_BR1TT0N_

So Great News! She now has an MOT!! I can now and have sent off the paperwork to register her in the UK and just waiting on plates now!! Woop woop! 
Also now she's back home, I started the service today and done an engine oil change ( first time I ever done an oil and filter change- shows how much of a newbie I am to doing all this! Lol)  put some good old classic car oil back in her as what she was meant to have when built. Also some new plugs as the old ones were black! Got a new belt to fit this week and also rocker cover gasket as need to adjust the valves next weekend. He's really getting there now! 

Waiting for the oil to drain... lol






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So once the carbs were in. I left the filters off as would be easier to access to tune them. So I went to start her last week and she started! Wahoo! For about a minute -.- lol and then cut out. Could t figure out why she wouldn't start again so started looking into things.... she has lost spark and only 1 plug was sparking. Then found the rotor in the dizzy had broke inside so wasn't turning when trying to fire her meaning it was stuck on just one contact/one plug. This was the old rotor:

And old dizzy cap, you can see the contacts have taken a beating where the rotor has come loose: 

So i got on and ordered a new cap and rotor. 2 days later it arrived and went to fit it. Guess what.. didn't fit! This new 240z rotor and cap was way too small for the dizzy in the car. I did a bit of research and found a rotor online that looked like mine was a 280zx rotor. I got hold of the part. Inner and went back to parts store and ordered a 280zx cap and rotor. Today it turned up and it fitted!!! woop woop

Plugged it all back in and she fired up lovely! Such a great feeling! Tuned up the carbs fuel mixture screws and idle screws and checked the emissions wheels back on with new rubber, then also did the tracking. 
Then took her for a road test!! She ran lovely!! TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY!

She's going in for an MOT this week exciting times!!! :)[/quote]

Hey all
So I haven't updated much as every minute I have had, I have been working on her. So just to confirm from above, the brakes are now done and New drums fitted. The bled all the brakes which was a great stage done!

So to carry on, the carbs were next. I took them into my local garage who is helping me and teaching me how to work on the car. We pulled one carb apart Together and he told me what bits I needed to remove and replace with the carb kit. So I got cracking! I checked with the mechanic before I put the 1st one back together and he said it looked fine. I then cracked on and did the other one after learning from the 1st! Such a awesome learning curve!! they weren't as hard as I thought, pretty simple surprisingly

Old gasket Inside:

A bit grubby! 

Then once apart, I cleaned everything out with carb cleaner and an air compressor to blow any muck out and started rebuilding with new bits:

Then fitted back on the car with new gaskets between the carbs and the manifold:


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Things left to do are just the carbs for an mot! This is so close now! Once the mot is on the car, I can register it and then will service it and make sure all valves are sitting right. Drive it about for a bit while it looks rubbish to make sure it drives well. Then a final few big bits like exhaust, coilovers, refurb dash. Then it's time for paint! Then for all the new shiny bits

Getting it done for an MOT and getting the car Done are far apart! Lol[/quote]

So it's been a little while since I updated this. I found out that the nice new shiny part (brake booster) push rod isn't long enough for the new mastercylinder. I was told that the old original one just simply pulls out and you replace it. The old one was imperial thread and New was metric so this caused all sorts of problems. However I managed to meet a great local guy who owns an engineering company and he loves his cars which helped and he made me a new pushrod to the specs and lengths I needed

Pushrod that came in the booster:

Push rod that was in "original" booster :

The this massive machine: 

Made this

So after that was all sorted, I needed to put some new brake hoses in up front:

They were seriously seized on so had to be heated up to remove and then these nice new ones

Also the rear brake shoes weren't bad but thought I would replace the shoes, drums and also one of the wheel cylinders was dead so got 2 new wheel cylinders to replace also

Before: 

After with just the drums to be fitted:

So the drums are next but just before that, the brake pipes need a bit of persuasion to fit the new cylinders as the locator is in a different position. 

Also got some new front pads too :

Once this is done, it will be time just to bleed the brakes and wahey that's that done! 

I also fitted some new seat belts which is will get a photo of and now it's time to rebuild the carbs! Scary! I pulled one apart and saw the main gaskets which I could replace but when I saw the little bits in the rebuild pack, I quickly put it all back together again lol I will ask for help from an expert on this one! Lol[/quote]

Managed to get a few hours in on the Z this evening!

New brake booster fitted: 

New Master cylinder :

All fitted

And this is the z in progress tonight
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Today when it dried up, I started removing the components that need replacing. Quite a nice job to remove some big bits for a change to simply replace with nice new shiny bits. 

First was to remove the carbs as these will need rebuilding :

Which left this space :

Then as this space was made, I need to remove the master cylinder and Brake Servo. The brakes were leaking form somewhere and my suspicion was it was leaking into the brake Servo and slowly through the pedel into the car. 

So I removed the master cylinder:

And then next the Servo:

And as you can see the amount of brake fluid that poured out of it proved my suspicion was right.

