Carl Beck

Mally002 The chrome extensions on your twin tailpipes - look like they are only screwed on - and they are open in the back. So it is possible that some of the exhaust gases are being let out behind the chrome extensions.. between the chrome extensions and the actual tail pipe. Take the chrome tips off - and show me a picture of where the actual tail pipes end. There are "muffler sealers" that most muffler shops have on hand - they are about like modeling clay.. or plumbers putty. Try sealing the back of the chrome extensions to the tail pipe inside them.. and see if that helps. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Rob: After the stash of "as new" copies were sold off - I don't believe the price ever got much above the $65.00 range. I haven't seen any lately on E-Bay, but I'd have to guess that the initial demand from collectors had pretty much been satisfied. For the most part they seem to be selling in the $35.00 to $65.00 range depending on condition - and the luck of the draw. Nonetheless it is a pretty neat book for any Z Car Related Library. FWIW, Carl B.

If you are not going to worry about maintaining a "Stock" appearance, then there is no reason to pay the additional money for OEM replacements in most cases. Call a few of your local Auto Parts Stores - and find the one that carries metric size fuel and vacuum hoses. You can use US standard sizes, but they will not fit as well as the originally used metric sizes. I suggest taking a sample of the various sizes from the car to the Parts Store with you. Rubber Brake lines can also be purchased in the aftermarket - but you have to be careful that they are the correct type -so take an old line with you when you pick them up and compare fittings. There are a few places where Factory Hoses make sense. The two vacuum lines from the Brake Vacuum Booster to the manifold are a couple of examples. They have several formed 90+ degree curves... (but usually don't need to be replaced). The fuel lines on the bottom of the S.U.'s are another example - they are best replaced with a high grade vinyl tubing if necessary. Good luck with the car - sounds like it is well worth saving given its history with your family. FWIW, Carl B.

No - it isn't worth fixing. It's a parts car at best. There are lots of 280ZX's with solid bodies, and they are still very reasonably priced. You may have to take a short trip outside VA, but it would be well worth your time and money. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: I think the first thing to say is; Make No Attempt To Turn The Engine Over with a starting battery - Until you have first dropped the fuel tank and cleaned it out. Plus cleaning the hard fuel lines out and replacing all the high pressure rubber hoses. Once that is done - and after you have turned the engine over by hand (pulled the plugs, and put a few ounces of ATF down the cylinder bores); the dumped to old oil and put fresh oil and filters in place, and lubricated the cam/rockers... Add about 5 gallons of fresh gasoline, plus some fuel injector cleaner.... and start it up. With any luck, the fuel injectors will not be stuck with varnish... and the fresh fuel and injector cleaner will clear them out if they are working at all. Trying to crank a car that been sitting for years without doing the above - almost always results in varnish from the tank, being sucked into the lines and then into the injectors. The varnis is like jello.. it can be sucked though the fuel filter, because while it is thick and sticky... it usually doesn't have large particles that the filter will catch and hold. Past that point - you'll need to change all the high pressure rubber fuel lines... they decay with age and the higher pressures of the FI system will cause them to burst unexpectedly.. .not a good thing. I suggest doing one thing at a time when it comes to replacing items - - if you do too many things at one time - it's hard to figure out what if anything you did wrong - or left disconnected etc... FWIW, Carl B.

Buyer of the First one most likely got a pretty good deal... If he/she is back East - and they have it shipped inclosed -add $1500.00 to $1800.00 for transport. FWIW, Carl B.

In 2007, $3,500.00 from 1970 is worth: $18,684.27 using the Consumer Price Index $15,209.46 using the GDP deflator $20,843.67 using the value of consumer bundle * $20,843.67 using the unskilled wage * $31,673.48 using the nominal GDP per capita $46,648.58 using the relative share of GDP From: Measuring Worth dot com http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

While Mr. Sharp is certainly correct, in that the Datsun 240-Z took on the then reigning C-Production Champion 911's for the first time in 1970 - and beat them on the track! The Datsun 240-Z really took on the competition in the sports car Market in America, comprised of all other competitors in the $3500.00 price range ie..... MG-B, Triumph TR-6, Fiat 124 Sport Coupe/Spyder, Opel GT, Capri V6, Porsche 914. All had MSRP's within a few hundred dollars of the 240-Z. Too many people keep referring to the Datsun 240-Z's low price as the main reason for it's success - yet it was priced within the same price range as all of it's sports car market competitors. It put them out of business for the most part - and 38 years later Porsche is still doing well with its evolution of the 911. The Poor Mans Porsche - is a used Porsche that is 7 to 9 years old. Rich or Poor, if a man wants a Porsche - then nothing but a Porsche will do. FWIW, Carl B.

