Bambikiller240

Hi Michael: The concept sounds great, but it only takes one irresponsible person to break, lose, or "forget" to pass the tool forward for the project to go south. Sadly, over the years I've had enough problems getting tools returned from people I know, and who live nearby to sour my enthusiasm for such programs. "Burned once, Twice Shy" as the old saying goes. At some point I'll end up purchasing the tool and after using it a time or two will just put it on eBay to recoup part of the purchase expense.

Ooh yeah, that's something to brag about. Using the hand me down, leftovers from another brand for your new models. Real "forward" thinking there by Chrysler M-B.

That was what I thought I remembered seeing posted. If the car has to pass emissions testing, I wouldn't be removing anything. JMO (as usual) Carl

The 73 had some nice upgrades from the earlier Z's like the intermittant wipers (mentioned by Frank13), and the heater control panel was lighted (which is nice if you've ever had to grope around in the dark to adjust the controls). I would not shy away from a 73 in the same condition as an earlier Z. Swap in the roundtop carbs and perhaps the bumpers and the car would perform as well as an earlier car.

Back when 240Z's were being built and sold as new cars, the HP rating listed in the brochures and Data tags was calulated in what was called GROSS HP meaning the engine was on a test bed with no accessories like an alternator, EGR pump, (and probably not even a water pump driven by the engine). The figure was nice for advertizing, but was certainly NOT a real world number with validity for the buyer. Somewhere in the mid to late 70's (in the USA) the gov't mandated the use of SAE NET horsepower figures which meant that the engine HP rating had to be measured on an engine equipped with all accessories found on the production automobile.

Yup. Chrysler ME-412 Concept Car

ah yes. Illinois, winter, gotcha! If you will be driving the car (hopefully not in snow and salted roads) you might want to have a shop put it on a lift and inspect the rear just to be sure something isn't going to fall off before you can work on the car. Safety first and all that.

Seller says the dark color in the engine bay is ZBart coating applied by the dealer. In several other threads we have discussed the air cleaner and carbs being different than would be expected on an "all original" 73 Z car. Also, after 59K miles and 30 years, any smell in the interior could not possibly be a "new car smell" as stated in the auction.

I don't know how much you know about Z's or your experience in working on them, but have you carefully examined the rear suspension to see if anything is damaged or loose? Does the car have aftermarket strut inserts that are significantly stiffer than stock that might be transmitting every liitle bump more than a stock (softer) suspension might ?

..............and ALL of the rubber in the car (weatherseals, bushings, hydraulic & drivetrain seals) are 30 years old. It is a very nice looking car, but IMO the buyer (if it sells) should expect to be spending some money on replacing rotted rubber items throughout the car at the very least.

Is the rear end moving around side to side or up and down? I would suspect bad struts before I'd suspect the bushings to be the cause, but 30 yr old bushings are usually in need of replacement anyway. It would seem to me that if the bushings were the sole cause, that this would occur without hitting bumps, in other words; it would occur in normal driving and changing directions on smooth roads. In order for the suspension to work properly, ALL components of the suspension must be in good condition.

Hi Enrique: I (dare I say WE) appreciate your points of view and your wisdom. There really isn't a need for anyone to "take blame" for anythng in this thread. There are differing opinions on many subjects and we are all entitled to our own. Sometimes airing them to our compatriots will moderate those opinions even if it doesn't *change* them. It's all good to me, and as stated before "Different strokes for different folks." PS No one has ever mistaken me for someone who is "conservative", though some have mistaken me for a "liberal". I don't feel that I fit in either mould. I tend to vote as much one way as the other. I am a registerd Libertarian. I make a consious effort to make up my own mind on any subject and I avoid believing what anyone tells me I *should* believe until I come to understand the subject to the best of my ability. (Whew, guess I'm a bit wordy tonight.) TTFN, Carl

Last time I spoke with MSA about weatherstrip needs (1 year ago), they indicated that they can still supply OEM pieces, though they are not listed in the catalog. I'm quite sure the price would be significantly higher than for repro (Precision) parts. No surprise there. I always use OEM weatherstrips. The additional cost is worth it to me. No Hassles, better fit, IMHO.

Well said!

Interesting that ZCCA allows one dealer installed option (A/C) in the "stock" class, but deducts points for other dealer installed options. Seems a bit :stupid: to me. IMHO consistancy should be strictly maintained in a "stock" class or it isn't really "stock".

