beandip

I am a number 6

I am all in grey primer at this time and I have early front bumper, and no rear bumper at this time . Also I am running a overrider on the fornt. I just received a letter form a Z-club in the area on activities going on around here in Aug. . send me your e-mail and I 'll forward the info .

Congrats. you are right about once in a life time. Others have advised draining the fluids and I do also as well as the Marvel oil in the cylinders, one thing I think is vary important is to get that oil changed BEFORE you start turning the engine over, no sence in pumping all that old stuff through the block. After you do get the car running and driving be vary aware of the temp gage . often cars that have been sitting fro long periods will have the water pump fail and or leak . If the car is bone stock as you say you might want to keep it that way. If you do though you must keep all stock down to the nuts and bolts, and exhost , if you dont you compromise the value . One more thing drain the gas out of the tank before turning things over , get that varnish out of the tank. Keep us informed on what is going on and again all the best of luck seems like you have it. Buy a Lotto ticket!!

I live in the Ceder Mill area and I drive a '73 , there are several of us around the area.

I can remember getting my first car , that was 1955 . Any way all the best of luck with it , by the way where are you ? One thing when asking for info or help dont use code like btw , it some times is frustrating trying to figure out what is asked. As was said before replace the plug wires , and clean the plugs. replace the points if you see they are pitted or burned , that is if you know how to do the instelation. For the time being forget the compression . The engine will run fine with the compression that you stated , just not as smooth and the power will be less. Being that the car has been sitting that long with new oil the rings may loosen up if they are stuck and likewise the valves may have a little rust and will reseat and the compression may change. I would change the oil before driving or running the engine any more and add some Rislone , 1 qt , to the new oil either that or some Marvel Mistery oil the same ammount. This will help to clean and loosen things . Pull the pluggs and clean and gap them , look at the dist, cap and see if the contacts are burned or croaded scrape off the deposits if found and the same with the rotor. Replace them when you have the bucks . This should get you going . What about the gas ? Are you running the old gas that has been the tank all this time or did you drain the tank and put in fresh?? When you do get fresh gas and if you live in t he USA , the new fuel may loosen crud and plug the fuel filter , just be aware of this and replace it if nessary. Just ask and we will be here for you . Good luck!

Alot depends on how it is cared for and treated . I change the oil at 3k and filter . I dont try to see if it will run to redline, I run hard on the twistys but keep the RPMs at a realistic rate rarely over four grand . I have over 200,000 miles and the engine burns no oil and has a compression of 145 all across th e board. It is mostly stock execpt for Round tops and a '79zx ignition. I vary much like to drive this car and can see no point is GERNADEING the engine just to satisfy my eago.

I need a rear sway bar for my '73 from a 260 and I live in Portland Or. I just found out that there are different bars on the 260 the one that I need is the one that is not stright where it passes the differential it has a bend in it to clear it.

I have no problem with the mod. from what I have read the ford rather than the small block chev works the best . the cast iron block of the stright 6 is a heavy engine so the v8 would be a performar . I have done simular swaps years ago in the late fiftys and early sixtys . Building a sleeper is great fun . I would like to drop a big turbo v-6 in a PT- cruser. As far as my 240 I enjoy the stright six and the way the little six banger does its's thing.

I sure wish they used him designing the 350 dont you!!!

I have a '73 but with and auto tranny. dont laff. It pulls strong up to 4K and then it shifts. Now I can manually shift and keep on up in the RPM range but I really like to drive this car and realise that it is stock and has overall over 200,000 miles on her and even with a rebuilt engine with about 100K on it I dont want to gernade the engine just to satisfy my eago. My brother in-law bought a $40,000. boat and he saw that the tack showed 5K as the red line and taking it out for a test run just ran it up to red line and ran it up the river,this was a brand new engine, well about a mile away he blew the engine all to hell. Case in point dont believe all you read and use your good cents. Yes new or near new engines will and can be run to the extreems in RPM . But for what purpose ? Do you like to work on the car or drive it ?? Also going fast costs bigg$$ keep that in mind.

thanks for the info I was not aware that the vent line from the filler neck went any ware other than what I expected the tank . Good info , thanks. I'll work from there.

When I fill the tank in my '73 I get fumes inside ,and I know that this is not an unusual thing in Z-cars. What my question is . Has anyone eliminated the maze of hoses that go to the evap, tank and caped them off and vented the cap?? I dont need to worry about emissions, and have driven cars for years that were vented in this way with no problem. I read once that if this is done that you will or might, have air pockets in the tank ,and I find this hard to believe. But dont know for sure because I havent tried it. It just seemed to me that it would be a simple solution to a smelly problem. It seems like a design flaw big time ,venting the fueltank inside the passanger compartment, as a fireman I know I dont want to be french fried if I turn the thing over with all thoes hoses running inside from the fuel tank. I Dont feel right even replacing all the hoses for that reason. If anyone has done this , capped them off and has any input please pass it on . Thanks

By all means check with the state! Here in Oregon the 74 was exemped at the first of this year . and the '75 will be at the first of next year. So if the car is in great shape and rust in not a problem , Its somthng to look into you might be able to get a rider or a exemption or somthing to have the thing fixed if it wont pass. dont do anything to it and just keep extending untill the first of the year , that is if it will be exemped in 2003. then you are home free. The info on the round tops is correct ,they work much better and are much easier to adjust . Your present intake manifould is good so no need to change that you will need a early aircleaner and some of the early linkage , and you are good to go. If you do get a Z withe the early carbs and y ou need help in adjustment just e-mail me .. Good luck

