260z 7mgte

TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
Hello all,

I have been looking for a 240 or 260 for a while now, seen a few but never found one in the right condition. Went to view one that had been mentioned back in 2009 here and couldn't resist it. Picture (if I have used the upload correctly) should be attached

1974 UK 260Z, 7M-GTE 3.0 Supra Turbo, G Nose / Arches / Spoiler.

Had it up and inspected by some mechanic friends of mine at the weekend who are (sickenly they claim) impressed with the condition, we couldn't find any rust on the shell at all.

Fixed a few minor things on it to keep it going, replaced the starter motor, fixed the washer jets and cleaned up some of the electrics, flushed the coolant (need to do a proper clean very soon). Still some work to be done:
1) Drivers door needs to be set properly as it only latches to the first click
2) Need to replace the doorcards and window winders, clean up the handle chrome, fit new locks all round (would like to fit a central locking kit if anyone can recommend one)
3) Dash instruments have not been hooked up (apart from the speedo), would like to find some retro aftermarket dials the same size for fuel, coolant and oil temperature, and boost
4) Fit a expansion tank to the radiator.
5) Rear brake conversion to discs

I am based in north Kent at the moment and would like some advice on who would be best to sort the doors out (we had a go but the top bolts are inaccessible with the dash in so didn't get very far), has anyone got any suggestion? Fourways Engineering claim to be a specialist in 240Zs if anyone has an opinion on them.

Anyways, I hope to do as much on the car as I can myself, I will be trawling the forums for info as much as possible, apologies if I ask something that has already been covered

Tom
 

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RIDDLER

Well-Known Forum User
Welcome to the club -and good luck sorting out your car! It is the same colour as my 260Z - check out my gallery.

Suggest you contact Mike Feeney at MJP for any parts you need - he is very helpful and knowledgeable. His number is 01277-374201.
 

Mr.G

Club Member
Congrats. Sounds like you've just got little jobs to do.

What is she like to drive, and what gearbox are you running, the Supra box?
 

johnymd

Club Member
The door hinge bolts should all be accessible with the dash in. Any solid z is a good z. I'd be very interested in seeing the car as I run the similar 1 jz. Where in Kent are you as I'm only in Essex. I could bring the z over and compair installs.
 

racer

Club Member
HI Tom
Looks like a great car. Do show us some more pictures and tell us the engine speck etc.

Mike is Def your Man for the parts you need.
Try Tel240 on the forum for work that you need doing. Fourways are very expensive.
 

WillsZed

Club Member
Congrats Tom. TO be honest i thought about this one myself when i saw it on pistonheads but obviously the advertising pics didnt do the car justice. Congrats with the purchase, got a cracking running gear with that car, great engines.

Enjoy, looking forward to hearing about progress.
 

TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
Apologies for the late reply everyone, had some Z related issue (don't worry I didn't expect plain sailings with an old Z), even more time in work than usual and a house move in progress.

Answer some questions:
What she like to drive? Bit of a beast as you could expect, very heavy steering and the brakes are rusty/pitted so not alot of stopping power. Engine is damn torquey at the low end and when the turbos spool its a lot of fun. Running the Supra box yes

So what happened? Took it up to Tel's place where he was preparing his 240z for Japfest, man thats a nice looking 240z and also had the pleasure of meeting johnnymd and his 1jz beast. If you played back the afternoon in reverse it was really nice, last thing we did was get the car up on the ramp and check it out and with the exception of a few minor things the car seems to be in good nick. While I remember a warning to anyone that visits the garage the speedbumps should be classified as small hills I am sure.

However within 30 seconds of getting out the car Tel informed me I had little end problem on the 7M and I needed a new 7M, a rebuild or a different engine.

Booo!

This caught me a bit off guard because I had spent loads of time trawling the Supra forums over the 7M engine and nowhere did I find little end issues, every post was blown head gasket so I had concentrated on looking for signs of that. Now when I search for little end problem there are loads of threads on it, very suspicious! tel and johnny also took great delight in mocking me buying a 260 over a 240 :)

So, 7M rebuild is possible, however I have read enough horror threads about rebuilt 7Ms going pop after very few miles to put me off (and johnny saying its not worth it), finding a low-ish milage 7M out of a Mk3 Supra seems to be impossible, all the ones I can find are BHG or in good nick so would be sacrilegious to gut them (also expensive) or finally dropping a 1jz in. tel has hinted he is happy to do the work but will need a Soarer delivered so I am hunting for one for the right price, if anyone knows of one in the london-ish / kent area let me know.

