JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME: SCARAB STYLE
Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
J A N -A P R 2 0 2 0 • I S S U E 6.1/6.4
ZCARCLUBMAG.COM
Contents
zcarclubmag.com • jan-apr 2020 • issue 6.1/6.4
Features
ten
10 One Hot Ride Ride along with Allen Young and his daughter Aerin as they make the long trip home from ZCON 2019 (Branson, MO) to San Francisco, CA in his non-AC 1975 Scarab 280Z. A roadtrip they will never forget.
Departments 4 From the Editor 5 Moving Parts 6 Behind the Wheel 1977 280Z Eddie Carroll
18 Out of the Garage 22 Around the Curve six
publisher: Nelson Ackerman, nlackerman1@aol.com editor-in-chief: Art Singer, arts.zccm@gmail.com managing editor: John Moran, moranjf@hotmail.com advertising: call 505.835.9170 for a media kit
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FROM THE EDITOR • When are we ever going to catch a break? By: Art Singer, EIC (ZCCM), Albuquerque Z Car Club The hits just keep on coming. Just when I think that things are starting to go in the right direction, BAM! the corona virus hits us like a ton of bricks. With most of the country under “stay at home” orders and so many businesses closed down, it doesn’t leave us much to do with all the spare time thrust upon us. It also doesn’t help matters when we’re told that we can’t gather in groups of 10 or more. Kind of puts a damper on car shows and club meetings. This will be the first time in many years that Z car enthusiasts won’t be able to attend a local or national event due to the health emergencies issued by governors all over the country, at least for the first six months of 2020. Although I did make the trip out to SoCal for the Annual Friends of Mr. K Fun Run. Look for the write-up in the next issue of ZCCM. I’m guessing yards are looking a lot better now and our Z’s are getting the much-needed attention they deserve after years of neglect due to work and everyday life issues. I myself have been working on a new project, a 1985 300ZX. It’s a red on red coupe that had a blown motor. So bad was the engine failure that the crank blew out both sides of the block. With only 80,000 original miles, the interior and exterior are in excellent condition for never having been restored. An elderly couple owned it until they gave it to their grandson. I don’t think he owned it a year, but it might as well have been 10 years. He did more damage to the body (and of course the blown engine) then his
grandparents did in the 34 years of ownership. Fortunately, the body damage (nothing major) is mostly on the lower front fenders and valance. I have since replaced the motor with a rebuilt one. It’s running good now, but still needs some fine-tuning. I know nothing about the Z31, but have learned a lot in the past two months. I look forward to my first cross-country drive. Not sure if it will be on the west coast or somewhere back east. I would like to think there would be an event before the National Convention in Nashville this September. Branson Z Fest has already been cancelled, but I hear a few diehards still might make the trip to do some social distancing. For the uninformed, that means doing a lot of drinking. In this issue, to help lighten things up I decided to run an old article from Sport Z Magazine’s Spring 2003 issue on restoration no-no’s when restoring your Z. Going back 17 years will probably make this the first time many of you will have read it or remember it for that matter. Written by Classiczcars.com’s Mike Gholson with help from a poll he ran on his site. It includes the beer and Z car maintenance guide to oil changes. And yes, that’s me in the opening title. I hope everyone is staying safe with all of the virus crap going on. I personally have not had anyone in my family or friends close to me get the virus. I sometimes wonder if it even exists. Again, stay safe and enjoy ZCCM.
www.baddogparts.com Bad Dog Parts specializes in the sale of used, new, and custom designed parts for owners of 1st generation Z cars (1970-78). We do on occasion carry parts for later model Zs. And for those looking for something a little different, that adds strength, or ease of operation to your Z car, we have a line of custom made parts which are available: • • • • •
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Email: john@baddogparts.com 4
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MOVING PARTS With a name derived from Nissan Motorsport, NISMO is the embodiment of ultimate Nissan performance. NISMO parts and accessories are inspired by the most unforgiving proving ground–the race track–and tested at the highest levels to deliver the finest in factory-tuned performance for Nissan street cars. NISMO also offers a complete line of parts for Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles, including the almost mythical Skyline GT-R.
Nissan 370Z Cat-Back Exhaust T304 polished stainless steel construction, increased performance, improved sound over stock, direct bolt-on for easy installation, Street legal*. Application: 2009-2020 Nissan 370Z. Part#: B0100-370CB. MSRP: $1,373. Details: Parts.NissanUSA.com.
Nissan NISMO Clubsport Wheels 1-piece lightweight cast wheel, gloss black finish, includes NISMO branded center cap and valve stem. Sizes: 18” and 19” with various widths and offsets. Applications: 240SX, R32 Skyline, 350Z, 370Z and others. Part#: See Dealer for details. MSRP: $473-$582 each. Details: Parts.NissanUSA.com.
*The installation of NISMO or INFINITI Performance parts on a vehicle intended for use on public streets or highways may violate laws and regulations relating to motor vehicle safety standards or emission regulations.
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BEHIND THE WHEEL Eddie Carroll – New Bern, NC 1977 280Z Growing up in the ‘90s, I feel I was
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to the Z-car platforms and held my attention for
present for the rise of modified import cars in the
years until I attended my first Z Nationals show
US. Publications such as Super Street and Sport
in Atlanta. Among all the Z cars in attendance,
Compact Car surely added fuel to that fire, so
as nice as they were, the S30 seemed to be the
when I was finally able to purchase my first car
focal point of the show.
at 16 years old, I fell into an ’86 Honda Civic.
