bpilati

I was pretty lucky, it had very low rust even for a Z. The problems were the cheap wipers and blower fan. Of course that came from the factory.

Sure Chris, if I ever see a 240Z, I'll be sure to get in it and drive it. It will be a new experience for me. His forward reads just like you were talking to him; and this proves what? That you know him, and that proves what? That he really did write that forward, and that was never the question. Did your average American car have four wheel independent suspension with Macpherson struts in the front and Chapman struts in the rear? Did your average American car have dual SU's? Did you average American car come with radial tires? Did you average American car weigh 2300 pounds? Did your average American car have rack and pinion steering? Did you average American car have an aluminum head to lower the CG? Did you average American car have an OHC engiine? I'm old enough to know that answers. I also had German friends and rode in German cars of the time, I guess they rode like American cars too. I drove my dad's 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 when I was in high school. It had a big V8 and weighed 4000 pounds, and it was an average American car. My dad also purchased new a 1971 Datsun 510. Let me tell you something Chris, that 510 drove circles around that Olds on country roads. That 510 didn't drive like an American car at all. If anyone had told me that my 510 drove like an American car I would told them they're full of $^!#. In fact they use to say that the 510 was based on the BMW 1600 because the two had so much in common, but I guess that was untrue. It must have been some American car. I own a 1979 Toyota Corona; now that car drives like an American car. I'd say my 510 drove more like a European car. Now Mr. K must have been a total moron to compete against other European cars in the US with his American riding 240Z. For a guy that so got it right, he sure had a screwed concept didn't he? And for a man who loved motorsports he was really off base, bringing in this American riding 240Z. Think about it. It's a miracle it ever worked, just pure dumb luck. :nervous: You know I can just picture Matsuo taking a little spin in his prototype saying wow, this rides just like an Oldsmobile....WE'VE DONE IT! HURRAY!!!! Now if Goertz had stayed on the project, that wouldn't have happened. It would have driven like a BMW. That's why Nissan dumped him, they wanted a sports car that drove like an Olds. And it's a damn good thing too. Little did Nissan know that 35 years later someone would write in a book that their car drove like an American car, and not a European car.

Okay, then why write the forward that way. If proud then speak proud. John is a nice guy, okay I'll take your word for it, I'm sure he is. He's a personal friend of yours. Did he just screw up then? Maybe that's it, and he didn't really mean it to come across that way. I'm just telling it as I see it. "I took the 240Z for a test drive, and it handled like an American car compared to a Indy race car." But that's not what he said. Is that what they're doing, winning those same races with stock 350Z's? I'm sure someone here knows. Well it really doesn't matter since they won those races with 240Z's and made lots of money. The 240Z didn't even feel like it had potential; amazing. He speaks of the resurrection of the Z being divine. Well I'm sorry, but the divine part happened in the Fall of 1969. You may think the reengineering of an Infinity as divine, but I don't.

Generally speaking the drive train of a 240Z is bulletproof, especially compared to almost anything American you've owed. The body is a unibody (integrated frame), so rust is something you MUST pay attention to. The windshield wipers and heater fan suck, but most everything else is great. Have fun. You want a classic, you're getting a classic.....more than you know. Whenever you see a Japanese sports car on the road, you'll be driving the car that made them possible. You're Z made history, the rest are part of history....that's one of the beauties of it. A man with a vision of a special car for the American market, and a special group of engineers in Japan hatched a concept that hit the American market right between the eyes at the perfect time in history. Very few cars ever come along and do that. Model T, Corvette, Mustang, 57 Chevy, Datsun 510, Porsche 911, and VW Beetle are a few.

I think many here aren't ready to question the sacred. Maybe they feel unworthy, I don't know. When celebrities have spoken, they must not be questioned. I'm a 240Z owner, and I take big exception to someone (rock star or not) telling me that my car handles like an American land yacht just because it didn't come off the boat handling like a million dollar Le Mans racer. I guess $3500 US didn't buy what it should have.

Nope, 1963.....yeeeeaaahhhh. Oh, I just thought of another, the 68 Pontiac Firebird.

