psdenno

Depends on the car. A Bugatti with a salvage title - no problem. A Z with a salvage title - a problem unless you plan to keep and enjoy it forever. You will get less return on any upgrades than on a Z with a clean title when you sell. That's just a fact of life. For example, in most cases, the best deals are had when buying someone else's restoration rather than doing your own restoration. Years ago, I bought a prime Porsche for about 50% of what the seller had spent to put it in top condition. If it would have had a salvage title, it would have been reduced in value by an additional significant percentage. That's just the nature of a salvage title. It's not the same as a clean title and carries a stigma because there's no guarantee of how well a salvaged car was repaired I terms of structure and safety. As I mentioned earlier, you can put a lot of lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. Dennis

Cars with a salvage title are ALWAYS worth significantly less than cars with a clean title. Granted it doesn't take much of an accident to "total" a 42 year old car for insurance purposes. However, a salvage title always carries a stigma no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig. Dennis

Just God's way of saying "Slow down before you hurt someone." Dennis

To answer your question...........no, turds don't corner as well. And in spite of what was mentioned above, don't compare an MGB to a 240Z. They are nothing alike. The MGB is far less sophisticated in addition to being a convertible with the associated noise and rattles that go along with an older less sound structure. If you're expecting it to be smoother, faster, and more quiet than your current car, you'll be disappointed. My suggestion is to drive one. No one here can quantify the experience as well as you can experience from a little time behind the wheel. Based on what you wrote, my guess,is that you won't be happy with a 240Z. You seem to be looking for a modern driving experience in a 40 year old car. If you're unwilling to accept it for what it is, you'll be disappointed. Dennis

I used the Historic Plate loophole that now appears closed on my Porsche for a few years due to an engine change that wouldn't pass visual inspection. It worked at the time and kept the clean running car on the road while I gathered the necessary pieces to pass the visual inspection. Dennis

Great find! Should be interesting to see what you do with the parts. Dennis

Big difference in price. It all depends on your budget and expectations for final outcome. Full dash covers can be a good inexpensive option, but if you're looking for originality and money is no object, a new or recovered dash is the way to go. If you're really ambitious, check some of the threads on DIY dash repair. Dennis

Nice look! The value of your interior probably just doubled Dennis

Harbor Freight nutserts worked for me. The rest of the hardware came from Ace Hardware/TruValue Hardware. Dennis

I made mine from expanded metal I got at a hardware store and painted satin black. I took out the stock grille and and bolted the mesh in its place. Dennis

Ambitious project and may have turned into a bucket of worms. Pricing for rims was posted a few months ago, but no follow-up soliciting orders or update on lens fabrication. Perhaps he'll give us an update to keep interest going. Dennis

If you end up cutting the hole in the trans tunnel larger to accommodate the shifter throw, use the later style inner rubber boot which attached to the tunnel with a metal frame. If you don't modify the stock shift lever, you will hit the console slightly - a little trimming works just fine and is covered by the outer leather/vinyl shift boot. Never had a problem with it hitting the radio on my '71. Not a big deal and a drop in swap. Dennis

Here's a little more info on the 240 rear seat kit from another Z forum: http://tinyurl.com/obqtzsg Dennis

They're your kids and your car, but I wouldn't bet my kid's safety and well being on a handcrafted rear seat and belts no matter how capable I was at design and construction. A stack of 12' boards, yes. The kid, no. That being said, I rode home from the hospital in my mother's arms the day after I was born. Riding "shotgun", no seat belts, air bags, crumple zones, or rear facing padded car seat. Sixty-six years later, I'm still safe & sound. Dennis

I totally agree. Without the proper seat belts, one may as well just have the little darlings crawl in through the rear hatch and snug them down with the luggage straps. Dennis

Wider tires + smaller steering wheel = heavier steering at low speeds and when parking. Dennis

The black hood is a replacement piece or a repaint, not stock. Dennis

"So the topic is... Could I do similar to the Volvo/Lexus project using a pre-smog Datsun and whatever donor seems the best match?" Let me add my rain to your parade.........No. Nice dream, and I have great respect for dreamers, but the budget is unrealistic and you didn't mention your own metal working skill level and shop facility. Farming the work out would jack the cost considerably. BTW, the Volvo conversion appears to have used a 124 sedan body shell, not a P1800. If you do go ahead with the project, keep us posted over the coming years. Dennis

Thanks for the update. Price on the aluminum rings? Dennis

A/C hoses running from the compressor through the passenger side firewall to the evaporator and wiring for the control switch which could be a toggle and a rotary switch or just a rotary switch with a click on/off function.

Sometimes under the dash to the right of the steering wheel and sometimes attached to the side of the center console by your right knee - always within reach from the driver's seat, so there shouldn't be too many places to look unless it wasn't installed. Are you sure the A/C was completely installed after the engine swap or was it "a work in progress" and none of the passenger compartment components are in place? Dennis

Obvious exterior modifications include alloy wheels, rear window louvers, front air dam, dual outside mirrors, and missing rear bumper guards. The engine compartment has aftermarket carbs and air filters. The interior picture show an aftermarket shift knob, missing clock in dash pod on right, and dash cover that could be hiding a cracked dash top. Other than that, all appears neat & tidy. The $5,000 asking price isn't too out of line if it's relatively rust free as described. Check the rear wheel arches and dog legs as they are often rusty or poorly repaired. The '71 is a great choice - I've had mine for 42 years. Dennis

Mounting studs like original or glue on? How sturdy are the four spokes, they appear thin? Dennis

To be fair, some peoople post a "Look what I can do!" project and that inspires others to give it a try. On the other hand, many of us come here not only for inspiration, but for the "How to do it" tutorial. Sooo, it's probably best, when posting a "Look what I can do" to add, "It can be done, now you figure it out" rather than promising a video or written directions that never materialize. 2¢ Dennis