Datsun 240Z?

[lin7310948]

i just bought a 77z conversion..well done. removed the awful bumpers and replaced with 240z bumpers. also replaced the taillight surround with a 240z panel and lights. looks much better in my opinion. i was surprised at the out of production parts and no longer available. i would check as many gauges, switches, etc as parts are really expensive for such a simple vehicle. i paid 17k for this and it has modified driveline, suspension, cooling, 4 wheel disk brakes, etc. etc/

[lin7310948]

and yes, i did replace that terrible aftermarket mirror... a nos was 250 dollars. engine compartment is rather messy but i will clean that up in time. car runs really well and with a tremec 5 speed fun to drive.

[p911dad]

Great cars, I had one back in the 1980's. However not in CA, I lived in upstate NY, land of salted roads in winter. Eventually it wouldn't pass annual inspection because of terminal rust in the center of the car's underside. If I were buying any car from that era I would personally give the vehicle's underside a strong inspection looking for any rust in critical areas, meaning up on a lift with a flashlight and a pick for probing.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I had a friend that went to Georgia Tech and he had a 72Z that was bright yellow, with the same wheels as yours. He graduated in 81.

Interesting! I was on campus from '80 to '84. I had a "96 Rock" radio station tag on the front of the Z - the orange paint matched the logo color for the station - and lot's of folks thought I must have worked for the station. I guess my mustache and curly hair might have aided the belief.

[Cdnone1]

All good advice and stories. Thanks.
I will let you know once I inspect it. I am really looking for a long term retirement project. I've got a space in the garage, lift and tools and now I will have the time. It's a complete nostalgia project for me as I so wanted one back in the day. As long a rust is not a major issue I am afraid I've already bought it in my head.
On the dash, if it's cracked I was thinking of fixing it and wrapping it in Alcantara.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Cdnone1

All good advice and stories. Thanks.
I will let you know once I inspect it. I am really looking for a long term retirement project. I've got a space in the garage, lift and tools and now I will have the time. It's a complete nostalgia project for me as I so wanted one back in the day. As long a rust is not a major issue I am afraid I've already bought it in my head.
On the dash, if it's cracked I was thinking of fixing it and wrapping it in Alcantara.

The car in question will fill the bill. That is easily a year long project working all week every week unless you can actually be productive, not researching, buying, waiting, etc. for a full 8 hours each day which = 1000 hours, about the minimum amount of time for a car like that. 1000 hours full time is 1/2 year.

So yeah, a year in practical terms with not much time off. Subbing out things helps, of course. Still takes time though because you're waiting on others. That actually can make a project go longer as well as more expensive.

BTDT a few times. One to 2 years for me on a full restoration working as much as possible while having a day job.

[rfuerst911sc]

Serious question . If a dash is cracked and a pain to pull out would this work ? Purchase an aftermarket dash cap and cover the dash cap with vinyl/leather/Alcantara. Then install by adhering to existing dash.

I know you can get " shaved " leather which obviously is thinner and easier to mold to shape . Maybe it's a crazy idea but often wondered if done well why not . Thoughts ?

[Cdnone1]

I stripped the leather off several places on my 911 and covered them in Alcantara and was very happy with the results. But I'm aways away from that

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Cdnone1

All good advice and stories. Thanks.
I will let you know once I inspect it. I am really looking for a long term retirement project. I've got a space in the garage, lift and tools and now I will have the time. It's a complete nostalgia project for me as I so wanted one back in the day. As long a rust is not a major issue I am afraid I've already bought it in my head.
On the dash, if it's cracked I was thinking of fixing it and wrapping it in Alcantara.

From what I see in the photos, rust is going to be an issue. You'll need to strip the car completely and send the entire body shell to a shop for that part of the restoration to be done. These things rust like BMW 2002s, in places you can't even see until you cut them apart.

That car has sat in the sun for a very long time. Rubber, even old rubber, doesn't get to the state that I see in that photo without years and years of being baked. So, other things that are also damaged by sunlight are going to be in the same poor condition.

I hear that someone got it running then I see a failed "quick get it running attempt" in the photos and I have doubts. That process was abandoned mid stream, obviously without success.

That car needs a full restoration, not just a refresh of the paint and mechanicals. I wouldn't start on a project like that unless I had $100K to throw at it. My advice would be to buy a fixer-upper, or something like a light, running restoration. Those are far more enjoyable than restoring every single part on a car over a period of years.

[javadog]

Lots of people have documented projects like this. Here's one:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN0SuqPcbLqGvImGUuOaCsLXTseGiBN02

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Yeah I did the spreadsheet myself for power to weight ratio which is why it's a perception car. After a few days with the S2 I gave it back to my friend and said "it's nice for a Buick." I've never understood why anyone would drive a NA 944.

I hope you didn't really say something like that to a friend - did it belong to him? He may have cherished the car (I'm sure there are plenty of people who love their NA 944s, I wouldn't mind owning one) and you handed the car back to him with a bit of an insult.

Don't put down other people's cars - that's not cool.

[Billiam 911 2.8]

This thread is a walk down memory lane for me. FAR Performance in Mountain View, CA. was my source for parts and service. Their service manager, Frank Leary taught me a lot about getting the most out of my Z car. In 1978 Frank won the SCCA title in C Production edging out Paul Newman and Logan Blackburn. Sadly years later, Frank died flying his helicopter in Hawaii.

[A930Rocket]

A few pictures of my 73Z.

I think sanding it down to bare metal, took a few years off my lungs…

I had some goober, take a left hand term between two cars and hit me as I was going straight. Insurance company totaled it, but I bought it back and fixed it up. Again.

Another car I wish I still had.

[Gus Berges]

Here is some inspiration on what it could ultimately be:

https://mzrroadsports.co.uk/

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I had a "96 Rock" radio station tag on the front of the Z -

Hopefully you had it on upside down like all the other cool kids did back then!