall of him autocrossing his 914. That go me started autocrossing. I modified my 900 to fit into Street Prepared. I raced it four 3 years untill I parked the car on the street infront of my office. I was in the feild when my boss came to me and said "we need to talk." Turn out my car was hit and shoved into another car thus totaling my car. Durring my years as an autocrosser I watched and rode in an E mod Zcar. This car is extremely fast. I regained the Zcar in the head affliction I had in `88. After the saab got wrecked the only logical solution to my car needs was to buiy a Zcar and a beater truck which is exactly what I did. I have an early `71 in the original 920 gold color. The inside has a custome plaid theme. The head liner, seat inserts and door inserts are covered in a funky 70's plaid. The same plaid many of us had for our first coutch. The interior is in great shape as is the exterior of the car. I have it set up as an F prepared car but I have retained the interior so I can drive it on the street in comfort. I would like to get ZG flares and 16x9 wheels but I am not sure on the brand yet. You can see my car at http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/635410.

About me. I am an Arborist (tree surgen) for the City of Missoula Montana. I have been a guitarist for 22 years and play Jazz (dinner gigs and big band stuff), fusion (more fun than Jazz standards), blues,rock,country and anything that presents a challenge for me. I could give up all else in life except music. I am 34 years old. I plan to go to the SCCA Nationals in a few years to learn from the "big guys." It shoud be a great learning experience. This year I came in first in F prepared for the Big Sky Region 38. I also won my class at "top Gun" an event where all the autocross club in Montana compete against each other. Our region won the overall title too. Well that is it. thanks

Christopher Gray

[SuperDave]

I've really enjoyed this thread. This is certainly one of the friendliest forums I've seen. I think much of this unpretentiousness has to do with the history of the Z: it didn't cost too much in the early years, in later years was known as a poor person's Porsche, and, even as the early stuff starts to get rare, it's still one of the most inexpensive classic sports cars to own and maintain. So Z owners tend to not be too snobby, at least from my experience.

I'm Dave, 47 years old, married for going on ten years, father of two girls, 3 and 6, living in Decatur, Georgia (close-in suburb of Atlanta). For the last 4 years I've worked as a software engineer at Turner Broadcasting Sales, Inc. building software for Time Warner's international sales and strategic planning operations--a great place to work.

I saw my first Z in 1970 when I was a freshman in high school. I can still see it cruising down my street with its 6-foot-4 teenage owner leaned back and looking way cool. A few years later a girl in town had a 260 in a beautiful turquoise color. A college roommate had a 280Z and a post-college roommate had a new 280ZX turbo.

My big brother was a huge race fan, crewed for a top fuel dragster team (Jack MacKay's "New Dimension" driven by Clayton Harris), and later covered motorsports. So I tagged along with him and saw several of Paul Newman's Z's at Road Atlanta.

I didn't buy my first Z until 1991, when a friend suggested that I buy an old Z and fix it up. Not knowing that I was doing, I bought a 260Z for $850 that had been repo'd. After I'd bought the car, I got the SCCA bug and, really without knowing much about what I was doing, prepared the car to ITS specs.

Those old flat top carbs were so vapor-lock prone, I had to cool them down with ice to get it to start up so I could finish my SCCA race school--but we made it. The highlight for that car was running in the 1994 Chimney Rock Hillclimb--what a cool event! In spite of being dog-slow, I actually tied for the Southeast Solo I ITS champtionship in 1994.

In 1998, my wife pregnant with our first child, I bought a badly rusted 1970 240Z out of a cornfield in Tennessee for $150 just for the carbs. I bolted them on the 260 and--WOW--the difference was amazing--just like everyone had been telling me--9 seconds a lap faster at Charlotte! I parked the 260 when I threw a rod out the side of the block coming out of turn 7 at Road Atlanta. With the new child on the way, I knew that was it for racing for a while.

In 2000 I bought a 72 240 that was being parted out for $250 with the plan to parepare this car for racing. I kept my eye on EBay buying various parts and storing them in the attic. I delayed the project while I built a 2-car detached garage and for the last year have had the 240 inside the new garage slowly tearing her down, fixing rust (I learned about electrolytic rust removal on this site--this trick has changed my life!), and cleaning her up.

Since the new year 2005 I've been working on her earnestly with the hope of getting her ready for a new SCCA Hillclimb event in October in Scottsboro Alabama. It will be hard to make it, but I work on her every night after the kids go to bed (way more fun that watching TV!).

So you restorers of pristine Z's will turn your noses up at all of my Z's, but I don't care. My approach is to not spend much money, do as much of the work myself as I can, have fun, and learn something.

Vehicle History:

1970 Toyota Corona (my friends laughed at me--nobody had ever seen a Toyota then)

1972 Ford Maverick Grabber (V8, light and fairly fast)

1976 Toyota Corolla (hemi engine)

1977 Toyota Corolla (totalled in head-on 25mph collission with a newspaper carrier who ran a stop sign)

1972 Fiat Spider 124 (what was I thinking?)

1986 Plymouth Horizon (new, cheap, a reliable dream compared to the Fiat)

1986 GMC Van

1974 Datsun 260Z (parked since 1998)

1986 Mazda 626

1994 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab (best vehicle I've ever owned!)

