tanny

Thanks for the replies. I'll check the Portland people out. Maybe call them and see if they're up to the task. Tucson, where I live, doesn't have much available. Vic.

Is there a vendor who can rebuild a 1973 240z Tachometer. Not someone who just substitutes a junkyard unit, but actually can go through the circuit board and the mechanical and repair. I vaguely remember there used to be some guy, I think from around the San Diego area(maybe not), that said he repaired all Z gages. Anyway, any suggestions are welcome. Victor.

I've often wondered if parking my cars well away from other cars(at the extreme outer limits of a parking lot) might actually invite morons to do damage because it probably makes my cars more noticeable. Haven't had anyone key my Z yet, but I did have a shopping cart put a $400 dent in my one month old 2006 Civic(I parked at the bottom of a slanted parking lot, allowing the shopping cart to gain enough speed to do the damage. Live and learn). About the only consolation after getting your car keyed is knowing that the freak who did it is stewing in his own resentment of people owning something nice. Not much, but something. Victor.

Addition to my previous message: ps The tiger sounds must be from putting ESSO gasoline in your tank. "Put a tiger in your tank". That may date me a bit.

Thanks for all the guesses. The sound definitely is not present when the car is stationary. If it were something hanging up on the brakes, you would think it would change tone or even stop when I apply the brakes. The sound really does sound like it's comming from the front wheel well. No mods have been done to the car(other than the bushings, and I did use the included grease when I installed them), so I don't think the noise is being caused any change in suspension or aerodynamics, unless maybe some rust has sneaked in and caused a whistling hole somewhere. I've been eating mild foods lately and I don't have any grand kids yet to pull my finger, so "ill wind" is not likely. All U joints were replaced about 3000 miles ago, so that seems unlikely. I think I will have to give in and maybe check and readjust the right front wheel bearing and check those calipers at the same time just in case. The exhaust or vacuum leak is a possibility, but the sound sure seems like it is a rotational type sound. The spinning the rear wheel idea might at least eliminate the U joint possibility, even though they are new. I do need to have someone tell me if they can hear the sound from outide the car and maybe they can confirm if it is coming from the right front. I never saw or heard a whistling spark plug(except a Model T compression whistle), but I did wire one of those whistling smoke bombs to the spark plug on my sister's 64 vette. Even after 43 years I have to laugh remembering that shocked expression as her new vette was going up in smoke(or so she thought). So cruel, heh, heh, heh. Thanks again for the help. Victor.

My 1973 Z has developed a high pitched bird like chirping that speeds up and slows down with the vehicle's speed. It sounds like it is coming from the front, passenger side area. The sound is not influenced by engine RPM(when engine is gunned in neutral while driving at speed or sitting stationary). Applying the brakes(either the brake pedal or the emergency brake) does not change the sound. Driving in a tight circle in either direction has no effect on the sound. The pads and shoes have plenty of meat left. Closing or opening the air vents has no effect on the sound. The heater fan has no effect on the sound. Opening or closing the windows while moving has no effect. Two years ago I installed a complete urethane bushing kit and replaced all wheel bearings. This noise didn't start until about 9 months ago. Has anyone had any similar experience with animal sounds emanating from their Z? Any suggestions other than filling the tank with bird seed? Victor.

I hooked my triple webers directly from the mechanical fuel pump(which is supplied by the original electric pump on my 73). Originally I installed the pressure regulator between the mechanical pump and the carbs, but then I tried eliminating the regulator and hooked into the original fuel return line, and didn't have any problems supplying enough fuel to the carbs(although I don't have a cam, so possibly if I had a high performance cam I might have needed more pressure than the gas return line alone would allow). I also insulated all the fuel lines around the engine compartment and fabricated a large heat shield. Definitely no vaporization problems. Victor. ps I was able to jet the webers enough to make them serviceable, but never could get them to run lean enough. Just too much carb for my un-modified low performance engine. Switched back to stock(actually roundtops) carbs with no performance loss.

57 and contemplating selling the Z to pay my $450/month individual health insurance premiums. That may keep me alive for another year. Love the US healthcare system:tapemouth

If there is not enough weight on the tongue, you will lose steering control. Really critical to have enough weight on the tongue so that there is never any lift on the rear of the car. My mother rolled a brand new Chrysler Imperial(with myself and a friend as passengers) on an LA freeway because the trailer we were towing had been loaded so that there was almost no weight on the tongue, and she lost all steering control as we headed downhill and started to brake. With the Z being so light weight, it wouldn't take too much to create an unsafe steering problem. That, and the flimsy mounting possibilities wouldn't exactly make me feel very safe towing a trailer. I guess I'm just a bit paranoid after getting upside down on the freeway. Good luck though. Victor.:nervous:

That's what I tell all the women.:laugh:

Anyone know of a good Z mechanic in Tucson AZ capable of working on SUs to try and pass emissions? Thanks, Victor.

2006 Civic sedan, automatic. Fairly ugly generic car, but I actually get a hair over 40 mpg consistently(no fudging) on freeway driving with the AC on. Didn't really expect that good of mileage. Kinda rough and noisy ride(not nearly as plush a ride as my 1992 F150 had). Was able to fit 25 ten foot lengths of 3/4 inch pvc pipe and a few 8' studs inside the car with the trunk closed, so it is more useful than I anticipated. Has lots of goodies in it but it amazes me that it has no glove compartment light. How primitive! May be getting a 1974 Mazda PU in the near future. Victor.

Darrel, I moved to Tucson a couple months ago due to divorce, health, and both kids are in college now, so I headed for warmer parts. Don't know anyone here but am actually enjoying being by myself and pursuing my own projects for once. Finishing things on the Z that I had put off for quite awhile. Thanks for the info, Victor.

I'll do what I can with the roundtops. Maybe I can find a mechanic here in Tucson who is familiar with getting cars to pass the smog test. At least find someone with an exhaust analyzer and see if we can mess with the carbs and timing and get it to pass. What a pain. Thanks, Victor.

That was a shocker. He helped me quite a bit with my Z over the years and I am really grateful. Good luck man. Victor.