avemood

So, just after I had my 240z in the shop for routine checkup, I filled her up at the BP which used to have no-ethanol gas. After I filled up, I saw that they had switched to 10%EtOH and I called the shop to see how bad I had messed up. (I have rubber hoses). They said just run it through and it would be OK. So I did- ran throught the tank in about 2 weeks and then put in a tank of no-EtOH gas. The car sat for 3 months before cranking her again. Son (4 y.o. who loves "daddy's race car") and I revved the engine for 5 minutes and smelled gas and there was gas on the ground when we got out- a good sized smear of it on the pavement. SO- I guess I need new hoses, right? AND- can the alcohol mess up the rings or other things within the engine? Keep in mind, I am a naif with this kind of thing- probably not whom most of y'all would deem worthy of stewardship of HLS 10862 but I still love my car and don't want to kill her with my stupidity. I am not a mechanic and have only used the car as an occasional driver- left the maintainence to the local old Foreign Car shop. I just haven't taken her in b/c I'm afraid to drive it now! Thanks for any input! Avery

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies! I'm looking now for a body shop to help me with this and to go over the car for other rust areas. I don't think the floor pans are bad (i'll take some pictures). The area under the battery looks good to me. As well as the other areas mentioned. But, I am new to old cars and have no experience with what really to look for much less what to do about car stuff- I change the oil myself usually in our cars but other than that, I'm a newbie at all this. I have learned a ton reading this message board but still have no hands-on experience. I hope to get to some of the closer datsun/z club meetings once my weekend work schedule lightens up a little! Avery

Hi! I'm the new (since October) steward of a 240z which has three apparently small areas of (hopefully) superficial rust. I will try to attach pictures. I am wondering if there is anything I can do short of major surgery to try to arrest this rust. That is, are there any products out there that i can put on these areas to remove the rust and seal the metal? Should I go at these areas with a small wire wheel (like on a Dremel) first? Any suggestions will be appreciated! Ave PS- Also- does anyone make touch-up paint for these old fellas? (Mine is color 920- "safari gold" I think.

Hi! mine is HLS30 10862 built 9/70, titled in 1971! i love this website!

Thank you all for your insight! Carl- thanks for explaining the whole deal- I definitely did not want to misrepresent my intended use of the car to Hagarty and I'm glad to know why they didn't insure me. On a kind of funny note, the woman on the line at Hagarty asked where I would be keeping the car. I assumed she meant address so I just said 'here at home.' She (with a slight smart tone) asked if I would keep it in the driveway, in the kitchen, in the livingroom...WHERE would it be kept. I said "well, we have an extra bedroom where we can park it, I guess..." There was a long silence indicating lack of sense of humor. The call ended pretty quick after that. Anyway, thanks y'all! Avery

Hi! I am a relatively new 240z owner (i got hls # 30-10862 in October 2006 and have been loving every minute since then) with a slightly more specific question about insurance. Hagarty would not insure me when I told them that I would like to be able to actually drive my car when I want to (ie: once a week or so to work and on weekends for fun, etc...). I do not anticipate putting tons of miles on it (I have diven about 1750 in the last 5 months) but would like not to be restricted to 'just to car shows' or 'just to car club meetings,' or whatever the common restrictions are with the classic car insurers. As it is right now, I just added the car onto my GEICO policy with my Forester and my wife's Corolla. Are there any options out there for someone who wants to enjoy their Z without such restrictions? Thanks a lot for any insight- I'm sure when I know more about the car I'l have a lot more questions for y'all! Avery