Introductions

S

spottdog

Forum User
Hi,

As a new Z owner I thought I would introduce myself.

I have just taken possession of my 1972 240Z although I bought it in late July. I got it from US ebay and through one thing or another it has taken this long to get to this country!

I got it from a great guy in Tennessee who didn't mind me loading it up with spares and even went as far as putting some wheels on the car that I bought and had sent to him.

The car already has some nice bits in it and is one of the reasons I chose that particular Z. It has the L28 engine with 5 speed box, new fuel tank, rebuilt brakes. It luckily came with a spare floorpan because the ones in the car are rubbish... I say in the car but I think the holes indicate it is more out than in :)

The rest of the bodywork looks solid from what I have seen so far... but I am under no illusions that a whole heap of pain and rust lurk somewhere as yet undetected. This will be a project in time for next summer.

I will be converting it to RHD, but the purists will be apalled as I'm not going to be doing it the proper way with a RHD bulkhead etc. I'm going to try and use my existing bulkhead but with the judicious use of a hole cutter and welder. I aim to uprate the steering whilst I am at it with a subaru power rack.

I want to lower the car, as at the moment it is in US dragster mode, but I am a bit wary of disassembling the suspension as I hear horror stories of seized pins etc

I'll get around to asking for advice and help when the time comes to bite the bullet and drop the suspension.

The car joins quite a few others in and around my garage, I have a big power GT-R (BNR32) for when I want to see the horizon quickly, a big power MR2 turbo for when I want to see my life flash before me and yesterdays dinner stain my trousers, a couple of 944s for the sublime handling, a CRX for when I fancy a wrestle with a terrier and an S12 turbo for some reason I really don't know... but the keys I will reach for when I just want something that is Steve McQueen cool are those of the Z.. Now all I have to do is finish it!

As an aside I was lucky enough to be able to pop into the Z anniversary display at Nissans new headquarters in Yokohama, Unfortunately they were more interested in future sales than the heritage but they did have a mint G-Nose on display as well as a Z31 and Z32. The engine museum had a bit about the evolution and manufacture of the L series engine, which is a well regarded and a "famous" engine to the japanese. The S30Z is also a rare beast in Japan and you will get a lot of respect from Nissan employees if you mention you have one!

My 240 will not be mint, I don't want it that way... I want it to wear it's age with pride and have the wrinkles of age. I'm going to make it sound and it will be as nice as I can make it but concours is for other people.

The ultimate aim is to put ITBs and EFI on, maybe with a supercharger. Bring the suspension up to date with some added bite to the brakes as well. I might cage it and will definitely spray it up in some as yet undecided colour... maybe bright green or orange.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to post pictures and the intro will be complete.

spottdog ( as there is another sean here and I don't want to confuse people! )
 
Welcome, sounds like a great project.

What are your plans for the car? Keep the same power plant, upgrade it? Plans for brakes, suspension etc??

Also, just curious but why even do the LHD to RHD conversion? Is this just going to be a weekend fun car? Many people in this club do the conversion but I can't get my head around why since they don't use the cars that often, and driving a LHD car over here never seems to bother me.

Look forward to seeing the pics!
 
Hi Sean
Welcome to Z heaven (as you've already seen lol)

Get a few pics up of your new toy
New and old, it's all good :)

ps, don't forget the Hybrid Z road :thumbs:

It may be long but worth the drive ;)
 
G'day buddy !!!!!!
your right you do not need to replace the whole bulkhead with a RHD one,some of the members on here have done the same conversion that you want to do,i left my car LHD but it is only really is a pain when i come up to toll booths as i have to get out to give them the money unless i have a passenger.
the main rust areas to look for is the tailgate slam panel,sill to rear 1/4 panels and the small reinforcing panel under the inner wing towards the bulkhead area,this is where rusts hides so you might have to remove the panels to check if you want to be sure.
you might struggle to lower the car any more if you wanting to use bigger wheels unless you convert to coilovers.

the suspension pins should not be too much of a problem on your car ,use plenty of wd40 and a slide hammer with the nut welded on the end to fit the pin for the best results because the pins are a soft metal.

i love all zeds good,bad,lhd and rhd !!!!!!!!!!!
 
Welcome buddy.

Sounds like an interesting thread already. Always glad to read about other peoples endeavours and seeing how they get around problems. If in trouble there are plenty of people with scarred and bruised knuckles that will undoubtably advise you on things to avoid and where to source those rare parts.
 
Hi, welcome to the club - how about becoming a full member?

Have you ever been in a S30? If not you might be surprised with how they go. I have a mate with a 944 and it's slower around a track than my S30. I also know someone who had a S30 track car but sometimes used his 968. The S30 was much better!

