RolfSis

For someone who has a cracked front bumper from their original 1971 240Z like we do, don't plan to replace or fix it, since we're selling it BUT am collecting expertise and information where I can for the new buyer. I was thinking they'd need to find an original bumper in a junk yard somewhere to replace, but perhaps your solutions would be better. We're in the U.S., but very interesting in this thread, and will listen further in case the Carbon Fiber alternatives also work for our U.S. '71 240Z. Thank you for posting this thread and teaching us stuff as well.

Man, oh man, am I happy we didn't sell our '71 240Z to the person we almost sold it to who would have done what some of these videos showed to that Classic. FREAKY street stuff, to say the least. Gotta wonder what or who all got in the way of the street madness, and very happy it wasn't our Z. Shut me up!

OOps, sorry, mean to post in another thread. Forgive me with thanks.

A Z is a Z or not? It's tough to decide the worth of a Z, especially the 1971 240Z. This ad on Ebay says it's a 70 or 71 .... how would you know? AND it doesn't run. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-Z-SERIES-1970-1971-240z-DATSUN_W0QQitemZ260299743144QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260299743144&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1308&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

Not sure this photo from last year tells much, but perhaps. Your guess is definitely better than mine in terms of what this black box could be. When my brother returns from his trip, I hope he can give me some clues as well. http://asta.bizhosting.com/KickingTires.htm and scroll down to the view with the black box.

Great! It looks very old and haggard, but perhaps why the problem exists. Hope this weekend our family can go through all the diagrams and schematics and follow your helpful clues to a resolution. Whew, feeling a little less lost.

Google query had lots of hits on cowl drains, but none appeared to be out issue. I did find a link with really good clues on some known 240Z issues, although they don't appear to be our concerns. Worth a look, I believe. http://datsunzgarage.com/probs/

Thanks again, Arne, wise move to post here so others can also benefit. :surprised It's just not as easy as I thought it would be. I'm now wondering about the rubber plug which looks ghastly and may be a piece of the problem, remembering that although our Z is a California native, it is aged and lifelong on the California streets. Here are thumbnails (I hope) to show my degree of baffled:

Thank you also, E. Ours is a 4-speed stick ... It's a 240Z but my brother had the Z-Doctor (or maybe it was the dealer, not sure) replace it with a 260 engine some 10,000 miles ago. I was getting guidance from Arne in another space here on how to troubleshoot our Wiper Motor issue since the wipers quit on us about the time we chipped out the tar mat to inspect the floor, which was the impetus for requesting these schematics/diagrams. We had no clue what what what, we're novices who love the Z. ":0) But we sure do tip our hats to this crew!!! Man, oh man, what an excellent site; people here know their stuff ... again .... brilliant! I printed each of the thumbnails and the PDF file; and they're excellent references that I'm sure my brother and hubby will also appreciate this weekend (if it doesn't rain) and we can troubleshoot some more. I had a bit of a problem printing the PDF file for reasons unknown, it just printed one enlarged segment of the PDF linked/file, so I used the print-screen function when on screen, opened WORD, pasted there and modified so I could print the whole thing. When/if they get into the guts of the wiper motor problem before we sell it, I've still got the on-screen PDF to enlarge and zero in on the key points. If it turns out we sell it before we restore the functionality of wipers, it'll be an excellent addition along with maintenance records to give the new owner/buyer. Thank you sooooo much; I'm almost wishing I were able to do all this myself! I'm definitely intrigued. ":0)

Fantastic, brilliant.... !! Thank you, Dave.

Is there a link which shows exactly what the 1971 Datsun 240Z has under the hood, inside under the dash and so on? I'm amazed at how tough it is to find any such diagrams or schematic on the technical/mechanical guts of this classic. Thanks lots.

Thank you so much! Yes, Arne, we've been putting off the sale the past year since we both drove it weekends with much glee. We've taken it to a shop many times getting things updated and fixed as money allowed, since none of us are mechanical. After serious surgery, I no longer can drive it (too low for me), and with the rainy season on the horizon and the wipers not working, will definitely sell it no later than October, 2008. We've driven it only weekends and are at 191,009 miles, so less than 500 miles since February. Mostly my hubby's been driving it, and boasted at having taken it to frightening speed at least once without a hint of a problem. Scary for me that anyone would go THAT fast. I'm old school, tee hee. We've had offers in the $2500-$3500 range but a number of them were from other countries or wanted us to handle transportation, etc. October, 2008 is our FOR SURE date to list on eBay and use Paypal to finalize. My online time is limited and doing eBay education to understand the process. Now that we've taken the price down from $4100 to $2800 with the various considerations (front bumper crack, wiper problem, sun-dried paint, rusty exhaust system, even though a new muffler was installed). The car sounds great, drives great, and will be missed. My brother (the owner) is ready to let it go; sadly we too. Thanks again. ":0) Asta

Thank you for clarifying! Since that is the case, I can't help thinking that those who are showing their 240Z at really low readings either aren't aware or don't feel it important to add that left-most digit (tsk tsk). I'm thinking that's probably why when you look up history records for cars older than 1980 or 1981, there is no information. Again, thank you.

