Chino 240Z

Hey ZHadMan, You're just a stones through away in Ontario. I use to live in Ontario up on Princeton Street. Anyways I know what you mean about your other half. Mine is my best friend. This Z we have now has been something that has brought us closer together. She reminds me that it is not mine but ours. We work on it together, spend money on it together, drive it together and talk about it together. She often works extra days for the money to pay for the racing. Just last night she reminded me to give her the gas cans so she can pick up some racing fuel on the way home from work in the morning. She is an ICU nurse at City of Hopy Hospital. I'm a lucky guy to have a partner that likes cars, racing, and Zs as much as I do. Cheers!

Well it's not a daily driven car. When I do fire it up it is usually at the track and we are always under the hood checking on things and after a run we have it open to cool it off quicker. I have never seen or had gas overflow into it. If I did I would have had a carb problem, then pulled into the pits and delt with it. It mostly is there to catch the gas fumes, oil blow by smoke or vent what ever into it. It has some oily mess in the bottom of it about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, I never dump it, doesn't hurt the plastic, just keeps the drips, oily residue in the bottle and not the engine, headers, tires, track or where ever. I guess if the carbs did fill up to the overflow lines they probably wouldn't even run! I have had fuel running out of the carbs because the overflow line was plug or float levels where to high but never into the plastic container.

I think I posted this before. It looks silly but it works. As for the gassy oders, well that's what my garage smells like, and I like it. It's that pre-smog years smell!

So, when was the last time you open the hood since you pulled the rip cord? I agree with giving it an all round tune up and consider the ZTherapy videos with some rebuild kits to get what you have running right. Then take it up a notch and spend the money on some modified SUs, upgraded ignition, headers, rear gears . . . but to just bolt on some new carbs and go? ain't gona run like we would like it to run. I bet you'ld be amazed of how well your car would run with what you got just cleaned up and dialed in before going performance stuff.

Bruce on the hood reminds me of when I hit a cat in a 72 lowered Z doing 60! YEEOOW! (For you cat lovers it was an accident, one cat was being chased across the street by another cat. The first cat got away!)

Just plain SICK I say! Oh, and the girlfriend approval? NEXT!

What they said! But also make sure that the vent lines from the top of the fuel bowls are clear and vent freely. The other day at the races I temporary capped the lines and forgot, and cranked, cranked but no start, then remembered and fixed it and started right up!:stupid: Keep looking and once you find it you'll never forget it again, good luck.

I have had some stock pads but were old and one was kinda slippery. We recently put a set of the Momo pads that are alum. with colored rubber grip pads. They are wider, give better grip and if you use a driving shoe they are expensive and somewhat softer sole, the Momo pad won't tear up your shoe sole like some of those alum. pads with sharp holes. I use a nylon-locking nuts and you drill holes through the metal pedal and the pads are installed with 2 screws through the pad and pedal. Not come loose yet. You can also try using a loc-washer and double nut it?

Faster, well, faster is just fast but it's consistency (spelling?) is what I'm looking for. The same time each time. I can always find a little more speed after I find the right line to drive. Cindy drives a totally different line than I do. Made me feel uncomfortable in acouple places on the track where I would not have the same speed, but it works for her. We enjoy sharing the good and bad points of each of our lines. I have got some ideas I like to try after riding with her and seeing places she is fast. Also I would show her where she would brake too much into turn 3, but funny to see each others different ways in the same car. It's always scarier from the passenger side.

Well put gmaki, but all in all you go as fast as you want and passing in only 2 places where it is safer and only with a point by from the slower car giving you the ok to overtake him. It is a blast! You learn alot about you and your car. There is class instruction in the morning and instructors that will ride with you or drive your car to show you too (if you need them). There are 2 faster groups too if you feel up to it, but only if it's is safe. I agree with the subject that the slower group needs to remember to stay with in their driving and cars ability or else you eat dirt and your pride, but even the instructors eat it too! For an E ticket ride for the day, you are exhausted by the end of the day, five 1/2hr. sessions and they serve you lunch for $125.00 My wife has been out there 3 times and she finally let me ride with her (if I kept my mouth shut) and she blew me away with her speed in the turns and handling it all, I am impressed with her growth in the car. I told her we need to take her out in the our F-body Firebird to a parking lot to get some sliding, sideways time in to see what it feels like when the car gives, breaks adhesion, gets away sideways. Just so she knows what the signs are when it is on the edge and to let up a tad, ya know. The Z just sticks too much, but I did feel some give in those Toyos a couple times while she was driving. Anyways we be addicted to it all now.

Hmm, interesting. The 280Z 5 spd with the 4:11s sounds tempting without giving much of the other up. I think now we hit the straight in 4th and 1/4 mile down I'm at 6000 to 6300 then shift to 5th and it drops about to 5500 and peak at 6000 not noticing very much MPH gain. I like the track because there is some tight turns, long high speed sweeping turns, some elevation and a long straight too. Stock cars are hitting about 165 down the straight and you can hit 125 to 140 in the high speed turn 8 depending on the car. Yeah, I thought I had parked the car when a 911 with a huge wing screamed by me like I was standing still! Thats when I pick up the pace and try to learn their line. Summit track looks like alot of fun! Thanks Craig

The car now has (fresh with new sinc-rings and all) 280Z 5 speed with the shorter overdrive (I believe), there is very little differnce between 4th & 5th. Tire size is the Toyo RA-1 225/50/14. This is where we are lacking in wide open throttle, 5th gear, down a 1/2 mile straight. I did talk to another Z racer at the VARA event and he was using the 3:90 wth good results. I do have 2 more 4spd trans in the shed that I believe are stock so others are available to me to do what ever with . . . Thanks Craig

