Mark Maras

If the car runs fine when it finally starts, it's probably not crud in the tank. I'd check the pump for pressure and volume flow. IMO the pump is weak.

That's Fron-kon-steen! Seems like I remember that line in the movie too but that was 1974. If you know what I mean.

Not good for the tank either.

I remember the smoking WWII German soldier as a repeat character near the end of the shows. His critique of the previous skit, or maybe the entire show, was usually "Veeeeery Interesting, but stupid."

Googled the part #. It's a good Mercedes #, Couldn't find any pics to verify it. One description says it's a console part, another says ABDeck Cover. How large is it?

Thanks for that info. I didn't realize the covers affected the acoustics.

I agree the "unknown plastic piece" is a speaker guard. They were used to protect speakers from dripping water damage when the speakers were installed in the door panel, or almost anywhere in an old Z.

I don't recognize them as a Z part. Never seen wing nuts like them either. Could it have been some sort of flange nut before the distortion? The bends don't look uniform at all. What is the small round? protrusion on the left pic, left side in the middle?

I have the linkage, I'll have to get my spare SU set-up back from another member here in town. It has the linkage attached. RossiZ already got the crossover tube. I'll keep my eye out for one. There's always SUs for sale around here. ZTherapy in Salem has crossovers if you can't find one anywhere else.

Nope. But if, there was excessive blow by caused by poor piston ring sealing and if the PCV valve was plugged it would be possible to build enough pressure in the pan to move the dipstick out to relieve the excess pressure. No oil pressure in the pan, just air turbulence from the crank, the bottom side of the pistons and ring leakage.

W.T.F.?

Yeah, but it's a SCARAB! Just kidding. You speak the truth. IMO someone paid $10,000 extra for the name and a V-8. To each his own.

Worse yet, it's a dung beetle. The ancient Egyptians held the Scarab (dung beetle) in very high regard to the point of worship. Don't know and can't imagine why.

The late 71 hatch lockset has 2 tabs for the hole, different widths and 2 tabs for the sliding pc. that secures it from the inside. I think we're on to something here.

The O.D. of the barrel on my hatch lockset is 1". The length of the barrel is 15/16" from the base of the outer flange to the end of the barrel not including the tab. Maybe @Gav240z will measure his Aus. gas door lockset and confirm the same measurements. Could this be the reason the early gas caps had no raised tabs? Could they have done away with the lock the same time they went to the later cap?

I don't have door locks to look at BUT the hatch lockset EXCLUDING the removable offset tab from a late 71 is the same length as the early 71 turn knob INCLUDING the offset tab. Conclusion, a fabricated straight tab on the hatch lockset (Easy Peasy IMO) would work with the original wire catch on the body. A bit of blacksmithing on the ends of the appropriate ga. wire for the catch (perhaps a pc. of welding rod) a couple of holes and screws or pop rivets to hold the catch in place would be easy on later Zs. The only problem on later Zs is the lack of a hole. This "easy peasy" mod is based on the assumption that the diameter of the hatch lockset is the same or smaller than the orig. gas lockset and won't interfere with the cap. I think the locksets were all the same diameter.

Those pics should be required viewing for any noob that wants to take on a Z project.

True, unless your Merlin float chamber was upgraded to a "Miss Tilly's Orifice.

Nice. It looks like it was keyed to match the doors and the hatch. I like it. Much cleaner look than the protruding twist knob. Is everything the same on the body and the door the same as US models except the lockset?

That would be fun. Probably wouldn't take too long to figure out who is who. Accents would narrow it down some. I was going to say how can I have fun with my hands in my pockets but, well, uh, gee. Anyway , it wouldn't work. They'd know it was me. Nevermind the fun part. I'll figure out something.

You're welcome. That was a thanks, wasn't it?

Ok. that makes sense but was it that big of a problem? I still don't understand why I've (anyone else?) never experienced a problem with the early ones. Drove it easy, drove it hard. All six plugs always ran light tan, both carbs 2 1/2 turns down, float levels as close as I could get them, (never checked float level at the nozzles) ATF in both. I'm beginning to think the longer tabs were another improvement?, similar to the heated carbs. I'll stop there before I go Lewis Black on the subject of improvements which, most of the time, are Extraneous B.S.

Patcon Thanks for the invitation. That could work out great. There are a lot of members I'd like to meet from that part of the country. I'll put that invite with the other planning tidbits. I'm filling Kathy in about all this as it unfolds and she's smiling.

You went from tearing up dump trucks to co-piloting? a CJ-1? There's a great story linking those two events. Hadn't really thought much about Austin until now. You're right, we could entertain each other for a long time before our wells ever ran dry, which is doubtful. Kathy and I have talked about taking a road trip through that part of the country (I've got to see how weird Austin is compared to Portland) and then continue east along the Gulf. Hmmm. I'm beginning to sort details of the trip in my mind. Could be a possibility. Thanks for planting the seed.