Now we have an empty space ready for the new bits: 

I will clean up a bit as it's all out and have a new master cylinder and new brake Servo ordered from Z car Depot in the states to now fit. This weeks jobs! :)[/quote]

So today was a good day!
You may recall me saying that my rear lights needed to be rewired due to the brake lights being on the same circuit as the indicators/hazards as a US model and also the front sidelights linked in with the front indicators as day running lights. I thought I would just try and learn it today and figure it out. Read some great forum posts about other people doing it and wow it worked!! all lights working as they should be: 
Front indicators:

Rear indicators relocated to reverse light clusters as wanted to keep the US style lights (now with a amber bulb though) 

Tail lights :

Brake lights also work but didn't take a photo -.- 

Front sidelight:

Front dipped beam:

And also main beam works too!

The indicator stork and headlight stork was a bit temperamental. Heard this is very normal as the contacts inside them tend to get a carbon build up. I didn't want to strip them apart really myself as heard there are lots of fiddly bits that if go missing, I am screwed lol and it's not cheap for a new reburbished stork for either! But it needed to be done so I went for it using a magnetic tray incase any little bits did escape. Rebuilt both indicator stork and headlight stork and are so much better!

Indicators

Headlight:

Next jobs for me to do are:

- Build a mount / bracket to make the exhaust more secure
- remove and clean up seat belt mechanism
- ensure seats are securely bolted down
- remove and replace brake servo
- remove and replace master cylinder 
- remove and rebuild carbs 

Really getting there now. The above are jobs needed for the MOT but once that is done, it's time to then do all the bits to make sure everything works WELL rather than just needed and then can't wait to the time to start making it look pretty! Lol[/quote]

So got back from Spain and the steering rack has been overhauled which is great news so fitting that back in along with some new bushes. 

Also I managed to get the front lights working properly meaning sidelights and headlights seperate to day running lights and now indicators on front work separately. Having a few issues with the storks though as I think there are a bit corroded inside. I suppose not surprising after nearly 50 years but I will need to remove the headlight and indicator storks to give them a good clean up as they are a bit temperamental. I need to re wire the rear lights so they work to UK Spec, may need an auto electrician for this one as not overly confident plus the guages need to work too. It's slowly coming together now.... :)[/quote]

So... yes.... I have been working in the snow today! Commitment! It's my last few hours until I fly out to Spain tonight! So today I feel like was a success! 
-Found the problem with the blown fuse! Wires were loose and corroded that triggers the door noise when open or closed! So taped up the wires for now so they don't short out. = no blown fuse and washer pump now works!

- Wheel Nuts! What a nightmare! Was missing 2 and they are different to just normal nuts and I couldn't find any anywhere other than US but still the size was slightly different so a bit of a risk for a 3 week wait! I took a chance and asked the guy where I bought the car from to check if he had any laying around! And wow! He did! So I took a 80m round trip to pick up these 2 wheel nuts to have them before I go on holiday! Just peace of mind! Lol 
The nut! (It really was driving me nuts!) bad joke I know! Lol

So first thing this morning! I was up and took my wheels to local garage for some new rubber so it's ready for MOT! 

Then back to the car while they are fitted and fitted some new anti-roll bar drop links! 

Also today, I managed to sort the headlights so the sidelights in the main headlight unit work but the lights in the front indicator don't come on with the sidelight switch ( this is because US have the day running amber lights) 

While I am away! My local garage are removing the steering rack and is being sent off to be overhauled, new drop links fitted, front tie rod arm bush kits, steering rack gators and then next to do is sort the rear lights out for the MOT! Still some work to do but making progress! :)[/quote]

Right guys, sorry it’s been a long time! Photobucket stopped letting people using photos so the thread seemed to not make sense without photo updates. 

ALOT has happened since the last post!! 

Heres the updates from the last post

It's been so nice to work on the car today and it's been sunny!! Wahey!

So a local garage is helping me with the car and teaching me bits I need to do and they can also do some of the big jobs for the MOT: 

Today, I now have both doors opening and closing using the exterior handle! lol one of those tricky little rods was missing inside the door and was a right fiddly job and also a pain to find a new one but it's finally done! 
Also painted the headlight buckets and had to remove a clip inside one which holds the spring for the adjustment of the headlight and reweld on the other side of the bucket just so it adjusts accordingly to UK MOT rules. Fitted the new Uk headlight today and they work!! 

Also, as I wanted the original bits for the adjustment, I ordered these from the states as the old adjustment screws and clips were nackered! 

And wahey!

But... always a but.... lol the headlights are a bit temperamental as it's a known common problem that the headlight switch on the stork gets mucky and corroded so sometimes you have to turn the switch a few times. ( i will try and sort this) 

Also this fuse keeps blowing! As soon as I turn the car on and guess it's something in its circuit. I am hoping it's something to do with the washers! I had no washers on the car but today I fitted a new pump and washer bottle. It worked, then it didn't, then it did and it didn't again! lol I am hoping it's linked to this fuse but having trouble finding out what fuse is the washers! 
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I am excited! Lol will be rebuilding the carbs and fitting Brake Servo and master cylinder this weekend then going over the engine to make sure running smoothly

Awesome, will look forward to this build with interest.

