Spirt7's 260z

[Spirit7]

Hi all! I've been on here a few months, but figured I would start a thread in order to keep track of what I have done to this car.  A few months back, I picked up a 73 z and a 74 z for $500 (the guy was selling them as a set). As i'm just building this for a fun secondary vehicle, I decided to sell the 73 (little bit nicer shape) and put the money into the 74 (I sold the 73 for $1000, so I doubled my money).  I'm not really sure what direction I'm going to go in yet for this car, but for the time being I'm just going to get it running and road worthy.  The guy I bought it off of said it hadn't been started since the 90's.

 

 

 

Here is the 74 before I bought it

 

Pretty haggard shape, but it was essentially free.

Lots and lots of rust on this thing.  I'v just enrolled in a welding class as it's something I've always wanted to know how to do, and I figure I will be able to do some of the rust repairs myself.

I started out cleaning the gas tank, resealing it, cleaning all the fuel lines, changed the oil, replaced, waterpump, fuel pump, ditched the flat top carbs for a set of round tops i rebuilt, and did a little general clean up.

First time trying to start the car after carb rebuild.

[sharedmedia=videos:videos:216]

Can't seem to figure out how to embed a video, here is the youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVmGdix-QUA

 

Working on cleaning up the valve cover

 

Little red paint


Voilà! Instant improvement!


This is where I am now.  Waiting for my synchmaster to arrive in the mail so I can get the carbs tuned.  
 

So far this has been a lot of fun and quite the learning experience.  I've been playing around with 240SX's for the past 10 years, but this is way more rewarding! 

 

[Pharaohabq]

Nice job.  it sounds to me like your ignition timing may be a little advanced.  you can "eyeball" the airflow on your carbs with the flat of your hand and get them close enough for decent operation.   My 240z is in roughly the same shape...

 

Good deal on the welding classes. I did that, make sure you practice on THIN sheetmetal in the lab. particularly 2mm and 3mm sheet butt welds.  That will be the most important for doing body work.  If you're good at that and controlling the heat, then you'll do great.  Welding is a wonderful skill. Listen to your instructor and always weld in a ventilated area. The gases are really bad for you.