KDMatt

A P/O modified my car a number of years ago to include a 5-speed. I'm wondering, and I'm sure this is a shot in the dark, if there's a way of knowing which Z 5-speed is under there now without actually pulling the tranny. I've read that later, ZX-styled, tranmissions have a noticeably different ratio for 5th gear, bringing the engine RPM down at cruise speed, is this true?

Okay, so I'm going to put this out there. It seems to be common knowledge that 280 bumpers are less about form, and more about function, so I'm looking for information about swapping thinner-styled bumpers from an earlier Z (E260/240) onto my 280. I've done some searching around on the forums and come up with some vague, rather lackluster results, and I'm hoping some helpful folks can point me toward some info as well as, hopefully, examples of projects like this that have been done in the past. This is a project I would like to tackle at some undetermined point in the future, and I figure the more I know sooner, the better prepared I will be. My opinion question to anyone kind enough to give this thread a once-over sounds something like this: I know there are a couple of different "early" bumper styles... so which swap do you think is liable to be the simplest (i.e. less drilling/modification), easiest (as in finding parts, if different), and/or best looking? The opinion part, of course, is optional, I'd just like some detailed info. please. Thanks guys!

Whoops! I don't have a 240z. 'Fixed the spreadsheet for ya. :cheeky: Z VIN NUMBERS_05_17_06.xls

I completely agree! The Z-car orange is such a brilliant color, though admittedly it might seem a bit cliché. The first time I ever saw a 240z is was that deep, enigmatic orange. Besides, I think it will be a major selling point if you can tell potential buyers that you had it repainted back to its original color! I voted Red though... the first Z I fell in love with (and almost bought) was red.

Hrm... the Orangeish 240 in Reno looks promising... then again I've always been a sucker for those 5-slot "Appliance" wheels.

Interesting topic on the 55 mph law, however I'm going to leap in and play devil's advocate here for a moment, if I may. Relating to the topic that sparked this thread (i.e. gas mileage), 55 mph was made the "national speed limit" by President Nixon in 1972 due to the 70's energy crisis; it was supposedly the most fuel-efficient speed (encompassing a VERY wide spectrum of cars of course) a motor-vehicle could travel at. I'm not sure if that still holds true today, but it could be a very plausible reason for keeping those 55 mph markers in place... even if nobody does follow them. EDIT: Should mention that the act was officially repealed in '95, but, as we know there are still some freeways that are set at 55. Also, on the topic of gas mileage in Z-cars... I set the trip odometer and watched my fuel guage to see how many miles I could get out of the car before I would hit half a tank... calculated out to about 18/20 mpg for mostly in-town driving. The Z and I don't hit the freeway too often. 'last time I put gas in the car it was about $2.76... that was last week.

I believe as posted in a previous thread that the 240s are approx. 6 inch smaller as far as length correct me if im wrong and the 280 z 2+2 is 9 inch longer. You are correct, the 2+2 (4-seater) versions are longer. However, body parts for the 2-seaters are universal from 70-78, with the exception of badging and bumpers. The only reason, to my knowledge, that the 240's might be "shorter" is because they had slimmer bumpers than 280's and later 260's. Other than that, the body is pretty much the same. Okay, 'didn't know that. My idea was simply that injectors are more maintenance-free than carbs which might make them more ideal for a younger, less experienced car-buff. Anyhoo, good luck KenshinX. Keep us abreast of the situation.

Smaller? All of the first-generation (70-78) Z-cars are the same size. In fact, you'll find that a lot of parts between years and displacement incarnations are interchangeable. Good luck in your search for a Z! Be prepared for that ultimate euphoria my friend. Once you find your Z you won't stop thinking about it until you bring it home... Well actually... that's a lie... You won't stop thinking about it, period. If I may get a slightly biased word in here, I would do as I see a few others have mentioned, and that is to say you should reconsider a 280. I know you've got your heart set on a 240, but don't discount a 280 because it's got fuel-injection or bigger bumpers. They're jstill a blast to drive and get just as many looks from total strangers. Plus, it takes away the potential hassle of tuning carbuerators. Good luck on the search, from one teenaged Z-er to another.

Ah! Thank you Curtis! That's precisely what I needed to hear ... man... the things I don't know about power brakes...

As Adam said, it comes down to a matter of personal taste... ... and personally I think the "reverse" idea might border on overkill.

Yes, there was pressure the whole way, but I reached a point at which the pedal didn't want to travel any further down. Parking brake position didn't make a difference either. Up or down it seemed to feel the same. I can't even dream of putting the brake to the floor. Though I suppose I should try with the engine running next time.