Where I reside in eastern North Carolina,
Afterward came a ’91 Honda Civic and that’s
the S30 is somewhat of a unicorn; to date, I’ve
when the JDM bug really bit me…hard. Sourcing
seen maybe a dozen in passing. After returning
JDM parts became an obsession that still lingers
from Z Nationals I would look at my car in the
with me to this day.
garage and think to myself “I really want a new
Fast forward through my 20s and I went
car to modify, but what?” I did my due diligence
through a B16 swapped CR-X, a 240SX, and
on platforms that interested me and what was
finally a 350Z. The Z33 really opened my eyes
required to modify them to my liking and so
started the search. As luck would have it, two Datsun 280Zs popped up on Craigslist an hour away from me for $1,000, so I jumped on them immediately. While this was my introduction to the S30 chassis, it was bittersweet as I learned very quickly one major downfall to these cars‌rust. Having bought two cars, I stripped all the parts I could from the one in worse shape and paid attention to building one solid car. Long story short, it was too much for me to take on. My search continued for a Z with no structural issues. After months of searching, I found a 1977 Datsun 280Z with low mileage, no rust, and some modifications already done that I had intended on performing anyway‌perfect. Combined with the knowledge obtained from the previous two S30s and general mechanics, I have learned a lot in regards to maintaining and modifying a classic car. I would classify my
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BEHIND THE WHEEL 1977 280Z - continued car as a “retro-mod” with updated parts while keeping the classic patina intact. Since in my possession, I have exchanged every exterior light bulb with LED bulbs, added an early Z model MSA front air dam with appropriate turn signals, JDM Bluebird OEM fender mirrors, vented inspection lids, Z Story headers and full exhaust, ZCCJDM front and rear tow hooks, 240Z style fiberglass bumpers, AEM Air/Fuel gauge, reupholstered Recaro seats, front and rear strut bars, Nardi steering wheel, Work Equip 03 wheels, StopTech rotors, powder coated and signed valve cover from Eric and Josh at JDM Legends as well as plenty of other restoring parts to keep the car looking as up to date as possible. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy all the attention this car receives. Young and old alike, everyone has something to say about a Datsun Z; from when someone used to own one in the past or its more current mainstream pop-
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ularity. My 350Z was nothing to shake a stick at, but it was a nice car and even made it into Super Street’s “Reader’s Rides.” However, it is simply overshadowed by the Datsun in terms of getting noticed, which is something to say considering domestic cars are admired by the majority where I live. Currently, the Z sits in my garage most days due to family and work commitments and I still have a list of modifications to satisfy; however, the few times I get a chance to drive it always puts a smile on my face and reminds me why it will continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
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ONE Story by Allen Young Photos by Allen and Aerin Young
“Some said driving cross country in July was...crazy. Everyone else said driving in a 44-year-old car without
RIDE Our road trip home from ZCON 2019 This is my story of the journey home from ZCON 2019 in Branson, Missouri. It isn’t a traditional travelog but just a collection of thoughts and experiences that stood out. Our car (or as we affectionately called it “our toaster oven”) is a 1975 Datsun 280z Scarab. I am the second owner and I self-converted the car from the Scarab kit in 1982. I consider it a true Scarab because it’s been a Scarab longer than it was a 280z. One missing option is air conditioning. You see, back when I was looking for a Z to convert, I was
air conditioning was…insane!”
young (and dumb) and I thought “I’d rather have more power, what do I need AC for?” Well, those thoughts came full circle to bite me in the butt as we were about to drive a non-AC car all the way home from Branson, MO to San Francisco, CA during the hottest July in recent memory. When I asked Aerin, my daughter, if she would like to attend ZCON with me, without hesitation she said yes. And even after I told her about the little detail of no AC and heat like she's never experienced before, she still said yes. What a trooper! Spending that much time together, creating so many memories, and meeting so many nice people made it the trip of a lifetime for both of us (maybe my lifetime at least...). What started off as just a road trip became a test of strength and endurance.
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Day one: The Adventure Begins
under/overpasses. This meant cars would have to wait and wait for a break
Sunday 7/21 • Branson, MO to Junction City, KS 331 miles • Temp: 82º
in the traffic, and then risk their lives to get across. At one such crossing, I
M
was astounded to see a family in a horse-drawn wagon waiting on the
y daughter and I woke up early Sunday morning, bright-eyed and
median to cross the highway. Imagine yourself in their place, trying to get
bushy-tailed, to start our road trip home to San Francisco. But first,
across a 4-lane Highway with cross-traffic going 70mph. I wouldn’t want to
we stopped by the Dollar General store to buy ice for the cooler and bottled
do it, and my car has 350 ponies. Theirs had 1. I wished them good luck
water. The smallest pack of water was 24 bottles. With the Z already packed
as they rapidly disappeared from view, still waiting to cross.
solid, we put as many as we could in the “air conditioning” ice cooler and
We stopped in Kansas City, MO to stretch our legs, get our bearings,
scattered the rest behind the seats and luggage. (You can sort of see the
and check the car. Still hot outside and hotter still inside the car. At least 10
cooler behind us in the photo below). I checked fluids and also the gauges:
- 15 degrees hotter. I have this little thermometer that I stuck into the center
oil pressure around 40psi, alternator positive, H20 temp around 190º.
air vent. Don’t know how accurate it was as it consistently pointed north of
Everything looked good.
105º. To combat the heat, I had purchased a cooler equipped with a fan
A mile or two from the Hilton, we saw a Chick-Fil-A. Since neither of us
and vents in the hopes of it providing some cool air in the car. We rolled the
had tried their chicken, we excitedly pulled into the parking lot. We parked
windows up and waited anxiously for the glorious cool air to come. But none
and got out. Walking towards the doors, it seemed kind of dark inside. As
arrived. Our “poor man’s air conditioning” was a complete bust. After what
we tried the doors, they were locked. We didn’t know they were closed on
felt like ages (3 minutes, tops!) we couldn’t stand it any longer, so we went
Sundays! No wonder parking was not a problem. At least our embarrass-
back to the “280z air conditioning” (roll 2 windows down and go 80 miles
ment was kept down to just the guy who was washing some floor mats. Oh
per hour).
well, another time maybe.
