New: member and 240 Z owner

[woytovich]

Just today I bought my first Z... it's a stock 71 240z. It's been sitting, untouched, in a heated garage since 1985! To tell you the truth I have not actually put eyes on it yet. I'm relying on pictures and a look-over by a good friend of mine. It is 99% rust free, the seats are trash but the rest of the interior is reportedly in good shape.
It is reportedly all original, unrestored. 90k on the clock. It has not been run since '85. No keys either. And it's missing the coil and coil wire (maybe more, I'll know on Saturday when I get it delivered).
I'll have 10 million newbie questions I'm sure...
Any comments would be welcome.
Mark

[northernz]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the wonderful world of Zeds!
Pretty brave of you to buy without seeing it first hand, these things can hide a lot of rust! Post some more pics when you can and let us know the build date and serial #.
Mark

[adamr]

Welcome to the best site for Zs. Everything you will need can be found here. Make it safe first, and then enjoy the ride. Look into a local Z a holic meeting. You may need it!

Adamr

[adamr]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the wonderful world of Zeds!
Pretty brave of you to buy without seeing it first hand, these things can hide a lot of rust! Post some more pics when you can and let us know the build date and serial #.
Mark

And don't worry too much. Most of them have rust, and few are perfect.

[EVILC]

Mark welcome. You have picked a great time to buy a Z car. I just started a new Z club in the NYC area: nyzcc.org Please be sure to check us out. Where in nyc are you? I am from The Bronx but live upstate now (rockland county). I am in the bx once a week and will be moving back soon. Can't wait to check out your s30! Lots of good people and information on this site and you have a lot of Z nuts near you. PM me for more on the club info or visit the site and say hello.

[woytovich]

HLS30-29673
I'm on Long Island but in Manhattan alot. I'm active in the vintage Toyota Land Cruiser world (I have a 78FJ40 and an 85FJ60). We have a club for that, www.gclcny.com, that I started 10 years ago.
I'm VERY excited about the 240Z...

[woytovich]

I just started a new Z club in the NYC area: nyzcc.org

I just registered there...

[EVILC]

I just registered there...

Very nice, few guys over there are waiting for your intro and pics. Excited to have another 240z from the island.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Mark:
Welcome to the group.

Looking at the pictures, I think you lucked out.
There is no battery in the car and no coil - so it didn't leak and eat the frame rail. Also no one at this point has tried to turn the engine over by cranking the starter. {I hope}.

Don't let anyone throw a battery in the car and start cranking. That has the potential to do far more damage than than just sitting idle for 25 years.

There is a good thread titled "Waking the sleeping beast". I suggest you read it. Before you do anything else.
http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/s...ight=Awakening

Go slow - and you may save yourself a lot of hassles and expense.

Then the next order of business is to clean it up - use mild soap and water - that will take 90% of the crud off. Take care not to be too harsh with the vinyl and door panels. They will most likely be dry and brittle. After you get the top layers of grime off - you can use a bit stronger solution of cleaners on tough spots.

If the dash isn't already cracked - you'll want to clean it, then rub it down with Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Let that soak for a day, then remove the excess.

There is a good chance that the carpet will be dry rotted - but sometimes they are not. Carefully remove them and vacuum - to see what you have.

You will more than likely have to replace the tires, the rubber hoses for coolant, fuel and brake fluids. You might want to pull the radiator and have it boiled out and pressure checked, before you put fresh fluids in.

Expect the rear wheel cylinders to be shot - likewise the front calipers will most likely have to be at least removed and cleaned, the pistons hang up. You most likely will wind up replacing the brake master cylinder, along with the clutch master cylinder. Left siting for years they corrode and the seals go bad.

good luck,
Carl B.

[woytovich]

Thanks... I'll post more pics once I get a chance. I do want to do no harm in the attempt to get this running... thanks for the info...

[woytovich]

Here you go...
All comments, suggestions, observations etc are WELCOME


http://photobucket.com/Woy240z

[Arne]

Not bad at all. Some interesting points - the spare tire appears to be the original Toyo Z-1. And I see a Michelin XAS on the left rear. Those were big dollar high performance tires 25-30 years ago. Somebody wasn't afraid to spend money on the best stuff.

[woytovich]

Not bad at all. Some interesting points - the spare tire appears to be the original Toyo Z-1. And I see a Michelin XAS on the left rear. Those were big dollar high performance tires 25-30 years ago. Somebody wasn't afraid to spend money on the best stuff.

I haven't checked for dry rot on the tires yet... they are all "new" from when it was parked in 1985. I'm sure I'll want to replace them before it goes on the road. It looks like the spark plugs are clean too... maybe they were also new then.

[woytovich]

...the spare tire appears to be the original Toyo Z-1...

Are these of interest to period perfect purists?

(I posted pics of it to the Photobucket Album)

[silentmoose007]

in that same car we found this cup cozy

i'm mark's son woody

[woytovich]

IT LIVES!

Today we got it running for the first time.

I had done all of the good stuff: changed oil & filter, drained fuel tank, changed coolant, new fuel filter, new Pertronix ignition... it would crank but not start.

I pulled the carbs off, took them apart, cleaned them all up and put them back... viola! I didn't find ant particular problem while cleaning them but whatever it was it's cleared up now. It runs GREAT!

