Bonzi Lon

It can go both ways. After new paint, I went with all new badges. Without badges I got, "Why did you paint your Ferrari blue? Arn't they always red?" With badges was, "Datsun? Never heard of em, but it sure is a cool car, Mr." Taz0612, funny you should mention 'dealer' badge, this was on the tail gate of a 620 I got a while back. It is 6X1X1/8 inch pot metal affixed with double sided tape. (not going on the Z) Bonzi Lon

Quite an eclectic mix of styles. Its nice to see that I owned 5 on the list. Bonzi Lon

Now that the radiator is out, look in the crank pully and see just what kind of bolt is in there. I use a 'deep well thin wall' 1 1/16 socket, it is an antique Proto or Plumb brand, that might be the difference. Bonzi Lon

I use a 'thin wall deep well' 1 1/16 socket on a breaker bar, same on the Roadster, the 521 pick-up has to use a box end wrench of the same size. Bonzi Lon

Last month I went to my local Courthouse to get the Z tags renewed and was wondering what others in other States pay to have their Z-cars tagged and registered. In Kansas the vehicle has to be 35 years old to be antique, no classic or historical, regular or antique only. They issue an antique plate, white with blue lettering and a number, like 128463, (boring) or a year of manufacture plate, this option is my favorite, you don't have to ask 'what year is this?' The first year mine was registered I had a 73 'KMB 14' plate (at one time this plate was on the 69 Buick that put me in the hospital for 4 1/2 months, center punched it on a Harley, when it became known to me I had to have it) and it cost me $45 to register the plate and $12 in personal property tax. This year for renewal it was $17 total, $5 on registration and $12 in pp tax, the Roadster was the same, the 521 is not tagged so it was only $12. What do you pay per year to the State and Local Government to keep your Z on the road? Bonzi Lon

Thank you all for the compliments. It was not a restoration, just paint, reassembly, get it running and on the road again. The short story... Purchased in June of 77 as my college car with 88k miles. By Sept. 80 at 118k miles it wasn't running due to my lack of knowledge on this engine, mostly flat top carbs. Had it rebuilt with new carbs, head work, headers, bearings, etc. Expensive! Trailered it home 3 weeks later and was talked into a new paint job for what a guy owed me. He would do what little body work there was, small dings, nose bruise, clean up some lines and spot welds, I would buy the materials, he supplied tools, fair trade, I thought. I took it apart, he started work on it. After about 3 months, he had had enough of it and left the country, (in the condition of the before photo) with the materials. :mad: Needless to say I was mad and now out of money, I pushed it in the back room of the garage where it sat for the next 26 years, with 96 miles on a NEW engine! (nothing was done for storage, battery still connected, radiator full, oil, fuel tank 3/4 full, etc.) I credit my daughter for getting me motivated, she got me a computer and set me up with this site for help. I've learned more about this car than I thought possible. Thank you to all on this site. In November 07, I talked 'Painter Ray' into spraying it, he said the guy that did the body work was very good, only shop dings and one dent I put in it. There was lots of cleaning of everything before it could be reassembled. In April of 08 was its first legal 'round the block' drive. First time the battery was connected the clock took off and is still running today! There is still more to do... Bonzi Lon

That is the paint I used, however, because of the 'gloss' I put on 2 light coats of clear matt finish. The same process was used on the grill and wheel covers. Bonzi Lon

The dusty roll out after sitting in the back of the garage for 26 years. A very long story about how it got in this condition. The after is 2 years and one month later. Finally! Bonzi Lon

Run a wire in & out of the pick-up and return tubes, don't want them clogged. The vent tubes are big enough not to fully seal. Bonzi Lon

Diseazd, you still need that elusive 1969 240Z. Bonzi Lon

It is of my opinion that to get a good coat and seal is plenty of 'cure time' before fuel is put in it. Mine was on the garage wall for 2 years. I would suggest 'sun curing' for a while if it is going to see fuel soon. I saved 2L of the acid for future rust removal on nuts, bolts and small parts, very handy. Bonzi Lon