I think the radiant heat from the roof and windows overwhelmed the
Traveling up past Springfield on our way to Kansas City, there were
cooler. Oh, well, maybe it’ll keep the bottles of water cool for a while. We
frequent Highway crossings. None of them were controlled or had
left Kansas City on I-70 West and crossed into Kansas. We saw cornfields
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Total Days: 5 • Total miles driven: 2625 • Average outside temp: 90º • Air conditioning: 0 States crossed: 7 (Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California) Gas stops: 18 • Total gas: $580 • Average mpg: 15.6 • Average highway speed: 72 mph Mechanical problems: 1 • Repeatability: 0 •Memories: forever
for hundreds of miles. When we passed Topeka, it was still 84º. We encountered heavy rain near Lawrence, KS. My wipers had a tough time keeping up. I did not remember how slow those wipers were. How we all managed to see in any type of moisture back then is beyond me. It would
Day two: Corn, Corn, Corn Monday 7/22 • Junction City, KS to Limon, CO 387 miles • Temp: 82º
W
e left Junction City around 7 am on a bright and sunny morning. It was not too warm yet and the car was running great. Cornfields to
the right, cornfields to the left. Corn, corn, corn seemingly everywhere… (Maybe they weren’t all cornfields, but to this “City Boy” that’s what they looked like to me). Found an F14 jet in Eisenhower Park, Wakeeney, KS, temp 82º. Not sure why this was on display, but it was cool just the same. I love jets. In fact, Aerin’s name is a nod to the word aeronautics.
push the water one way and then pause a little too long, like it was trying to make a decision, then suddenly, having made up its mind, it reversed direction and pushed a little more rain off the other way. Thankfully, the rain did not last very long and I could stop worrying if the wipers were going to keep moving. I did not want to resort to the string trick. You know, the one where you tie a string to one wiper, run it THROUGH your side windows, and tie it to the other wiper. Then you pull the string back and forth, back and forth! We stopped for the night in Junction City, Kansas at the Great Western
Aerin could not help herself and had to take another selfie. We were traveling down the highway at about 72mph. If you look closely, we got
Inn. Still 81º at 6 pm. I mentioned the hot weather to the manager. He said
photobombed by the couple in the car next to us. I’m not sure who was
we were lucky. The day before, it was 105º!!! While unpacking the Z for
driving at that moment because all FOUR of us are looking at the camera!
the night, we met another couple who were traveling back home to
We passed a storage silo, maybe grain or corn? It was nice to see the father and child graphic decorating the tank. I wonder if it meant Limon is a family-friendly place to live. The people we met there were all very nice.
Tennessee from San Francisco. They came over to see the Z and were surprised by the V8. They then told us of the Z they used to have and the great memories it gave them. It seems like many people have fond memories of the Z that they, a friend, or parent had. You all probably have had this happen to you. 12
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ONE HOT RIDE Storage silo, maybe grain or corn? It was nice to see the father and child
main Interstate just in case we broke down completely. (Note to self: get TWO more fan belts)
graphic decorating the tank. I wonder if
We got within 5 miles of Strasburg when the fan belt completely broke
it meant Limon is a family friendly place
and flew off with a metallic bang. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw
to live. The people we met there were all
it lying across the road. I stopped as soon as possible and went back to get
very nice.
it. I found it in a shape that was not useful to me anymore. What shape you
Safari Motel, Limon, Colorado. Parked in front of our room. Yay! Anyone
ask? Hmm, let’s just say a circle is not supposed to have ends on it. This one
around 60 years old should recognize this keychain. A nostalgic diamond shape, at motels everywhere. These are rapidly disappearing due to the rising convenience and security of
had two. We drove the final 5 miles without the alternator or water pump running, just the electric fan. H20 temp gauge hit max. I thought we were going to
keyless door entry systems. I should
explode. I sped up to 55mph, put it in neutral, turned off the engine and
have kept it. No! No more col-
coasted for as long as possible, restarted the engine then sped up again and
lectibles, just going to be thrown out
coasted. Lather, rinse, repeat... all 5 miles. By the time we reached the
anyway when I’m dead. The picture
outskirts of the town, which seemed like an eternity, I worried about turning
of it will have to do.
the engine off as each restart sounded weaker and weaker.
Day three: The Breakdown
relief to shut the car down. The guys inside were really helpful and nice.
Tuesday 7/23 • Limon, CO to Rawlins, WY 308 miles • Temp: 91º
They found a smaller belt which actually fit better, giving me a little more
We coasted the last block into Napa Auto parts parking lot. What a
G
adjustment range. I took out my socket set and began loosening the alter-
ot a late start. Probably due to the heat and driving the previous two
nator to get the new fan belt on. I suppose I should call it the alternator belt,
days. While traveling down the highway, I noticed the sun was
as I don’t have a belt-driven fan.
beating on Aerin’s side of the car. I got off the highway and pulled into a
Hmm…note to self.
