1973 Datsun 240z (L28) US import restoration

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
I'd been meaning to do this for ages.

Right, that's me right up to date. Car is going into a garage later this month to have the headers and exhaust installed. I don't want to tackle 50 year old bolts on the header and think the exhaust is best put in on a ramp, which I of course do not have. After that I will park the car up, take off the carbs and manifold and send those away for a complete refurbish and plating...and that'll be me done for the winter.
 

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
Great stuff, Graeme. I want to do a thread like this for mine, which is similar to yours - imported car etc. Some great pics in this thread. Are the carbs going to ZTherapy?

No, but they will get Ztherapy parts. I've found a guy in Edinburgh who is a bit of a specialist with these old carbs. He's already done a refurbish for another 240z, someone on this forum I believe. He'll send off some of my parts to ZTherapy for replacement. Happy to provide his details if you want to private message me.
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Finally, after 3 years of hard graft, I thought it time I posted all the pictures of my restoration from start to finish. Special thanks to Stuart Barrie who is also a member, for all his help and advice over the past 12 months - couldn’t of got this far without your input. Additional thanks to California, for keeping this car rust free.

View attachment 42200

View attachment 42203
Wow, I thought this car looked familiar.....I have many pics of this car while still in Cali before I exported it.

Wonderful job on bringing her back to the land of the living.....nice to see that she was such a great body to begin with.

Mike
 

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
Wow, I thought this car looked familiar.....I have many pics of this car while still in Cali before I exported it.

Wonderful job on bringing her back to the land of the living.....nice to see that she was such a great body to begin with.

Mike

Thanks Mike. Isn’t it a small world. You don’t happen to have any of those California pictures still do you? I’d love to see them.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Great write-up Graeme and you have a lovely car there.

I would be interested to know how much you have spent on the car once 'landed' here to take it from a useable classic to a beautiful car. People tend not to want to discuss figures which I understand.

What I would say is that you haven't had to spend much on rust/bodge repairs so 'well bought'.
 
Last edited:

uk66fastback

Club Member
I got my carbs back from ZTherapy last year Graeme after they enjoyed a four-month holiday over there, hence my asking. They're on the car now and looking beautiful - and cost a pretty penny - but I'm sure they'll be worth the outlay. The main thing they do of course, is to replace the worn and leaky butterfly spindles - without which getting them to perform well would be impossible/a nightmare.

Looking forward to seeing these Cali pics Saccy has.
 

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
Great write-up Graeme and you have a lovely car there.

I would be interested to know how much you have spent on the car once 'landed' here to take it from a useable classic to a beautiful car. People tend not to want to discuss figures which I understand.

What I would say is that you haven't had to spend much on rust/bodge repairs so 'well bought'.

Interesting you should ask, a topic I am thinking about. Will need a new valuation for insurance. Will message you Rob...and thank you, lots of hard work.
 

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
I got my carbs back from ZTherapy last year Graeme after they enjoyed a four-month holiday over there, hence my asking. They're on the car now and looking beautiful - and cost a pretty penny - but I'm sure they'll be worth the outlay. The main thing they do of course, is to replace the worn and leaky butterfly spindles - without which getting them to perform well would be impossible/a nightmare.

Looking forward to seeing these Cali pics Saccy has.

Do you have a picture of your completed carbs? Yeah, looking forward to seeing these California pictures too. I know the car spent many years in Sacramento.
 

toopy

Club Member
Very nice indeed, i like the silver/aluminium suspension parts, especially as the rest of the underside is black, it stands out but in a good way IMO.
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Thanks Mike. Isn’t it a small world. You don’t happen to have any of those California pictures still do you? I’d love to see them.
Lots of Pics Graeme, are you looking for general overall shots or close ups???

Maybe PM me with your e-mail and I can forward pics or a link to you.....

Mike
 

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
Courtesy of Mike in California, I now have some pictures of the car in California before it shipped to the UK several years ago. Thank you so much Mike - good to have a bit more of the history, especially the California number plate. @SacCyclone

8AEEDE2F-32A4-4397-B58B-01D0B2A7AE85.JPG 9DCC29C0-B7D3-427E-BB69-054A775E0FD1.JPG
 

Attachments

  • 1DB138F0-D34A-4332-B4C2-F067865A9392.JPG
    1DB138F0-D34A-4332-B4C2-F067865A9392.JPG
    70.9 KB · Views: 25
  • 169CE88E-BBFA-4238-BAC9-3CF4869D113A.JPG
    169CE88E-BBFA-4238-BAC9-3CF4869D113A.JPG
    84 KB · Views: 24
  • C443F3C1-4887-4846-858F-326DB2571A9E.JPG
    C443F3C1-4887-4846-858F-326DB2571A9E.JPG
    94.1 KB · Views: 24
  • A896B28F-741B-433C-9C1F-DE61AAEA45DD.JPG
    A896B28F-741B-433C-9C1F-DE61AAEA45DD.JPG
    89.1 KB · Views: 25
  • 7054A562-828C-465E-8580-0E8FA691CB94.JPG
    7054A562-828C-465E-8580-0E8FA691CB94.JPG
    89.4 KB · Views: 26
  • 2554CB60-E1C2-4B64-810D-8B33E0DAC541.JPG
    2554CB60-E1C2-4B64-810D-8B33E0DAC541.JPG
    81.2 KB · Views: 25
  • CB6DAF86-3429-4A69-B44D-39B4A962A01D.JPG
    CB6DAF86-3429-4A69-B44D-39B4A962A01D.JPG
    82.8 KB · Views: 26
  • CC5A3C9B-38B0-416E-A1AD-9E89A95915C5.JPG
    CC5A3C9B-38B0-416E-A1AD-9E89A95915C5.JPG
    67.4 KB · Views: 26
Last edited:

Pete

Well-Known Forum User
Lots of Pics Graeme, are you looking for general overall shots or close ups???

Maybe PM me with your e-mail and I can forward pics or a link to you.....

Mike
Mine was a Sacramento car as well, 4KWG797. it's not had the love that Graeme has bestowed. A couple of Scottish winters have taken there toll, getting fixed.
 

Graeme - CZ

Club Member
Mine was a Sacramento car as well, 4KWG797. it's not had the love that Graeme has bestowed. A couple of Scottish winters have taken there toll, getting fixed.

Hi Pete - I’ll come visit in the spring. You must’ve seen the car 2/3 of the way through. Hope your repairs are going ok. Cheers, Graeme
 
Top