I appreciate your comments and your personal experience. However, I don't think I took his statements out of context, I think he made them out of context. Frankly, he should have stated the context more clearly. If I was completely new to Z I would have thought that Mr. K had handed him a POS to try and figure out how to race. Like, "Mr. Brock here's your "Dodge Dart" to try and fix up for racing, sorry if it handles like a sow and squats on acceleration, but what can you expect from me and Nissan? I suppose you'll have to do a radiator cap overhaul to get it into racing condition." If I took him out of context, then he obviously wasn't himself the day he wrote those statements about test driving the Z. I think you are quite aware of the significance of a Z book forward written by someone like John Morton, aren't you? It's not something trivial. Anyway, what else is there to say, words mean things.

Hmmm, do you have issues with letting this go. Apparently you have opinions about this book; that maybe you would have been scared to put out on your own, had I not stuck my neck out? Let me look for YOUR thread on this book, give me a few minutes. Okay back, yes apparently my thread is the only one about this book. Now maybe you could lay off the sniping comments, Alan? Haunting ; what a classy guy.

While it maybe true that slow cars will pass you, look at what was popular in 1970. How many at that time had the luxury of history to drive their design studio. All the stock cars coming out today with turbos and other racing mods from the factory. If we built a 240Z today, no doubt it would be get those "slow" cars caught in its tire treads as it grinds them to dust, eh? Look at the 350Z, that's a modern day Z. How many "slow" cars will be passing it? You make some sense, but you're also talking apples and oranges. John Morton didn't make his determination after going on a 2005 track day. He said it handled like an American car, that was what I took exception to. IMHO (I repeat, IMHO) that is a moronic statement. Certainly John Morton has driven American cars, especially those of the late 60's and early 70's. Come on, an American car??? A 240Z isn't that sloppy. Now, can we end this thread already?

I use to send Carl VIN's that I found anywhere I saw a 240Z, even in junkyards. This way we get an idea where the cars are. It would be interesting to see where these Z's have migrated to. For instance my Z was purchased in Arizona and is now in Virginia.

I think I worded my post poorly. The reference to misinformation was regarding another post which used that word. I was trying to kill two birds and actually killed my own post.

Thanks for those comments, Carl.

Yeah, my Uncle Buck had one of those. As I remember he kept a shiny chrome-plated hatchet in the back, that he would....... :bandit:

Well I believe the short the knuckle the quicker the turn. The short knuckle has a shorter radius, which mean that the length of the arc is less.

Yeah, but yall make so much more than we do. We just some po Mericuns!

gator, I don't really think there is a better between tokico and kyb. I know kyb has a lifetime warranty and I imagine tokico does too. The tokico illuminas are famous so lots of people that want adjustable shocks buy them. KYB also makes an adjustable shock that is less well known than their standard GR-2 gas shock. I wouldn't get hung up over names, find the best deal and get that. Frankly I think most people that buy the Tokico Illuminas just want them, whether they're going to race or not. It's like putting NO2 bottles in street cars, or yellow springs, red bushings or any other non-essential item. Real racers care about function more than looks. Pretend racers care about looks more than function. Don't mistake pretend racers with people that have common sense, because I think many are lemmings shoppers.

I think I paid $2.19 for Premium here. I forget the exact amount since I just fill up. You folks run regular in your Z's? I don't.

Well guys, I'll tell you how the new OEM Spec Springs from Courtesy Nissan ride. In case you are unaware, I (with Carl Beck's help) got a spring manufacturer to make springs exactly like the factory springs that came on 240Z's. I finished my front/rear suspension overhaul and gave it a long 1-1/2 hour test drive home. IMHO the springs ride as they should. They are not harsh, but definitely firm up the ride. I have standard KYB GR-2's installed all around with poly bushings everywhere exact spindle pins and front control arms. I also installed a Suspension Techniques front/rear anti-sway bar kit. Trust me, there is not Cadillac ride here. I haven't tried the country road test yet, but will soon. I'll let you know how that goes.

My Z mechanic says that the bushings seldom need replacing. Now take this in the context that if don't want poly bushings in that location. BTW, of course I've been under my Z, why would you even think otherwise?

What points made in this thread? And furthermore, what misinformation?

What's wrong with the spindle pin that it needs pulling?

PaperbyJack, what kind of site is that? Are there any normal people left in the world?

NWcubsman, you're not right you know that, you're just not.

Hls30-39932 (8/71)

Spinning wheels indicates a lack of traction, not good.