Phillips 66 station in Deer Trail, CO. I wanted to get a sunshade from the
I also added 1.5 gallons of
back for Aerin. As I walked towards the rear hatch, I noticed a long trail of
Antifreeze. As for the “alternator”
liquid following my car into the gas station – not good.
belt, I bought THREE more! I learned
I opened the hood and looked at the overflow reservoir, which was lit-
my lesson that day. Even though the
erally doing its namesake…a boiling cauldron of fluid, spewing and spitting
belt was only a year old and had,
out of the drain hose onto the ground. I’ve never seen anything like that. I
maybe 200 miles on it, I should
went inside to ask if they had any fan belts (note to self: get an extra fan
have had a spare. Lesson learned.
belt). He said, and I quote, “We haven’t fixed cars in 30 years.” I was
The guys from Napa all came out to
momentarily stunned as there was a two-bay repair garage right behind
see what I was doing…well…really,
him. After collecting my tongue, I asked him where the nearest place I could
they came out to see a V8 in a
get another fan belt was and he said, “over in the next town, about 18 miles
Datsun. After some picture taking,
away.”
we said thank you and goodbye.
I did find the fan belt, still with the car, sitting on the bottom radiator
Time lost, about 3 hours.
support ledge (thank you Scarab for that design). It looked a little melted
Back on the Interstate, the car
here and there with a two-inch long chunk of rubber missing, but according
was running around 200º - 210º,
to my kid’s geometry lesson, it was still considered a circle. I tried not to
even with the high heat. We
panic as I dug through my emergency tool bag and found the duct tape and
stopped for lunch in Denver at a
gaffers tape. I used both tapes to wrap the damaged fan belt as smoothly
gourmet sandwich shop and cooled down. I stopped there because there
as I could and reinstalled it. I then began my best impression of “Driving
was a parking spot right in front of the glass windows, where I could watch
Miss Daisy” to the next town. My mind kept repeating, “How far is 18 miles?
the car and all our belongings. Also, I raised the hood to let the engine cool
The Napa auto store was 18 looong MILES away.'' It could have been on
as much as possible. Every so often someone would do a double-take and
the moon at that moment. It seemed impossible. But, I didn’t want to worry
back up, gesturing to their friends to stop and have a look. Some looked like
Aerin, so as calmly as I could, I told her of my plans to get this car fixed.
they knew what they were seeing, while others looked perplexed. But most
Driving around 10 miles per hour, I took the old highway which parallels the
left with a smile, perhaps remembering a Z they once had.
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Leaving Colorado, we stopped in Rawlins, Wyoming for the night. Aerin and I were hungry and we turned to Yelp for suggestions. We found a fantastic steak dinner at Michael’s Big City Steak House. The walls were covered with all sorts of mementos… sponsored little league trophies, civic awards, Americana souvenirs, and of course, photos of famous and not so famous people. The meal came with salsa and chips, a large dinner salad, and the main entree which was way too much food for one person. Besides the steak, there was a GIGANTIC sweet potato with marshmallows and a cinnamon glaze. There was something else we didn’t recognize (see photo). If anyone knows what that folded, fried thing with stringy cheese on top is, please let us know.
Day four: Crossing Two States
like a long way, but to see the salt laid out in front of you, pool table flat,
Wednesday 7/24 • Rawlins, WY to Wendover, UT 406 miles • Temp: 97º
makes it seem to go on forever...
G
ot up early to pack the car, Tetris style, and checked the oil and
Day five: The Big Push
coolant levels. Oil was 2 quarts low and radiator was about 4 inches
Thursday 7/25 • Wendover, UT to San Francisco, CA 616 miles • Temp: 98º
low. Filled the oil and put more antifreeze in. I repeatedly squeezed the upper, lower, and heater hoses to get as much air out of the system as I
could. I previously installed a Prestone backflush tee into one of the heater
W
e got up early to leave Wendover and maybe reach Reno, NV by dinner time. We got some unexpected help by the time zone which
hoses which allowed me to burp the system as much as possible. H2O temp
was only 3 blocks away from our motel. Hurray! We felt just like Back to the
ran about 190º - 210º the rest of the way home, despite the 80-90º heat-
Future, gaining an hour in 3 blocks! So let’s see how far we can get today.
wave we were stuck in all the way across the United States. The speed limit for most of the trip was 80mph. My car’s gearing made that speed uncomfortable for any sustained driving. The engine would howl, the doors would buzz, and the tach would be pointing in a direction I hadn’t seen before. I backed it down to 72mph and just let all the other cars fly by. Shifting through the gears to highway speeds always sounds like I need to upshift one more gear past 4th. I really can’t imagine getting up to 140mph in 4th gear. Sounds impossible. As the days went on, the car got harder to start at each refueling. I think it was the combination of hot temps and bad timing of my right foot. It would misfire and sound flooded so ultimately I would just press the gas pedal to the floor, crank the engine until it started and with a tremendous roar, scared all the little old ladies and children within earshot. We made it to Salt Lake City and had lunch at a Chick-Fil-A. Finally, we got to try their chicken sandwiches. They were tasty and moist. Pretty good actually. I can see why people rave about them. After lunch, we headed west out of Salt Lake City and passed the Bonneville Salt Flats. The salt flats are 12 miles long and 5 miles wide of, well…salt. It can be as thick as 5 feet near the middle and 1 inch at the sides. This is where a lot of land speed records are attempted at events such as Speedweek. 12 miles doesn’t sound 14
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At every gas stop, I checked the engine compartment and also let some of the heat out. Other customers would notice the car, then the engine and
ONE HOT RIDE would strike up a conversation with me. They would tell me of their own
hitchhikers.” At first, I couldn’t understand why this sign prohibited
Z-car story. I didn’t mind the attention the car brought as it fascinated me that
hitchhiking, but a smaller sign affixed below it explained it all… “State
they would want to talk about the Z. The only time I was hesitant to raise the
Prison next exit.” Glad I had a 2-seater car with two occupants and no room
hood was in the town we were planning to stay for the night. I did not want
for strangers.
to attract undue attention to the Z for fear of someone stealing it in the night.