I need to know how far the brake pedal should be traveling. I've been getting ready to take the Z out into the spring-time weather during the past week or so, and so I took an opportunity, as I'm sure we all have done at one point or another, to sit in the driver's seat and just visualize... Anyway, for one reason or another I ended up depressing both the clutch and brake pedals. The clutch will go to the floor... but the brake pedal seems oddly stiff. It seems like I can only push it down a few inches, and I can't tell if this is normal or not. I remember the Z having very "tight" brakes in comparison to both of my parents' cars (especially my mother's Honda, which feels like 9 inches of travel, or more)... so I can't tell if it's "unusually" (aka: something's wrong) stiff, or if it's just me being used to a lot of brake travel from so much time in another car. It would give me pressure as far down as I could depress it, then just sort of "flop" up after I let go. I didn't have anything to measure with, but it felt like it may have only been traveling something like 3 or 4 inches. Bear in mind: the engine was off when I did this. Is there a way to tell if the brakes aren't working? ... I mean I would assume that if I lifted the hood and had somebody squeeze the brake I'd be able to see fluid level going down in the cylinder reservoirs, correct? Also, the fluid's been brown for a while. Input is greatly appreciated! (Thinking about this was keeping me from sleeping)

Heheh, good call on the plug wires there Matt. Reminds me of when that happened to me... 'Only difference was my car was idling all crazy because I didn't have enough gas in it. :stupid:

Haha, c'mon, the whole point of a two-seater is that you have a control seat and a bitch seat. It's everything you need, no more, no less.

Ahh okay... My '76 doesn't have a cat, and I was told that domestic cars started requiring cats in '74... I assumed that Nissan picked up on that trend following the 1977 minor Z-redesign. My bad then. ... Looking forward to those pics Dogma!

Hrm... well from a cosmetic point of view I would recommend looking for a '77 to '78 280 ... and my main argument for that is essentially the bumpers... Heaven forbid you ever ruin one of your bumper ends (as I did) ... you will never find a replacement... it's damn near impossible... unless you have a lot of spare time to dedicate to ebay. ... From a HP point of view I would also recommend a '77 or '78 since I have also heard the "170 hp" rumor... was it because of the changeover to the N47 head? From a practicality point of view I also say '77 or '78 because '77 was the first year when those pesky catalytic converters went standard on all of the Z's (so no noxious exhaust fumes) AND because the 77/78 Z's were equipped with the N47 cylinder head, you won't have to worry about substitutes for Leaded-Gas (The N42, as I have recently discovered, was meant to take leaded gas, where as the N47 was not.) My 2 cents on this issue... Don't get me wrong, I love my 76! It's just a bitch finding a replacement for the ruined bumper end.

Haha... you know what's worse, is you get a bunch of people who modify Escorts and Sunfires with body-kits and rims and call themselves EXEMPT from all of rice-dom. Not happening... if the car was lame to begin with... it's still rice... even if it's only pseudo-rice. That's why the Z will never be a traditional rice-rocket... it's always been the $^!#.

Hrm... it's funny I've had just the opposite experience with a shop... Tires Plus nonetheless! ... All of the gearheads there seemed to hold my car in some kind of ethereal awe... Hell, the manager even came down to take a look at her and tell me what great shape she was in and how much potential he saw... "Yeah man, this could be totally cherry, wouldn't take that much work." They even let me get up under the car while it was on the lift (this let me check for rust underneath and leaks... and... yes... I found both, but, 'can't expect perfection for a car pushing thirty, she's having her mid-life-crisis I think), and I was able to stand on a platform in the garage and watch them work until until they lowered it back down to the ground. I'd take my car there more often if they didn't charge so much... (I had a coupon that day...) So yeah, I trust Tires Plus... and there's this other place I've been meaning to try out that always has loads of old collectibles through it (walking up to it, there was an old Chevelle in the parking lot, and I saw a 70's 'vette on a lift inside).

Prox ... I dig it immensely. I'm whipping out this video the next time that someone (a car-snob uneducated about Z's) tells me that a turbo swap is a frivolous endeavor.

Yeah man... The scout looks like it might be a trap to me (that thing's a beast though). Even by tackling your drivetrain difficulties (RWD to 4x4), you're still going to be battling the rust issue when it comes to winter driving unless the scout you want is already a rust-bucket... but even then, safety issues come to mind... My opinion is that if you need a car for winter, nothing you're gonna find from the 70's is going to see you through best. Winter is brutal on cars, and I think it'd be in your best interests to have a car that can take the punishment, and by that token I mean something a lot newer. Just my $.02

Holy crap, that's the cheapest I've seen rebuilt injectors! ... and do they actually refund you a $12 core charge after that too, or is that taken into account when they charge you $35.99? I'll be curious to see what DZR has to say about 'em too, cuz they're mighty enticing, hmm...

MM... yer tellin' me... :knockedou bamalama EDIT: Actually, aren't there a couple of things that aren't quite right about this car (besides the tires)? For one thing isn't the 280z plate on the dash supposed to be "chromed?" 'Seems a bit too worn out for only 5k miles IMHO. ... and I was also under the impression that the stock shift-knob is supposed to be some kind of walnut/wood instead of leather-bound.

I dig it. I wonder if she still puts out the same amount of horsepower/torque?

*Gulp* ... no... I'm working on it... 'waiting 'til I see a super cheap used one on ebay. :squareeye Ahh, good to know. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that most of my radiator fluid is bad, so it's all gotta go... last time I smelt it, it didn't even smell like antifreeze... more like... rancid maple syrup... Yeah... you guys are slowly makin' converts outta me... (OEM! OEM!) Don't revel in it for too long though. ARR :pirate:

Thanks for the link, I'm gonna get on that soon. Well yeah, but if I went to all the trouble of replacing the radiator and fan clutch and didn't even bother to address the thermostat, wouldn't that border on ignorance? The t-stat looks like a twenty minute job compared to the involved labor of removing and replacing the radiator, and possibly the fan clutch... for which I still have not found removal instructions. Hrm... But Yeah. :cheeky: