Carl Beck

Hi For vehicles manufactured in 1969 and early 1970, California CARB was the only requirement for gasoline vapor recovery on cars sold in California. Of course at that time California was the single largest market for Datsun in the USA as well. The Federal EPA was expected to follow California's lead in this area - and it did sometime the following year (1970). So from a production perspective it made sense to make gasoline vapor recovery standard equipment on all Datsun 240Z's at some point. Nonetheless, any 240Z's not equipped with gasoline vapor recovery systems - could have been legally sold in States outside California. Interesting side note: The early 1970 Factory Service Manual - Chassis and Body - On page FE-4, Figure FE-9 (a picture of the fuel tank) is noted: "Fuel Tank For California" - and is shown with the Evap. Recovery System. "A reservoir as shown in FIG FE-9 is provided so as to relief expansion and bubbles due to heating (for California, USA). The Service Manual only identified HLS30-U as being for USA/Canada. FWIW, Carl B.

I think most of us cringe when we see the newer “replacement parts” in the automotive aftermarket - for our original L24 fuel pumps. You know the one’s that look like tin cans! Well it seems that GMB has a pretty good looking replacement that has a more original appearance. Most of you may already know - they have sold a ton of them! Just in case you haven’t been shopping EBay….. Prices on EBay seem to be in the $31.00 to $34.00 range - $13.43 PLUS $17.81 Shipping for example. I ordered 3 and shipping charge was adjusted to $22.84 total. So $13.43+$7.62= $21.05. Others are price higher initially, but with lower Shipping costs.. so shop, shop.. Most likely worth picking up a spare while you can - that at least looks correct. E Bay Item Number: 161900004682 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mechanical-Fuel-Pump-GMB-550-8040-fits-70-73-Nissan-240Z-2-4L-L6-/161900004682?fits=Make%3ADatsun|Model%3A240Z&hash=item25b1fe054a:g:MOwAAOSwKytZMhTp

Hi Kats: My first 240Z - HLS30 01777 -purchased in March of 1970 - did not have the Clamp on the steering rack. It was Dealer Installed - as I recall - sometime around Nov./ Dec. of 1970. I had taken the Z back to the Dealer because the shocks were leaking again. They installed the Clamp at that time and pointed it out to me. Even before that time we knew the steering rack was too loosely mounted - you could feel it in the steering wheel. The steering rack had a lot of play (movement) in its original rubber mounts. You could feel this during hard driving - on an Auto-X course for example. At the time, the cure was to place a section of Lead tire weights - the type used to balance aluminum wheels - thin strips of lead with two sided stick-on adhesive - on top of the rubber rack isolators - and then clamp everything down firmly. This tightened up the steering response. This having already been done - I never noticed any difference with or without that Clamp installed. If I had to guess - the Clamp and Bumper was just a way to limit the amount of travel the Rack had in the soft rubber mounts. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Steve: Since the Convention for 2018 is going to be held in a much cooler month - I'll make every effort to have the BRE Baja Z there. Time to take it back to the engine shop there, to have it checked and retuned etc. anyway. I think you must mean - Randy is trying to line up the Blue 240Z - Yes/No? The #3 C-Production Z was Blue/White. Carl B.

Hi Mike: Different Collector - same area. You are correct #238 went through two or three owners, in a couple different States - along the way to were it is now.

Hi Mike: I thought you had #237, #238 was in a Collection in GA. FWIW, Carl

Hello drpchuyny - - Great to see that amazing 69 production year 240Z - went to someone that greatly appreciates it. Good to see you here as well. It is perhaps the most complete and original 69 production Z's I've seen in many years. Most not already restored, have been very badly neglected and missing many many original parts. I think you are way ahead of the game on this one. Please do keep us updated on the progress.. FWIW, Carl B.

You mentioned Vise Grips... This is the only type of Vise Grip I've ever been able to get flair nuts out of the exhaust manifold with. Soaked them with Kroil for a couple days - then heated the manifold glowing red hot (acetylene gas torch) - locked these vise grips on the flair nut - and smacked them with a big brass hammer. unscrewed them all - but even so, as you mention the threads on the flair nuts were so messed up, they weren't useable. I now have three sizes of these in the tool box..for flair nuts. The only thing better than a good Snap-On flair nut wrench. http://www.irwin.com/tools/locking-tools/the-original-locking-wrenches Wonder job - fun to watch it take form..

Wonderful work.. great to see the progress. Sorry to say that the block paint is WAY TO DARK (looks like a Royal Blue). The block paint should be closer to the blue on that Oil Filter. 70/71 Z's had a bit more green in the Nissan Blue used then, and it was a bit darker - for 72+ Nissan Blue was actually a lighter blue with less green undertones. The Blue on the original block is a bit faded - but much much closer to what it should be. I'd find a more accurate color.. that dark blue is going to look completely out of place on a restored 72... FWIW, Carl B.

As I recall - the rear wheel cylinders were a different size - with the Ventirated Type.. 1978 Sports Option -

Looking GREAT - that Z deserves a very high end Paint Job.. Can't wait to see it.. Carl B.

If the car you are talking about is a 1973 240Z - CONDITION is 90% of the Value, followed by Location. If the location was the same, then the selling price would be the same. The difference would be in how long it would take to find a buyer. Or the difference might be how easily a buyer could convince you the A/T hurts the value, so you would sell it for less. 10 years ago the A/T might have hurt its value ... today - mostly original, well cared for, pretty clean - - cleaned, detailed and properly presented...the low end seems to be $18K no matter the transmission. Personally - it depends on how much you want to spend swapping it out to a 5spd.. That is money you won't recover as it really won't increase the value of the car. As Chuck mentioned - money spent on proper improvements like reupholstery for the seats etc - is money that you might at least get some of it back. FWIW, Carl B.