:surprised Our '71 240Z Odometer doesn't have enough space for the actual readings, so rather than it having what is shown of 91,009 it has 191,009. Many 240Z classics I've seen here as well as selling on eBay show what appears to be mileage 100K short due to this. Is this a common thing, historically with this year Z ? I find it surprising that the creators of this great classic would be so short-sighted as to envision the life of a 240Z to be so short. Forgive me, please, if I posted this in the incorrect forum. A novice, learning with thanks. Asta

Went to Ace Hardware and got some kits and weatherstripping things, would that work as an interim solution to keep water out? Actually bought truckloads of possibilities thinking it would be viable. It just seems to me that we should have creative alternatives to keeping out the rains, no?

As a new Grand-Aunt, feel the excitement you feel and wanted to jump in with a "congratulations" to you! We thought we'd keep our Z for grandchildren as well for eons to come, but times changed things for us. Enjoy all the special Z-magic you can!

We're selling our '71 240Z as well, and feel the weather stripping is brittle and may also need to be replaced if we go further with fixes, so very interested in this thread, and listening. Hope you don't mind.

OK ... what about our 1971 240 Z, we're about to put out to bid on eBay next Thursday. My brother is the original/current owner of this 36 year old classic (single owner) and ready to let go. Wanted to keep it for his son, but things changed. So any ideas/thoughts? Given recent investments in our Z, want $4100, though some have given us higher $s. Is eBay the way to go or not? ":0) Asta

Arne, I see you're online here, but not sure how to talk. ???? Asta

The engine sounds so good and powerful. We love taking it through the hills, cranking her up on the freeway and so on. People's heads turn, they hear the power, and look intrigued! Clearly it's a gem that others in the bay area of California turn their heads to see. No doubt she'll sell soon when we put her/him up on eBay. Having posted tons of pictures through time on the fixings, etc., and all the disclosures on this "as is" sale, more than happy to post more or links to previous details, if you like. ":0)

You are so sweet, helplful and THANKS! Don't know where to unplug what! And at the point of being overwhelmes with complexities beyond our knowledge on this classic 240Z. But have had people come by interested.... and maybe that's what has to happen. We all wanted to sell this to someone who would appreciate the classic 240Z and preserve/improve our baby, but maybe we just have to "get off it" and let it go. BUT, What Mat M said "When you get the motor to operate, there still isn't a guarantee that the wipers will function properly. You may have to opoen the cowl up and take apart/clean/lube all moving parts so the contraption places a little stress on the motor as possible." ... We're quite sure that we're letting this puppy go! And, yes, we'd all just love to keep driving her, loving her, etc., but time is up! We're selling this baby! Although, hubby and me went out driving week after week, and just love the 1) sound 2) power 3) ride 4) the way the Z turns people's head hearing/seeing it and so on.... BUT, next Thursday, all good, she's going out to bid on eBay. Anyone who hasn't driven a 1971 Datsun 240Z, doesn't know what she/he is missing! LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SEE/HEAR A VIDEO ON HOW SHE/HE SOUNDS! ":0) Asta

YIKES! So sorry to be out of touch!

Thanks, Randy. You sure look like you're in excellent hands here, so reading and learning. Not sure this link will add any value, but maybe since it's work on a 240Z with fiberglass issues. Novice that I am, not sure it was fiberglass that my hubby chipped off our original '71 240Z or what the Tar Mats were made of, but he needed lots of patience and muscle to get it chipped out. http://www.project240z.com/Blog/tabid/53/EntryID/73/Default.aspx

Gadzooks! Owe you some updates; here they come. Hope to put our Z up on eBay next Thursday; thanks so much for all your help! These links aren't in order, but want to get them up here nonetheless. Towards the bottom are additional navigational links to our Z. The more I learn, the more I have to learn....pooped ()! http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/november_updates.htm http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240z-b4_after1.htm] http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240z-b4_after2.htm

Owe some updates, so here goes: http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240z-b4_after1.htm http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240z-b4_after2.htm http://www.asta.bizhosting.com/240Z-inquiry_form.htm Lots more, but at least wanted to return with some. Thank you for your guidance and help.