Hello 70 Z one of the first 500!

[gregs240z]

Hi all, So I'm new to the forum. I look forward to everyones input.

I have a 1970 240z that I purchased from my uncle before he passed away from lung cancer. The build date is 1969 but I don't remember the month. VIN is HLS30-00379. This Z has had a pretty tough life... barely survived a Texas hailstorm, 30 years of Florida heat and hurricanes, and an amateur restoration by me when I was 14.

She is in good running shape except the typical rusted wheel wells, door bottoms, fender bottoms, floor pans, rails.... and poor craftsmanship by me when I was young and ignorant.

I live in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Grew up at the Mid-Ohio race track. Love anything with a motor and tires. Awaiting restoration is a 1959 Triumph TR3A and my Dad's 1965 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8. I have a one car garage and NO time due to an always "ON" 2 and a half year old. I will probably take the Z with a wheelbarrow full o' cash to someone who restores them. Does anyone know anybody that does quality Z work within a 150 mile radius of Cincy?

Are there any Z's in Cincy? no Cincinnati Z club? I see lots of em at the Vintage race at Mid-Ohio! I saw one BRE replica a few years ago...

Sorry for the long introduction....

Greg

[Montezuma]

Welcome to the board. This a great place to get motivated to get your late uncle's car up to showroom new condition. There are many great Z owners on this site with a wealth of great information and advice is invaluable. Some guys that come to mind are 26th Z (a guy who owns Zs with vin numbers 00026 and 00027, if you can believe it), Arne, Carl Beck, Beandip, just to name a few. If I were you I would look more to the south for help vice Cincy direction. Of the cars you have that need to be restored, I think the Z will be the most economic project. Parts? Classic Datsun, Motorsport Auto(just click on the banner above), Black Dragon and Zedds just to name few are great places to get the parts you need. Currently there is a poster in Arizona who is restoring a nice early Z with son. It was found in the desert on blocks along with a resident snake. If the pictures of the restoration don't motivate you....nothing will. Again welcome and don't wait to fix that car up, if you don't have the time....may I recommend....that you start collecting the parts you will net to bring it up to standard. It is wise to purchase many of the parts before they become unavailable.

[xray]

Welcome!

Best of luck in restoring that 240Z. "wheelbarrow" is appropriate for most of these restos, but it may take more than one trip! Body and paint are the worst offenders, as many parts can be had for relative bargains, especially compared to old Brit sportscars, Alfas, etc.

(Begin subliminal message) Cough, cough...If that Healey gets tired of waiting its turn, I know an interested party....cough, cough(end subliminal message)

Again, we're glad you're with us!

Steve

[gregs240z]

(Begin subliminal message) Cough, cough...If that Healey gets tired of waiting its turn, I know an interested party....cough, cough(end subliminal message)

Again, we're glad you're with us!

Steve

HA HA:p

That Healey has been parked unmolested for 30 years! A few more won't hurt it. Besides, I would have to fight my Mother, 2 brothers, and myself before I could sell it! Good try though :classic: :classic:

[e_racer1999]

welcome to the site and there's not much else I can recommend that these guys haven't already said! you came to the right site. There is a wealth of information here and tons of good people.

[Arne]

Awaiting restoration is a 1959 Triumph TR3A and my Dad's 1965 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8. I have a one car garage and NO time due to an always "ON" 2 and a half year old. I will probably take the Z with a wheelbarrow full o' cash to someone who restores them. Does anyone know anybody that does quality Z work within a 150 mile radius of Cincy?

Don't rule out the possibility of doing at least some of it yourself, Greg. Your situation is similar to when I restored my old '67 MGB. One car garage, and my son (in college now) was about 4 when I started the project. I farmed out the actual body and paint, but did the rest at home in that small garage. It can be done.

And there are lots of us here to offer advice based on real-world experiences. Play with the search feature of this site, there is an incredible amount of info stored here, mostly accurate. And feel free to ask questions, we all seem to love to share what we know. Speaking of...

There are many great Z owners on this site with a wealth of great information and advice is invaluable. Some guys that come to mind are 26th Z (a guy who owns Zs with vin numbers 00026 and 00027, if you can believe it), Arne, Carl Beck, Beandip, just to name a few.

I'm actually a bit humbled to be included in the same sentence as Carl Beck and Chris (26thZ). I'm happy to share what I know, but I don't feel I'm in the same category as those two in particular, and several others on this site as well. And since I know Gary (beandip) personally (had lunch with him last Sunday - October PDX cruise) I feel safe in saying that he will say the same thing (although his knowledge is broader than he will admit). Thanks for the huge compliment, David.

[gregs240z]

It is wise to purchase many of the parts before they become unavailable.