Take a small wire brush to the back side of the bolts, either before or after PB Blaster, it helps. IIRC only a wrench would fit between the bumper and bracket. The brackets are odd shaped so try to save them. Not on your tool list but needed / should have is a 3-arm wheel puller. Bonzi Lon

That would be in stereo for the ones that have 2 shocks, for the 70-73 models it would be in MONO. I agree on the starter sound, as unique as a 68 Mopar. If you have any Datsun's with a fixed fan, you know the 'Datsun Whirrr', with the engine revs. The hood opening 'POP', that wonderful thin metal sound. (unless the cable breaks in your hand, then there are @#$%^& words. Bonzi Lon

The before photos is what it looked like after sitting in the back of the garage for 26 years, a mixture of primer over spray and plenty of dust. Some shiney parts, can't have enough of these. After installing the shiney bits with a flash then in the sun. I need a better camera after seeing some of the above. The engine needs to be removed for further detailing of the bay, paint the engine block, ceramic coat the headers etc... Bonzi Lon Looks like they loaded backward, you get the idea.

I used some braided picture frame wire and 2 lead fishing weights for clamps looped around the pull lever, routed the cable over to the wire loom tab, then straight down to the tab on the frame rail. It might be a little shade-tree, but it sure saved a lot of time, frustration, a lift and money. After breakage it was open in about 20 seconds. Bonzi Lon

My replacement hood release cable came in, the original broke without opening the hood. You have no idea how happy I was knowing I had a redundant cable release attached several years ago. It worked like a champ. The new install went well, but still keeping the other cable just in case. Cleaned up the brake booster hoses and clamps while I was at it. Bonzi Lon

I bought mine in 1980 from Jim Cook Racing for my 73, (#1043b) still new in bag, same with the rear one. The drawings on the instructions reference it as 'AMCO Guard'. The mounting holes for the '1973 Front Guard' is 30 1/4 inches center to center. Bonzi Lon

Hopefully, Mike B will see this and have more information. He knows his early rubber floor mats. Bonzi Lon

Yes, Bill is a good friend of mine. The running joke since he bought it was it was NOT going to be original red, he hates red (sports thing). Last year at Branson Z-Fest he said it would be done for BZF 2012, and red. Yet kidding, I replied 'bet you don't', just so he would get it done. I know it will be of top quality just like the silver one & the orange one, always 'Best of Show' winners. Bonzi Lon

I see the old school design elements of 3 great car designers, George Barris, Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth and Darryl Starbird. Bonzi Lon

It is really about 12-14 minutes of commercials per hour, just seems like 20. Bonzi Lon

The new Black Dragon catalog shows 'Oil Pan Snap-Ups', pg 96 #53-506, set of 4 for $6.95. They look like a plastic 'kleco' type tool to hold the pan and gasket in place while attaching the bolts. I have no idea if they work like shown or not, first time I've seen them in their catalog. Might be something to look into for the price. Bonzi Lon

Much older and wiser now, everybody gets belted in. New passengers are dumbfounded by what you have to do to connect both belts together and pull it out far enough to latch it before it clicks stopped. Bonzi Lon

Montezuma, it is a 73 bumper. The bumperetts are wider on the 73 and each is set further inward on the bumper. The black one is a 70, the blue one is a 73. Bonzi Lon

Congratulations Rich, your time and effort in the car deserve it. You are very lucky to find the wheel covers in time & a great price. I imagine he lived on Cheap St. in Barginville, right? In the Spring 2012 'Hagerty Magazine' page 11 has an brief on 'Youth Concours Judges.' In part... "Hagerty's Operation Ignite! Youth Judges have been busy, too. They recently walked the show fields at Boca Raton and Amelia Island concours, learning to judge classic cars while interacting with owners and experts. In May, (5th) the youth judges will attend the McPherson College CARS Club Car Show in McPherson, Kansas, with summer dates to follow." I will be attending for the 3rd time. It will be interesting to see how the Z does. This is a show with everything you could ever imagine. This year they are focusing on the concours restorations. It will be interesting to see what will show up, as in the past I have been astounded by what is hiding in shops & garages here in the middle of the Country. Bonzi Lon