Carl Beck

Long term, 100K+ miles - and the difference between running Leaded and Unleaded fuel may start to show up. When it does, it still won't be a significant difference in a normal street engine. The lead additives in gasoline, in addition to being a cheap way to increase octane ratings, also had the side benefit of supplying additional lubricating to the valve stem/seal interface and the valve/valve seat interface. As lead was removed from the gasoline, the material composition of the valve stem seals, the valves and valve seats was also changed.. So the net effect in that area was minimal. I think the article you referenced - intentionally used "relative" terms like "soft" and "hard" because in order to be specific - they would have to have used a very large matrix. A matrix outlining make/model/year produced as well as each model using different engines - then showing all manor of copper alloys and steel... In general categories valve seats moved from copper alloy{other than tin}, to brass, to bronze, to steel, to hardened steel - as well as all of them with special alloy formulas between. The Bronze valve seats in the 71 were quite a bit harder than the ones used for years before that.. Ultimately of course the L28's started coming with steel. Bottom line - you may want to use a higher octane rated unleaded fuel, as they contain additives to replace the lubricating functions that lead used to add. FWIW, Carl B.

Yes but you still read it.... Carl B.

Hi Mike: You are correct. The Black Pearl Edition 280Z - was a limited edition of units painted with the Black Pearl Metallic Paint and for which there was a $90.00 charge on the Window Sticker. The SAP was an extra cost option, over and above the cost of buying the Black Pearl. The SAP option was only available on the Black Pearl edition. Nonetheless one could have purchased a Black Pearl without the SAP.... or with it. FWIW, Carl B.

I'm pretty sure that Datsun Alley shut down -and Mark moved to AZ.. Yes/NO? Carl B.

Am I dreaming - wasn't there a post from Jim in Lutz saying he had a hood... Carl B

Another approach...... When I had the Muffler shop - I'd simply slip the largest A/K (aluminum killed) exhaust pipe that would fit - into the damaged strut - usually 1 7/8's inch.... then using the pipe expanding die's on the Pipe Bender - I'd heat the strut then expand the exhaust pipe inside the strut - until the strut was round again. The steel in the strut and the threads cut into it were far harder even when warmed up - than the A/K pipe, so no damage to the thread if one was careful. Taking the expanded exhaust pipe back out of the strut, was simply a matter of cutting a slot in the A/K pipe. First time I did this, I used a cutting torch to cut the slot when I couldn't get the exhaust pipe back out of the strut {standard stuff for a muffler shop}... second time I cut the slot before expanding it in the strut.... da.... FWIW Carl B.

Hi Joel: da... I should have remember that. Actually I should have bought that car myself when Randy decided to sell it. A very nicely refreshed 240-Z, it was easy to understand how it was mistaken for a VZ when sitting beside the VZ's that Nissan had in their warehouse. That mistake however simply makes for a 240-Z with a more than average story to tell. So have you got it out and enjoyed it on the weekends? You'll have to Post some pictures in your User Gallery... FWIW, Carl B.

The instructions that came with the last set of KYB's that I installed, directed the use of light oil in the strut. As a result of time/experience that might have changed - what do the installation instructions that came with your shocks say? FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Chris: This too is incorrect. The car did NOT have a dash plaque. Pete's trip to the warehouse was to see what cars Nissan STILL had there vs which one's they had sold off since he left the company. I was communicating with him during that period -and he said he wasn't sure what all was left in the warehouse... he'd have to go see. The warehouse was dark and dirty.. nothing like you would expect a company like Nissan to have... When Randy bought the non-VZ car from Nissan, they didn't even have a title for it. A new title was generated based on the Manufactures Statement of ownership. Doug bought it from Randy {super bargain} and I'm not sure if he still has it or not.. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Chris: I have confirmed ownership of Mr. Crain's VZ. He sent the data in some time ago and I talked to him at Amelia. He said he'd try to get a picture and send it in. I may have to bug him again.. FWIW, Carl

As sold in the 70's/80's the Bilsteins for the 240Z required no drilling - they were a direct bolt in - with the "D" shaped shock rod to fit in the stock mounts. As Jon mentioned - you just have to run the nut down with an impact wrench. I had a machine shop drill to hole in the top mount out -for some other shocks, on another car - - given the original "D" shape and the fact that its hardened steel -I wouldn't recommend doing it with a hand drill... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Randy: For some unknown reason - the L28 I run in one of the 72Z's also ran above normal temps. Everything in the engine was new - everything in the cooling system was new - everything checked out as operating properly {radiator flow rates, water pump, thermostat, fan clutch and fan etc etc} The engine was broken in - had about 2000 miles - and it still ran warmer than I wanted. Same stop/go traffic overheating fears that you have.... I switched to Mobile 1 - - and that dropped the temp about 10 degrees. Next I added Redline Water Wetter and that dropped the temp. gauge to the middle. In 1995 we had the car at the Z Car Convention in Atlanta - - record high temps there - over 100 degrees during the day. Even then, in stop/go traffic jams on the freeways - the temp. gauge barely got above the center line. Redline Water Wetter - contains a water pump lubricant, as well as corrosion inhibitors for aluminum heads/cast iron blocks. You don't need "anti-Freeze"... I'd flush the system and refill with water and Redline Water Wetter.. as well as running synthetic oil {if your not already}.... You can buy Redline Water Wetter at many chain Auto Parts Stores... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Michael: Your Z looks fabulous!! However the picture you Posted is WAY TO SMALL.. Do it again and upload a larger format... at least 1024 wide.. That is great picture... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: I'm not sure how I screwed that up - but checking back over my notes I see that I did. I'll correct the register - good catch... FWIW. Carl B.

