ninjazombiemaster

All this talk about insurance has made my policy feel quite inadequate I only have it covered for what I paid - $4,700 - Just to cover my losses if it were to wreck.

This was discussed in another thread, where the conclusion was made that the buttons are some sort of acrylic. The back is cut with the map pattern, the white parts painted in. The whole backside was then painted black (or green, etc). You may have noticed all of this when you had mine laying around. I'd be willing to let someone cast a mold of mine if they can do it without harm - but its a 4 speed map. There were two ideas from that thread. One was to take a watch dome, and affix a map to the back. The other, more original method was CNCing a small block of acrylic which would be almost perfectly stock. I'm not sure where they're at on that, but I believe it was the "5 Speed shift knob reproduction" thread, or something like that.

Looks fantastic! It is very close in color, I'd say mine has a little more red in it, where as that's more golden.

Caught this one in another thread, looks real nice. I'm using MSAs 4 speed version right for now -till I can finish restoring the original- and agree its somewhat odd feeling, though very classy for $20. The top is very flat and wide. The original knob is tall, and egg shaped, and fit perfectly in my hand. Its interesting that even MSAs stock knob really isnt stock looking. I wonder why they'd use different wood. Cost and availability, I'd guess.

Based off the picture of them side by side, you're clearly right Bruce. They must have change sourcing at some point.

While I agree that the wood you used appears to be poplar, I believe the original knobs were a light walnut. Mine may just be a particularly light specimen. See MSA's stock knob. Walnut And Maple

Looks great, I really like the grain! My best guess on the stain, is it needs a medium darkness stain with some orange hues to look like the original. If you've got more of the wood you used on the knob laying around, you'll have plenty of test subjects to work with. The banner photo at the top of the page is a great example of the color they were. While you've got mine, I've got a very dark walnut knob in its place. I really think the original, lighter finish looks better, and accents the otherwise dark, black leather interior. I've lacquered guitar necks with aerosol cans, which worked well for me. They sell a high gloss spray that will make it grippy and shiny, as well as bring out the 3D effect of the grain. You'd want to place it on a spare shifter, tape it off and spray several coats, with an hour or two between. Let it sit somewhere with little dust to get caught in the finish, and give it 24 hours before finish sanding. Wet sand with very fine papers to smooth out the goosebump texture the spray leaves into a perfect gloss and you're set. Great job, can't wait to see it finished - as well as see mine a step closer to its former glory.

Those are some good looking cars! Thanks for sharing.

Thats fair enough. Haha It seems to run much better now that both carbs are getting fuel (whoda thought?), but you can still definitely consider me a future customer.

I'm planning on doing the valve job tomorrow (I suppose its today now). I havent had a chance to order the video because I work nights. When Z Therapy is open, I'm asleep. But I'll get around to it.

This is painfully stupid. The lack of power was from a kink in the fuel hose from the bowl to the dome of the carb, so tiny I didn't even see it. I shortened the hose and reattached it, and its literally twice the car it was before. I was driving around a 3 cylinder. On another note, I installed the new fuel sending unit today. Glad to finally know where my tank stands. I've yet to see if its going to backfire come morning when its cold, and it loped today hot (before the repair) but progress is being made. There seems to be something funky with my choke now though, I'll investigate that further when I can.

Theres a resemblance all right - but then again I have to agree with the notion that really all engines have design commonalities that could justify saying that they were based on each other. Air Intake > Fuel Injection/Carburetion > Compression > Spark > Combustion > Exhaust The number and position of these things change here and there but an Internal Combustion Engine is an Internal Combustion Engine..

If I had a dime for every clunk my car made, I could afford to repair them....

Those look great blue! That put me right on the fence of repairing mine, and making a cover. That's seriously classy looking. Decisions, decisions.

Yeah, I'm a fan. I'm looking at the MG MGB mirrors. Victoria British carries them at $40 a piece it looks like.

People mistake my Z for a Porsche all the time. I guess there's some resemblance. I'm certain you could just swap the logos and half the population would be fooled into thinking it was a classic Porsche or E Type Jag.

Hey Doug, those mirrors look great, and I'm looking replacements to scrap my black plastic ones.. Where did you get them, and did they mount without any modifications?

Looks great! When I was 16 I rode the bus xD My Z is my first car, but I wasn't lucky enough to find it until this July, just after I turned 19. ;P

Related... Any ZCONs or good shows in or around Salt Lake? I feel like I'm next to alone out here. Mines no show car, but I'd love to take it to a few.

You may also try finding a black one and repainting it.

Or a 19 year old kid like myself ;P Also check out the thread "Restoring a Cracked Dash", I'd love to see how the two methods compare.

That would be my guess. Or the glasses thing. ;D

Who needs A/C? .. Just roll the windows down, and drive faster

I might be mistaken, but I believe it may have been mentioned. Haha

Cant say why, but it didn't lope on the way home yesterday or today. It was hotter when it happened, if that makes any difference, though today was rather warm as well. I'll keep my eyes on it, and order that video sometime in the next few days.