Arne

http://www.classiczcars.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=11&cat=7

Looks good, although I'd want to really inspect a Bay Area car for rust.

Yup, that's the one I focused on, too. A clean, low mileage Series 1 that probably has minimal rust for for less that $6k? A great buy.

Forgot to post a picture.

As before with the ZX alternator adapter, Dave Irwin and I have come up with a new wiring product for 240Zs. This one is a safety and visibility improvement. It is - as was the alternator plug before it - simple, affordable, and 100% reversible. The addition of a pair of these adapters will convert a 240Z's front sidemarkers into dual function lights. Once installed, the markers will flash in sync with the signals if the parking lights are off, and opposite if the parking lights are on. The way they work is shown in the movie linked here: http://video.classiczcars.com/user_video_detail.php?mId=2315 The theory is not complex, and wouldn't be tough to do with wire taps and crimp connectors, if you wanted. Instructions to do it that way are on the web in several places. But again -- like the alternator adapter before it -- I designed this to require no modifications or changes to the factory wiring. Totally plug in. Clean, simple, and 100% reversible. This is not new technology, millions of GM cars and trucks built in the '70s did this exact thing for the front sidemarkers. Having the front markers flash really increases the visibility of your turn signals. Even though the turn signals on a 240Z wrap around the corner of the car, they are very low to the ground, even on stock height cars like mine. The flashing sidemarkers are much more visible. Here is Dave's description: I've discussed it with Arne and here's what we have decided to do. The SCP is TOTALLY Arnes's Brainchild. He may not be the inventor as I've seen it done elsewhere but It was Arne who got with me and discussed a prototype strictly for the 240Z's. The New Product is called the SCP which is short for Sidemarker Conversion Plug. It consist of 2) "T" type harness's that are only about 2.5" long and are placed into your parking light plug (in front of the radiator) via OEM style Datsun Plugs, just like my Headlight Upgrade Harness and there is one SCP per side. One for the left sidemarker and one for the right sidemarker. The SCP order will consist of 2) conversion plugs, one per side, and a single wire per SCP with a female bullet connector that connects into one of 2 the sidemarker wires located near each parking light plug, on each side.. This is an easy instal and takes less than 10 minutes. The only thing that will slow you down is dirty wires and the lack of being able to see what color your sidemarker wires are. Other than that, it's a breeze to instal. The important part of the instal is making sure that each of your sidemarkers must be isolated from the body. As Arne mentioned earlier, "They will only work on 240Zs with normal bulbs (not LEDs), and the sidemarker housing MUST be properly insulated from the fender. So the metal reflector must be inserted into the groove in the big rubber base gasket, not mounted between the gasket and the body (as I've seen done on some cars)" The price is $25 I will be making them for Arne and paying him from the money I recieve from the orders. But your cash, check or money order needs to be sent to me along with the order. I DO NOT AND CANNOT ACCEPT PAYPAL. Canadian orders, please add $5 to the $25 price. All other orders outside the continental US, please email me first. Please Email me with your questions and for ordering info. For all those who have ordered a Headlight or Parking light Upgrade harness or even a ZXP (Arnes other baby) or any of my other upgrades or services, the address is still the same, the form of payment is the same and the orders will be send Via USPS First Class Mail. First class will be used in order to keep prices down. If you would like your order shipped using Priority mail, there will be another $5 added to the $25 price. I've also decided on a $2 discount for each order of 2 or more. (2 orders will be $46, 3 orders will be $69, etc, etc.) Please Keep in mind that not only do these add the "Cool factor" but will seriously increase the SAFETY Factor while being used. Drivers to your left and right WILL see your sidemarkers blink and this will decrease the chance of a "I did'nt know he was turning" excuse. Not to "TOOT" my own horn but these are a great compliment to my Parking light harness. As your side markers will be brighter after installing my parking light harness, the SCP will now make that brighter sidemarker blink, increasing the "Visability Factor of you and Your Z. Period. PLH info is in my signature. Dave A pdf with installation instructions will be posted on my website later this weekend. If you're interested in a set of these, contact Dave as noted above.

Danny's Datsuns is in Sutherlin. He may well have what you need, although the yard is not his day job, and he is supposed to be slowly getting out of the Z parts business. Try to call him on the phone, that seems to work better than e-mail. I have the best luck catching him on Saturdays. http://www.webspawner.com/users/dannysdatsuns/

Thanks for the announcement, Dave. I want to add that this is not new technology, millions of GM cars and trucks built in the '70s did this exact thing for the front sidemarkers. Having the front markers flash really increases the visibility of your turn signals. Even though the turn signals on a 240Z wrap around the corner of the car, they are very low to the ground, even on stock height cars like mine. The flashing sidemarkers are vastly more visible. Once installed, the markers will flash in sync with the signals if the parking lights are off, and opposite if the parking lights are on. Just like for the alternator plug, soon I'll post a pdf instruction sheet (with pictures) on my website.