Actually, as I understand it - magnesium wheels are very subject to corrosion, when the corrode they develop small surface pits - and it is the pits that lead to stress cracks developing. If the wheel has been protected by the proper coatings, sealing out air and water - the wheels useful life can be greatly extended. It takes special metal preparation processes and the proper types of primers and paints to protect the magnesium alloy wheels however. So inspection for corrosion pitting is more important than the age of the wheel. FWIW, Carl B.

If he is a "friend" - I wouldn't ask him to break the law and risk his job. There is no National DMV database. The DMV's exist at the State Level only. All DMV records are considered "private individual information" and all new or old are closed by the Federal Right to Privacy Laws. FWIW, Carl B.

Order a rebuilt from Nissan. FWIW, Carl B.

humm.... I wonder if that is why the IRS is auditing my tax return?? Make that 302,000+ miles FWIW, Carl B.

The Internet Z Car Club has a "Classic Z Car Register" on the Z Car Home Page at http://ZHome.com, for both Right and Left Hand Drive models. I wouldn't call it a "national" registry... we do have Z's from around the world there, but it is also limited to 69-73 Model Years... See: http://www.zhome.com/IZCC/ZRegisters/ FWIW, Carl B.

Gee...that looks just like the Supercharger on my 91 Thunderbird Super Coupe... FWIW, Carl B.

No problem Freaky... lots of people do engine swaps in Z's and still hang out with Z Car People... Of course they also have their own "domain"... hybridZ.org... Maybe there will be a need to start a hybrid510.org some day!! The original Z had lots of 510 DNA anyway... so a Z/510 transplant should do well. Of course I have to say you stopped a little short, by not swapping in an L28 as well.... welcome... Carl B.

Mr. K is I believe, currently employed by Nissan Motors Ltd. So if he was there, Nissan Motors Ltd was there. Ah.. it is the BRE 510 that they currently have in their collection.. and which they transport around the country. While the 240-Z is the main car for me - I am a DATSUN fan. It's my Datsun 510 Station Wagon that I drive most often, now with 3002,000 miles covered. FWIW, Carl B.

If they used it - they would be risking their jobs and perhaps prison time. The DMV data in most States used to be "Public Record" - and anyone could pay for a records search. In that case a simple search by VIN's for HLS30' with serial numbers ending before say 200000 would have yielded the results we wanted. Today however, do to new Federal Laws governing "Personal Privacy" those records are no longer open to the Public. In cases involving law enforcement, or court actions - they can be searched for specific information. FWIW, Carl B.

When Nissan Motors USA was located in California - they took their BRE 510 #46 to the Monterey Historics - and let John Morton race it there ! This past month, Nissan USA brought their BRE 510 to the Amelia Island Concours, to support John Morton and Peter Brock's seminar on the Trans/Am 2.5 Challenge Series from the 70's... Since 1995 at least Nissan Motors USA has supported/sponsored all the Z Car Club Association (ZCCA) annual conventions which feature DATSUN Z's and ZX's as well as the later NISSAN ZX's There certainly was a period after Mr. K was forced to retire in the late 70's - that Nissan Motors Ltd. did everything possible to eliminate the DATSUN Brand Name in the USA. However with the elevation of Mr. Hanawa to President of Nissan Motors Ltd in 1996 - a major effort to refresh the image of both the DATSUN Brand and Mr. K. had been made here in the US. I'm sure that due to budget constraints - Nissan USA can't respond to every request for support to local car shows.... however they have been very supportive of the major events when possible. I think you'll see Nissan/DATSUN at some of the All Japanese Auto Shows in the future as well. FWIW, Carl B.

The solution to your situation is pretty simple - just find and buy another low mileage 280ZX. There are lots of them still out there - and they are still very reasonably priced. Many very nice 280ZX's can still be purchased for between $3,500.00 and $4,500.00 with less than 100K miles on them. FWIW, Carl B.

