26th-Z

I budgeted $10,000 to strip 26th to bare metal, removal 100% of the rust by dipping the chassis, replace what was once rust and now is a hole, prepare the bare metal and paint the babe green again. It looks like I am going to do it for about $8,500 because the vast majority of the labor is from me. I paid for a welder and a painter. Everything else I did. I can easily see another $5,000 for my time if I paid myself $45 an hour. Body work is not cheap. It is not easy. It's dirty work. And to prepare the metal correctly, takes a lot of time.

Ooohh! Nice ride.

Holy Literary Misinterpretation Batman! It's a comic book! You think your'e pissed off now, Victor. Wait till you get to the part where Sgt. Rocka Michi san scraps three Toyotas with his bare hands whilst showing off his new Z ensign underwear! Come-on guys.

So where the hell are the pictures? How many cars were there? Where's the write-up? Of course an old Z can compete, Vicky. I mean, we're talking Zrush! Congrats. Way cool.

Stock means stock and aftermarket wheels are not considered stock. Depending on the judge and the condition of the rest of your class, you may end up with a ten point deduction. Watch out for even replacement parts because stock in the purest sense means correct replacement parts for the year. The ZCCA has been getting lenient over cost issues of correct tires, hoses, batteries, etc. however there are plenty of guys competing with the correct parts. It all depends on the judges. If it were me, and there was someone in your class with the correct stuff, I would mark a deduction. If everyone in the stock class had aftermarket wheels, for instance, I would not mark a deduction and just judge the wheels for cleanliness. I can say this for certain, though. You should get less of a deduction for bad looking stock wheels than brand new aftermarket wheels. I judged stock 240 and 280 at the convention last year. Will I be seeing you in Dallas?

Surely not! The product description lists the recent publication date in English. Your'e picking on me, Alan.

Gee, The first book, Brian Long's, is new and I have not read it. I understand from Brian that it is a more comprehensive work spanning a longer period of time and covering more model history than his frst book. I plan to get it to add to my collection. The second book, "Project X", is a tanslated version of the original NHK Project X Manga by Akira Yokoyama. The NHK Project X is also credited to chief producer Akira Imai. It is published in native Manga which reads right to left, or backwards to western publications. The text is in illustrated form similar to what westerners would call a comic book and describes the story of the 240Z in a dramatic theme with Yutaka Katayama as the hero of the plot. In my opinion, the illustrations are superb. The cast of characters include Yutaka Katayama, Yoshihiko Matsuo, Hitoshi Uemura, Hiroo Miyate, Teiichi Hara, Akio Yoshida, and Masataka Usami. Any knowledgable reader will recognize the story line and the charaters, however the accuracy of precise historical fact is doubtful. I have been told that Mr. K refered to the work as "the hollywood version". I found great delight with the book which became available last March and would recommend it, however I see no point in discussing any historical significance. The reader will pick up many points which may or may not have basis in historical fact. One thing I did enjoy was the reference to the Japanese Showa calendar which we commonly find on date stamps and other dated part references discussed in past threads here on this club site. Z-Zulu.bmp

26th was dipped and de-rusted by electrolysis. The initial dip that took off all the paint was pressure washed clean before the elctrolysis dip that took off all the rust. Keep in mind that the original sheet metal inside the frame rails etc. was never painted and protected to begin with. All this worry about protecting the inside metal from corrosion is overblown. One of the main reasons these cars rust so badly is because they were never protected or sealed properly. My suggestion is to spray the inside metal with self-etching primer. I used a thinned solution in a pump-up garden sprayer - the kind that has the long plastic wand and spray nozzle. Self-etching primer because there is no way to clean and prepare the metal you can't reach, let alone see. In my case, the thin primer solution dripped out the bottom of open seams and made a big mess. Most of the threads I read about sand or media blasting come from people trying to find a cheap, easy, less time consuming way to solve an inside rusting problem by attacking the outside. Painters don't like sand blasting because silica is embedded in the metal and without proper cleaning, paint doesn't stick. The bottom line is that there is no cheap easy way to get rid of the rust. Proper preparation of the body metal involves a lot of time and it ain't cheap.

Welcome to the group, BD. Here's a photo of encouragement!

I concur that gaining proper title is possible even though none exists at the moment. Since it is the subject of an estate, I would recommend appropriate bill of sale. Whomever buys this piece - please contact me. There is quite a bit of interest here in Florida for parts. Even the body shell.

I would, Arne. D hubcaps in restorable condition are worth $75 each and wheels are worth around $25 each. It will cost over $1,000 to restore a set of hubcaps making them quite valuable in perfect condition. Wheels, as you know, probably depend on the date stamp for value. I might recommend buying anything that would be appropriate for an early car. It's a collector thing, Arne, but you are a collector and connoisseur of the Z. You can't go wrong.

