tibZ

When I bought mine last month I had to keep asking myself "What am I doing?" For the past 30 years I have put my home and family first and finally have convinced myself it is OK to buy something for myself. I didn't want a finished car to just drive around in. I want to strip it, refresh and replace what I have to and as time and money allow, put it back together into what my eyes see as the perfect Z. It may take 3 years, it may take 6, it dosen't matter, it's the puttering around on something you admire and enjoy doing. Mine was $2500 and it's a 73, a 70 for $1500 is unheard of around here. Mine has some rust issues and a trashed interior but it's nothing that can't be fixed. Thats the fun of it. Floors can be replaced, Engines can be rebuilt. I spent more than that on my last vacation and it was over in a week.......

Me Too.......

I think it all depends on what you are looking for.That would be a 3K+ car here in new england. $1500 would be a good buy if you want something to putter on for the next 3+ years and finish as your funds allow. Like eveyone has said though, Carefully inspect the entire car so you know what you are getting into.

I have downloaded to my link the latest pics of my project 73 rebuild. This is so much fun! Been taking pics, notes and tagging and bagging. Climbing under the car tomorrow to remove essentials to pull the motor within a week or two. So far no bad surprises, a very solid car for a New England Car. (last on the road in 1985) Hopefully next spring for new floors/rails ( they have been replaced, just not a very good job IMO) and possibly lower front fender inserts and one dogleg. Been doing some research on the floors, Is Zedd Findings still the place to buy them?

It looks like a very good starting point, what are your plans as far as the resto goes? ie: What level are you going to bring it to?

Welcome aboard, looks like a great starting point for your dream Z. You will be able to find out everything you need from the people in this forum. Enjoy.

I'm jealous, mine's in a shed! Looks awesome, enjoy.

I haven't redone the compression test, if I turn it over mutiple times it knocks the little seat on top of the valve back off. It's still sticky from something. I am pulling the motor this fall to detail the engine bay and then I will pull the head off to clean all of the valve stems and inspect to be sure. PO swore this motor purred last time he ran it 5 years ago, assured me he would buy it back if it had any major issues. So at this point I'm confident it's not a major issue.We'll see this winter....

You're awful close zbane, that will do. Bigoak, I think you have too much time on your hands!

Now that I'm an official Z owner I am retiring wannaZ and now I am registered as tibZ..woo-hoo.

Ran a compression test on my car today and got 0 in cyl. #3. Did a search on this site and found this thread. So I pulled the valve cover and found the exact pic westpak posted in the beginning of the thread!!. My engine hasn't been running in 5 years so it is probably just a sticky valve. I was able to gently pry down the valve spring to get everythig back into position and after a few minutes the spring pushed the valve back to where it is suppose to be. If I crank the motor over slowly I can watch the valvespring compress and after the lobe is back pointing straight up in 2 minutes the valve is back up. Hope you have as good luck as I did westpak....

Thanks everyone for your advice so far. i removed the interior yesterday, doing a compression test today. No, it wont be green, I'm leaning towards white as of now, with black or blue interior.I'm inspired by Dizeads cars, but I don't have the facility to bring it to that level.

Thanks geezer, good tip, I'll do that.

Some details... Last registered in 1985, 108800 miles, Taken out of the garage in 2003, rebuilt carbs (off a 72), tune up, 100% brake job and front struts, new pans. Then put back in garage??? Over $3K in reciepts just for 2003. I have been able to get a better look at the floor job and to put it as basic as I can I would call it a hack job. I'll probably have them redone. Time and Money..... http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo16/mikes73z/

Welcome, Looks like you have your hands full with that one. Enjoy, you have come to the best Z website there is.

Thank You, I'll order the CD.

Thanks SB, this is part on the website that confused me. Example: You need a rocker arm for your 1972 240Z. Click on the l24 engine mechanical link in the >30fiche. In the table of contents below the image, find section 130a - "Camshaft & valve Mechanism" and note the location - 2-d-5 Navigate to 2-d-5 by either clicking the navigation arrows or selecting 2-d-5 from the drop down menus and clicking the 'get it' button. In frame 2-d-5 you see an exploded view of the camshaft and valvetrain. Note the Part Code of the rocker arm (35) Simply navigate to the right by clicking the right link on the navigation pad until you find the correct part code. To get to 35 you will have to click the right link 2 times. Many parts will have different applications(depending on things like interior color, options, etc, etc.) To locate the proper part number for your application, you will need to know the production date and what major options your car is equipped with. The production date for your car is stamped on the metal FMVSS tag in the driver's side door jamb. Note that you can click on each image to enlarge it. To return to where you were, simply click your browser's "back" button.

I have downloaded the FSM from both sites and they are the same. It opens in Adobe 7.0 and according to the instructions I should be able to navigate around to find part numbers?? Am I missing something simple here? Will take some pics today and create a photobucket account.

Thanks for the info bigoak, I'll do that tomorrow...You guys make it so easy!! Can't wait to tear into the dis-assembly. baggin and taggin.

Thanks for the reply's guys, been visiting this site for a long time, nice to "belong" now. I'll post some pics as soon as I figure out how to reduce them?? Any one know how to change a logon name?? Really like this website and all the tips and info. I guess some manuals will be first on my shopping list.

It's been 28 years since my last Z and I just picked up a 73 240Z about 20 miles from my house. 110K original miles and matching numbers, 4 speed. If I'm lucky I see one about every 3 years here in northeast Mass. This one has it's last inspection sticker from 1985 still on the windshield. It's been in his garage for 23 years. It's a project, which is what I was looking for, but what I would consider minimal rust for a New England car. First course of action is to start stripping her down and take it from there. I figure about 2 years of puttering with it will get me a respectable summer driver.

Looks like one that was on Tampa Bay craigslist awhile back for $4500 or best offer. It does look like the perfect car to restore. For $6K it should be in running condition though.....if just for shipping. Whats with the angle on the right front wheel? (last pic) Appears to be way out of whack at the top or it could be from jacking it up and setting it down.

new location, buy it now $6K http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-Datsun-280Z-RESTORED-L28-black-Nissan-MegaSquirt_W0QQitemZ200178274832QQihZ010QQcategoryZ6187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

yeah, thats it. I don't know why it didn't work?? I went up to $4100.00 on this one....just missed. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-Datsun-240Z-no-Reserve-clear-title-240-Z_W0QQitemZ270187472961QQihZ017QQcategoryZ6187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem hope this link works.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/72-da...QQcmdZViewItem This one just ended and now is relisted. I think it was $3700 Reserve not met. Any guesses on what that rear bumper is from?Also i noticed not one pic of any of the typical rust prone areas.