conedodger

Sorry, I did not read anything but the first post and that I only scanned. If not enough voltage gets to the dropping resistors they will not fire the injectors. The engine will turn but not fire. This is clearly electrical. Ground problem?

It is possible your voltage drops so low when you turn on the headlights that the dropping resistors are not getting enough voltage.

Hopefully the reserve is fairly high. Right now the Euro is .650:1USD or less. The right European buyer could snatch this up for less than 20K Euro at reserve of $30K. If this goes through to sale, watch for it to be leaving the country. This was indeed a very special program. I was at the debut and auction of one of the first cars.

I believe you will find that the wheel is still available. Google Revolution Racing Wheels and see. Last I looked at their site they still sold that style.

Not a really great pic but they could be Revolution Wheels. That would make them fairly rare and expensive.

IIRC it was late in 74... At this late date, isn't it possible that someone has backdated the late 260Z in question with early 260Z bumpers? The reason the 260Z is used is because its mounting interface is the same as the 280 (and late 260) impact strut. My apologies for giving you the how-to. I didn't realize you were a shop owner or employee. You probably already knew how...

To do this modification to a 280Z Remove existing bumper Remove screws at leading edge of impact struts Using a sharp object, insert through hole and puncture membrane Push back on impact strut to release gas and mineral oil Test mount bumper pushing back until you get proper position Mark impact strut with proper position, mark body on sides in rear for mount holes Remove test fit bumper Tack weld strut in proper position, drill holes in body for rear side mount bolts Remount bumper at front Remount bumper at rear Enjoy beverage of your choice and post pictures here

You are probably right. Back then we didn't have forums and we just got wind of the shop going out of business and the unique Z for sale. Funny, I think I have about 8 years worth of Bob Sharp catalogs around here somewhere. I used to carry it with me everywhere and circle the things I wanted to buy.

I had this done at a one man custom shop in Sacramento about 10 years ago. I forget what the quote was but when it was done the guy said if he was ever going to do another he would charge 4 times as much. Not an easy process I guess. It also turned out beautifully.

There was a car like this, perhaps even this one for sale out of a shop in Arizona a few years back. Late 90's. The shop was Z focused and going out of business. I recall the car being originally a BSR styling project or something. There was a feeding frenzy on the old IZCC email forums. Arizona Z cars in quantity!!!

Oh sorry... I thought I wasn't clear enough in what I said. No offense taken. I am actually the person who used to have the website PlanetZ with instructions on how to convert a Turbo AFM for use in a NA 280Z. I have quite a bit of experience with EFI but I have generally come to the conclusion that most people should stick to making what the factory gave them work the way the factory intended. I now have the 240Z I have always wanted... It rocks!

I have actually had many Z cars and most were 280Z's. My point was that after 30 some odd years most of them leak down their pressure even though they are not supposed to. I have seldom seen any more than a bit of dribbling. The sign that this is the case in your EFI Z is hard hot starting. I had the injectors cleaned and balanced in the last 280Z I had and it did hold pressure. I knew this because I installed a gauge inline...

I have never found there to be too much pressure in the line. I think after all these years they just leak down their pressure...

I used to have a site called PlanetZ that outlined this and other modifications. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being so easy, your 10 year old could do it while you sip a beverage and watch to 10 you need a degree in mechanical engineering and a budget similar to NASA I would say this is about a 4-5. You need a good set of 260 bumpers. I imagine the carbon fiber or fiberglass replacements would work as long as the fit is good. You need all the rubber associated parts. Remove your existing bumpers and find several friends to help you lift them into the dumpster. Remove the screw in the leading edge of your impact absorbers. With a drill bit you puncture a membrane and let out the Co2 and as you push back, the mineral oil in the absorber. Now, mount the 260 bumpers and test fit. You will have to push them back until you get the fit you want to the body. Mark the location the strut is at and remove the bumper. Tack weld the strut in the location you marked. Reinstall the bumper. The front one will bolt right on. The rear one will mount to the struts but you will have to drill holes and insert bolts to mount the sides. I would say this was one of the most satisfying modifications I ever did to my 280Z. Obviously, you lose protection. The biggest hassle and expense of this modification is finding straight or straightening 260Z bumpers. Good luck...

I think I have an old AC compressor from a ZX or 280Z around... Would that work?

I agree... Lots of great Z car history. Mine is like new. I love it. Rob

Carl, I was reading on ZHome the other night. I saw your paragraph on the Datsun 280ZX book that Nissan put out to introduce the ZX. Is what you said there current? Is that book really worth that much now? I got the book too... I had mine on the bookshelf for years and didn't look at it at all. I remember thinking what they did to the car sucked. It has grown on me though...:squareeye

I picked up my cousin who is a NASCAR VIP at the Napa Airport after an Infinion NASCAR event. He was a bit tipsy after a day in the VIP suite and the helicopter ride from Infinion and as he got into my Datsun he said "Whoa! This thing is SICK!!!" Given the ten year difference in our ages it took me about five minutes to realize that he didn't mean my car sucked... Over the next week as he stayed at my house he drove every one of my cars. I thought for sure he would like the Porsche's better but in the end he said that he loved the way the Z revved so easily and was "so light and tossable". To which I said, "huh?" He said "Just kidding".

No... Sorry.

Interesting that at $40K his European "price of entry to the interview" has dropped to $25,280 at current exchange rate Dollar:Euro = $1:.632. Now if he was the original Z store buyer he is just trying to bail with what he paid for it. They are very nice cars. not original certainly but very nicely done by a couple of very good restoration shops. Pierre's and Classic Datsun Motorsports. The original plan was to do 100 I think to build excitement for and introduce the 350Z. My guess is he is fishing in a European pond.

DeesZ, Sorry you don't get to meet her... She is my wife. The joke is that on occasion she turns from Yopu (her nickname) to Pu her angry, irrational, unreasonable evil twin. You don't want to be around her when that happens. It will ruin your day. Obviously, she is well worth the trouble for me though... She has a couple sisters though... :knockedou

Carl, Are you predicting the outcome of the auction or doing a valuation?

I remember seeing several of the Z store cars when they were newly finished and in the showroom. They sold for half of this price. They are nice and anything of a limited number can but doesn't always command a higher price. I do not think this one will sell at this price unless some European takes advantage of the .632:1 exchange rate. I just sold a 914-6 conversion to a guy in Norway and he didn't make an attempt to bargain. He just said, "I'll take it". This may be an attempt to sell to that market.

We car hobbiest spend so much effort trying to outsmart trained engineers. If you don't race, you probably don't need anything 'better' than the stock Nissan replacement. A smart Z owner who happened to be an aerospace engineer once told me "argueing with an engineer is like mudwrestling with a pig. After half an hour or so you realize your covered in mud and the pig loves it".

It was 80 here today... I used to live in Robbinsdale. Now, I am all thawed out. I thought you should know. Sorry...