Hi Steve: Pete Evanow worked for Nissan and was assigned to add some management focus to the Vintage Z Program well after it got underway. I had been asking Nissan to document and release the VIN's on the VZ's for years after the program was ended. Pete was kind enough to provide me with a list of the cars VIN's, but would not allow publication until after his book was published. At least that way I could verify for potential buyers - that the cars they were looking at were indeed real VZ's. Once the book was out - I put the list on the Z Car Home Page, on the Vintage Z Register - to discourage counterfeits, or mistaken representations etc. When he was finalizing his book - Pete went to the Nissan Warehouse to get the VIN's for the cars that Nissan hadn't sold to the public, and in the dark, dirty environment - he wound up putting the VIN of one Z that was in very nice shape - but which wasn't actually a VZ on his list. So the hard copy book shows 38 VIN's when in fact it should have been 37. One of our members here owned that mistaken VZ car - I tried to help the person that did most of the looking/buying of 240-Z's for the VZ Program. He sent me copies of the Quality Control Check Lists, the accounting done to track the free publicity the Program generated etc. All in all about 59 240-Z's were purchased by Nissan for the program {might have been 58, might have been 60 - some were just parts cars and their VIN's weren't accounted for}. Many were used for parts, many were crushed after being stripped and as we know 37 were completed. Pierre sold 3 cars to Nissan for the Program, and Les sold one to Nissan for the Program. I know that Mr. Sages sons found the car they had put through the Program for their father.. According to Pete - only ONE Official VZ was actually completed after the official "shut down" came from H.Q. - and was sold as a VZ - that was one that Datsun Alley had 98% complete at shut-down. Pete said he sent the paperwork, the official dash plaque etc to Mark for the customer. That one is included in the 37 listed. Mark had as I recall about four or five body shells in various stages of competition which he sold off after the program shut down. We all saw one of the cars on E-Bay - that was bought by a father/son as a project.. FWIW, Carl B.

The price on the window sticker also indicates that it was one of perhaps the first six or eight cars done. Nissan raised the MSRP pretty quickly after they started to accumulate the actual costs of remanufacture etc. I'm pretty sure that the engine history on the Z Home VZ Register is accurate. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Jim: As I recall - I put Bilstein Shocks in my 72 240-Z around 1975. They have been in there ever since, and performing just like new. They have a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser. Years ago I spoke to a Bilstein Representative at the Daytona Raceway. I was complaining that the "life time" warranty didn't do me much good, since they no longer make shocks for the 240-Z. He said that if they went bad, just take the out and send them back to Bilstein - if they couldn't replace them, they would rebuild them - - but in any case they would honor the warranty. As I said - so far they are fine. They are the best shock I've ever had on a 240-Z with stock springs. Firm when they need to be, soft ride but not too soft... As I recall, back in 75 they were advertised as being filled with nitrogen gas to reduce foaming, but not advertised as "Gas Pressure"... Today several racers use various Bilstein shocks - selected via the shocks dimensions, and/or valve spec.'s. I'm sure someone else will know far more about that... I'm amazed at the condition of the inserts - they look like new. I also don't recall the Part Numbers from the 70's - so really don't know how old the one's you have would be.. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: Thanks for pointing this out. The VIN was listed in Pete's book and thus was on the VZ Register at ZHome.com Now we have a picture of it, and a little more information about it. We now have 29 of the 37 VZ's at least accounted for. It is one of the VZ's that did not retain its original engine to begin with, so now the question is "did the owner retain the VZ engine installed, that would match the paperwork - if one wanted to return it to its VZ configuration. As far as the market value goes - I'd have to say that the future value, once we are out of this recession, would have to be negatively effected... VZ Collectors want Vintage Z's not street mod'ed Z's. In todays market who knows? At any rate I doubt he'll be getting many bids above $20K to $25K. The fact that it had to be put on E-Bay should tell us something, as most VZ's have changed hands privately over the past two or three years. If the reserve isn't set too high - someone will get a very nice car for reasonable money. FWIW. Carl B.

The present plan is to leave here around Friday noon - that should put us in Atlanta some time around 8:00 - 9:00 PM. All depends on a number of things out of my control.. When are you planning on going up? I'm going to call Bill C. and Rich tomorrow.. hope to see you there, Carl B.

Hi Mike: Great Video - thanks for sharing it with us. Perhaps a subject for another thread - but what specific camera etc do you have mounted? I've been looking at different options. BTW - You can drop the NISSAN logos/advertising - they don't pay the contingency money to the customers here in the U.S. that race their cars any longer.:stupid: I think that the contingency money, very small support that it was; and the Competition Dept staying open - was really the main reason one would see a Datsun 240-Z here in the States with NISSAN advertising. . FWIW, Carl B.

Outstanding!!! The broken stub axle is a real bummer. thanks Mark Carl B.

See if this helps: http://ZHome.com/ZCMnL/tech/ThomasMSD.htm That was the only "Chrysler" part I could find - many that is what you were thinking about. FWIW, Carl B.

Only a few more days - get your act together and BE THERE. This is a great event, wonder cars, great people and time to enjoy it all. http://classicmotorsports.net/events/mitty-09/ So who is planing on being at the Mitty? FWIW, Carl B.

Andy - what off-road sites do you hang out at? Carl B.