One hour outside Reno, we stopped in Fernley for gas. As I got up, my
Because of that (mostly irrational) fear, we looked for motel rooms where we
legs felt weak and shaky. The heat was getting to me. I spent the next 30
could park right in front of the door. The conversation with the manag-
minutes sitting in the casino’s convenience store, cooling down and drinking
er/owner would go something like this: “Do you have any vacancies?” “Let
lots of iced water. Finally feeling better, we took off again, destination Reno.
me see.” I would then ask, “Any rooms on the ground floor?” They would
Temperature still a scorching 95º and well over 100º inside the car.
reply, “Uh, yes there is one.” I then would ask, “Can I park right in front of
Amazingly, when we got to Reno, I still felt good. Aerin had fallen asleep
it?” If the answer was still yes, we were “In like Flynn.” If the answer was
and I could not find a place to rest that was cool and shady. Still 95º out-
no, then the awkward part of the whole ordeal would ensue. I’d say, “Uh,
side at 5 pm, I made an executive decision and decided to keep driving
Thank you, I’ll let you know” as I slowly backed out of the lobby.
towards Squaw Valley, CA and maybe, just maybe, home. I surmised it
We did not have any overnight problems, which makes me feel like my “Big City” fears were totally unfounded in these little towns. But, comforted
would be cooler in Lake Tahoe, but I was sadly mistaken. Same thing. Hot, hot, and more hot. How can Lake Tahoe be hotter than Branson?
with the success of my highly “scientific” room selection method, I can
I stopped at the Donner Lake Vista Point for a quick breather and to show
always say the car was still there every morning BECAUSE of my paranoia!
Aerin what it looks like. It was a very peaceful setting, full of green trees, a
On the way to Reno, we saw ugly strip mines and lovely mesa shaped
nice lake, and beautiful mountains all around. Almost like paradise. But, if
mountains. Occasionally, I saw giant road signs that said: “Do not pick up
you’ve forgotten your 3rd-grade history lessons, this is where the Donner
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ONE HOT RIDE
Party got stuck during winter, freezing and out of food. They ate anything
addition of these two items will totally transform the driving experience of
they could. First, they ate the horses, then they ate the dogs, then anything
your car. You get constant feedback from the steering wheel and the seats.
with four legs… until... they were left with one menu item…the infamous,
The sensations you feel with your hands and the seat of your pants make you
“two-legged spéciale du jour.” You can guess what happened next. Aerin
feel like one with the car. This is what I enjoy most about driving this old,
and I, on the other hand, had the opposite problem. It was broiling hot, I
analog car. It does everything you want it to and at the same time, tells you
looked like a roasted pig, and we had plenty of food and water to outlast a
everything it’s doing. I love driving, and I especially love driving this Scarab.
summer heatwave. But I still wondered if Aerin thought of eating BBQ
This trip was a dream come true.
whenever she looked my way. Luckily I fed her already.
Both Aerin and I had a wonderful time in Branson with you all. We enjoyed
After passing Donner Summit, I knew I could keep driving until we got
meeting you, getting to know a little about each of you, and the friendships
home. Incredibly, Sacramento, CA was the hottest place of the whole trip, at
we made. We had an epic 2600 mile adventure, one requiring faith in a
98º. We didn’t get relief from the oppressive heat until after we passed
car I hand-built some 37 years earlier. The trip, without air conditioning,
Vallejo, which is about 35 miles East of San Francisco. I can’t begin to tell
periodically made us question our sanity. But, it also gave us a great lesson
you how wonderful 75º felt. Almost roll your windows up weather. Almost.
in life. Aerin didn’t complain once and now feels she can overcome any
And it got even COOLER once we hit San Francisco, a scorching 65º. Ahh,
hardship life throws her way.
what a relief… a temperature drop of 30º in 3 hours was sure awesome. Thank goodness for our natural air conditioner, San Francisco fog.
Final Thoughts
R
olling into the garage around 9 pm and stopping the motor for a final time, brought a mixture of emotions I was not prepared for. I was tired
but happy to be home, proud of my trusty steed to carry us there, relief that
there were no more mechanical problems to worry about, and strangely, sadness that the adventure was over. After 5 days of driving, the real world came flooding back like a tsunami. No more long-distance driving, unstructured days, stopping whenever we pleased, literally seeing the country mile by mile. I even sort of missed our constant traveling companion, the HEAT! The car performed better than I had hoped. It ran all day in 80º+ heat, always started, and stopped when asked. The Recaro seats were just as firm from the start of this journey until the end. In other words, they were very supportive and comfortable. The Momo steering wheel was a joy to hold. If you get the chance, install some nice seats and a leather steering wheel. Just the 16
Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
OUT OF THE GARAGE by Mike Gholson
14 Things to Avoid When Restoring Your Z Barring the lucky few, every experienced Z restorer says the same thing. “Whenever I think
start our projects with the intention of only fixing a few things, and end up totally restoring the entire car. And when this kind of thing happens, you end up looking back only to discover that perhaps you should have planned it a little better. As my father used to tell me, “There are two ways to learn: one is to listen, and the other is to find out.” I really had no idea what he was talking about at the time. But
back to the days when I first
maybe now I have “found out” enough on my own. With the help of my club members
started taking apart my Z, I wish
your Z. That way you can listen—or in this case read—instead of simply “finding out.”