27th had a snake skin draped over the center console when she arrived. There was a mouse nest inside one of the frame rails. I recall back in the good old days when I was young, I bought two Lotus Europas from a junk yard in Tampa. One of the cars was crashed in the front and the other was burned in the back. I cut them in half and glassed the bodies back together. When I was pulling the carpeting out of one of the cars a scorpion bit me in the stomach. Hurt like hell.

Carl and I were talking about this car on the phone this morning. It appears as though the car was originally blue. It has A/C. The valve cover is a 2400. Just look at the bumpers! Straight! I think this baby could be bought for a song and there are plenty of people whom would be interested in the parts. It looks pretty complete. I would go for it!

http://www.pinks.tv/ You guys crack me up. "Complete long block... from valve cover to oil pan". Reed the fist post an U will no the Code.

Sorry, I just now thought to post the web site :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

I don't see an antenna either. Nor the pillar emblem 240Z. Interesting. Do you see "D's" on the hubcaps? I like to collect the old photos as it reveals to me the extent of the "dual identity" Fairlady / 240Z and Datsun / Nissan image problem the car had in the beginning. Of course, my opinion, but built as the Nissan Fairlady Z and exported to American shores as the Datsun 240Z. Here are some interesting ones from my files: This is the official publication photograph as we have discussed in past threads. The red Z has no emblems. The B&Ws come from the original Road & Track magazine announcement article and the first road test article. Notice the license plate of each car is the California designated dealer plate indicating the cars were owned by Nissan NA. By the time of the road test, custom wheels had been fitted but notice the missing hubcap "D's".

That's a promotional photo of the Z I have not seen. Have a close look and tell me all the things missing from that early, early car. Fender emblems... Thanks for posting the pic! Incidently, Datsun promotional advertising in those days was handled by Parker Advertising; John Parker a personal friend of Mr. Katayama's. I understand Mr. Parker will be at the upcoming ZCCA convention in Dallas.

I wish you guys the greatest of good fortune, Naviathan. I really meant it when I said I was proud of you for doing what you are doing. You all are truely car guys and your spirit is commendable. I hope you kick arse and make the Z community proud. But no matter; I am astonished with your project and even though it may not be my own cup of tea, I recognize your enthusiasm and willingness to accomplish rather than talk. Please let us know when the show is aired. I will make appropriate efforts to watch. Chris

Yea, me too, Marty. I guess you would be interested in my bootleg DVD of the show? But while I mention it, check out Speed's site. They sell their broadcasts of races on DVD for cheap. I bought a copy of the SCCA Pro Touring race at Sebring because it has a 1-1/2 second scan of the crowd and there I am, sitting on the hill, waving to the camera.

I, too, was curious about this thread as today is the first I have seen the subject on our site. On behalf of Jeremy, I'll fill you all in as little as I know and ask a question of Jeremy at the same time. "Pinks" is a TV show on Speed Channel that pits two braggarts against each other in a "winner takes all" race with the winner getting to keep the looser's car. The one episode I saw was between two drag bikes - very nice drag bikes - $20,000 drag bikes. I find it hard to believe that someone would go on TV for nothing, just to bet their ride for a race. But that's the premise. From what I know, the guys over at "Hybred-Z" decided to build a car for Pinks. They started their own sub-forum, went out and raised sponsorship money, hired an ace driver, and built this fire breathing monster of a Z. Frankly, I'm proud of them. So they are going to win Pinks and some lucky Z freak is going to win the raffle and the engine. At least, that's the premis. If they loose or decide to not give the engine away, no one can do anything about the money they spent on their raffel ticket. So the real bottom line is; "Yous pays yo monies an yous takes yo chances". I'm planning on buying the DVD of the show and selling bootlegs on eBay.

I think someone should show their car at a car show all decked out in snow tires and skis on the rack. Period correct skis - of course.

I didn't realize this until I saw this ad on eBay. Were these the mirrors that came on the Black Pearl? The label on the box indicates that these were standard Datsun accessories and the seller says they were purchased in '78 as "racing" mirrors. I remember the Talbot mirrors being called "Bullet" mirrors. Is that right? And yes, I remember them chrome.

Her Majesty the 26th completed her body spa and dip in Wauchula last summer. All her welding work is complete and she is currently dressed in primer. The floor tar insulation undergarments have been fit and her final dress is having the seams sealed - complete - every body seam throughout the body! What a lot of work! Her engine is fairly complete - a standard rebuild but I had it balanced. I'm looking for an exhaust manifold p/n 14004-E3000. The suspension is all apart and ready to be painted. A whole box of nuts, bolts, and hardware is off having new plating. http://home.earthlink.net/~cwenzel/index.html

Eric, The dash is cracked - just send it out and have it recovered without the indent. http://www.dashboardrestorations.com.au/index.htm I think your gear shift boot is the correct one with the rubber ring instead of the leather lace. Your chromed center vent looks good and so does the map light. Nice find!

The mounting hardware looks like the standard door mount.