psdenno

Welcome! Dennis

In an effort to show that it is a Small World after all, a couple pictures of Joyce can be seen at this link if you scroll down the page. http://www.prendergastlibrary.org/friends/ The question remains....will she return? Dennis

Hopefully, Franceso has a sense of humor and is quietly amused by all the analytic responses his initial message generated. Either that or he's put his Z up for sale and is making plans to buy a different Japanese car and move along to the Miata Forum in hope of connecting with fewer owners with too much time on their hands. Dennis

Hi Franceso and welcome to the group. Glad to have another '71 original owner in the mix. To answer your questions, which I've numbered above.... 1. Possibly some of each, generally owners responding based on their experiences. 2. It will range from VERY to HARDLY. Your job is to evaluate and use what you can. 3. Possibly, but probably not. You can send a personal message through the forum for direct contact. 4. Responses often come in minutes. But, days, weeks, and months are not unusual. 5. Discounts on parts, member ads, FREE help and emotional support, and the ability to tap into thousands of years of actual owners's Z experiences. What could be better? Dennis

Also, a typo on the "Caution" decal - "it's" should be "its". It's that possessive or contraction dilemma that often rears its ugly head for the rest of your life after leaving second grade. Check spelling on "vehical" on the 3000 decal - should be "vehicle". Dennis

Buy and enjoy while you can.....the Aliens may get tired of your "real" wife and bring her back. Dennis

It ALWAYS pays to take a little time to shop around. Dennis

Welcome! Good luck with the search. Dennis

And so the adventure begins.......... It's always nice to have a paper trail, or a Melnick trail in this case, on an old car. Dennis

Thanks for posting the pictures - makes me want to get back to work on my Z. Dennis

Sorry....duplicate post. Dennis

Welcome to the group! Sounds like you have an entertaining project ahead. Dennis

Welcome to the group! As you get into your project, you might discover that the stock engine can enable you to accrue attention and tickets almost as well as the V8 you contemplate. Enjoy your '71. Dennis

Any cost estimates so I can start saving? Dennis

Other than spelling Yokohama incorrectly (YokAhama on plaque), it seems legit. I sense an aftermarket "vanity" plaque addition. Dennis

Idaho, south of Boise. Dennis

Nice looking car with an interesting, yet convoluted, story. Check this link: http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Datsun-280Z-Griffith-Convertible-Magazine-Article-/350209730572 Dennis

The only difference being a return of 50 cents on the dollar invested in the finished Porsche 356 as opposed to a possible return of 20-30 cents on the dollar for the Z. If you buy the Z, think of it as challenge or a project, not an addition to your retirement portfolio. Let us know what you do. Dennis

Happy Anniversary from another 40 year owner! Dennis

I've had good luck with the stock plastic pieces - available at your local Datsun/Nissan dealership for just a couple bucks each. I'm on my first set of replacements, so I really can't complain about having to replace them too often in the 40 years I've owned the Z. Dennis

I'll add my +1 to the Nutz method mentioned above. I did that with both buckets on my Z several years ago and they have survived several "remove & reinstall" cycles with no problems. In addition, fiberglass mat, cloth, and resin have been used to repair cracks in the buckets. Dennis

I think we've probably reached the point where we're beating a dead horse. It's difficult to compare prices at MSA with BD or anyone else without taking into consideration a plethora of issues not related directly to the actual vendor's cost of the parts. Obviously, the parts don't jump into the shipping boxes all by themselves and there's a good chance that labor costs in Southern California are a little higher than in Lenexa, Kansas - the same for rent, utilities, and everything else that goes into running a business. I think the only thing we're going to agree on is that a Z can become a hole in the driveway into which we pour money. Some holes are deeper than others and each owner needs to know when, and how, to move on to a more shallow hole - or where to look for cheaper fill. Dennis

Have you checked the bulbs, flasher, and to see if power is getting to the sockets via the turn signal switch? Dennis

Perhaps your list of 23 local cars is a key to the answer to why they sell for so little money....... there seems to be too many of them for sale. How many Ferraris did you notice on Craigslist? Supply & Demand plays a big part. Z owners should enjoy their cars for what they are and not consider them to be part of their retirement portfolio. Changing the subject a bit - your Healey project sounds really nice! Dennis

Allow me to add another vote for MSA/Z Store. I buy items from them every few months and have for years. I've never been disappointed or felt overcharged. Are some of their products expensive? Yes. But, that tends to be the nature of the product, not the vendor. I feel that they offer quality parts at competitive prices. If you "can't fathom spending the amount they request" and feel their "stuff is overpriced", the solution is simple - buy elsewhere. It's a BIG world. Unfortunately, restoring or maintaining a 40 year old car is, often, not for the faint of wallet. Dennis