I could have done a few things differently.” Well, Classic Z Car
(classicZcars.com and 240z.org), I’ve come up with 14 things to avoid when restoring Good luck, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
1. Avoid working on your car by yourself. This doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has to be with you every time you pull out the wrench. I am referring to discussing the particular area of the car you are currently
Club’s Mike Gholson polled the
working on with someone other than
members of his Internet Z club
this include using Internet websites
(www.classicZcars.com) for help. Here he shows you how to put the
18
F or the Z enthusiast, it happens more than one would like to admit. We
an imaginary friend. Good ideas for and
forums
(classicZcars.com,
z31.com, twinturbo.net, zcar.com, etc.), an e-mail mailing list (such as the popular one for the Internet Z
odds in your favor for doing a
Car Club at zhome.com), a local
restoration properly the first time
know who has worked on Zs in the
around.
keep your brain firing on all cylinders, and if you have any kind of question about your
Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
dealer, a local club, or someone you past. Chatting about a project will Z, you won’t be stuck groping for answers under a 2,300 lb car.
2. Avoid working without proper reference materials. An essential part of a restoration project is the ability to look up things—
tion project. If you are enthusiastic
torque settings, assembly diagrams, electrical diagrams, and various related
about rebuilding a car, that enthusiasm
information. It also helps to look up your own parts before you head down
could be deflated like a month-old
to the dealer. Nothing is worse than trying to remember what the part looks
pumpkin once you start digging into
like (unless you have it with
rusty areas. Then again, if you have
you) so the dealer can look it
access to a complete metal workshop
up on his microfiche. So, I
and welding tools, this kind of thing might turn you on. Point is, if you have
recommend buying your own
a few cars to choose from, pick the one with the least amount of rust.
copy of the dealer microfiche or
purchase
a
CD-ROM
version of the microfiche—it
5. Avoid working without the proper tools. It is a pain in the rear to find out that you don’t have a flare nut wrench when
will make your life much
you’re trying to loosen a brake line. Have a good selection of wrenches,
easier. Other essential items
sockets (6-point is best), screwdrivers, punches, and drifts, along with the
for a restoration are manuals.
special tools needed for doing valve adjustments—wedge for the cam chain,
If you’re smart, buy multiple
head bolt socket, etc.
manuals. Don’t rebuild your Z with only one manual; some may have
You also will need coil
incorrect specifications. Once I torqued a ball-joint bolt right off. It turned
spring
out, after consulting another manual, that my setting was 10 lbs too high!
and a few other spe-
3. Avoid mixing all of your parts.
work and suspension
Keep track of all your bolts, screws, nuts, and small parts. I highly
work. You don’t need
compressors
cial tools for brake
recommend buying a few of those hard plastic wall units (the ones with the
to spend thousands on
little, clear plastic drawers). Most of these units are cheap and under $20.
the best tools, but buy-
Write the name of your item on the front of the drawer so you can easily find
ing a good quality
it at a later date. At the very least, organize your smaller parts in Ziploc
tool the first time will save you many annoyances. Strolling down the automotive aisle at your local grocery is generally
a
no-no
unless you enjoy dealing with rounded-off bolts and the like.
6. Avoid getting in over your head. Taking a car completely apart is easy. Putting it all back together is the hard part. If possible, do it one section at a time: do the baggies. I guarantee there will come a time when you want to put the car
suspension, put it back
back together, and trying to search for these items after a long period of
on;
time—sometimes years—can be a hellish nightmare. Despite going into my
replace it, etc. Unless you
fifth year of restoration, I can still find all the parts I need.
are doing a complete
4. Avoid rusty cars.
do
the
engine,
chassis repaint, it’s much easier to remember where
Buy the best base vehicle you can. If you find a Z that has a few bubbles of
all the little bolts, nuts,
paint near the surface, scoot out of there like Ichabod Crane on OxyContin.
and clips go if you only
Bubbles are like the headless horseman; they could mean death to your Z.
do one corner at a time. It
Just be sure you know what you’re getting into when you buy your restora-
also will save you a lot of Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
19
OUT OF THE GARAGE space to work in your garage. It’s hard to believe how many pieces you can
leaving a wrench or socket on the radiator cross member and slamming the
have sitting around in your way once you have completely stripped a
hood shut. Mine is gone now, but it was one of the first dents on my car. This
chassis to the bone.
is a very typical Z car (err, owner) problem.
7. Avoid buying parts only when you need them.
10. Avoid hemorrhoids, take Polaroids.
Buy replacement parts in advance. Nothing is worse than to tear apart your
You’ll save plenty of grief if you take lots of pictures and keep them handy.
car and then—amidst the joy of re-assembling it—find out the parts you have
When you go to put the car back together, you’ll have a bevy of photos to
aren’t the right ones or aren’t in the box. Get them, check them ... then take
use as references. Digital cameras work best in my opinion, because you
the car apart. While I’m on the subject of parts, if you are rebuilding the
can take as many pictures as you need and sort them in folders on your com-
suspension, do everything at once that requires disassembling that portion
puter. And, don’t forget to use the macro mode on those close-up shots. But
of the car. For example, if you want to replace the suspension bushings,
if you don’t have a digital camera (or if you don’t even have a computer),
replace the springs, strut cartridges, ball joints, etc. at the same time. You
go get yourself a Polaroid-style camera for instant picture review.
can always change the sway bars at a later date without taking the suspension apart. There is no sense in taking the same pieces apart over and over.
8. Avoid the “gotta have it” syndrome. Don’t buy something for the car just because you read or heard from a
11. Avoid a too-small garage. Make sure your restoration facilities are at least double the space you think you’ll need. Also, make sure you have use of that space for twice as long as you plan on taking to restore the car. It’s frustrating trying to move a half-
couple of people that it was the greatest thing for a Z. Restore your car the
completed Z car project from
way you want to restore your
garage to garage. Since I first
car. You can always go back
started my project, I’ve lived in
and change something a year
a townhouse, rental house, and
later, because by next year
now my own house. The car
there may be something even
has been around the block a
better on the market. Just
few times and I’m sure I’ve lost
because it looks good on
plenty of parts along the way.
another car doesn’t mean it will
You’ll need the extra space for
suit yours. In other words, take
all the parts you’ll be removing
your time, and choose your
from the car. It’s also nice to
parts and upgrades wisely. You
walk around and inspect the Z
will certainly lose hair follicles
at a distance. You can’t do that
buying something you thought
when you’re crammed into a 9-
was cool,finding out it wasn’t what you expected, then trying, often in futility, to sell it to someone else after you have installed it then yanked it off
foot-wide garage!
in frustration.
