I found a little gem...my 1971 240Z

[CarCrazy24]

Hey everyone, new to the forums and I can't wait to start hearing from you guys! I just picked up an absolute gem a couple weeks back, one of the cars that's always been on my classic car list (I know most of you guys have a list!). It's a 1971 240Z, 4-speed manual, completely original, and 99% rust free! It has new-ish paint that needs to be buffed, a brand new interior, and the mechanicals are in good condition. The previous and only owner put 156,000 miles! Needless to say, I'm stunned by the car

My projects so far are to work on restoring the wood trim on the interior (steering wheel and shifter knob), getting the carbs adjusted, and finding out what fluids to use throughout the drivetrain (just changed the oil yesterday with Mobil 1 High Mileage); let me know what fluids you use in your Z's such as the engine oil, the manual transmission oil, diff oil, coolant, and so on! Also I have to figure out how to slow the seeping from the diff (i'm guessing some gasket needs replacing). Oh yea and the whole exhaust system needs replacing, wondering what diameter piping to use that won't make the noises obtrusive but allow better flow than stock. Whew...:stupid:

Let me know if you guys know some great shops around the OC and/or some great websites I can find good 240Z parts at competitive pricing. Can't wait to hear from you guys, any information you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

[DeesZ]

Welcome aboard, and congratulations on your new car.... sounds like a nice one. Most, if not all of your questions are answered in the archives (you can get into them with the 'search' feature). You will be amazed by the information contained in there. The question about fluids is a can of worms. Everyone has their own opinion on that topic. For the engine I've been using Castrol 30HD of late, but have used other oils in the past. You'll find fluid pros and cons by the pound in the archives. Keep in mind that most fluids today surpass the performance of fluids that were used in these cars when they were new.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Sid:

Looks like a very nice Z, that someone had taken care of.

For parts - your best bet is to try your local Nissan Dealer's Parts Dept. first. Very few items in the aftermarket match the quality of OEM parts. Given your location, Motorsports Auto is close, and you should personally stop by there and meet the guys.

See:

http://zhome.com/PartsService/Vendor/Classifieds.htm

Of course it is always good to find/join a local Z Car Club. You'll meet some great people and they are more than willing to help.

http://www.zcciv.com/

You'll have to stop by the Datsun Heritage Museum, it's not too far from you - as I recall it's about due East from HB... See: http://DatsunHeritageMuseum.com

You'll also want to have that Z insured on an Agreed Value Policy - with a Classic, Collectable and Special Interest speciality carrier. As long as you are not using it for daily transportation, and as long as you have a clean driving record... Many of us use the Hagerty Classic Car Insurance company.. listed in the Vendor List above, on the Z Car Home Page http://ZHome.com

hope that helps get you started..

FWIW,

Carl B.

[CarCrazy24]

Thanks so much guys for all the info! I look forward to doing some searching for some of the answers on the forums =)