Unfortunately our attempt at moving it under it's own power for the first time is MANY years was foiled by a rusted frozen clutch slave cylinder. I've ordered up a new one for Monday pick up... then I hope to be able to drive it up and down the driveway!

If that goes well it's time to change the drivetrain gear oil and lube everything (I hope this stuff is easy to find in the Service Manual). Then on to tires.

[Arne]

I took another look at the album on Photobucket. I need to correct my statement on the tires - they aren't 175HR14 Michelin XAS, they are even cooler, 195/70HR14 Michelin XVS. Very expensive tires in the days prior to true low profile performance tires.

I also noted that the headlights are vintage Cibié H4s, and the mirror is a real Italian Vittaloni, not a cheap Taiwan knock-off. As I said before, the previous owner was not afraid to pay for the best. Bodes well for other parts of the car, I should think.

[lbpdz]

looks great and good work getting it fired again.. It's always cool to see a 240 come back to life

[woytovich]

"they are even cooler, 195/70HR14 Michelin XVS"

correct, I wish they weren't all dry rotted...

"vintage Cibié H4s"

correct

"and the mirror is a real Italian Vittaloni"

correct. (was this a common aftermarket swap? I wish the one from the passenger side was still there - all that's left is the base)


AMAZING that you could gleen this from the photos... you have quite an eye for this stuff!

"As I said before, the previous owner was not afraid to pay for the best. Bodes well for other parts of the car, I should think."

I do hope so...

[Darrel]

change clutch master as well, lube and change gear oil before moving it around. How were the brake lines, wheel cylinders and calipers?

[woytovich]

change clutch master as well, lube and change gear oil before moving it around. How were the brake lines, wheel cylinders and calipers?

I was quoted $75-ish for an "OEM" clutch master at an auto parts store (not Nissan dealer)... What is the consensus on these... aftermarket? OEM? Is there a reliable, well priced online source?

Do not know about the brake parts but I'll be careful until I do... same question as above regarding a parts source.

Mark

[psdenno]

Do not know about the brake parts but I'll be careful until I do... same question as above regarding a parts source.

Mark

Don't plan on any high speed runs until you replace the front & rear brake cylinders and the master cylinder. The current aftermarket master cylinders require different "plumbing" than the original '71 unit, so check message forum for insight. I went through that process with mine a few years ago and got great information from group members.
Dennis

[woytovich]

Good weather progress:
All new rubber fuel lines, most of the new coolant hoses installed (lower radiator and heater still to do), clutch master & slave replaced - lines bled, need final adjust, rear brakes: lots of Brakleen, one rubber hose replaced (the other looked to be relatively new - rubber soft & not cracked), drums pulled and buffed to clean up gunk/surface rust, replacing shoes tomorrow... then bleed 'em. Then check for proper cylinder operation. Passenger door lock reinstalled (after getting a key made), window mechanism lubed, door reassembled. Rear diff drained and refilled.

Ahhh.. I LIKE this weather.

[katcarl1]

great find but it looks like a 72z have fun its just begun. carl h

[woytovich]

great find but it looks like a 72z have fun its just begun. carl h

Why do you say 72? With a sub-30000 VIN and 4/71 build date I can't imagine it's a victim of the transition/parts mixing that sometimes happened...

Mark

[JohnnyO]

great find but it looks like a 72z have fun its just begun. carl h

Most differences between and 71/72 were under the hood. What makes you think it looks like a 72?

Mark, What does the title say? 04/71 would most likely have been sold in the 71 model year.

The link below has an unformal registry for Z cars. It was set up by a member here and clearly shows that all 04/71 cars were titled as 71. Go ahead and put your car in there when you have time.

http://www.editgrid.com/user/mlwilliams/Z_Car_Registry


John

P.S. Nice find, where did you find it?

[woytovich]

I did add it to another spreadsheet somewhere... I'll add it to this one too...

I found it on Craigslist... it was in NJ, stored in a heated garage and forgotten about since 1985!

Mark

[Curtis240Z]

This is a '71 Z. The center console and latch type gas door are '70 & '71 items only. I would venture to guess that the chrome shifter stick is also straight, not doglegged like a '72, but I can't tell from the pictures.

[katcarl1]

steering wheel was solid andthe boxes were behind the seats on the floor,i have a 71 build 11/71 with that feature.that is the only reason i thought it was a 72.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I know they did some VIN moving around at the factory, meaning they did not all get released in chronological order, but his 71 looks a lot like my 71.. what am I missing

[woytovich]

More progress! (it lives!)

Well it's all put together (if you have followed the other threads the work on the front end is done: sway bar bushings/links, ball joints, tie rods, Toyota caliper upgrade, new rotors, odd "camber adjust kit" override). We even spent a couple of hours with a rag and polishing compound getting the gray haze off the light yellow paint.

We drove it around the neighborhood for the first time today. It's the first time it has seen road time (other than on a trailer) since 1985.

Still need to further adjust the clutch and replace the rear brake cylinders (one is leaking). Other than that I'll need to see about doing a carb adjust/tune up: it idles high and diesels on shut down.

Mark

[woytovich]

"and the mirror is a real Italian Vittaloni"

correct. (was this a common aftermarket swap? I wish the one from the passenger side was still there - all that's left is the base)

Well it turns out the other one was in a box in the back of the car! ...and these have blue tinted glass in the mirrors - kinda cool.