gema

That's the goal date, and if I manipulate my work schedule enough (I can, my family owns the shop =D ), I can work in either the mornings or evenings, leaving the nice, warm sunny middays for workin' on the Z. Paint color is still up in the air. I wanted Chromesilver off the new Z, but thought about 918 Orange (original color), Le Mans Sunset, and now I'm considering a dark metal-flake blue, as it was the final color in my crazy drug-induced dream the other day (wisdom teeth surgery). So I'm not sure yet, but as of right now, it's a nice....spray-can Lemon Chiffon, and it resembles something between vomit, tapioca pudding, and cat pee. So anything is a step up.

Thanks for the advice, and after lots and lots of searching/reading, I've decided to do it myself. For one, it's more rewarding. Also, I learn more (which is the point of this car to me), and I save a whole bunch of money. Now that being said, I have all sorts of hand tools and sockets/drills/etc, but I'm making a shopping list...please add on. About the mid-July date, that is really workable for me. The rate at which I work (on anything if I put my mind to it) is astounding, and generally I do the work of 3-4 other people combined. That is, if I'm motivated. Here's my list so far: 1. Welder (Either MIG or Oxy/Arc, which is easier to learn?) 2. Engine Hoist/stand (for removing engine/tranny and later to put in the ZXT motor) 3. Stripping supplies (Sandpaper, chemical stripper, putty knives, eye/nose/mouth protection, etc.) 4. Electrolytic Rust Removal setup supplies (not too expensive, mostly for suspension pieces i'll be having powdercoated) 5. Dehumidifier (To run in the garage all the time, keep rust at bay while the car is stripped...will this work?) 6. POR-15 like crazy. 7. Painting supplies. 8. Tons of boxes, bags, and labels, to put everything in as I disassemble. I can just see the trip to the hardware store now, me carrying 100 stripped bolts of different sizes, matching them up... Of course these are just some tools, not panels/floorpans and any other goodies I end up having to buy. I am seriously considering building a rotisserie, but I doubt I have the space for it. Let me know what I'm missing.

I love you guys...Z-police!

Mobil 1 full synthetic. Why? Helps me sleep at night!

Everyone knows the best way to make your car faster is GT-R badges at Pep Boys. Slick 50, Splitfires, Royal Purple...just another way to take your money.

Looks like you had a better weekend than all of us combined!

If you drive from hawaii to savannah I'm going to mail you five dollars. Being as you would have made a Hybrid Boat/Z-car to drive across the ocean in

So I'm sitting here thinking of my enemy: rust. I'm the kind of person who likes to do something once and do it right, but in the case of Z bodywork, I'm a little stumped...what exactly is involved in "doing it right"? I'll do all the reading and learning I have to, and am willing to spend hours and hours in the garage, so that isn't a problem. I guess what I'm asking for is a procedure for 'doing it right' (being the refinishing of a Z car body), and hopefully, a list of tools I'm going to need to acquire. I have an entire summer to spend working on this (between work and my girlfriend), and the goal is to have everything pieced together, painted, and running smoothly by mid-July. If this means forking over 3-4k to a body shop, so be it, but I'd much rather do it myself (if it isn't beyond my abilities). So...anyone?

Well i AM a writer, albeit a novice, and a friend/customer of mine happens to be a graphic designer. He told me he'd illustrate a comic book of some of my writing, so be on the lookout for a comic by yours truly. The 240z will 100% be in the comic, although it might have a few unrealistic modifications (James Bond gun style).

So yesterday morning at 12:30 PM I went under the knife (and under anesthesia) to have all four of my wisdom teeth removed. Boy, was I in for a ride! The operation went smoothly, but... I was driving in my Z, it was ALL DONE. All the work I planned to do to the car had been finished. I heard (and felt) the turbo engine, shifted through five gears, was strapped into my Corbeaus, was playing the awesome stereo, looking over my uncracked dash...and even better, I was on the way to meet my friend Chad (who has an 04 350z). I was doing 95 in a 50, took an exit ramp marked 35 at 90 (with no problems thanks to my fully modified suspension). By the way, I had those Gram Lights in gunmetal and the car was Daytona Blue (though I want chromesilver, but hey...it was hot and I was high). After I got onto the highway, I looked in the rearview and saw about 16 cops, laughed, and downshifted and punched it. I left them in the dust!!! They kept trying to catch up but just couldn't. I took a few offramps and backtracked trying to lose them, and eventually ran into a roadblock...there was just enough space between the two cars for one sideways Z, so I downshifted, e-braked, and slid sideways between the two cop cars, rolling my POWER window down and giving them the finger!!! Then I took off down the road and changed the song (don't remember what to), and reminded myself how much I loved my Z. In other words...inspiration has been gotten! Time to amass money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone else had any crazy dreams with their Zed?

Not shedding a single tear... but this won't shrink the number of beat-up Cutlass Ciera's rolling through the neighborhood =(

Wish I had some alcohol, but all I have is percoset and advil. Freaking wisdom teeth. (Waves bye bye)

Hyundai is making leaps and bounds in progress, both in design, manufacturing, and sales. However, they still suck and I love my Nissans!!!!

What on earth are Riken wheels?

That's just on the website. Get a catalog, I'd source you the part number but mine's in the garage.

New floorpans. Deluxe model from MSA. Don't buy the cheap-o ones.

Not to hijack the post, but... If I can get my car painted (stripped, primered, and painted by a a very reputable body shop) for around $1.5-2k, is it cost effective at ALL to do it myself?

^^ you guys are funny. How much does it cost to media blast a Z?

It's rumored that clutchless shifting isn't harmful to cars with straight-cut gears... any truth to this?

Take that $2200 and do some performance mods to your car. You won't mind that the paint is SLIGHTLY off when you have that nice feeling/sound.

Err... Working at Nissan, I just called a certain phone number and ordered a brand-new 1972 Datsun 240z Sports Factory Service Manual, both manuals (Chassis/Body and Engine) condensed into one. I paid cost +10% as an employee, but I can check on pricing for club members if you guys would like. Just shoot me a PM.

www.midwestz.com Try Chloe first!!!!

I'd just totally do some awesome ninja action and start flying around, they'd be too stunned to realize I had already chopped them all in half. Or, I'd take my beater car and run them over. And back up. And run them over. Back again. You get the idea...

Invest in a Factory Service Manual...

Thanks a ton! I searched for the answer but entered in "wheel locks" as opposed to "locking lug nuts."