It's just my "guess" at the auction results. Without knowing the actual condition of the cars. Both look pretty good in the pictures - but the A/T will hurt them as to the number of people that will be interested, and of course being in California will suppress the dollars bid as well. I note that the seller of the 36K mile car - did not make the claim that the mileage was "actual" or "documented"... What's your guess? FWIW, Carl B.

The first one with 36K miles - $10K to $12K The second one with ??? 92K miles - $7.5K to $8.5K my guess FWIW, Carl B.

Typically - around here - that's at least $2800.00 to $3100.00 worth of parts and labor - if it includes him assembling the short block. He's doing the rings, main and rod bearing - as well as the balancing.. so he should be held responsible for the assembly as well. FWIW, Carl B.

Yes - but - you would have to subtract the Federal Income Tax, every year from interest income - and you wouldn't wind up with $13,266.49 either. Lets face it, if you are a law abiding citizen - your screwed. I agree with keeping the cars for the pleasure they provide - 20 years of enjoying your investment - vs - 20 years of having the bank use your money. Drop dead at year 15 - and you have enjoyed your investment in the car, drop dead at year 15 with cash in the bank - and someone else will enjoy buying themselves a new car - Life's decisions are so compound... :: later, Carl B.

Hi Alan: Thanks... It's been a fun filled project. The suspension is the Nissan Sports Option Race Suspension (54302- and 54303-), by Ampco. Gas/oil filled, adjustable coil-overs. The front hub/axles are fitted with tubes for the odometer drives. The original Nissan labels were still on them - although badly faded and beat up. I believe that you said this was the same suspension set up ran on some of the EAS Rally Z's. (label below). According to Dr. Logan, the man that bought the car from BRE in 74, the suspension hasn't been changed since he bought it. However very early pictures of the car do not show this suspension... so BRE may have ran the Rally Suspension at first, then converted to the Race Suspension... Or the early pictures were for publicity, before the car was actually completed. Mr. Brock said he really didn't remember any other suspension package, other than what is on the car now... I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened. Documents from Nissan Motors mention parts special ordered from Japan, as well as the competition budget spent on the car, but are not specific in detailed part numbers ect. - Mr. Brock seems to think the present suspension is what they ran... Fritz seems to recall wanting to rework the suspension between the Baja 500 and the Mexican 1000 (aka the Baja 1000). What stopped the car? - on the Baja 500 a lower radiator hose leaked pressure - caused overheating - and caused one stop that was photographed in the 500. The guys at TrackSide Photo were near by and they loaned Peter a 5 gallon water jug.... which he has still to return ;-). I don't know what else happened on that trip, all Peter would commit to was "no one had to walk". For the Mexican 1000 race. Fritz Warren ran the car for BRE. Fritz said the front shock tower weakened and the front frame rail was bent slightly (large boulders), that lead to a failure in the steering rack mounts, then the radiator supports let go - letting the radiator interface with the fan.... end of day. At that point, the Baja Z was about 15 minutes ahead of the BRE Baja 510 (they started together)... Fritz tells me that the car was amazingly fast, handled fairly well, but they needed another season to sort everything out on the unibody... While any competition effort is serious, I get the impression that the first year for the BRE Z at the Baja was an initial shake-down run, aimed as much at generating publicity and additional sponsorship as anything else. Of course in spite of all efforts - Nissan dropped factory sponsorship for the Professional Teams in 73 for the US (BRE and BSR). (BRE received their first funding and cars directly from Nissan Motors Ltd. Japan). There were a couple other 240-Z that ran the Baja, and I have no idea of how/where or if they finished the race. Hard to see the names clearly but it looks like: 73 Baja 500 Car #105 Hendrik Blom Hans Ceo Crimm car prepared by Crimm Performance 1970 Mexican 1000 Thiel Motors, Modesto, Calif Car #111 Don Thiel **** Jaggard (shortened version of Richard) Still trying to find more information on both of these... Note: TrackSide Photo copied here with permission. Original Prints can be purchased on-line at http://www.TracksidePhoto.com I've been contacted by a couple of guys that were preparing 240-Z's for historic events in Europe. They were looking for information about the Baja Z - how it was prepared, what components were used and documentation etc. When it came to the Baja - Stroppe's vehicles were always very well prepared. Lots and lots of experience there... FWIW, Carl B.

Oops... you are correct of course... I guess I had that Bugatti girl on my mind.. If you have a full picture of it - you should post it so everyone can see it.. it was a Magnificent Machine Carl