Arne

Those look like the MSA replicas, not the original style.

I've seen documentation that identified at least FOUR major E88 variations here in the US. (Mid-71, '72 small chamber, '73 large chamber and '74 big valve.) I've also seen a picture of an E88 from somewhere else (not North America) that had notched intake ports for injection. That one casting number was used a lot.

Yup, all steel until the plastic ones in '77.

Actually, I don't, not by heart anyway.I'm only assuming that the '72 colors are the same as my '71. Likely true, but I can't promise that. I think Dave has it all correct. Speaker(s) - the original radio only had a single speaker, and the wires on mine are white, and white/black. The green and gray pairs are typical colors for aftermarket speakers, so that's what those are, I'm sure. The factory power antenna wiring had three wires to the switch - blue, blue/white and blue/red. Radio illumination was red/blue, and worked with the dash lights. On my car, the power to the radio did have an inline fuse, and the wire was blue. OK, I guess I DID know it by heart...

Nope, the proper '72-76 hubcaps are stamped steel, plated and then painted.

I used Les' paint on my tail trim, it looks to be a very good approximation for the later hubcap color, as I remember it. As it happens, I'm doing a refresh on a set of aftermarket mags, and wanted to paint some accents on them. I'm using Plasticote #5432 (coincidentally a Nissan color) on those wheels, and that is a fairly close match too. Close, '72 through '76. The '77 and '78 280Zs had silver plastic wheel covers.

Color all started out the same, I believe. Perhaps slight differences due to different batches of paint at the factory, but that'd be about it. In my experience, the factory paint fades towards silver with years of exposure. The darker color you see (I'd call it a medium gray) is more correct.

Looks great! Are those the 15" Ansens, or the 17"?

That one is not for a North American market Z. Other markets had separate bulbs for the parking lights.

That is too cool! What a great find, Kats!

Oh my... http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/1006292117.html

My seats have never been recovered. They both have a noticeable gap. I've always considered that normal.

A local upholstery supply house. Look for a shop that caters to upholsterers. I paid bout $1.50 per yard. Five yards will do two seats.

I can accept that. Even with FM in mine now, I drive with the radio off much of the time. No Ansas on mine, but the sound with my single 24" glasspack muffler is similar to Ansas I owned in the past.

Mike is correct, the original strapping was beige rubber stuff. I replaced mine a while back, the stuff I used was black elastic webbing. Rather coarse weave.

^^ I agree, sounds like the level is too low in front float. To test that, you could try to adjust the front nozzle down farther. You said they were both set at 2 1/2 turns down. Try turning the front only an additional 2 1/2 and see if that's any better. If it is, that would confirm that the level is too low. Don't leave it that way, correct the level so that both adjustments are similar (they don't need to be identical).

Any chance you could post a picture of the tip of the mast?

They originally used little barrel clips.

Same here, decals, but no mufflers. Heck, as a cheap high school student, I couldn't even afford real Cherry Bombs, I saved a couple of bucks each on a pair of Orange Peelers instead.

My original '71 antenna is the same, just two leads. As I recall, one is blue with a red trace, the other blue with a white trace.

The bleeder needs to be at the top, regardless of piston size preferences. Otherwise you'll never get the air bled out.

An original radio for '71 is AM-only, and they sound pretty bad. Are you sure that's what you want?

Where is the third belt? I don't see the shoulder belt, nor the spot on the latch tab to attach it. Also note that the tag says "Rear". Are those rear lap belts from some sedan?

I have my original packed away with the original AM radio. The old Supertuner I have in the car has a power antenna lead, so I installed a modern automatic antenna to go with. If you are going to use a modern head unit, I'd probably use the modern antenna. And if you ever find a source for more of those replacement masts for the original antenna, I'd love to have one.

The issue - as I understand it - is that the DOT regs require brake hoses to have a smooth, non-abrasive surface. Obviously, the braid-covered lines don't meet that requirement. I have seen DOT-approved stainless hoses, they had a shrink-fit sleeve covering the braid.