72ZDave

I did a search on seat foam and have been reading all the threads. Most people buy the foam kits and use those, but they are $125 each and I still have a lot to do on this car. I wanted to know if anyone has used generic foam or something else to restore their seats. I appreciate any input!!

Post pics when you can! Mine's at the paint shop and I haven't even picked out a color yet. I ordered the patch panels yesterday so when I take them to the body shop, I'll probably have to narrow down the color!

I've lived in Michigan for 19 years and now Arkansas for 20. I remember storing the cars in the winter and driving an old beat up pickup around until the snow melted! We get some down here, but not like the guys up North! I'm anxious for the Z meet in Branson! Hopefully we'll have some good weather for it!

I bought the factory service manual and Wick Humbles book as well as how to rebuild your Nissan/Datsun OHC engine and between the three of them and this forum, I've been able to get my questions answered. It's funny, I bought a Z to drive to get better mileage and since it's gonna be awhile before it's done and diesel is now around $4.00/gallon, I bought an old Miata to drive until I get the Z done! Good luck hunting and get a solid candidate!

I haven't got to that yet! I have been getting everything out of the engine bay so when she goes to the paint shop, the 70's brown repaint exterior and original orange engine bay can be sprayed blue! I'm sure I'll get to the heater valve hose clamp soon!

Ok, I just spent wayyyy too long getting the clevis pin out of the brake pedal to remove my master vac. My back hurts, I was twisted in positions I don't care to be in and have a headache from being upside down too long. Now part of this is because I also removed the clutch master as well, but I'm trying to figure out if there is an easier way to remove and install this clevis pin. I figured one of you guys has done this more times than he cares to and has some good insight. I appreciate the help!

Here's a couple by me if anyone's interested! http://fayar.craigslist.org/car/607557171.html

Thanks Brian! Mine are definitely bent and twisted. The car had been repainted and the bumper off and looks like it's been "bumped" so who knows what's happened in 36 years. I appreciate the pics!

I'm getting my car ready for paint and took the rear bumper off my 72 today. Besides twisting one of the bolts off, it went pretty well. The mounts for the rear bumper that attach to the quarter panels look twisted. Is this correct? I was hoping someone had pictures of their rear bumper brackets they could post for me. Thanks!!

I agree, they all look good. My car was orange, then sloppily painted brown. I like the Datsun blue and plan to go with something close to that. DatsunZsrule sent me pics of his blue and I like it but may go with more silver in my blue. The point is I'm about ready to send to paint and don't have a color picked out yet! It would be nice to say do 110 and be done! Zak, post some pics soon!

While my friend was pulling my motor out of my 240, a guy stopped by and told him where a 240 was for sale that didn't have any rust and ran when parked years ago. He went to look at it and turns out it's a 260Z 2+2 auto. He still may be interested in it, it appears to be original, needs work and has very little rust. I know the 240's from looking for one and from seeing the discussions on this web page, but is this 260 worth anything more than just an old 70's car?

We have 4 or 5 sheets of ice in the whole State and I'm lucky enough to be close to one. We have a rec league OHL (Ozark Hockey League) and have 18-76 year old guys playing! My Z goes to paint hopefully next week an I think I can get my hockey bag in the rear hatch when I get her on the road!

Yeah, it's the glow in the dark frisbee. I had one too in the 70's!

You SoCal guys kill me! You can stop at lunch at a salvage yard and get Datsun parts! I have to call all surrounding salvage yards and ask if they know what a Datsun is, and if I'm lucky, they have one or two! Hope you get it nailed down and back on the road!

I've searched and read the threads in here about a/c units and coolants. I'm restoring my 72 and it has air on it now, but it's a great time to upgrade the system. From the threads, I know not to expect much out of any of the systems, but what is the best bang for the buck without a lot of modification? Should I get a 280 system or the Vintage Air, or what?

That's good to know about having someone knowlegable on Z's do the headwork, but I'm in Northwest Arkansas and don't have many choices for guys that work on imports. If anyone knows of a good place for valve jobs in the AR, OK, MO, KS, TX area, let me know!

Thanks for the input. I think we will have it mic'd and see where the tolerances come in and if we're in spec, we'll put in new rings and bearings. It's good to hear they're straight forward. I know the guy isn't a hack, but he doesn't wrench for a living, he welds for a living. I know the work he's done and can do this, but wanted any insight into things we need to watch out for. Best of luck on your rebuild and hopefully before long, we can compare finished pics!

I'm having my motor pulled Friday or Monday at our fab shop at work as the car is going to paint soon. I was talking with the owner of the fab shop and advised I'd like to have the head re-done for unleaded gas and we of course got into the top end vs bottom end rebuild. He said we could re-ring and bearing the motor while we have it out and send the head out for a valve job. He's rebuilt many engines, but never seen the inside of L24. Is this a fairly straight forward job to re-ring and put in new bearings in the stock motor (providing we're still within spec and don't need a bore)? Is there anything specific we need to be on alert for or anything else we should do while in there, like we'll replace the oil pump. I appreciate your expertise and input! Also, I do have the "How to rebuild your Datsun Motor" book that has been mentioned in the forums and will go through that as well. Thanks! P.S. Motor has not been run since late 80's but was running when parked and oil in the motor appears decent. FWIW

That makes sense, thanks again for the help! Dave

Below are pics of my door panel and my center console. My console doesn't have a lid or hinged top to it. Is it supposed to have one or is the way I pulled it out of the car correct? Also, my white door panel has a blue paint on the chrome trim strip at the top. Portions of the blue are worn off, so I don't know if it's supposed to be chrome and someone painted it blue or if it's supposed to be blue. I'm not shooting for a concours restoration that is exactly correct, however I would like to keep it as original as it makes sense. Of course usability and cost concerns will also drive how the car is restored. I appreciate your help!!

There's no doubt Sellers use shill bidders. They get the price up to where the next bid wins out and they get the price they want. It's a sneaky way having a reserve without listing a reserve price. I don't have any idea if this guy is doing that, but guaranty alot of relists you see are this scenario....and they blame it on dead-beat bidders!

How many guys from Arkansas on here? Well, I've received messages from a guy in Bentonville and Harrison. Between them and you and I, that makes 4. I think we should invite the rest of the Classic Z-car gang over this summer to drive the Pig Trail. I noticed on Dream Car Garage, the Ferrari guys hit the Pig Trail this year. After mediocre Italian car enthusiasts, the road is probably ready for some inline sixes to tear it up!

Just added HLS30-57681 to the list. Build date 12/71.

The PO of my car looks like he played for Zeppelin! I'm pretty sure those sweet Jensen speakers I just pulled out had to have played Cashmere!

Yes, plan on keeping the white interior. I'm planning on a blue exterior. I have the carpet ordered as well as some misc parts, but still need to order the seat covers. All the plastic pieces were broke and extremely brittle, guess I'll have to replace all of those.