Great Progress - great work on an amazing 240Z.. Carl B.

Great Progress... looking good! That Z is so clean compared to 90% of them... Carl B.

Hello Kats! The Video on YouTube is much better - thanks for putting it there. Your photographs are stunning - keep them coming. Carl B.

This just in from Sports Car Market - A good write-up on the 70-78 Z's - 77 280Z - Original Paint, 87K miles, all original car - Metallic Brown - $44K. Their analysis is that 240Z's are pushing the $50K range.. So maybe I'm a little low on my estimate.. $35K reserve perhaps.. A Super Samuri sold in the UK for $61,240.00 as well. FWIW, Carl B.

May be this will help... the Pads are different widths for the Solid vs Vented Rotors. I have the vented rotors on the BRE Z - with American LeMans 14x7's.. no problem with clearance.

The Hagerty and other Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Value Guides - are all based on Pure Stock examples. As they left either the Factory or the Show Room Floor. If the subject vehicle isn’t pure Stock - the values there really don’t directly apply. They do however give us one benchmark to consider, but in general any modifications or variations reduce the market values. (of course we can all quote exceptions to any/all rules). If this 240Z had actually been Restored to Concours Quality #1/#2 standards - $45K to $55K today and sold to a private collector pretty quickly. As nice and beautiful as it is.. it is still a high end Enthusiast 240Z (Condition #3).. reach the right buyer that loves the Metallic Brown, loves the one previous owner status along with the original documents… it should bring $25K to $30K fairly quickly. It is in a good market area - Lexington is an easy reach from most of the Central and Eastern population. Start with a one owner 73 always garage kept and well cared for..with relatively low mileage (less than 100K), rust free body in very presentable condition - easy $18K to $21K.. then add a couple years work and another $30K to completely refresh it - you might be able to duplicate this one. $25K to $30K would be a bargain. I believe more people are starting to realize it at this point. I wouldn’t be afraid to put it on BAT with a reserve of $30K… I'll run it by a few people I know.. see if there is any interest .. good luck, Carl B. Oh... AGREED - good photos sell 240Z's - get it up on a lift and get good undercarriage photos.. very important..

OEMZ - you have 6027? Carl B.

Just a thought - If it was my car - and the frame rails looked as good as they do in the pictures - I'd think seriously about putting a couple holes in the floorboards. Then spray them inside with POR-15... I'd rather have a couple extra rubber plugs in the floor boards than future rust coming though the frame rails. Scroll down to page 22.. for example. http://www.binks.com/Portals/0/Repository/EA52-100 Binks Spray Gun Extensions.pdf FWIW, Carl B.

Great Pictures - keep them coming! The wiring harness on the steering column might be very useful to many in the future as well. Carl B.

I'm not sure what you mean "radiator housing". The radiator is gloss back upper/lower tanks - no need for high temp. paint. The radiator core support is body color. You can wash, polish and wax the inner body panels. A good polish will remove most grim and oil stains if the engine compartment is in reasonable shape to begin with. The distributor base is aluminum - you can clean it (a little carb cleaner) - and use something like CastBlast Dull Aluminum spray paint to maintain the factory look. Likewise the valve cover. If it is very stained it can be glass bead blasted (but you have to assure it is completely clean-out after). You can clean and repaint the engine block. High-Temp paint is only necessary on the exhaust manifold.. Eastwood sells a couple different special paints for exhaust manifolds and as I recall so does POR-15 - unlike the usually "hot rod" high temp - the Eastwood and POR offerings seem to stave off rust longer. Are you using Ospho or something like it - to treat small rust spots before painting etc.? FWIW, Carl B.

Anyone know of a real #1 or #2 Condition - aka Concours Quality 240Z being offered For Sale for $50K or less today. Please point it out. Any top Condition #3 examples for sale today for $30K or less today? Mid to low range #3 condition 240Z's are selling on Bring-A-Trailer above $25K.. Point is - it is all about supply and demand - - I don't see much supply in the face of rising demand. Chris - if the car being discussed here - was judged at an annual Z Car Convention - In STOCK CLASS - would it score 90%? Seems a lot of deductions are obvious.. Concours Quality is all about fine details in perfect condition.. Correct down to the valve stem caps!

Agreed - Nissan hasn't done a very good job of upkeep. They - if anyone should show more Pride of Ownership. Then too it has been driven now for 20 years, and not so gently by everyone.

Well - it is at the very least - it is different than a Vintage Z. Without seeing/knowing everything about this Z - it is impossible to tell what the market would bear. I would really want to see the documentation/photo history - of the entire restoration process. How good a job any shop can do - depends to a large degree on how much money the owner is willing to put into the project. What it is worth in the end is mostly Condition, Condition then supply/demand - - - it seems that right now something around $45K is the Top End for Concours Quality, with 1970 Models leading the demand. 71’s will usually sell for a bit less as the demand for them is less. (just a ROM estimate - there are no absolutes so far). Most observers expect them to gain market value over this and the next year. I think this Dealer is dreaming.. I can see a Vintage Z bringing $70K today as their number is limited. There are a lot of nicely Restored 240Z’s out there, and others are presently restoring more.