Avocado Green 1972 UK RHD 240z Project

[Rushingphil]

When looking for info in Threads do you search the appropriate Forum and then the specific section? Perhaps you are meaning 'Rebuilds and Restos' only?

When I search for specific info, I do search the individual sub-sections and I'm quite successful. It's when I casually read a particular thread and think 'ooh, that's a great picture ' etc, that I then can't find it, or what page it's on, a few days later!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Looking at 'recent posts' may help.

 

[Rushingphil]

I mentioned earlier that the fuel filler tube was completely knackered. I looked into buying a new one but they're damn expensive; and Mark (Minksport) messaged me to say he had one available . However, I found I already had one in the box of spares that came with my RB26 project. That car wont need it as it has a fuel cell. It was in great condition other than being rock hard - more like hard plastic than rubber, so I did some research on YouTube and found you can soften rubber components with a mixture of wintergreen oil and IPA. After a few days soak in the solution (20/80) it's come up virtually as new . Mind you, garage now smells like a rugby team's changing room!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I mentioned earlier that the fuel filler tube was completely knackered. I looked into buying a new one but they're damn expensive; and Mark (Minksport) messaged me to say he had one available . However, I found I already had one in the box of spares that came with my RB26 project. That car wont need it as it has a fuel cell. It was in great condition other than being rock hard - more like hard plastic than rubber, so I did some research on YouTube and found you can soften rubber components with a mixture of wintergreen oil and IPA. After a few days soak in the solution (20/80) it's come up virtually as new . Mind you, garage now smells like a rugby team's changing room!

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IPA - India Pale Ale, what a waste! I used to do competitive running and the changing rooms at a cold winter cross country race smelt fantastic - almost gave you a 'high'.

 

[Rushingphil]

I've read in previous threads that the front scuttle panel often hides a lot of rot - so decided to whip mine off for a quick look-see. Am very happy with what I found The inside will need a little amount of rust treatment and the underside of the panel itself will need to be blasted and repainted.

 

[Rushingphil]

IPA - India Pale Ale, what a waste! I used to do competitive running and the changing rooms at a cold winter cross country race smelt fantastic - almost gave you a 'high'.

Yup! I won't waste it, I'll drink it once I've finished with all the other rubber bits that need softening

 

[IbanezDan51]

Great condition scuttle and inside looks superb.

 

[uk66fastback]

Good work Phil! And a good tip as well ...

 

[Rushingphil]

Yup! I won't waste it, I'll drink it once I've finished with all the other rubber bits that need softening

Umm, just for the sake of political correctness and to avoid future legal claims; the IPA I'm using is IsoPropylAlcohol sp. And I wouldn't recommend drinking it

 

[Rushingphil]

Ran and warmed up the engine a few weeks ago to do a compression test. Results were:

No. 1 - 150
No. 2 - 150
No. 3 - 150
No. 4 - 155
No. 5 - 150
No. 6 - 140

No. 6 is obviously a little low, but I'm thinking that it's still within acceptable limits? I seam to remember the PO telling me that he'd previously had a new head gasket fitted many years ago because of low compression on No.6.

 

[Rushingphil]

Also, while the engine was warm, I decided to check to see if the gearbox was working. The clutch hydraulic system is completely knackered but the PO thought he remembered putting a new clutch plate in just before he stopped driving it. I have a box with all the old clutch parts in it so maybe he did.

I jacked the car up and removed the rear wheels to reduce the load on the starter motor, then started the car in each of the gears in turn - including reverse. Am pleased to say everything seemed to work as it should, and the speedo gave different readings in each gear so fingers crossed! Appreciate that there was no load on the box or the diff of course.

 

[Rushingphil]

I've removed and stripped down the clutch master cylinder which was totally u/s. It's a NABCO made in Japan. Am I right in thinking this is the original one fitted by the factory? If so, I would like to try and refurbish it with an overhaul kit. I am intending to try and keep the car as original as possible. However, is it really worth it? I can buy a complete brand new pattern part for the same price as the overhaul kit! Thoughts please? A few pics as just reading text is boring

 

[Bazzateer]

On my other classics I've always fitted new master cylinders, you have to remove it to renew seals anyway so you may as well fit a whole new cylinder.
Try putting a teaspoon of engine oil in the spark plug hole then run the compression test again. If the readings increase it suggests the rings are worn, if no.6 is closer to the others then no.6 is probably most worn.
If the oil makes no difference then suspect the valves.

 

[Rushingphil]

On my other classics I've always fitted new master cylinders, you have to remove it to renew seals anyway so you may as well fit a whole new cylinder.
Try putting a teaspoon of engine oil in the spark plug hole then run the compression test again. If the readings increase it suggests the rings are worn, if no.6 is closer to the others then no.6 is probably most worn.
If the oil makes no difference then suspect the valves.

Many thanks - but is a drop of 10/15 psi worth worrying about?

 

[Bazzateer]

Not overly but I'd run the wet test just to see if it's the rings or valves causing the drop on no.6. Previous owner's new h/g doesn't seem to have sorted it. Could just be valve adjustment on no.6, free fix if it is.

 

[toopy]

I've removed and stripped down the clutch master cylinder which was totally u/s. It's a NABCO made in Japan. Am I right in thinking this is the original one fitted by the factory? If so, I would like to try and refurbish it with an overhaul kit. I am intending to try and keep the car as original as possible. However, is it really worth it? I can buy a complete brand new pattern part for the same price as the overhaul kit! Thoughts please? A few pics as just reading text is boring

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I guess that very much comes down to personal choice, me, I'd replace it no question, but then I've never been concerned about originality.

If you are confident the bore is still in good nic, then worth a try with the overhaul kit, easy enough to remove again and replace if it proves to be scrap after all, doubling up on cost obviously plays a part here too though

 

[Rushingphil]

Not overly but I'd run the wet test just to see if it's the rings or valves causing the drop on no.6. Previous owner's new h/g doesn't seem to have sorted it. Could just be valve adjustment on no.6, free fix if it is.

Yes, you're right. I should have done the wet test at the same time! My little helper (youngest son) has gone back to the States now so will have to get wifey to help

 

[Rushingphil]

I guess that very much comes down to personal choice, me, I'd replace it no question, but then I've never been concerned about originality.

If you are confident the bore is still in good nic, then worth a try with the overhaul kit, easy enough to remove again and replace if it proves to be scrap after all, doubling up on cost obviously plays a part here too though

Aye, the bore does look in good nick, other than a fine spiral scratch as I twisted the seized piston out!

 

[Rushingphil]

Also decided to give the whole car a quick T-Cut all over. Not because I thought it would help the bodywork much, but just because the car looked so sad and unloved

Of course the downside is I can now see numerous more dings and dangs that will need to be sorted

 

[Rushingphil]

Finally made a start on stripping the car. I've taken all the interior plastic trim out, washed them, bagged them up and put them into the inside 240z store - aka the 3rd bedroom Both my boys have left home so I have 2 spare bedrooms atm, so I've commandeered one!

I've left the vinyl trim on as, I've read that it's very difficult to get it to look original once it's been peeled off. I will only remove the bits that might get damaged when I start welding!

Also leaving the dash and center console in for now as I'm still toying with the idea of refitting the clutch and getting it to drive a few meters - just for the sake of it!