Will try and keep the thread up to date with anything else new and next time Im there I will take some proper photos
 

Mr.G

Club Member
Hey Tom, sorry to hear that, the good news is you're in good hands with Tel and John, helpful and knowledgeable guys. The job will be so much easier to get done now.
 

TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
Quick update for the interested.

Went out in a few 1J/2J powered Supra, and while its an awesome and clearly very reliable engine I just couldn't give up the torquey low end of the 7M so decided bottom end rebuild is in order.

As you can see from the pics the engine is out now and the crank is off for a grind, took the opportunity of the block out to clean the engine bay which didn't turn up any issues which is nice. Good news is the clutch looks new and the cambelt has been replaced recently too. Mark who is looking at is commented its one of the best 7M's he's seen (I'm sure he said that!).

Big thanks to Tel again, his wisdom and advice as well as help with the car has been invaluable, I will keep the thread up to date with more pics as it happens
 

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TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
More updates!

Cars been off the road for a bit, finally managed to pick it up on Friday. Bottom end rebuild complete and sounding sweet, Tel has done some cracking work on the front brakes (can actually stop the thing now) and sorting some door bits out.

Had a fantastic 15 min drive along the A12, overheating on a traffic jammed M25 then gave up on the M2 southbound. Knackered rad cap from its previous days running with no expansion tank decided to dump half the coolant out. Only took 6 hours for the RAC to get me 13 miles :rofl: After all that effort a £7 part let me down, lesson learnt.

Anyways, new radiator cap and some aftermarket temp sensors on the way so I can accurately watch my coolant to make sure nothings awry and looking to clean up some of the body work at the front and do some rewiring.

At least it looked pretty on the transport. . . .
 

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tel240z

Club Member
Tom yes a cracking job on the brakes :eek: although i am a little concerned at the colour of the front wheels, it left the workshop freshly washed and wheels gleaming like the back ones, when your back up and running you need to check that that the brakes are not binding on we know the calipers are fine ;)

possibilities
1) toyota m/cylinder not adjusted properly
2) brake pipes restricted (dont think so)
3) to many valves and restricters all over the place
4) spirited driving home on new brakes not bedded in yet (very possible) :rolleyes:
 

TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
Would love to blame it on 4) but I really didn't have much time on the brakes at all with all the traffic, will have a ganders when I get it up on stands
 

TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
Problem ended up being needing to adjust the rear shoes, had no brake force at all to the back but seems to be ok now, same goes for the coolant a new rad cap and everything seems ok. Doing some runs with new temp sensor and some thermocouples on the rad in/out to check no more issues

I have been looking into front brake upgrades. Was intending to go the Hilux route but I cannot source the correct caliper.

Roughtrax only sell if you send a unit back in return
Milner off road don't sell the caliper suitable for solid discs (would have to switch to 300zx vented/505gti)

I was hoping the Hilux route would help with the mismatch between Supra master cylinder and stock caliper, other options are DJ Racing kit but these don't seem to be for sale anymore and the MJP kit, has anyone used this?
 

johnymd

Club Member
There are a few options with the brakes but I guess it depends how far you want to go. You are the only one to make the choice. The front brakes will suffer from over heating so any upgrade has to include vented disks or it's a waiste of time. So the first upgrade option would be the hilux/505gti or range rover conversions. Both a similar level of upgrade and I would say neither is better than the other(I thought you had Rob Gaskins old setup?). I ran the rr setup and consider it very good for the money(I would sell my old kit for £100). The next stage(the route I took) is the willwood route. I went for the AZ one as I prefer their rotary vain disks. IMO you don't need to change the rears but I had some money to burn so bought the only kit worth going for which is the DJR stuff.
 

Mr.G

Club Member
Got mine not so long back and imo they work well on my 260z.
When did you ask last ? Might be worth a call ?


Yes as Wyn states - you just need to call him, I was going down this route but I've convinced myself it's overkill, I've just gone for Nismo Brake shoes and the fronts are going to be upgraded - got the bits to do it but not on the forefront of my to do list. I got to say the standard Z brakes are very good for most driving scenarios, unless you plan on lots of track days, you just need to really push hard on the pedal.
 
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