Zed Head

So, just to sum things up, there's an undisclosed owner who bought the car from Malamut in 2017 and Wob is selling it for him now in 2020. Does that sound right? Wonder why today's owner is selling it, and why is it still at the Collection site, after three years. Just questions. The paperwork, registration, etc. up to today would be interesting to see. Seems to end in 2018. The last few puzzle pieces... The tags expire this month. Maybe he doesn't want to pay the fee.

Interesting how the internet lets us track the path of things through time now. It's not really an investment unless he hopes to make a profit reselling it, right? And it's not a great one until he does. At least, investing as it's meant in financial terms. And car collecting "passion" (type from the Malamut web site), and investing aren't really the same thing. Nothing wrong with either, they're just not the same. The Malamut collection looks like a really enjoyable business to own and run, that's for sure though. He gets to do both, make money and collect cars, together. But other collectors just need to be very aware of the first part.

1997 maybe.

Is it the blue one? Weird that it has 31,000 miles also. Loaned FROM his personal collection. TO the Foundation??? For display and business purposes? It still seems to be there. Edit - actually I see that some of the cars are PART OF the collection. Where are the loaned cars, I wonder. The world of money. It's a strange place.

I don't know how the Museum works. Sounds like you're saying that people loan their cars to the Museum for display? Looks like a tax scheme to me. The general public can't go see the cars. I assume that fees are charged to groups, so it's a business and various costs are tax deductible. Regardless, it still looks like one owner since 2002, unless the car was sold but stayed at the "Museum", for this second sale. Don't know. The BAT listing implies that this is the second owner since it left storage in 2002. The car "joined" the Museum, then somebody bought it and is now reselling it. Convolution... Actually I see that Charland Auto is in the middle there also. Maybe they messed around with it. I'm seeing four owners so far, if Malamut actually owned it, three if Charland still owned it while it was displayed. Could be that Malamut is actually a consignment shop and the "collection" is the sales inventory. http://malamutautomuseumfoundation.org/

You'll know more about the market in two days, see link below. Your car is far from this one in quality. But, it would behoove you (always wanted to use behoove) if you want maximum price to collect any original paper work your dad has collected. The early cars' values are affected by provenance (another good word).

What's more interesting about what you're showing is "how did they get on this car?". The fakes/repro's probably weren't available in 1981. The car went in in 1981 then came out and went to Malamut "Museum" in 2002. And, apparently, is still there, Wob seems to be selling the car for Malamut. There is no real seller after Malamut, it's all Malamut. Wob is his agent. And Wob says he has known the car since "Day 1". So, one of those two parties must have added something to the car that went into storage in 1981. People are right to be suspicious, some things are not 100% transparent here.

This area will be a problem. Kidding. Any chance you could take a few steps back and take some of the whole car? There's potential for a low miles, low number 240Z, but there are a lot of dents there. What happened? Those aren't normal.

Are those both from the video? In the video the front passenger cap is not the same as the rear. Actually, maybe just the right front is "real", by your comment. Nit nit nit... Such fun.

The fact that you got spark shows that the circuit and power supply and ground and coil are working. It's hard to tell though, if you have a triggering problem or a module problem. That's what the second test shows, Test 11, triggering. Seems like it's either the module or the magnet under the pickup coil. You can swap modules on your new distributor and see if the old one works. Always good to have a spare. If you want to take a chance, take it apart and see if the magnet is intact. Careful though, it's fragile.

That looks right if you measured with the key off. You are measuring through the pickup coil, on the red and green wires. It's shown in one of the items on the site site listed, about 2/3 down. https://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/distributorrebuild/index.html

Driving video.

After so many years and miles it's dangerous to mess with the head bolts. Some are probably rusty and ready to break. On that topic, has anyone considered the clamping force of a head bolt that's half rusted through? Might be a cause of blown head gaskets on old engines. Who knows.

Don't overlook the backing plate maybe rubbing on the drum. The bottom edge tends to get bent. More of a grindy squeal.

I can see your house from my computer. There's a squirrel in your yard...

The self-adjuster was probably involved as noted. You should make a habit of using the parking brake, because it's what adjusts the back brakes. I was going to ask about brake pedal travel earlier because that's what happens before the brake warning switch is actuated. But, after just two weeks of ownership, baby steps are best (no offense). Your brakes probably still need bleeding, the pedal should be high and hard. More stuff will happen. See you soon...

Here's a picture of the switch that makes the light go on.

Here's some backfill on the pre-2002 times, besides just the registration cards. Apparently the car had been stored for three years before 1979. So that's 30,000 miles in about 5 years, ~ 7/71 - 7/76. So it had some driving done on it, about 6,000 miles / year. Only about 7 years total on the road, as an actual driver. These 5 plus 79 - 81. Post 2002 was just "show"-driving. There's also a list of parts, hoses, clamps, tuneup parts, etc., to go through. For anyone working on the puzzle. Picture #320.

Here's a section from the FSM about the warning switch. I'd check fluid levels and bleed the brakes first thing. Check the pads and other parts also. You never know what a PO might have done. My calipers were on the wrong sides when I got my car. The drawing shows the little nipple that the wire attaches to, that AK260 mentioned. https://www.classiczcars.com/files/category/11-240z/

Have you measured cylinder pressures? If they are correct then valve seals would be the next place to look. Pretty easy to replace, easier than replacing oil scraper rings on the pistons.

Welcome Greggers13 and good luck. Just trying to figure out what makes a car valuable and working on a good puzzle at the same time. Sure would help to know more about the guy that bought it new and what he did with/to it. Somebody, zweed, just bid it up by $1000. Doesn't know how to play the game...

Carbs. Unresolved.

Replying to siteunseen's post - I think that people might be able to hide their comments from public view also. Several that I just read have disappeared from view. Oh well. BAT is actually more of a collector's club now, not really the "bring a trailer" auction site it started as. IdahoZ replied to Rodeo but only Rodeo can see it because he's registered. It's a secret club now.

The BAT discussions are weird to read. People pop in just to say "wow" or offer obscure comments. The non-constructive ones are probably the most interesting. They should make those optional for viewing.