59blane

I'll be there. I want to meet some of the local guys. Unfortunately, my Z won't be with me. I've had her for 5 years and she has been patiently waiting behind the Supra, my family and my job for attention. It would be good to talk to you guys and see your cars... probably just what I need to relight the Z-fire under my butt... Bruce

My Z project isn't started yet and she is still sitting in the garage, but I'd love to stop by and meet some of you guys on here. Bruce

I got my license in 1976 and have owned... 1965 Pontiac Tempest (Inline 6. My first car) 1967 Pontiac Catalina (400 cid Gun Boat) 1969 Pontiac Firebird (Inline OHC 6 with Sprint option) 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Truly the one car I really wish I still had) 1972 Chevy Vega 1974 Chevy Vega (Put a 327 in this one... and ended up rolling it) 1976 Chevy Camaro 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 (This was going to be a parts car to restore the Trans Am. Had to sell both.) 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix 1976 Pontiac Firebird Formula 1972 VW Bug 1986 Isuzu P'Up 1988 Suzuki Samurai (Talk about a dog on 4 wheels, but it was fun to drive) 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage 1989 Toyota Turbo Supra (Bought new and still have) 2001 VW Jetta (230,000 miles and still my DD) 1974 Datsun 260Z (In the garage waiting to be reborn)

Hi Frankie... If by 'dirty', you mean the color of the oil, I don't think that by it's self is an accurate indication of how dirty it is. Oil will get darker. If you are concerned about how dirty it is, when you change the oil, cut open the old oil filter. That will reveal what's traveling around in the system. I would also use a premium filter such as a Wix or Pure One. Bruce

I'll be 50 this coming December. When I originally bought my 260 about 4 years ago, I was actually looking to find a Z that I could swap in a SBC into and relive my unfinished V8 Vega project of many years ago. Well, the first car looked at was the 260 for sale in Woodland... about 45 minutes from where I live. It is very original, seized engine, no rust, a few dings, needs new paint, but no body work needed other than to replace the driver's front fender, very nice interior, no cracks in the dash, just needs drivers seat recovered... the best part was that I only paid $500 for it. After I got it home I did get it to run for about 30 seconds, then it developed a pretty bad knock. The kid I bought it from had let it run out of oil. So, I figure I'll find a spun bearing once I get engine torn down. Anyway, after giving the car a real good once over at home, I just don't have the heart to butcher it by putting a chevy in it. So, I'm going to start this summer by pulling the engine getting it running and go from there. It's such a cool little car. My wife and daughter think I'm crazy because I''ll go out in the garage and just sit in her. After the past 4 years of lurking here, zcar.com and hybridZ, I've learned a lot and now have a large binder of tips. I've also been collecting parts over the past couple years... 3.90, 300zx cv half shafts, some parts for the rear disc conversion, Forerunner front calipers, early 5-speed, a pair of 3 screw SUs and a pair of 4 screw SUs. So, I'm definately ready to get started on her this spring. Since some of you have mentioned cars that you have owned in the past, here's a link to a post of mine over at zcar.com. I had found some old pictures of some of the cars I've have owned and don't any more. And decided to share them. http://www.zcar.com/forums/read/4/2024100

I'm pretty sure as long as you are breathing and able to make it to work... you're qualified...

A couple years ago, I went to Auto Zone and told the kid behind the counter that I need a cap, coil and points for my 1974 Datsun 260Z. He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and asked.. "Points?". I was about to answer him when another kid who had over heard, told him... "Yeah, points. Old school ignition". I was laughing all the way home...

Yeah, the Caswell plating system is actually Zinc plating. You can add the dyes that give it a Cad plating color. I've been looking at this system for myself.

Great story Darbji! Very sweet of you. It's amazing how many people that I talk to who have either had a Z, have driven a Z or wished that they had one. I think it's the only car I've ever owned that brings a smile to everyone's face when I tell them about her. I remember when I first brought her home 2 years ago. My, then 7 year old daughter got in and asked where the backseat was. Then when I locked it with the key, she wanted to know why it didn't 'beep' when I locked it. Anyway, great story.