Great! Thank you!

Is there a link to Tom Holt's site with this document? I did a quick Google search on the mans name and there is like 20+ pages of hits for various Tom Holts.

Hi Ben: Yes, indeed. The 1974 260Z (US market) was available with factory installed A/C. First year is was available installed at the factory. Carl

First, I'm not calling myself an "expert", but I consider myself somewhat "knowledgable" on 240Z's, having owned and taken several apart and carefully put them back together. I've also read quite a bit about them. However, there are certainly more knowledgable folks than I out there. All seams where body panels are joined by welding have some sort of filler to smooth the transitions. On the Z they are (were) filled with lead (an "old school method" that is becoming a lost art). Beyond that I said bondo MAY have been applied as well. I have seen some spot weld marks on certain body panels, generally very "low" on the body where they would be difficult to see by the casual observer. I wouldn't call these spots "production flaws" since they occur on every car and could have easily (and would have) been covered IF Nissan had desired to do so. These cars were not meant to be "perfect" like one would expect of a low volume specialty car. They were being built quickly, in quantity, and to a price point that made them affordable. I can only tell you that I have owned 3 240Z's since 1973 and that none of them showed a visable "seam" where the quarter panel joins the roof. I have not examined them with a microscope, but I've looked carefully by eye, & I haven't seen it on my cars, though I have seen cracked paint/filler in this area on 240Z's owned by other people. Regarding what was and was not available from the "factory", there was only one option from the factory in 1972 for US market 240Z's, and that was the Automatic Transmission. I know this as I shopped for and bought one when they were new. I refer you to www.ZHome.com as that site and it's owner/operator Carl Beck can tell you exactly what was available on 240Z's from the factory. Generally dealers sourced the "Factory Authorized" options from several sources. None of my 240Z's ever had A/C so I cannot tell you any of the brands involved, but I'm sure others with cars fitted with these units can tell you.

Thanks Steve, Yeah, that is what I was thinking they were. That is what I had on the Earls hoses I bought in the early 80's. They proably still have that available too. The MSA hose sets built specifically for Z's (MSA) have something similar except that there is no female AN threaded end, the M10 X 1.0 "adapter" is integral to the hose. See the attached (modified) pic from the website you referred to.

You crack me up!

Hi Enrique: I am sure that Ricks comments were sincere and heartfelt and many people feel the same way. My comment are sincere and heartfelt as well. Not everyone likes this parade, or Republicans, Democrats, Tossed Salad, Beef, Modern Art, Fords, Polar Bears, Soup, or Nutz. Different strokes for different folks. We're all entitled to our opinion(s). No flame meant here either, but........... Actually the fact is that this event is for those COUCH POTATOS (I'm outside, or elsewhere DOING something when it airs) who have nothing else to do but sit in front of the tube and watch it and time pass by. My opinion is that it exists solely as a vehicle for Corporate America advertise and to fill space between commercials, until the football games begin. Stuff on TV is not broadcast because it has any redeeming social value, it is broadcast only because someone will pay for commercials surrounding it. When the advertisers go away, so does the programming, no matter who, or how many people like it. Flowers are beautiful and I appreciate viewing them, but they are best appreciated in a natural setting (garden) and not plucted and glued to a flatbed truck in the design of a duck or whatever. (Mrs. Rick understands this, as he indicated) Steve, If you like flowers, you'll LOVE Bouchart Gardens! An amazing place well worth a visit.

I have bought quite a bit of stuff from MSA over the past 4 years (though maybe not as much as you) and have been satisfied with virtually all of it. On the two items that I was not satisfied with, they offered and gave me full refunds including return shipping costs. Nissan OEM weatherstripping is (or was a year ago) available from MSA or Courtesy. Probably Chloe at Midwest Z also. MSA used to carry OEM and repro strips by Precision Replacement Product in Washington. I don't know about ones made in Thailand. When dealing with parts that come from various sources (OEM, different aftermarket sources) consistancy is going to be hard to come by. Talk to Sal Perno, the manager at MSA, he's always done right by me.

Hi Steve: This may be a PITA thing to ask, but do you have, or could you snap quick a pic of one of these fittings? I'm curious as to what they look like and how the fit to the mounting tab on the car. Thanks, Carl

I don't know about where you live, but in Northern CA it's available at almost an Checker/Schucks/Kragen store for $3-$4 a can. Last time I looked on Eastwood's website, it was available there too.