I own a Late '73 the born on date is 8-73 . She just turned 200K and is running great altho the engine and tranny were rebuilt about 100k miles back. Running great with early SUs and a 79zx Ignition. I am '64 and have been into cars since I was 16 and bought my first car, a 2 yr. old 52 chev . and a year later I bought a '32 three window Ford . I married my present wife 43 yrs ago and we have raised our 4 children 2 boys and 2 girls . oldest is our son '41 and youngest '35 . So far I am the oldest posting here, which dosent make me feel young thats for sure. I have wanted one of these cars since '70 when one of my co workers bought one, and it was love at first sight. I had to wait a while untill the kids were all grown and I could afford another hobby and had the time and place to keep it. Well I purchiced my '73 two yrs ago and have been mostly just driving it. It would hardly run when I bouhgt it but after a complete tune it runs like a watch. I was born and raised in Van Nuys Calif. suburb fo L A . I was withe the L.A. Fire Dept . for 22+ yrs. and retired in 1984 and we all moved to Portland Ore. and love it , the wet does get boring about this time of year. Back to the Z . I am in the process of replacing the floor on the passanger side and stripping out the interior and pulling the engine to detail the engine bay. Hope to have the car painted this summer. At present my plan is to get the z down to a rolling shell and have the inetrior and engine bay sanblasted , repair what is needed and installing a '82 280zx engine that is on a stand at present. It has been interesting reading the posts from all over world. I want to thank all for all the help you have given me in the past. I know V-8s but these little 6s are a horse of a different color. My best to all . Gary

I personally love the fender mounts they are the most useful because you hardly need to glance to the side to use them. The clamp ons are just that . They fit on the lip of the door and clamp on with a couple of set screws. If it were me I wouldent drill holes in the fenders and screw up the beautiful paint job , fantastic color , steller job. Gary

It sounds like a lean pop , if you blip the throttle to wide open and let it go back to idle , is that when you get the pop ? If so just richen , turn the mixture adjustment clockwise about a 1/4 turn and try the test again and repete untill it no longer pops. As far as the fuel line get the line from therpy , it needs to be vary flexable because when you pull the choke lever the gross jet needs to drop and that is what is connected to the other end o f the line , if the line is to stiff it will bind the unit and it may stick in the down position and will dump unwanted fuel into the engine. You probibly already know all this but for those that dont I wanted to mention it all. All the best of luck.

I bought a used sway bar that I thought would fit but today when I got under the car , the hangers on the body are inline with the front differential mount. The bar is stright where it transverses the car and it looks like a sway bar needs to have a bout a 21/2 inch bend, in order to clear the mount. I havent seen one on a car and what I am wondering is that maby my car , being built 8/73 which is after the model year change that I may have a '74 body pan. Any one out there with a '74 , if you could take a look at the rear sway bar and let me know if there is a bend in it where it passes the drive line. Thanks Gary

No your present intake manifold is fine , in fact if it is a #36 some people think that it is better than most. You will need to do some changes in the linkage and I f you are running the stock air cleaner that also needs to be from the early carbs. Thats all I can think of. My '73 has the early SUs , they are simple and work great ! ! You should be able to come up with a set for $ 100. to $150. I know of a complete set that are good , he has a the whole setup let me know if you want his address.. ZZZZZEEEE ya .

Reakky great that you had a positive enperience , I hope that you took notes of the trip expreiences. Look at zcar,com and read the account of the father and son that did a simular thing . Pass it on . Great that you were able to find the car of your dreams . Gary

So you decided to make the trip anyway. Thats great if thats what ylu really want to do. I really hope the car is all that you expect and want !! Take a journal and wright down your experiences every night when you have the time. If you do you will realise afterwords that it was really worth it. I really hope that every thing goes well for you , it should be a great and fun experience for you , somthing to remember. This is such a beautiful country so see, please take the time to absorbe and enjoy the beauty. Gary

I have a question about car ins. is there a company out there that will provide a policy for the proper value of the car. I bought my Z a '73 for only $500. but have like most of us put much more than that into it. Before I spend $600. on body work and $1500. on paint I want to find out what I can expect from an insurance co . , after the work is all done and I get T - boned , that is becides the shaft. I presently have Farmers . I have AAAA driving record , zero tickets , no accidents, in last 40 +yrs. , and the Z is an occasional driver, at least as far as they are concerned. I also have a truck and my wife has her own car. Any input is apriciated thanks .

I contacted mike yesterday and he is aware of it and is working on it .

Cant you take a cab to the airport what the hell , if you are going to fly to cal. to get a car cant you take a cab or comutter from a hotel or somthing like that. On the cal. end how were you going to get to the car and a place to stay ? You should be able to rent a car for a couple of bucks untill yuou are ready to leave for home. I hate to see you pass on the car of your dreams because of a transportation problem . Put it here on the web and someone will drive you. I MAY SEE YOU BUT I WILL SEE YOU WALKING !!

Welcome , or should I say gday mate . It's good to have you abord. There are several ausies here in the club and I think they wouold be the best sorrce of used parts . the best of luck to you Gary

I like the shirt with the red white and blue Z logo small in front and large in back . Colors would be better than white only for the shirt , but what color ? Either red or blue would deminish the looks of the logo. Enjoy the ride would also look great. my $ .02 worth