1970 Datsun 240Z (parts car)

1972 Datsun 240Z (roller--future race car)

[nwcubsman]

Please let me intorduce myself. I'm Bryan, married father of two who are becoming adults very quickly. My son started driving (my '94 Ranger 4x4 super cab - great vehicle, was my wifes driver) and has laid claim to it as his own. He has given it some character (read dents and scratches) and so it just didn't feel like ours anymore. So, I started looking for a driver that I could fix up and work on. Having not grown up a wrench twister (only enough to keep transportation driving), I am looking forward to learning all I can. I have an '84 MBZ SL and parts are so expensive it really takes the fun out of it. So, I was thinking vintage mustang or ? and my dear wife said that would be cool, but her 1st choice would be a 240Z. I travel for business so I have kept my eyes open for quite awhile.

I remembered seeing a '73 in Spokane, WA about 8-9 months ago. It was really clean and sharp. I called the owner to see if he still had it and he said he did, and he was badly needing some cash for the taxman. So I grabbed a buddy and he drove me the 350 miles to check it out again. All it cost me was a room a couple rounds of golf and some food. Not bad considering he took off work to go.

Well it had been stored about 20 of its years as the story goes. 53000 original miles. It had been given a shot of paint, but no rust to be found and it all works. Very clean in and out. Needless to say I parted with some greenbacks and drove it home.

Well my wrenching begins right off the bat. Speedo cable broke half way home. Still has the flat top carbs. I have been reading as much of your threads as I can. I have a line on the carbs off a '70Z here close to home. I have some struts and springs on their way. Speedo cable is due any day. I am trying to decide the route to electronic ignition. There is so much conflicting info out there!! :stupid: Headers while the carbs are being installed?

If there is anyone out there in the Portland area that would like to help me install carbs and de-smog my baby, I'd appreciate hearing from you. I'd like to have it ready for the June Z event in Canby, OR. Looking forward to the camaraderie and experience you folks have to share. I have to say I am very impressed with the knowledge I am reading and the willingness you have to help us save these cars for the future. Hats off to you all.

Well thats the nickle version. Glad to be on board!!!

Bryan

[ChrisA]

Welcome all you new members!! Glad to have you and your Z's here.

Chris

[chickenwafer]

I'm late (as usual) to the thread here, because I'm lazy.

My name is Dave and I am going to school to be an auto mechanic. My love for Z cars runs deep as my father got his 260 in '74 (obviously...) and it has been in the family ever sense. I own her now.

So I grew up around Z cars my whole life, and have developed a love for them. I am currently working on breathing life into my 260 that is sitting in the garage in all her glory. I have big plans for her, including either a full NA build-up or an L28ET turbo swap, a 5-speed trany, MSA XL brake kit, full frame-off restoration, elimanting all rust, etc. I want to mix it with modern technology, but still keep it a Z. I look forward to tackling a custom power sunroof and rollcage sometime.

I eventually hope to own another Z soon (once my 260 is drive-able), and it will probably be a 240. I intent on converting this to a complete track car, with rollcage, racing seats, carbon fiber body bits, stripped interior, and a fully built engine.

I also plan on opening my own Z-specialising shop (but will do work on other cars as well) within 10 years or so. I will specialize in all Z cars, but mainly 240/260/280 era Z's. Still not sure what part of the country I will open my garage in.......

My car ownership history isn't too long as I am not that old, but it goes as follows:

-1st car, 1974 Chevrolet C-20 half-ton truck with a 350, 4x4 , 4 inch suspension lift, 38 inch tires, 8 foot bed

2nd car- 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z. Modified her and ran into the high 13's. Turbo baby. Also my first encounter with a speeding ticket.

-1974 260Z 4-speed was "given" to me by my father in exchange for money. Haven't logged more than 2 hours of raod use with her, she's in that bad of shape.

-1988 Toyota Supra 5-speed (fluke, owned her for only 2 weeks, doesn't really count, but I made $400 bucks off it!)

-1993 Mazda RX-7 Touring 5-speed (stolen 2 years ago, and an absolutely money pit. The diva of sports cars.)

-Right now I am cruising in my 1999 (newest car I have owned yet) Toyota Camry 4cyl 5-spd. Hey, it goes and it gets 34-mpg!!!

Me and my girlfriend are seriously thinking of moving in together after I graduate from tech school. I look forward to being a father someday.

Hope this all gives you a better picture of who I am.

Dave

[GunnerRob]

Welcome all you new members!! Glad to have you and your Z's here.

Chris

I'll second that, and don't be strangers! We all look forward to your participation.

[bemmerguy714]

Hi i'm matt, 17, i do Web design and i have a 240z. ITs a new hobby (z cars i mean) But its a growing love (i Think). But i love bimmers as u can probobly seen from the name. Hopefully after i'm done with the z (if ever) i want to get another bimmer. :disappoin oh well. anyway heres my work in progress.

Its off to paint.

[2003z]

Mike, 39.9, Airline pilot. Currently have a supercharged 350Z and just recently bought a 73. Its the 5th 240Z and 7th Z that I have owned.

[tootsiepop0831]

Hello I Guess This Is The Ploace To Introduce Yourself So Here I Am Im Lola' Im Form Modestoarea. I Have Got A 77 280 Z. Damn She Is Fun. I Have Out Her For Sell But I Sure Wish I Didnt Have To Thats For Sure. I Love This Site There Is So Much To Learn. Although I Have Put Her Up For Sell I Am Really Thinking About Restoring Her Myself. I Know Alot More Than The Average Chic About Cars And Some Men For Sure Hehehehe So Maybe With The Incite I Get Froim Here Miricles Can Happen.. By Guys Thanks

[Fun_in_my_z]

Whats the chance of getting some pics...of the car to!

[tootsiepop0831]

Whats the chance of getting some pics...of the car to!

Please, message me at tootsiepop0831 on yahoo and I can send you other pics or vid.