Well, my entry into the Z world kind of came by lucky accident I guess you could say. Back in 2002 I started yearning to have a 'fun' car again. Something that I could play around with and not have to rely on as my daily driver. A bit of history on the cars I've owned. In the past I have a few 'fun' cars. I've been the owner of such cars, to name just a few, as a pristine 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix with 23,000 miles in 1986, a 1976 Camaro LT (a 4-speed car sold in California), a 1976 Firebird Formula 350, a couple of Chevy Vegas (one of which had a Hooker V8 conversion. I rolled that one... bias ply tires up front and radials in the back on a front-heavy car ain't so good), and a trio of 1969 Firebirds. God as my witness one of my '69 Firebirds was TA. In 1977, still in High School, I traded my 1969 OHC L6 Firebird for the TA at Steve's Car Lot in Reno. I can still remember drooling over the artists drawings of the TA in the Firebird brochure in 1976 when my Mom bought her Firebird Formula. In fact, I bought the OHC L6 Firebird from the salesman that sold her her Firebird. Anyway, after a Clifford Research header install and a factory Quadra-Jet swap on the OHC Firebird, I saw the TA... Pearl white paint with blue stripes... 50s in the back, Gabriel High-Jackers, and a Chevy 350 under the hood.... and had to have it. So like a dork, I traded my OHC Firebird and started the life-long tradition of car payments. OK, so those cars are long gone. I could still kick myself in the a$$ for getting rid of the Grand Prix, the TA and '69 Firebird 400 I had to restore the TA with. Oh well, life goes on. So back to 2002. I'm driving a VW Jetta, my wife has a Isuzu Rodeo.... and we have a perfectly good, pristine 1989 Toyota Turbo Supra in the garage to play with. And of course I get the itch to play around with another woman... of the 4-wheel variety. I start eyeing the Supra with dreams of coil-overs, bigger turbo, Lexus AFMs and bigger injectors dancing in my head. Suddenly my better judgment steps in, in the form of my wife, telling me I better not touch the Supra. OK, what to do? Look for another car! So....... I start searching for the obvious candidates... Firebirds and Camaros. OH MY GAWD!!! Look at those prices!!! Mind you, this was before BJ auctions were so popular, and had a hand in putting 'American muscle-cars' out of the reach of most of us. A rusted-out POS was going for at least 3 grand. So I remember the fun I had in the V8 Vega... so, I try and find a Vega that isn't half rust, already been converted to a V8 or a Cosworth. Hmmmmmm... dreams on hold. One day in 2004 I was talking with a co-worker about cars and he mentioned this cool video of a guy named Darius and his V8 Z. So, he shows me this online video of this awesome car!! I was in a daze. I remembered the Scarabs back in the '70s. Right then I decided to search for a Z. Well, I pretty much forgot about looking with work and family being my priorities. In early February, 2005, I'm sitting in the Sacramento airport, waiting for a flight to Denver. I pick up the Classified section of the Bee that someone has left on the seat next to me. Looking through the cars I spot a 1974 260Z for sale. Good condition. Engine seized. $500.

I agree, better deals are out there. But of course it depends on how much they want for it and how much time and money you're willing and able to put into it. I got extremely lucky when I found my Z. I had only been looking a couple weeks and stumbled across an early 74 260 for $500. The kid I bought it from had let it run out of oil and the engine was frozen (I was actually able to get it running after I got it towed home). The body needs minor work, mostly door dings. The interior looks like new, except for the driver's seat and 2 cracks in the center console. The carpet is beautiful and the dash is perfect. 2 small spots of surface rust near the battery that just require sanding, that's it. It's almost completely original. And from what I can tell, the car was bought and never left the Sacramento area. So,there are deals out there if you're patient enough.

Just added RLS30-012230 (build date 11/73) to the database. Bruce

Yes... that would be interesting to know. Bruce

RLS30 012230 11/73 Bruce

Great! I think the texture of the Herculiner looks really good. I'll bet with the combination of POR-15 and Herculiner you could pretty much take a jack hammer to it with no ill effects... :-) bruce

I was curious as to how well the Heruliner over POR-15 was holding up Ed? It looks great in the pics and sounds like what I might do myself. Did you prep the POR-15 Chassis Black before putting on the Herculiner? bruce