DeesZ

A quick Google search turned this up... drill in a bit and you'll even see a Z... http://www.balancedperformance.com/index.html

Think simple first..... How is your fuel delivery to the carbs? Is your fuel filter present, clean, and showing 1/2 or better full when you are cranking/running? Are the carbs clean.... have you had the domes off to clean them out and de-carbon the pistons? (Don't mix them up. Do one at a time.) I assume you are using the choke, but it's worth asking to be sure. If so, check to make sure the choke cables are actually doing what they are supposed to do. The FSM and most other manuals have procedures to check that out. If you can eliminate these simple things up front and still have a problem, this forum will be a great place to help you through it. Let's make sure you've got 'fuel', then move on to the 'spark' part.

Welcome aboard! Another Pennsylvanian! Stereo knowledge in my back yard is a great thing. I'll keep mt eyes open for you! John.... (25 Mi. north of Harrisburg, right on the river)

I had a problem very similar to this .... It was simply the fuel filter. They can stop allowing fuel through very abruptly. Check out the simple things first. Good luck with that, and keep us posted with results.

I have looked through the archives, and if the answer is there, it eludes me. Question: What is the best way to store good used brake cylinders and calipers? I have some perfectly good, very lightly used calipers, braided steel hoses and rear wheel cylinders off of a '72 240Z. They must be put into storage for a while, and I am wondering if there are any tips out there that will help me find them in good condition when I get back to needing them. They were used with DOT-3 fluid. My concern is that the DOT-3 remaining in/on them will draw moisture and leave me with a nasty mess of corrosion and rotten rubber if I just "put them on the shelf" for a year. Any suggestions or ideas that will help me have good parts to use again later when I need them? Thanks all!

Since you have power to the defogger connections, it would seem that there is a continuity interruption in the path of the defogger. If there is a scratch or crack there could be your issue. I think the FSM has a procedure for fixing that (at least I recall one in my '72 FSM).

Please do post pictures... If you have any before, during, and after repair that would be great! This is a project that I must face myself very soon. (I wish I knew how to weld.) Where did you get the doglegs.... Tabco?

Wait until you drive one! I am partial to 240's, and especially like the '72. Other members have other preferences, and we all seem to have a good reasoning for them. You should be able to find a good one on the west coast without too much of a problem. Knowledge and patience should work well for you in finding one. Do some research in the archives related to what to look for when buying.... rust is a big thing with these cars, and I suggest that you become familiar with the issue. My thoughts are that finding a rust free 240 and paying the going rate for one in that condition is well worth the money. Rust repair can quickly double the price that one paid for a vehicle with rust problems. Look around for places that will rent out classic vehicles and get a 240Z for a weekend..... a couple hundred bucks well spent if you cannot find a friend to put you in the driver's seat. Having a nice Z for a weekend will likely confirm your intentions to get one for yourself. Right now I think the Z-cars are well under priced and very affordable. Get as good a one as you can afford. I suspect that the affordibility will change as time passes. In my opinion there are much less desirable cars out there that are selling at prices far, far beyond what the Z-cars are right now.

Welcome aboard, fherjohn. You are at the best place to be to find a Z and to learn how to maintain one. The knowledge base here is incredible, and the membership is always willing to advise, evaluate, and assist. The site archives are a very deep well of information on just about everything. (Very attractive ride in your pictures!) John

As the story goes, "Where there is a will, there is a way." Z cars I've had have tested the will, and saw some action, but one must be young, flexible, and determined. That console looks good, but for these purposes it is just in the way. Somehow, I think a kitchen table is more preferable, but when the Z Car was a good option, I didn't own a kitchen table (or a kitchen). Now over 50 & married for 20+ years, and owning more than a kitchen, Z-escapades will likely remain a memory... speaking of memories, the old MG-A I had was a real winner.... I remember my father marveling at the footprints on the inside of the windscreen...... taking the top off really made a difference. Then there was the '65 Malibu SS which was like a hotel suite in comparison (had to be in 3rd gear). Those days were great fun.... I enjoyed those years greatly, but I don't think I'd trade these days for those.

