Georgia Flash

I haven't got my 350 yet and was pondering how to go about it. Crate motor, salvage yard, donner car, etc... I was wondering what to look for in the salvage yards so I don't have this same problem ie. getting a 305 instead of a 350. Are there any signs to look for when getting the engine to make sure it is a 350 and not something else? And yes like the other guys said if the salvage yard worker/owner misrepresented this thing as the real deal he would definately have to take it back!

cool

Lee I have owned 3 Z cars, a 79zx, 80zx and my current V-8 project mobile a 75z. I have also owned and just sold my first Corvette a 1987 with the 5.7 engine and the 4+3 Tranny. In regards to the "z being as close to a vette as you can get." I would have to say NO WAY! The Vette was a real screamer. I have never driven anything that would simply knock your head through the head rests on the seats like the Vette would do upon hard acceleration. Now, having said that. I was talking about a STOCK Z car, not a V-8 Z. I do not like the inline 6 of the Z and thus this is why I am trying to build my first Z-8. These guys are right when they say the little Z with the 8 should be a screamer, I just cant wait till I get that far into the project with mine. Still a long way from being there though I hear ya on the budget thingie, keep looking around for those bargains.

Thanks RacerX, I have finally crawled out of the sack and had my first coffee so now its time to go to work on the hail damage

Yes the JTR manual is a very helpful book and is well worth the investment. I learn somthing new everytime I open it up.

I do not think they are too deep , I will sand them tomorrow, down to the metal before i try to fill them in. I also have some fiber glass filler (Bondo Glass)in my cluttered little work shop I think. Would that be better than the plastic filler? Thanks

Hello guys, I was wondering about using bondo to fill in a few dents caused by hail on the roof and hood of my Z. The question I have is this. Do I need to sand all the way to the metal so that the bondo adheres properly, or can I just use it over the primer paint to fill in the dings? Thanks in advance guys.

N/C

Sorry guys:

Hello all, I have a simple question to throw out to the group. My 75Z has drum brakes in the rear and I would like to replace them with disc brakes. I have seen another 75 with rear disc brakes. Here are my questions; Could I simply find one in the Junk yard and get the discs? What parts do I need to get? And is it a fairly straight forward bolt on deal? Thanks in advance guys "Show me someone who is satisfied and I will show you a failure"Benjamin Franklin

what year z do you have and is this a stock tank? Looking in the Haynes manual for the 240-280Z this is all I can find on this subject. "The unit is fitted to the fuel tank by means of a bayonet coupling." I have my fuel tank out and have seen this coupling, it looks like you can twist it off. Does anybody else know the how toos on this?

Good evening everyone, I was fooling around with my factory speedometer tonight and was wondering how to take off the needle. I see that the face itself is held on by two small srews but I can not seem to figure out how to get the needle off. Any suggestions?

Nion, man those are sweeet! And that is exactly the look I am after

I had this same problem on a 1980 ZX I once had. Fortunatley I was taking an automotive class at the local tech school so I had access to a lift. If I remember correctly we used a big (don't laugh) monkey wrench and a very long pole for leverage. Even then the sucker would hardly budge! We finally did manage to break it loose. I, like you, would love to get the guy who desiged that square bolt head! By the way, I have the same problem with my current Z only this time it is with the rear differential filler bolt being froze! Yes same ole square bolt!

Yep I was measuring the gauge face itself and or the old housing. I see from just measuring the holes in the dash itself that the 5 inchers will fit just fine. I was under the impression that the old housing and clear plastic factory gauge lens would be used with the new gauge. Dunno why I thunk it I just did. Oh well you learn something new everyday here.

BLKMGK, you said the speedo and tach are the 5in gauges? I measured the housing last night and came up with only about 3 3/4in for those in my 75Z. Do you put them in from the front? And do they not go all the way back like the stock gauges? Help! Also what size did you order for the small gauges? Thanks

I pulled my dash the other day it wasn't as hard to do as I thought it would be. Mine is severely cracked and I was wondering what I could do to fix them (cracks) before adding the full face dash cover. I'm glad I read this post because now I have the answer, Bondo. Thanks guys for indirectly helping another Z-person out

Yep that would suck having to go home and pull off your muffler for the emissions sniffer, I would not have that problem where I live because we do not have to get our cars inspected As far as putting more mufflers under the car, I mean, that's what this whole discussion is about in the first place, using the super trapps instead of traditional mufflers because of their reletively small size. I do not mind noise and I do not care to have a sleeper car because I will not be doing any "street" racing anyways. I am a mature 36 year old and my wild oats have pretty much been sown. I just want a good looking body of the Z and the rumble of a good V-8 under the hood and I will be happy

It seems like I remember seeing these on an old 40's model Plymouth hot rod at a local car show last summer and I think that the guy even fired up the engine (small block chevy, of course) and it sounded nice. Like I said though, I think, It seems, maybe I saw,.....now where did I put that keyboard....

Hey where abouts are you located in Georgia? I'm from the Rome/Silver Creek area and I too am in the planning tearing down stage. I have a 75 280 that I bought from a friend for about $50, drop me a line.

Wooooohooooooo looks like I have found my solution to the muffler question. Thanks a lot for the quick response.

Hey guys I was just looking through my new Summit mag and came across these odd looking things called Super Trapp Mufflers. They are only 4in long. Are these all you need for a muffler? Becasue if they are it seems like a no brainer for the V-8Z conversion. I mean they should take up very little space at the end of the Z unlike trying to stuff two regular size mufflers in there. Has anyone tried these? Thanks.

Hello and Happy New Year to all! I have a simple question to ask. If I do not use my original gauges in my 75 Z and choose to use the cool looking white faced ones that Auto Lite sells wouldn't that be an easier thing to do? I have read something about having a special harness so that the wiring hooks to the Datsun gauges and to the chevy V-8. But I was thinking that if you just ordered the gauges to work with the Chevy you could save yourself a big headache, what do you guys think?

Yep I pulled my drive shaft yesterday trying to get the car ready "prepped" for my V-8 (which I sadly do not have right now) The bolts are real som-biat$%@# to get at and it didn't help that I was laying flat of my back with the 14mm open end wrench just an inch from my face as I tried to get to the nuts! I even tried to come in from the back side by using a long extension and a socket but that didn't work. I was afriad to unbolt anything that was in the way (except the exhaust pipe) because I didn't want to crush my head or chest with a suddenly falling rear diff! Man that would put your day on hold for a while. Anyway sorry for the long story but I did get it out with a little patience and swearing Good luck

Coooool I think I will try a combo of the advice I have gotten so far Thanks