psdenno

And when the car's not in the garage and the door goes down? Dennis

Wait until next August to install your door seals. A few days in the hot sun will compress them nicely. I did mine a couple years ago and had problems similar to what you've experienced. I shut the doors tightly (bulged) and let the car sit in the sun for a few days. They conformed quite well. That's the only advantage I can think of for living in the desert in the summer. Dennis

The boot clips are available from the usual suppliers, like MSA, for a couple bucks each. You can also use the heavy metal paper clips that have handles to squeeze to open. Remove the handles after installation. You can get a bag of the small ones for a dollar or so. Works just fine and since they are hidden from view, only you know. Dennis

Does your engine RPM rise when you step on the brakes? If so, it's a sign of a bad booster. Changed mine last month. Dennis

My 914-6 is currently in the shop getting a new M/C after presenting me with the same symptoms. Unfortunately, the Porsche M/C is quite a bit more labor intensive to replace than the one on the Z. Dennis

I think you'll be happier, and safer, with a welding fix. You don't want things breaking loose in a sudden impact accident. Dennis

I got mine at a Pick-A-Part in the same Orange County that you live in. Easy swap that cost about $10 and an hour or so of my time last winter. Dennis

That would be great! I appreciate the effort. Dennis

What?!?!?!? None of you C-130 guys ever sent anyone to the tool crib for a bucket of prop wash? Makes me proud to be a retired Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Dennis

It's used just for cruising. My problem is that I have the used 5 speed and don't want to put it in and then find out it needs to be rebuilt. I know nothing about its history - like if it's noisy or pops out of gear. I'd feel better rebuilding and then installing. Dennis

I take the air cleaner backing plate off and apply the Unisyn directly to the carb. Taking the backing plate off also makes it easier to get at the idle adjust nut on the bottom of the carb. The factory manual shows the procedure being done with the air cleaner sheet metal off the carb. Dennis

Normally, just pressing it snugly to the carb after removing all the air cleaner shrouding and then adjusting the Unisyn throat opening by screwing it in or out does the trick at idle RPM. Do you have a tight seal between Unisyn and carb throat? Dennis

I'm picking up a close ratio 5 speed this week and plan to swap it for the 4 speed in my '71 Z. I'd like to have it rebuilt before installing. What's a typical price for a rebuild and any suggestions on who does good work in the Orange County or Riverside area of SoCal? Dennis

Fools and guns - a dangerous mix. Dennis

Don't give Tony a hard time for practicing "Safe Socks". There's all kinds of bad stuff out there! )

Not taking Retro-Spec's side in this whole tangled mess, but after looking at your pictures..... I wonder how straight your Z is. Looks like it's taken a little abuse on both rear corners which may have impacted final fit. Dennis

After 15 years of having my '71 Z in "non-op" status, all I had to pay was the prorated annual fee for the year I put it back on the road. No fuss or muss with the DMV. Dennis

Divine intervention, cosmic convergence, and last, but not least, it must have just been your turn. Enjoy the fruits of your labor! Dennis

You might try building up the area you trimmed with aerosol foam used in construction or home insulation. Or, you might add it to the underside of the dash cap and trim to fit. Dennis

Did you bolt your adapter plates to existing nut plates/mounting points from the original BMW seat rails on the seat frame or drill new holes? My BMW seats have extensions coming down from the sides of the seat frame that are used to attach the stock BMW seat rails. Trying to use them will result in the seat sitting too high. While my seats look like your seats, they may be a later production. Dennis

Thanks!!!! I was one of those who asked. That answers the question I've been asking the Datsun World for several months. Did you undo the upholstery to get at the seat frame so you could attach your Z rail adaptors? My BMW seats are slightly different and I'm trying to figure out my mounting plates with the least deconstruction of the seats. Dennis

The last line of the seller's ad says it all..... "I encourage all buyer to inspect vehicle prior to bidding or making offer." Statements like that are often followed by, "Sorry, I warned you to inspect it first." after the sale. My Z sat dormant in California for about 15 years on "non-op" status. There was no need to pay annual registration fees and all it took to get tags was the prorated fee for the year I finally put it back on the road. There must be more to this Z's story. Dennis

My avatar is from the Google Street Maps view of my street. Dennis

After seeing those, you can add me to the list of those who suggest getting the ZG flares from MSA or a similar Z supplier. For the few extra bucks, you'll be happier with the finished project. Dennis

The Avanti in your photo is an Avanti II, not a Studebaker original, and has a little clutter added to the front end that tends to ugly it up. Unless you've hand washed an original 1963 or 1964 Avanti and felt the Loewy designed curves ( there are NO straight lines on the fiberglass body), you can't really appreciate the design. BTW, the '63 supercharged Avanti in my garage is available for washing Dennis '71 Datsun 240Z '70 Porsche 914-6 '63 Studebaker Avanti R2