Sean Dezart

Hi guys, someones just sprouted this opinion "jonly 23 x 260Z 2 seater LHD in 75 & 7 in 76 ( non USA models)" ! Anyone like to comment, I'd like to know if it's true or not ? We had a bloke over here who imported his 260 2+2 from New Zealand which had the S20 engine fitted, can't remember the carb set up but it was definitely a 2 pot ! Yeah, maybe Nissan dumped on you but you got some great cars as well - Alfa Dogs Skyline etc...

The worst here are ambulance drivers - I'm talking about private ambulances, used in the main as taxis for people unable to walk to the doctors / hospitals etc and reimbursed by their health insurance. These guys (and gals) spend too much time on the road and hence take it all for granted, speeding, cutting up, phone in one hand, late braking, swinging off a three lane road onto the off ramp.... Women are the least polite and generally completely oblivious to anything other than what is in front. The small people carriers (Megan Scenics/Citroen Picassos) that allow them higher and therefore better vision permit them to hang closer to your butt 'cos they can see there's no danger in front of you. Of course there's no danger to them 'cos they can stop courtesy of ESP, ABS, KGB, KY, SOB..... ! It used to be Volvos, the 244DLs, especially estates but they got too expensive !

Thats just the point, the kcuf here (work out why they're called that) are on a zero tolerance and are booking people for anything that they can - speeding itickets are THE fashion. There is no opportunity to explain extenuating circumstances, they're not even ging to lecture you, just write out the ticket and voila, you've just lost 2 or more points and have a fine to pay ! The fine plus a going over would calm me ! But that still leaves the (dare I say it) Volvo drivers poodling along at a 'safe' 3kmh under the speed limit, braking for no reason, turning without a signal, bumper hugging and generally leaving chaos behind them - they're the ones who have snug insurance bonuses 'cos they never had an accident ! How many were caused by their 'safe' driving ?

Some questions: When did the 260 arrive and when did it finish in the States and was it in 2 and 2+ 2 format? In order to beat the emissions laws over there, why didn't Nissan use the 2 litre engine sold in Japan (and Australia?) ? When did the Japanese market stop being sold models under the 2 litre bracket ? Most UK owners have changed their flat top carbs for 240 ones and a lot of people in Europe would have loved to have had the opportunity to buy the 280Z (without the smog stuff and horrible bumpers).

Ok, I'm late to this debate but I want to share this with you. Although there have been one or two fixed cameras here for some time, the authorities have just discovered the efficient money making ability of digital cameras. They are springing up everywhere, predominantly on two lane roads and motorways, where I'd imagine speeding is less dangerous than on urban roads and black spots ! The limit is set at 5% above the speed limit, here at 130 kph, you will get flashed at 137 kph, at 110 - 116 and at 90 - 95. This doesn't give much away on leeway, you're obliged to drive at no more than the limit indicated on your speedo. The latest accident figures show the first dip under 6000 deaths per year since they started counting in 1950, in fact a continous down-trend but something which will support more speed controls. Young drivers get their licence now with just 6 points (instead of 12) and after a certain time with no infractions, get the boost up to 12 - good idea ! Cycle motors (mopeds) have to have registration plates now to allow the Police to follow up easier their infractions - good idea - the users will be (a bit) less likely to ride like idiots with no thought for themselves or the carnage they leave behind ! But I still say that speed doesn't kill by itself ! Recently, there were two examples of people driving up the wrong way on motorways, one finished without harm but the other closed one of the busiest m-ways here and caused a number of deaths. Bearing in mind that here the m-ways are controlled (pay booths), you have to be f***ing stupid or very easily confused to go the wrong way AND KEEP ON GOING FOR SEVERAL KMS ! Anticipation, respect, tolerance and control is what keeps us alive on the roads today. I also have had accidents and been 'done' for speeding and they were my fault - I'm a better driver now than when I was younger and thought I was !

And me last summer in the Alsace region, sitting atop a Maginot Line fort ! ps great scenery here and some lovely Z roads !

Me (with hair) and glasses behind my old 240 back in 1993 , featured in the Jap. mag. Car Sensor !

Over here, seatbelts seem to have varied in their supply. My 1st 240, a 1973 UK model had inertia reel belts (3 pt system). A firends 1973 240 here in France has the same, another firends 1973 240 has a non-inertia system but still 3 pt but the lap-belt 'clip' together system. My US imported 1972 240 had the 3 pt inertia system with the belt 'reserve' in the floor (as per the 280Z?) ! Did each importer fit belts in order to pass their countrys' laws at the time ? ie, In France (for example) the law insisted upon inertia belts after the end of 1972 ? In the US, lap belts were popular - when did Zs start being supplied (by whom) with the 3 pt system ? (Theory seems even more difficult to prove - I just looked up an image of an early French 240 - straight gear lever - which has the 3 pt inertia system !).

The new Merc SLR McLaren has a right hand side mounted handbrake. This from a company (Merc) accustomed to building LHD cars but influenced here by a UK company (McLaren). They must have studied this at length ! ! ! !

The advice to use a rolling road to set up your carbs is essential ! Even for twin SUs it makes a difference - I 've heard of too many carb gurus who do it by ear - I've got a friend in Paris with triple Webers and after 6 attempts, it's still not pulling right but he will not look out a rolling road - says it will damage his engine to rev up like that ! Mine will be a 3.1 with triple 44 Delortos, set up basically to allow the car to run it a bit before going on the rolling road UNTIL IT RUNS RIGHT ! Running right means smooth power the most economically possible. Let's face it, if the engine and carbs are well balanced, the power output needn't cost gallons of fuel !

