torker

Just and update. Taylors been driving the car for a couple weeks now with the 5 speed. We've been fighting an electrical problem draining the battery. Finally realized the worklight under the hood was on:stupid: We had tried the light several times-everyone just has to play with it - and it never worked so I didn't know which way was "on" with the switch. Now we know. We had a driveshaft built so we won't have to deal with non-serviceable u-joints anymore. My son made a bushing for the shifter from alum. tubing I had. May not last too long but is easy to get to later. We reused everything from the original trans./ clutch fork, throwout bearing, shifter and speedo gear. I would have liked to replace the clutch but the money ran out. It works really well. It seems about the same in low gear although I haven't driven the car much so it could be geared a little different. 5th drops it about 400 rpm= much nicer now. Thanks to all on here who helped with good info. Finally above freezing here so hope to get more done soon.

Are those bullet holes in the passenger door? No just rust . This car must have five layers of paint and it is coming off in quite a few spots. It needs the full resto but I don't have the money and, it is my sons car and he is going in the army in may so maybe I'll store it/ drive it:) till he gets out and has money. We do hope to get it to a friends shop soon and deal with some of the bad spots though. Good pic of the rear assembly. thanks. I know this is where I'll be starting. And weatherstrip, I drove it yesterday and the exhaust is pretty strong. I wouldn't want to drive it that way and I damn sure don't want my son breathing all that. And thanks Zcurves I'll checkout blackdragon, I think I read Msa was back ordered on w-strip. Unless I was reading an old post.

I've been searching. Is one of those what folks call the mustache bar?

Finally got some pictures of my sons car today. 74 260 He didn't drive it to school:surprised So I took it to town and got a new batt cable- after it wouldn't start at the autoparts store until we wiggled the cable. We got the car for 450 and have about 1200 in it now. New exhaust from the resonator back, new starter,2 new tires, some new hoses, 5 speed trans. new driveline, dang non servicaable ujoints no more. I like driving it. It's a little drafty and it clunks when you decelerate like something is hitting the underside of the car in back but it is fun to drive. The trans. is shifting nice. It drops the rpm about 400 It is 2800 @ 70 if the speedo is correct. We used the Black I think speedo gear from his old 4 speed. Need to figure out the clunk next and source some weatherstripping etc. And I need to check out the timing and how to sync the carbs, Webers I think. Plus somebody has screwed with the wiring at the column:rolleyes:

Sounds familiar. When I turn on the headlights on my sons 260 the hazard light illuminates. The rt. headlight is dim and doesn't work at all on hibeam and the turnsignals are very dim. The brake lights and backup lights work great. I've downloaded the fsm but I am not sure I can get the schematic printed large enough to read it.

Well, got it to go. It didn't take much. I think we were just tired the other night. We just loosened the bolts, supported the trans with a jack, pulled one bolt on the crossmember and then I used a screwdriver in the hole with the dowel and it slipped right in. Now we are looking for a driveshaft. The one we have has the non servicable ujoints that are peened in place at the factory. I'm wondering if a 280 z shaft will bolt in.

Actually all the bolts are started. none are tight. It is that close. I wish I had a tranny jack. It is a pain to balance on a floor jack. We are kinda re grouping and It'll probably be Wed. my first day off before we get back to it:ermm: But, you did call it right Darrel, the rear u joint was pretty bad:stupid: It should be pretty smooth when we're done. Oh and we made a bushing for the shifter . The old one had NO bushing at all.

That's awesome. It would be great to meet up. We did have a bad ujoint. I'm an idiot. If it were mine I would have been under it checking things out but I have been working a lot and the way it was vibing in fourth I jumped. Plus my son wanted that 5 speed so bad. We found one in Kansas City for 50 dollars from an individual. We got it in except the dowel pin on the drivers side is hanging up. I cleaned all the holes and dowels really good but I can actually see that it is not quite lined up. So close. So now to figure out if we can get it to wiggle enough to slide in or take it back out and maybe chamfer the edge of the pin. Gotta work again tonight so this has been a pain. I promise I'll get some pics of this car up soon. Probably around Christmas.

Actually not close. I gave the shafts a shake and glance last time we were under it and everything seemed tight but I didn't inspect them very closely. That's a good call. It is weird that it is so smooth in first and second and then third and fourth vibrate so bad. I know one thing, this car needs overdrive. It really revs on the hiway but you can bet I will be looking it over good once I actually get a chance.

Ok, We've located a trans. My son posted up pics /Topsykidd We are pretty sure it is late seventies 280Z . I am going to pic it up tomorrow. I have worked with my son on his last 3 cars and showed him what I can. I have versed him on this job as I am sure he will start on it while I am at work Sat. So far I've told him to drive the front on ramps and jack up the back and put it SOLIDLY on jackstands. Shake the car,make sure it is solid. We've already had this car in the air a couple times so he knows where to place the stands. Then I told him to unhook the batt. - remove the starter and drain the trans. Then unhook the driveshaft and slide it out of the tranny being carefull not to nick it where it slides out. More oil may come out. Also unhook the speedo cable and any wiring/backup light. This is where I'm not sure what to tell him. I told him he'll probably have to support the back of the engine before unbolting the tranny and remove the tranny mount bolts at the crossmember. Now.. Is it better to remove the crossmember supporting the back of the tranny allowing it to drop out at an angle or leave it in and unbolt the tranny, slide it back on the crossmember till the front clears then lower the front and slide it off the crossmember? Also not sure if the shifter needs to be removed or not. As you can tell I haven't had time to look this over for him. I have a feeling I'm going to be getting some calls at work Sat. I just want him to have all the info I can give him. Thanks for any pointers. Dave

Thanks guys, this makes me feel a little better. My son has located one within driving distance for 400. Not sure of the exact model though. I didn't talk to the guy. Going to a close ratio with a little steeper rear gear would be sweet. Right now I just want to get him back on the road as painlessly as possible.

Ok I've been searching for hours. From what I can tell it appears that any 280z or 280 zx tranny except turbo will bolt right in my sons 74 260. I just want to be sure. I don't want to have to track down mounts or swap/modify driveshafts etc. The reason this came up is that the 4 spd. vibrates bad in 3rd and 4th and it is getting worse to the point that it can't be driven. It went downhill fast. Any help would be appreciated. Dave

Thanks Dave, I just checked out your rebuild. WOW Looks awesome. Can't wait to see it painted. I grew up east of Sumner Wa. I've been in Ks. since 86. I've done a lot of drag racing here. Built a few hotrods but never a Datsun. It reminds me of the old smallblock chevs with all the parts that can be swapped. Pretty easy to work on compared to newer. I'll have to get some pics today . Not sure if I can post em here yet but I have a photobucket. Later Dave

Hi all, I got my son a 74 260 z and I paid 450 dollars for it so you know I'll be looking for some parts and info. I found the zcar site first and then this one. My son met another zcar owner the first time out with the car at an exhaust shop in Wichita. I think he may be a member here. Looking forward to lots of reading and learning. Dave