Those are 13".... and seem to be somewhat more common (of late, anyway) than the 14" that better fit a 240Z.

Welcome....You will enjoy a Z-car if you get a decent one. At first glance, the 240Z & 280Z do share very similar lines, but there are some fundamental differences as well. Don't ask which is better..... that's all in the eyes of the beholder (or owner). We all own pretty much what we prefer, and those preferences are based upon the differences among the cars. You seem to be picking up on some of the differences already, so you may wish to do a bit more research before throwing a wad of cash at the situation. Do a search on eBay for the 'completed' (sold) 280Z. You'll find 280Z's ranging from $500.00 to $10,000.00 in various conditions. $4,000 ~ $5,000 should get you a really decent driver. Be very picky and patient and you will get a good car for a fair price. Watch for rust and the usual killer issues. I suggest that you use eBay as a way to determine the value of what you are looking for, and then I would look around 'locally' in Florida for a while before buying one that is very far away... travel and or shipping can be a real pain in the rear and expensive, and sometimes the vehicles are not all that they are cracked up to be. Check out the classifieds here, too. The members here are generally pretty honest and fair with each other, and will certainly be willing to make suggestions related to the value of those that you find.

I've got an AC unit from a '72 240Z sitting out in the garage. If you need one, make a reasonable offer....

I'm in Pennsylvania, salt & road chemical capital of the USA (when they have enough tax money to buy it - but that's another story tied in with over-paid politicians who give themselves pay raises in the middle of the night). I will not take the Z out unless it is dry or very frozen, so she doesn't get too much exercise in the winter months. The last one that I had I took everywhere in any weather. She's now deceased from a really bad case of rust. Live and learn.

Well, it's pretty much cats on my end.... There have been many over the last 5 decades, each one with a distinctly different personality. Here's some pictures.... You'll also see my yellow Lab, Jake, (100 lbs. English) who takes all of the felines on as a friend. Oh, yes, almost forgot the Red-Eared Slider, Franklin. Actually the turtle is pretty smart. He's hooked on MeowMix and spaghetti, with fresh insects as a side dish in the summer. There were three horses in the stables, too, two Quarters and an Arabian, but that's past tense. My wife and I have a soft spot for critters. We have sworn that each one was "the last one", but then another shows up and we don't have the heart to ignore it. Oh, yes, there is a frog/toad/whatever that hangs out in the back porch; he seems to come by every time there is beer - go figure.

Friar-Tuck- Check DHL freight. I just had a set of steel rims shipped to me by them for a fraction of what USPS or UPS was demanding... From NJ to PA. Also had them carry an E-88 head to me from Michigan for $35.00.... most cost effective shipper that I've found, especially if you 'have an account' with them.

Thanks, WingZrO, your input and picture are valuable to me (I assume that the 5.5" width is okay with the 215/60/R14 tire?). The picture does speak a thousand words. Now it's pretty much down to a brand and style/rating I guess. Stephen, thanks for the tip on 'reddat' on eBay. I will check him out. I appreciate the tip. 76Datsun280z - Thanks for pointing out what should have been the obvious to me! I thought I was familiar with the catalog, but there they were the whole time! (I must say that the CD version of the catalog takes away the joy of picking up a paper catalog and paging through it - I'm 'old school', huh?) Now there is actually a "choice" available to me. This site is great for that. The willingness to share information has in just two days likely set Darbji up with a set of wheels, and found me some center caps for mine (not to mention the tire discussion). I think I will soon start another thread on suggestions for restoring or refreshing a set of these. Several of us can now probably benefit from your suggestions on cleaning, polishing and detailing! I'll try to post something soon on that (new thread).