YES, So true!!! For years I begged my father to purchase replacement parts for that Healey. If he would of bought the parts back in 76 when he parked it, he could of had REAL replacement parts for a few dollars. Now its thousands for poor fitting reproduction parts!!

I built a 12 x 16 foot shed for storage of car parts.... Its near full. My wife complains that all I do is buy parts and never install them... :knockedou

Looking for a right front fender and inner rear wheel arches....

[gregs240z]

Don't rule out the possibility of doing at least some of it yourself

Gorgeous Red Z BTW!!!

Having done the restoration once is enough for me!! I'll farm out the body work.

But I plan on doing everything else myself...

Every summer for 10 years I would travel to Florida for at least a month or so to work on the Z. Believe it or not, I pulled the motor out, rebuilt, painted, back in and running in 3 days when I was about 17. It was the first motor I rebuilt and it started on the first few seconds of cranking. Oh, those were the days!!! nothing to care about except how to get motor oil out of your hair...

[Carl Beck]

Hi Greg: (everyone)..

Joining this thread a little late...

You'll have to let me know the build date and the original engine serial number - so I can get it in my data base.

I too lived in Ohio - Ashland/Mansfield area - and I helped build Mid-Ohio! The Mid Ohio Sports Car Club was the first Club I joined in ah...1962...

Are you sure the BRE Car you saw was a replica? I know that the Mason's run the Vintage Races at Mid-Ohio in their BRE #3 240-Z.

Good to see you here, and hope you'll have a great time restoring #379. So far we have located 139 1969 Production Datsun 240-Z's... #378 was at the Z Barn in Knoxville.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[Carl Beck]

....snipped......

...... And feel free to ask questions, we all seem to love to share what we know. Speaking of...

I'm actually a bit humbled to be included in the same sentence as Carl Beck and Chris (26thZ). I'm happy to share what I know, but I don't feel I'm in the same category as those two in particular, and several others on this site as well. And since I know Gary (beandip) personally (had lunch with him last Sunday - October PDX cruise) I feel safe in saying that he will say the same thing (although his knowledge is broader than he will admit). Thanks for the huge compliment, David.

Hi Arne:

You are too kind, and too humble (quality traits I've never developed;-) - I'm sure you know as much about these cars as any of us. For that matter I'm sure there are several guys here that have extensive knowledge and hands on experience. We may all know some aspects of these cars better than most others, but it's the combined knowledge base that matters most..... 36 years and I still don't understand the electrical system (what were they thinking!?)

I just happen to have been lucky enough to have lived with the 240-Z's since they arrived here in the US. Lucky enough to have worked for a Datsun Dealer in the early 70's.... and smart enough to realize the Datsun 240-Z was the best Sports/GT I could ever hope to own. The only down side to that is that it makes me an old fart...

I think the main thing is that many of us are willing to share what we know, learn what we didn't know and discuss everything that's questionable... and do it time after time as new people come into the Z Car Community ;-)

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[beandip]

Greg , welcome to the web site. It has all been said about great wealth of knowledge that has been amassed here . Carl nailed it about our group wanting to keep the information out there . This is how we can keep the great little car on the road , and enjoyed by so many. I am shocked , sincerely, to be complemented by the gurus I was mentioned with . I learn something new about these cars everyday , and I have a long way to go. It is great that you have this early Z and know of the history as well . Just makes your Z that much more valuable to you as you restore/refresh her. Gary

[26th-Z]

Greetings Greg!

This calls for a celebration! I hereby convene a meeting of the Low VIN club.

The best shop I can think of closest to you for restoration of 379 is Banzai Motorworks - Mike McGinnis - http://zzxdatsun.com/ in Maryland. He just took a Gold Medalion at the Dallas convention. Mike is top drawer "most correctest". But that's just one of my top three recomendations for the restoration technique know as; "send your car away and have it return flawless, eleventy guzzillion dollars later". My personal technique of choice is to spend the eleventy guzzillion dollars by sub-contracting work out and providing all the grunt labor. Here is a page on what I am up to. http://home.earthlink.net/~cwenzel/index.html

You are going to find a wealth of information and friends here. Frankly, I didn't even realize what I had until I found this group. That was right after I met Carl and decided to surf the web one day several years ago. As far as I knew, I just had this old Z that I though might be worth something some day. But the timing was right and I took 26th out of storage and she became my hobby toy. I have had fun studying Z history and exchanging information about where to get stuff restored. It was quite a miracle that I secured 27th a year or so ago. I loaded up on parts first and I'm glad I did. Prices are on the rise.

So congrats on securing 379th. You are going to find she is quite unique and it is great to see another early car come back to life!

Chris