Hey gmaki, Glad to see ya here! These guys here on site have been my best help and ideas to get several of the problems figured out. Yes, yesterday was awsome. Maybe we can team up to get a few of these Z cars from this site to show up in the up coming events at Opentrackracing? You don't need a race car, run what you brung! I was blown away by the performance those Mini Coopers put out. Looks like we are going to have to yank those 460s out of the rear. Okay guys we need more top end speed on the straights but don't want to sacrifice the "out of the hole" speed in the turns, so what gear should we be thinking about. I have 3 diffs sitting in the shed, don't know what's in them, maybe we should go new? $ ? Okay gmaki we'll beat the war drum for the next event and get a troop of Z cars out there! BTW I second 2Manys motion, get the wheels off, open up the brakes, check em all, freshin them up, upgrade the pads & fluid. We are trying the Portterfield carbon kevlar pad with Motul 600 fluid and big vented rotors and no problems yet. Just noisy as hell when they are cold. Now that we're done for the year that is on the "honey do list" my honey will do it! ha ha ha Craig

Well we're packing now so we can leave Tuesday night to go back out and sweet talk this beast around the track some more, maybe we can catch a few more pics then. Thanks It's good to put faces to everyones posts now. Z ya later.

"Here honey, you hold the camera and I'll get in the picture this time" typical family photo goes something like that eh? Cheers Craig

Okay, to get in on the act here is the Chino 240Z Clan, Mrs. Chino- Cindy, Kaelin 15, Karlie 9 & Connor 5. I'm in the next post. :classic:

Across from our camp the kids enjoyed talking with Borris Said while sitting on Greg Pickets car.

Went to the VARA (Vintage Auto Racing Association) event the 21, 22 & 23rd at Willow Springs Raceway. It was cold but alot of fun. Saw lots of awsome cars of every type you could imagine. A few Zeds were on the track too. We had a friend in a TR4 racing but we are not members so did not race. At lunch we were able to drive the track at lunch time between their races (this was one way to test the SU carb setups). We did enter the car show and placed 1st for Imports with our Z. Met a few people from the Classic Zcar Club while we were there and passed the word on about this nice site. We are going back on Wed. the 3rd to run with the Opentrackracing.com group where you can really enjoy your car on the track. Just wanted you to know we're having fun with our little Z and hope you all are too! Craig

A cracked fuel vent hose may not change the way the motor runs, but a plugged or restricted hose will. The carbs will not operate properly and will even drain out fuel. For carb oil, we have been using that Marvalous Mistry Oil and have notice good carb response time with it. JM2cents.

I got my old set of SUs working and looking good the same way. But I'll tell you something, the carbs that Bruce and Steve can put together are in my opinion necessary! I'm on just a tight a budget as the next guy, but this weekend the new SUs gave me that "$600 seat of my pants drive" that I was looking for! This car just woke-up from a coma, new life! Oh by the way Bruce, the new decals that Pam sent me look like they are worth $600 alone! Thanks, they are proudly on the car. We are headed for Willowsprings Friday night for the VARA carshow and vintage races this weekend! My old SUs are now backup which I doubt I'll need now that these new ones are on. BTW Bruce, tell Steve the .101 nozzels are now working fine, (operator error). I will wait to send the .100s back after the Dec. 3rd Willowspring event, so I will be sure that all is running fine and I don't need them. Cindy says she thinks she wants to buy them just to have. How much are they? Thanks again. :classic: Craig

I don't know about soaking things for long periods of time? but carb cleaners and sprays should to the job at getting the grease and grime off. Try a couple of old tooth-brushes to speed things up. What ever you use to clean them with it's not a bad idea to neutralize any chemical with water after then air blow them clean. As for shinning them up, Mothers polish and elbow grease works for me. Good luck.

Konnichi Wa! Craig 43, Chino California. Double incomes, 4 satellite TVs (remotes everywhere), 3 kids, 2 guinea pigs, 1 dalmatian dog, & 1 fish. I enjoy building scale model cars, fast electric RC boats and playing with the kids. In all the fun going on around here we find time to wrench on our 71 240. Many years ago had a 72 and a 78, stock. But this go around wanted to get some track time so this 71 is all road race. The awhole family is Nascar, Trans Am, and road race freaks. For 17 yrs. my work has been designing and building industrial automated control systems & panels. Cindy is an RN in ICU at City of Hope Hospital. She is a great partner loves to talk shop, build cars, race the Z, collect diecast and slot cars with me! I feel pretty lucky, she would rather get car parts as a gift instead of flowers and girl stuff, its easy shopping for her! I have learned alot from all of you here on this Classic Z Car Club site and thank you! I've seen alot of nice Z cars here too! Glad to know ya - Yoshi-Noya! Craig

Ya know 240ZX, it's the red color that got you stopped. Out of all the colors I have owned Red says 2 things Light'em up & Write'em up! as a matter of fact I have a compulsive disorder, and polishing cars is away to get in that zone. I once had a sand rail that was all polished alum. and it takes alot of work keeping it nice, a few 1st place off-road car shows is the pay off. Now it is just nice to have a clean ride. Our Z is clean for a track car but they get hammered, chipped and dirty easy in track traffic. This is a pic of my daily driver, (sorry not a Z but it is RED sled!) I ordered it in 1993 to my taste, 10 yrs. & still looks like new. Just can't stop tweakin under the hood! That is a main reason for getting the Z, take the race to the track. It's working no more tickets!