psdenno

If it makes you feel any better, the dealership in Rancho Mirage, CA that services my Audi charges $135 an hour. Six miles from there my 240Z mechanic charges $65 an hour. Shop around. There are good mechanics at reasonable prices. Do it yourself - learn a skill and celebrate by buying beer for your friends with the $100 you save. A Win/Win situation. Dennis

Works for me. One black face & one in white. Nice job! Dennis

I've searched the archive, but haven't found an answer. I'd like to hear from anyone who has put BMW 318 or 325 seats in an early Z. Do you need to mount them lower than the stock seats mounts or just fab a simple mounting bracket on the stock floor mounts? First hand experience appreciated. Thanks, Dennis

Nice clean look! Dennis

Ford Explorer Sport Trac or Audi A6. Dennis

Let's all chip in a couple bucks a piece and donate it to a museum. That would keep it off ebay for a while. Dennis

Timely post - I just renewed my policy with American Collector's Insurance this morning. 1971 240Z, $11,500 value, $0 deductible, includes coverage for $500 spare parts and $25 basic towing: Annual Premium - $77.16 For comparison with my other cars on the policy... Same coverage for 1963 Studebaker Avanti valued $18,000: $120.32 Same coverage for 1970 Porsche valued $31,500: $173.96 There is an annual mileage limitation of 2,500 on each car, which is not a problem for me - but may be for some. Dennis

My owner's manual is currently in a tool chest drawer in my garage since my glovebox crumbled. (Note to self: Order reproduction glovebox) Factory shop manuals and Haynes manual are on a shelf in my home office. Dennis

You're going to get a bunch of opinions on this one, so let me be among the first. I ran AC on my '71 Z for decades with no aux fan. I did have a bigger than stock radiator, however, and a flex blade clutchless fan blade in place of the stock unit. I had no problems. When I switched out the original ARA unit last year, I installed a Hayden 3670 electric fan that comes on when the AC is on (about $100). I got rid of the flex fan and installed a stock plastic fan & clutch. Works well in 110 degree heat here in the desert. There are various other solutions, including junk yard fans from other makes. Dennis

As =Enigma= stated above, a Z is worth only what a buyer is willing to pay. You'll generally be money ahead, and on the road sooner, buying someone's completed project rather than reviving a tired Z on your own. Of course, it's hard to put a value on the pleasure, or pain, you'll get from completing a project car. Most of us are dreamers who search for the one time good deal or fantasize about completing a total restoration under budget and on time. It makes life interesting. Good luck with your search! Dennis

I had my Audi painted at Maaco a couple weeks ago and will run the Z past them for an estimate after I do a little more body work. My wife drives the Audi and was pleased with the results. Initally there were a couple dust specks on one door and they corrected the issue to our satisfaction. Dennis

For me, covered headlights complete the Z. I added a set of unsealed, rimless, covers shortly after I bought my Z in '71 and finally removed them a couple years ago. I'm now prepping a second set of headlight buckets for a pair of sealed covers with the metal rims. Can't wait to get them on! Thanks for the inspirational pictures to get me remotivated. Dennis

I think reproducing them for anything other than your own amusement could lead to problems. Someone, somewhere, still owns the rights to the artwork/pictures. I speak from experience. Several years ago, as editor of an international Porsche club publication, I included a reprint of a 25 year old magazine advertisement for a product that included a picture of a Porsche. Generally, I always got permission before reprinting something, but this time I didn't as I thought, "What could go wrong?". Within a couple weeks, I had a call from the photographer who originally took the picture used in the product ad. He still owned the rights to the picture and requested that my lawyer call his lawyer to work out payment for unauthorized use of his work. What was the chance of that happening? About one in a bazillion! I learned a powerful lesson. I suggest you take a little time and use the internet to track down the owner of the rights and request permission to copy. I've never had a rejection, when I asked for permission. Dennis

Sometimes the end bolts are the hardest part to remove. Go easy on them as it's quite easy to break them off......he said from experience. After removing them, I just undo the nuts holding the bumper to the bumper brackets and off it comes. Can be done solo, but an extra pair of hands makes it easier and prevents scratches. Dennis

Thanks, that sort of clears it up for me. Keep us posted on your experiments. Dennis

Excuse me for not understanding, but how are you making these formed, cloth covered, hoses? Did I miss something in a previous post or other thread? Dennis

Welcome to the group - nice low serial number. Remember, rust is just nature's way of saying, "Slow Down". All can be fixed. Keep us posted on your progress. Dennis

My solution has always been to just set the idle RPM a couple hundred higher. This worked with both the old York compressor as well as the current rotary unit. Not very high tech, but solves the problem nicely. There's probably some rational reason I shouldn't do that, but it's worked well for 37 years. Dennis

Add me to the "Spook Lover" list - clean, simple, functional. Mine served me well for over 35 years. Now, I'm working on adding chrome rimmed headlight covers to replace the non-sealed rimless ones that were installed for decades - another front look I like and have wanted since '71. Some changes just seem to take a little longer than others. Dennis

Thanks for the link - it is cool! Dennis

It's fun to be "value" conscious and dream about the high prices of certain Zs listed for sale. However, for the most part, the the only people making money on Zs are the ones selling parts or turning wrenches in an established shop. Consider your Z to be an investment that adds to your driving pleasure, story telling, and self image. Don't think of it as part of your retirement portfolio as they tend to not keep up with the inflation rate. Dennis

I've had good luck using dental floss or fine string. Fishing line would probably work, too. Just go slow, a little at a time, working from both ends and then by "threading" the string through top to bottom under the slightly raised emblem, closer to the middle and pulling "out" between the pegs. It's generally been easier than it sounds. Dennis

Getting back to the post that started this thread...... Parts are expensive only if you think they are. As my wife the psychologist taught me long ago, we each live in our own reality. Remembering that has saved me a great deal of anguish when dealing with others. :0) Dennis

I had a set of semi-permanantly installed metal louvers on my Z for decades - secured to the hatch by metal channels that slid under the glass seal on each side and a center strip that attached to the glass with double sided tape. I don't like the bolt on type that requires drilling holes in the Z. As part of my on-goning refurb, they are now off and a new set of the metal MSA louvers await in the garage. I watched ebay for good deals for a year or more and shipping cost was generally the deal breaker. I stop by MSA several times a year and recently picked up my set, so no shipping cost. Dennis

Assume it's 138K, or even 238K, and then start looking at the physical wear signs which are: Wear on the pedal pads Upholstery (original?) windshield (original glass?), chips sand blast shift knob Ask for maintenance records original headlights or later US replacements original carpet & pad or replacement wear on the steering wheel - or replaced? These are just a few of the easy ones. There are more under the hood if you look for grime build up on the engine and replaced parts that shouldn't have gone bad in 38K miles. Good luck, always assume the worst and hope for the best when buying a used car. Dennis