12. Avoid working in the cold.
9. Avoid leaving any tool on the radiator.
option is to pump heat into the room with an up-to-date forced air furnace
Oh sure, that’s just common sense, you say. Well, when you’ve worked on
(FAF) that is safe to work around. Keep in mind that other types of heat can
the body for months and are only days away from a finished product, don’t
be dangerous and you should take precautions when using them. For
cry when you get the popular “wrench dent.” The wrench dent is caused by
If you live in cold climes, get yourself a heater for that garage. The best
instance, a propane heater will require ventilation. (I used propane heat a lot; no wonder I think can’t straight anymore.) An electric heater also is nice, but make sure you keep it far from any flammables—not an easy task in a garage.
20
Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
13. Avoid conflict with your girlfriend or wife. Sorry for the sexist remark I’m about to make, but let’s face it—women have an amazing knack for preventing men from finishing their project cars. To avoid this fate, make sure you’re not out working on the car too many late nights or burning away weekends in the garage instead of in the Galapagos (the vacation you’ll have to give her for putting up with
your multi-year restoration) . If so, she might not be around to take that famous first ride with you. Let’s just say that our women Z restorers are probably better at balancing a good restoration project with their personal life. Men aren’t too good at this. See #14.
14. Avoid working on your Z after drinking too many beers. This could adversely affect #13 and, worse still, your car. To wit, see the sidebar “Beer and Z Car Maintenance.”
Beer and Z Car Maintenance Oil Change for the Enlightened Z Car Enthusiast:
1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 2) Drink a cup of coffee. 3) 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle. Money spent: Oil Change $20.00, Coffee $ 1.00, Total $21.00.
Oil Change for the Overly Enlightened Z Car Enthusiast: 1) Go to auto parts store and write a check for $50.00 for oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree. 2) Discover that the used oil container is full. Instead of taking it back to O’Reilly to recycle, dump in hole in back yard. 3) Open a beer and drink it. 4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands. 5) Find jack stands under kid’s pedal car. 6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it. 7) Place drain pan under engine. 8) Look for 9/16 box end wrench. 9) Give up and use crescent wrench. 10) Unscrew drain plug. 11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: get hot oil on you in process. 12) Clean up mess. 13) Have another beer while watching oil drain. 14) Look for oil filter wrench. 15) Give up; poke oil filter with screwdriver and twist off. 16) Beer. 17) Buddy shows up; finish case of beer with him. Finish oil change tomorrow. 18) Next day, drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car. 19) Throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18. 20) Beer. No, drank it all yesterday. 21) Walk to 7-11; buy beer. 22) Install new oil filter, making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface. 23) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine. 24) Remember drain plug from step 11. 25) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan. 26) Discover that the used oil is buried in a hole in the back yard, along with drain plug. 27) Drink beer. 28) Uncover hole and sift for drain plug. 29) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. 30) Drink beer. 31) Slip with wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame. 32) Bang head on floorboards in reaction to step 31. 33) Begin cussing fit. 34) Throw wrench. 35) Cuss for 10 minutes more because wrench hit Miss December (’92) in the left boob. 36) Beer. 37) Clean up hands and forehead and bandage as required to stop blood flow. 38) Beer. 39) Beer. 40) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil. 41) Beer. 42) Lower car from jack stands. 43) Accidentally crush one of the jack stands. 44) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during step 23. 45) Beer. 46) Test drive car. 47) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence. 48) Car gets impounded. 49) Make bail. 50) Get car from impound yard. Money spent: Parts $50.00, DUI $2,500.00, Impound fee $75.00, Bail $1,500.00, Beer $25.00, Total— $4,150.00* *But hey, you know the job was done right! Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
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AROUND THE CURVE ZCCM is for car clubs and their members. We encourage you to join your local club or consider starting one of your own— it’s a great way to grow the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun community. If you already belong to a club and you don’t see it listed contact Art Singer at arts.zccm@gmail.com or 505-835-9170 for more information on how your club can become a partner.