 

Where are you in the UK out of interest?

I am based near Winchester

Thanks glrnet! That's a great thread! I have been reading through!

So when the Z came back last week, over the last few days I got cracking with ensuring she is completely undersealed. When underneath, I found the car in pretty good condition and most of the original underseal was still very dry and solid. I made sure I wire brushed any loose rubbish off under there and made sure it was all dry then got to work and have completely undersealed the car and inside the wheel tubs.

I wanted to add that extra protection from our crappy weather in the UK if I did happen to be caught in it!

And yeah I got pretty covered with underseal!

Note to self: where gloves next time!!! (It is a b**** to get off!) lol

And my Brake Servo & master cylinder turned up

So next jobs to do:

Fit Brake Booster & Master Cylinder

Remove and rebuild carbs as they are leaking!

Drivers side sill Before:

After :

Passenger side floor pan Before :

After :

Drivers side floor pan before:

After:

Boot wheel well Before:

After:

Passenger side sill had a small hole but this is after:

Ok here's an update

I ordered a new Master Cylinder and Brake Servo from the Z car Depot in the states but in the meantime the car went off to the welder to be worked on. The welder had for 2 weeks as found a few more little holes to sort out. It came back 10 days ago with the repairs all done...

Week 2:

So remember I haven't got a clue about cars! So I am learning as I go! Lol

I looked at the carbs and researched them. I found that these Z's came stock with Hitachi SU side draft carbs and looking at mine they definitely weren't stock. I found out that the car had dual Weber DGV's fitted and when pushing the fuel injectors at the bank of them, they were leaking so needed to order a rebuild kit for the carbs:

Whilst looking at the car, I knew it had a brake leak too so I thought I would take a look to see if I can find it!

I discovered there was brake fluid up in the drivers footwell where the brake pedal is. From this I am thinking the master cylinder has leaked and it's managed to get into the brake booster and come through meaning I probably need a new brake booster and master cylinder. To change both these bits, it would be a lot easier if the carbs are off the car so I am waiting on the brake parts to arrive to then remove the carbs and rebuild them and also fit the new brake parts at the same time

Looks like a good base to start, what are your plans with it?

First thing I want to do is get the shell in good condition and solid and ensure the car is mechanically sound. Once that's done, I will get s ticket on it and then decide what and how I will make her look pretty

Still not sure on which way to go whether to restore to more original look or have a few bits of my own style in there. Probably heading with a few bits extra like some flared arches for a start but still to decide for sure

So week 1:

The old Radiator was leaking as had been caught underneath when unloading from the container so a new rad was needed. I decided to upgrade at the same time and went for a Mishimoto Radiator and installed this:

Also, I found some coolant in the passenger footwell which was very suspicious then mopped it up and found some more a few days later. I then realised it come was coming from the Heater so this was the next job to remove it. The Rust on car isn't too bad but there are some spots and also needed to check for anymore so I removed the seats at the same time and cleaned the floor pans to check:

Found a few rust spots which need sorting so I undertook a rust treatment on the floor pans using Fertan which neutralises the rust. This is then ready for the welder to come out to work his magic and get the shell solid again:

Welder has been out and so far sorted the hole in the wheel well in the boot which wasn't rust and also a hole in the front arch in the engine bay which also wasn't rust. It actually looked like a gunshot hole! Haha

Welder is taking the car this weekend to sort the floor pan holes and also the Holes on either sill (one which you can see is bad! )

Hey guys, thought I would create a project album for a 240z that I have bought about 3 weeks ago. i have owned a couple of Z's in the past including a 350z and a 370z but always fancied a 240z.

The project is a "real" project as you can see by the photos but I have been looking forward to learning on how to do the things myself.

Anyways.. the car!

It's a 1972 Datsun 240z imported from California and came into the country literally 3 weeks ago and needs a lot of work!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome back I will post some pics of her soon on a project thread and I warn you, she is a proper project! Lol

Welcome to the forum ! And yes it certainly is normal haha, amazing cars the Z's and great fun! Lovely looking Z and nice choice on colour !

Hey everyone,😊

It's been a while since I have been on here as I sold the 370z nearly 2 years ago as its was time to put buying a house as a priority. I was also on here before the 370z with a blue veilside 350z that I built over a few years so I met a few of you guys then when attending the meets and that. Well I just wanted to pop back in here and say hello as I am excited to say I own a Z again! Woop Woop! 😄 I have just bought a Datsun 240z project which I will be working on and building over the next "who knows how long" but hoping she will be on the road within the next couple of months or so! She May not be pretty when she is though😂 But a start!