Got any members in Mesa? We should ask if the car can be inspected in person. If it can be, it's legit and looks like a nice car. If the car isn't available to be inspected, though...

I've got one more pair of adapters left from the initial run. I suppose I could be talked out of them. They will only work on 240Zs with normal bulbs (not LEDs), and the sidemarker housing MUST be properly insulated from the fender. So the metal reflector must be inserted into the groove in the big rubber base gasket, not mounted between the gasket and the body (as I've seen done on some cars).The theory is not complex, and wouldn't be tough to do with wire taps and crimp connectors, if you wanted. But -- like the alternator adapter before it -- I designed this to require no modifications or changes to the factory wiring. Totally plug in. Clean, simple, and 100% reversible. As for the possibility of future production, I suppose that depends on the interest...

Not since the reserve was met. Too late for buy it now.

I sincerely doubt that the black 280Z you are looking at will sell for less than $7500. It could go as high as $10k if it's not rusty. Still more than 3 days to go...

As mentioned in Bonzi's reply, since my goal is to maintain period correct appearance, no way I'll get rid of mine. It is, of course, a very personal decision, depending on your vision for your own car. I did convert my front markers into dual-function lights though. I commissioned a small batch of plug-n-play wiring adapters that allow my front markers to still be marker lights, but also flash as turn signals and hazards. Adds a bit of visibility to the car (which I like), without any permanent changes to the car or its wiring. You can see the results in this movie: http://video.classiczcars.com/user_video_detail.php?mId=2315

Pretty hard to say, Matt, without either more details or being able to experiencing it first hand. You profile says you're in Redmond - is that Redmond, WA, Redmond, OR or ?? There may be someone close to you who might be willing to help.

How odd. With my stock SUs I get a solid 30 MPG on 60 MPH highway driving, and 20-21 in town. Are you talking about the factory flat-top carbs that the 260Z came with? If so, those don't count...

I was afraid that you'd say something like that. I looked at my parts CD and don't find any elbows listed there for a 280Z.

I'm not certain, but it looks like the same elbow that goes into the rear of a 240Z cylinder head, just below the #6 spark plug. If so, the part number is 27195-E4400, my dealer charged me less than $7 for it last year (club discount).

Hmmm... I brew my own beer, so that one doesn't take much. I have been known to acquire vintage (pre-69) Matchbox die-cast models, although not much of that lately. Playing a bit with the other cars and the motorcycle. Oh yeah, maybe my son's tuition??

Just look at what Nissan did for the rest of the world. The USA wasn't the only market. The 260Z (not 280Z) was available with better carbs and the original small bumpers in the rest of the world through '78 or so. Then they moved everyone to the ZX.

I assume that there has been nothing connected to it for quite some time? If so, I see no reason you couldn't use an earlier housing. On the other hand, if you have had wires connected, it might be prudent to trace them to see what they send their temp reading to. I know the later injected ZX motors had something similar, but don't know when this started. Neither of my '71s have it.

It can get even worse than that. I've found that most all sounds appear to be coming from the far rear, even when they originate much farther forward. I literally spent months tracking down the clunk in my red 240Z. Started with the obvious and went from there. I replaced the following with new or known good parts from my other car:Diff mount - new M-bar bushings - new Trans mount - new All 6 u-joints new Struts - new Rear bushings - new Swapped rear strut housings from other car to test bearings and stub axles Swapped halfshafts to test splines Finally in a fit of desperation I swapped the transmission -- and that cured it. Turned out that the countershaft bearings had too much end play and the countershaft itself was moving fore and aft under torque loads. I had to replace and re-shim the bearings in the transmission to cure it.

I really like the idea of this system, but I don't think I could handle the look of that oval muffler hanging down so low and at an odd angle. Why, oh why couldn't they have built this system around a better fitting muffler? If they made the same system in 2 1/4" using a Dynomax 17-741 (a 6" round muffler), I'd have my credit card out in a flash.

I'd always heard those cars referred to as 'late '74s' or '74 1/2'. But I admit to being rather ignorant about the fine points of 260Zs.

Well, 260Zs here in the US were all '74s. What is you car's VIN? Oh, before I forget - Welcome!!

I suspect it's because Nissan was fully aware that black shows every body flaw, and that the build quality of the early S30 bodies just weren't good enough to carry it off.This was apparently a common practice for Japanese vehicles in the '70s. I was with my dad one day on the local Chevy dealer's lot while he was shopping for a new LUV 4x4 pickup. As he kept looking over all the trucks, he kept finding rather obvious flaws in the body work in each truck. He commented to the salesman about how poorly welded and assembled these trucks were. And the salesman's immediate comment was that if he wanted one with a good body, he should be looking at the black ones, as they only painted black on the best bodies. And he was right, every black truck on the lot had nearly perfect body and paintwork. The other colors were no where near as nice.