• Partner Club Directory Arizona Desert Z Association Location: Phoenix, AZ Contact: George Geringer Email: dza@desertzassocation.com Website: desertzassociation.com California Group Z Sports Car Club Location: Southern California Contact: Ian Stewart - President Email: ian@groupz.com Website: groupz.com Z Club of San Diego Location: San Diego, CA Contact: Chuck Golden Email: chucksbarandgrill@cox.net Website: zcsd.org Z Owners of Northern California Location: Northern California Contact: Linda Williams - President Email: pres@zonc.org Phone: 408-761-1869 Website: zonc.org Colorado Z Car Club of Colorado Location: Denver & surrounding area Contact: Jason Spegal Email: jspegal@spegalnetworks.net Website: zccc.org Connecticut Connecticut Z Car Club Location: Connecticut & surrounding area Contact: Ross Williams Email: officers@ctzcc.com Website: ctzcc.com Illinois Windy City Z Club Location: Chicago Metro Area Contact: Ty Ozgen Email: tyozgen@gmail.com Phone: 630-910-3616 Website: windycityzclub.com
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Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
Indiana Indy Z Club Location: Indianapolis, IN Contact: Scott Caylor - President Email: IZCC@indyzcarclub.org Phone: 317-698-8144 Website: indyzcarclub.org Kentucky Bluegrass Z Car Club Location: Louisville, KY Contact: Bill Edens - President Email: bzcc@bellsouth.net Phone: 502-241-3812 Website: bluegrasszcarclub.com Missouri Ozarks Z Club Location: Springfield, MO Contacts: Josh Lyman - President Email: Ozarkszclubprez@gmail.com Phone: 417-597-0872 Facebook.com/groups/ozarkszclub New Hampshire Z Car Club of New England Location: New Hampshire Contact: John Jeffries - President Email: john@baddogparts.com Phone: 617-510-2694 Website: zccne.org New Mexico Albuquerque Z Car Club Location: Albuquerque Metro Area Contact: Nelson Ackerman Email: nlackerman1@aol.com Phone: 505-239-6833 Facebook: Albuquerque Z Car Club New York Z Association of New York Location: Upstate New York Contact: Mike Roth Email: rothm@srgarch.com Phone: 518-857-5026 Website: zanyz.com
North Carolina Triad Z Club Location: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point Contact: Matthew Ragan - President Email: president@triadzclub.com Phone: 336-399-0961 Website: triadzclub.com Triangle Z Club Location: Raleigh, NC Contact: Bud Hansen - President Email: budhansenus@hotmail.com Phone: 919-215-2698 Website: trianglezclub.com Ohio Cleveland Z Club Location: Northern Ohio Contact: Karen Karl - President Email: kmk@bricekarl.com Website: Clevelandzclub.com Z Car and Roadster Owners Club Location: Central Ohio Contact: Jessica Padavana Email: jessica.padavana@gmail.com Phone: 614-315-1955 Website: zroc.org Oklahoma Oklahoma Z car Club Location: Tulsa and Oklahoma City Contact: Pete Pitchford Email: petepitchford@gmail.com Phone: 405-612-1146 Website: okzcc.com Tennessee Middle Tennessee Z Club Location: Central Tennessee Contact: Bob McGehee Email: rmcgehee22@gmail.com or mtzclub@gmail.com Phone: 615-260-5669 Website: middletennesseezclub.com Smokey Mountain Z Car Club Location: Eastern Tennessee Contact: Tony Price Email: tonyprice1@yahoo.com Phone: 865-681-7986 Website: smokymountainzcarclub.com
Texas Cowtown Z Club Location: Ft Worth and Arlington Area Contact: Mike Brunner Email: mtbrunner14@hotmail.com Phone: 817-441-6471 Website: cowtownzclub.com Z Club of Texas Location: Dallas Metro Area Contact: “Mad” Mike Taylor Email: zmadmike@airmail.net Phone: 214-533-0922 Website: zcluboftexas.org Virginia Tidewater Z Car Club Location: Eastern Virginia Contact: Todd Wagner Email: zfixers@cox.net Phone: 757-851-8098 Website: tzccva.org Z Car Club of Northern Virginia Location: Tysons Corner Contact: Bernie Bilski Email: yugobernie@cox.net Website: zcarclubnova.org Washington Z Car Club of Washington Location: Washington State Contact: Marty Molloy Email: twin.turbos@yahoo.com Phone: 425-367-9065 Facebook: facebook.com/DatsunClub Web Based Z Car Clubs Classic Zcar Club Location: Internet Contact: Mike Gholson Website: classiczcars.com
SU’S RETURN OLD OR NEW SCHOOL, THE CHOICE IS YOURS
SU ‘roundtop’ carbs were first developed for Nissan in the 1960’s by SU Carrburetter Ltd. Due to stricter emission standards, the roundtops were replaced in 1973 by more emissions friendly Hitachi flat top carbs which in turn were replaced by fuel injection. SU Carburetter Ltd. decided to produce a limited supply of the origional ‘roundtops’. These are the exact same carbs from the 1970’s but with upgraded hoses and gaskets to be able to tolorate ethanol. SU Carburetter Ltd. also developed a more advanced set of SU’s for your Z car. The 2019 edition (ABF973) can be installed in about 2 hours and includes an integrated enrichment valve for easier cold starts, a dual pass through fuel feed system that helps balance fuel levels between carbs, an integrated float system that resists vapor lock and a dyno tested needle configuration that allows you to drive easily around town without sacrificing performance. Both versions are new in the box and require no core charges or exchanges. HIF44 velocity stacks for the 2019 Roundtop are a traditional race track option that looks great on the street. A mounting system has been developed to handle deep K&N filters. HIF44 - $100 a pair plus shipping
Classic Roundtops - $975 plus shipping
ABF973 - $1175 plus shipping
Turn key installation available at Choice Auto Repair, Raleigh NC 919-233-0033 For more info visit: roundtopfuelsystems.com
ZEDD FINDINGS Zedd Findings has been selling the Z & ZX floors, front frame rails along with the lower rear panel for over 25 years. We have recently added the inner rocker panels for the 1970 to 1978 Z cars, as well as much more to Z enthusiasts all over the world. “Small enough to listen - large enough to service” Replica Z & ZX Floor Systems, Front Frame Rails and Rear Lower Panel
240Z Floors
280Z Floors
Inner Rocker Panel-Inside Inner Rocker Panel-Outside
280ZX Floors
Lower Rear Panel
Front frame Rail-Inside
Front frame Rail-Outside
Zedd Findings
603 Compass Court, Kingston, Ontario K7M 8V9, Canada Telephone/Fax: 613-389-1397 • Cell: 613-539-7966 • Email: zeddfind@kos.net Domain: www.datsunzparts.com or www.datsunzparts.ca
Operator/Owner: Charles Osborne
Z CAR CLUB MAGAZINE
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