So you get it sorted and you don't need to go as far as EFI. You already have 'power' cars, now come into the world of 'complete' cars. These things are light and agile you know.

Please keep us informed of progress.
 
Welcome

Post up some pics of you car, don't worry if some people slate it and try to run it down, the fact that you have brought a Z and are going to rebuild it and use it should be applauded cus that's what it's all about

If you've been lurking on the site for a while I'm sure you know how these cars can rot........ my bit of advice would be, if you are in a position to, time and finances permitting, deal with all the corrosion in one hit so your not having to revisit the shell with the welder every couple of years
 
spottdog said:
Hi,

As a new Z owner
I have just taken possession of my 1972 240Z although I bought it in late July. I got it from US ebay and through one thing or another it has taken this long to get to this country!
The car joins quite a few others in and around my garage, I have a big power GT-R (BNR32)
Click to expand...

Just a few Q's
When converting wrong to right :)
Is it a simple case of changing the scuttle panel, wiper motor n linkage over to get the sweep right?

Did you manage to get a load of ol Z parts into the boot of that grey GTR?
 
ok, here goes for some pics ( they flatter the paintwork as it's just been washed I think so is still wet! )

Thanks for the welcome. I think I met 900ss when I bought some bits off of him and it seemed like I tried to fit half a 260Z into the boot of the GT-R. The miracles he is working with his hybrid Z one side at a time is impressive... I have a real soft spot for the RB power but have the 26dett in the skyline and I live in fear of the day I will have to rebuild it.

To answer some questions, I never really contemplated keeping it LHD I always thought it would be RHD for no reason in particular, apart from I feel more at home in a RHD car.

As you can see from the pics it is in need of some ZG flares and a bit of lowering, I might go coilover but have a bit of trepidation about sectioning my struts as I think you need to do if you go very low. The wheels look ridiculously carlos fandango about now but it will be fixed.

I do have the "big power" cars so my intention is to keep the 240Z as a nice well balanced car. Initially keeping the L28 nasp but with injection... I am more comfortable with electronics than SUs I have to admit hence going EFI. I have a 270 cam to go in so hope to iron out some of the lumpiness with well set up throttle bodies. Last time I played with carbs was on my old 1380 mini where I actually liked the lumpiness and nastiness of the idle... I must be getting old now!

I have a great fondness for the VQ30DET ( not the VG ) with a spare one in the garage but I want to stop myself going for another big power turbo car, I might just put the VQ in a 944 instead. I am intrigued by the beating of a 944 because up until now that has been the sweetest handling of cars, just lacking greatly in power to maximise. If the 240Z gets anywhere near the feedback and fun of the 944 then I will be a happy man.

I have commited to the car being off the road until spring so I am going to try and deal with all the rust issues before then... I am pleasantly surprised by the lack of rust so far apart from the floors which are horrible.

I am a late comer to the Z fold but hope in time to bring some experiments to the party.
 

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Welcome to the 'not so proverbial' mad house!

It's alway great to see another Zed and Zed owner join the fold. Get some pics up and keep us all informed in what you're doing. You'll get many more compliments than not, so don't be put off. You'll not be getting any criticism from this keyboard, I can tell you! :D;)
 
Ah, you just beat my post!

Great looking car bud. I have to say, I'd love to paint a future Zed in BRE colours, and I'd definitely go with the blue over white than red. It's a bit different. :thumbs:
 
I like that ... alot. I think the paint work sets it off nicely and as Dale said its a bit unusual but still inkeeping with the style. Good luck!
 
interesting colour scheme,part Samuri part BRE.i like it !!!!!!!!!!
 
welcome to the very mad house. looks like you have a good start there interesting paint work keep us all posted on the work you do and more pics are always welcome


martin
 
Finally! another early Z in West Sussex ,I have been feeling lonely for years!

Welcome Sean! Looks like a great project car!

If I can be any assistance to a fellow imported Z owner, please let me know

Cheers,

Steve
 
hello there just like to say welcome, and also back up what MR G said about why bother converting to rhd i have a lhd import and to be honest dont have any problems driving it sat in the passenger seat, to be honest i dont think it is worth doing my personal view, some people possibly even members in this club (no offence intended guys) will say having a left hooker in the uk means it is not worth as much as a right hand drive, yes that may be so until you think the world is only getting smaller with internet etc and europe is a damn site bigger than the uk for potential buyers should you ever wish to sell the car on, and also should you convert it to right hand drive in a less than perfect way would that possibly lead to skeletons in the closet, either way good luck with the old girl and lets see some pictures, id put mine up but, ill have to figure out how this damn computer works.
 
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