Darbji: I knew I saw a set of these for sale somewhere recently... unfortunately a bit late on the draw here, but here's the URL: http://www.zparts.com/ads/wheels/wheels_fs.html 76Datsun280Z: Yep! Nice wheels! I didn't realize that that style was "Western" also. I like those center caps, too! I'll be needing a set of those for my Western's! Any clue where to go shopping? I did some web searches and could only come up with 'newer' stuff. Are "Western" brand still made? Couldn't find much on that topic, either - the web searches come back with a million or so results, none of which seem to help me. (No, honestly, I did not look at them all.) Then when I 'refine the search to specifics, I don't get much at all. And WingZrO, do the 215/60/R14 that you suggested give a fairly accurate speedometer reading - that is one of my concerns. Once I get 'size' set in my mind I will begin narrowing down brand and style - will likely be looking for a summer high-performance - at least not 'all-weather'.... I just don't drive my '72 in bad weather. I don't care that much about tread life either, as it won't be taking regular long trips anywhere.

Welcome aboard, Neil! You will find this place, and the individuals who frequent here, very welcoming. Not only that, but the "collective knowledge" is simply incredible. I can (and do) sometimes get lost for hours searching the archives; what I've learned is incredible.

My signature relates all Z related ownership.....

Great choice of wheels! I will keep my eyes open for you with respect to getting a set. They are around. There are several different versions of them out there. Here's a picture of a set of Western (I think they are the "Cyclone" or "Cyclone II", and have 30 'spokes'). These are 14 X 5.5 - I've just removed them from my '71 & will be putting new rubber on them to use on my '72 driver, that is of course after I clean them up and detail them with some black paint between the vanes.... Anyway, in your search, you can be assured that the one pictured here is a Western manufacture (likely about 25+ years ago). ....now, if I could only decide the size and brand of the new tires....

Yep... something for everyone on eBay... He's also pretty smart (although he may not realize it)... he's getting a lot of exposure on eBay for potential buyers for that car, and he's getting it real cheap with a $0.95 listing avoiding the higher fee for vehicles. Nice wheels on that car. I just started working on a set off of those Western's today to prep up for my car (look at the avitar - those Maxima wheels I have on now just gotta go).

Oil Capacity... For my '72 it is: Oil pan capacity - 4.25 US Quarts, which is good to know if you are not changing the filter for some odd reason (I always change it at an oil change). When the filter is replaced (with the typically larger original equipment oil filter) the capacity is 5.25 US Quarts. Keep in mind that the other brand filters are often somewhat smaller than the original equipment unit, so the amount of oil needed to fill it will be less - consider using about 5 quarts with a smaller filter (again, a smaller filter will fit, but what the manufacturer recommends is larger). I think that your engine should take the same amount of oil as my '72 - can a '74 260Z owner verify that? I use Castrol 10-30 - If the engine is worn, try 20-50. Everyone has an opinion on this subject, and many are different.... it also depends on the climate that you live in and the type of driving that you do. An oil change is simple.... just did one this morning before I ran out to get a few things done. Tools required are minimal - wrench for oil plug, and wrench for the filter, a rag, a pan to catch the old oil.... that's about it. Try it - you can do the job as good as, or better than, a change place. If you must take it out, spend a few extra bucks and have a 'good' garage do the work. There are simply too many horror stories about the 'quickie' places (and they really are not inexpensive). You will be proud of yourself when you are done, and will find that these animals are not too tough to tame. You'll gain some confidence to tinker a bit, and for me, that is part of the pleasure of ownership. It also can get very expensive taking the vehicle to someone each and every time something needs done. In my neighborhood there are very few people or places that I would trust to do very much to my Z.... the new breed may know basic auto mechanics, but they really do not know much about a Nissan L-series engine or the rest of the car for that matter.

I do recommend this conversion. (Did it on my '72). Arne and Dave have made this a low-cost painless task that has great rewards. My next mod will be Dave's conversion wiring for headlamps.

Go with the color that you had your heart set on. Why have a car like this and want to "blend in". Just drive responsibly and legally as best as you can. I recently got pulled over in my white one for speeding, so perhaps I should take my own advice....... I was lucky that RADAR was not involved, he had to follow me to clock me; amazing how quickly an S30 will slow down without brakes when dropped into 3rd!