Man, this guy is living the American dream ! And if he could be vice pres and something happened to the top cat... Arnie: "I'll be back!"

A question from the uninformed: Which rally cars had cross flow engine heads, why did they and not all cars and were they really considered a performance gain, considering that many race and rally cars regularly win with the trusty OHC ?

Hey Guus, Once you steal the wheels, you gonna steal my engine too ? This thought made me think - how many rally cars had the cross-flow heads ? I'll start a new thread !

Hello Guus, Promised I'd reply et voila. You can't drive through my adopted country without me and it'll probably be the first outing my Z does ! What Z everyone asks ? Yeah, well it's beginning to sound a bit lame - that line "it'll be ready in 2 months" ! I am going to see it in November - to prove that it exists ! So count me in and if we need to make the numbers up, I'll push the idea around the other Club Zen members. As you say, it would be nice to have a variety of Zeds from a variety of countries although I'm not expecting the aussies / yanks to ship over their cars jsut to accompany us. Shame, 'cos a relaxed Alpen route is THE place to appreciate the Z and this part of the world is not unknown for it's food and wine ! As May id off-season it won't be expensive either to stay. All you gotta do is pay the petrol, here 1 euro per litre and the cars are not for keeping in the garages ! May is a way off but start putting your pocket money away now and you'll have enough for the trip. The best to you all, Sean Guus, having seen the way Alan drives the ZG on the one time he had a bend I wouldn't want him to do an Italian mini job !

Tucked away, I've a video of a prototype being induced to roll being pulled with a cable and another shot of a (the) crash test. On the same video there is a Japanese test driver (complete with leather helmet with ear-flaps) doing a slalom course and high speed banking ! All RHD of course ! Alan - you need to contact me re you know what from your garage ! ps hi all - it's been a while.

I am more than happy with Nissans' lack of control. Information is great but too much just feeds the bureaucrats into controlling us further. On my registration document there is no decibel level noted which I shall explore with my Nismo exhaust. If anyone is wondering where I've been, the PC went into hibernation and I've been enjoying the sun and the Le Mans 24 hour race. Chill out Sean

Why is it that I get the impression your Sheilas down under rule the roost ? Most Aussies I've met wouldn't let you get one past 'em but your women have evolvedvery effective methods of 'convincing' you ! French women are generally passive (I chose the difficult one !) and english lasses are easy going - and yours ?

First one was called Roxy after a Roxette song lyric whiche went "looks like a woman, walks like a man" ! Second one was called Fleche as in fleche d'argent (silver arrow) on account of the colour. Latest one is gonna be called bebete 'cos it's creamy coloured - I think you have to speak French to work out why - eh Fred ? A bete is also an animal and she's sure gonna stalk them Porsches man !

What is it with sliver Zs ? Did this all by myself but not at all proud ! First ride my girlfriend had in a Z and she still loves me !

Without the roll cage, I know this car - it's mine and on the road in August ! Dellortos are easier to keep in tune than Webers AND I agree that it should be a Z engine. An R200 LSD and don't forget to raid the NISMO shelves, Tokicos ? What brake set up ? Wilwoods and rear Ford Cosworth discs ? 8x16 wheels (no flared fenders? - I like the IMSA look) but what tyres ? Comp ratio of 9 (9.5) - 1 ?

Metalman5117, "Iraq by its actions over the past 12 or 13 years is a "rogue" nation one that in the worlds' eye would be considered illegitimate. By their continued defiance of the UN resolutions they have given up their right to self defense." But they haven't been thrown out of the UN so are still covered by its' charter ans seem to be exercising reasonably well their right to self defence ! Much as I wish it wasn't going so well for the Iraqis. No hard feelings - glad to exchange views respectively. fstr240z, hope they all come back safely - did they choose to go ? I, for one am happy that women play such a role, my sister wanted to get in the British Army until she discoverd that at the time, they weren't allowed to 'get their hands dirty' and handle weapons ! What you implied severely disturbed me, perhaps I misunderstood. I got the message that you implied 'the ends justifies the means' - effectively anything goes, anywhere and against anyone so long as the original goal is attained ! How far do we go to 'win' this war ?

Fred, you are more of a manipulator than I suspected - at least it's more lighthearted than the last thread you started ! Put me down for 50USD just to prove I've a bigger mouth and I puts my money where it is ! But what the heck clour (s) are we gonna paint it and will it be LH or RH drive and then where will the hadbrake be ? Turbo or normally aspirated, period or prepared with a little modern upgrading ? Questions !!!

"If an Iraqi soldier has info that could save US soldiers from dying and he won't tell, you have to do something. You aren't the one out there holding a machine gun getting shot at. What would you do? Better for the enemy to suffer some than let your own people die. " Well, go ahead and torture them then ! fstr240Z, you belong in Iraq ! metalman5117 - it is a whole lot easier to believe what you hear from government statements and if the UN is not unbiased, is the US less unbiased ? Colin Powell just slapped his partner (Blair) in the face last night saying, ah, well, we (the US) need to hang on after the war and make sure there is a fully supported (by the US)democratic government . The rest of the world reads this as a puppet government owing it's allegience and continued existence to the US in return for exploitation concessions ! True, the UN has been too weak - so why couldn't we with all our good intentions really put the pressure on short of going to illegal war ? "We as Americans should have the right of self defense (as should any LEGITIMATE country) whether our not the UN agrees with it or not. " First of all define LEGITIMATE ? Iraq is exercising it's right too (which I hope folds up) ! And why do the US citizens suddenly feel threatened by Iraq ? No, not Al Quaida, I said Iraq ! If it's because we reckon to have found and bombed a training base in the north, again, check out Saudi Arabia and again Libya - why not invade them all ? Hypocrits !!!