I really like the look and rep of early 70s 240Zs and 260Zs. I've started looking around to purchase one to use as a daily driver and spend some cash working it up in to a reliable and reasonably high performance transport.

I like the 240Zs but I think I need to hone my skills on something less "classic" because it is likely that I will make non-stock additions to it and drive it reasonably hard. I was thinking a 260Z would suit me better since there more of them round - I could work on my car rebuilding skills on something other than a classic car. I reckon the 260Z 2 seater would be good (I don't really like the extra length look of a 2+2).

Anyhoo, I would appreciate the advice of some of you guys in Oz about the availability of 2 seater 260Zs. I've heard they are rare - how rare? Should I just cut my losses and purchase a good 2+2 or what?

 

All mechanical parts are interchangeable between 2+2's and 2 seaters, so it probably would be worthwhile finding a 2 seater, as there are amny 260z's in wreckers etc. Believe me, it is alot easier finding parts for 260z's in wreckers than 240z. (so far i have never seen a 240z, but about six 260z's) Also if you get a 260z, get the early 240z carbs and fit them

Alan, Australia

 

Hey I have a 76 260z 2 seater 5spd, and it was resonable easy to find, just check every week the trading post, and possible ozdat.com they post some good Z's once every few often..

just make sure if u want to do it up that it has a resonable good body, as in very minimal rust, mechanicals are easy to get and fix but body is expensive and hard to fix.

I bought my car for 2grand and is rust free, with a bad engine, front end, and i've spent another 4 grand on it to get it reliable with still another 500 to get it perfect.

in my oppnion well worth the money, handling is great, i easily get it sideways and it pulls back with ease to control.. have fun,and take ur time to find the Z you wont,

insurance is pretty cheap also, i pay 303 a year 3rd party for 5grand under RACV,

i'm in vic and so prices may be diff in other states

<font color=blue>76 260z</font color=blue>
The NiteRider

 

Thanks for the replies Alan and Zpeed.

I'll take your advice and keep looking for a 2 seater 260. Unfortunately, it is a much smaller market out here in WA so I may be looking for a while.

I rang a bloke on the weekend to ask if his advertised 260 was a 2 seater. He complained that everyone wants the two seater (his was a 2+2)- must be a sellers market for 2 seaters! Hell, maybe I will freight one over here if I don't have any luck locally.

 

Something like 4 times as many 2+2's and 2 seaters were sold in Oz.

The 240Z is roughly twice the price as a 260Z.

Here in Melb, a 260Z with a good body, interior and mechanics will set you back about $5000 or so for a 5sp, or about $3000 or so for an auto.

Zpeed, do you have an L28 & did you tell the insurer about it?
I have an L28 EFI motor and insurance is a bitch, because its a non standard motor. Costs me $474 (just got the renwal). I am 19 & rating 5. Most quotes Ive got in the last few days are for similar amounts. Modified engines limits you to specialised modified car insurers.

Jeremy

 

maybe if you don't mind the 2+2 so much you could try barganing down the bloke with the 260 if he is having trouble selling the 2+2. In adelaide you can get a pretty nice 260 for about $2000-4000, where nice 240's are around $6000-10000(mine was 10000)

Alan, Australia

 

i got it under standerd.. which it is, cept for the 14 inch globes, but that doesn't matter anyway.

try just cars or shannons......

i''d say u could possible get one from melbourne, or just make a trip of it to come to melbourne, adelaide or sydney and look around for a Zed for a holiday and get it shipped then go home.. might be fun

<font color=blue>76 260z</font color=blue>
The NiteRider

 

On the modifications side of things - go the 240Z.
The 260Z had to comply with ADR27, which legally restricts you to doing pretty much _nothing_ to the engine . With the 240Z it was ADR26 - PCV only, so camshafts, carburetion, etc. are ok. As is turbocharing the 2.4L.... (I did & Transport SA said 'that's nice, how hard does it go?').

Ben
Adelaide,
South Australia

 

hey Ben, how did you tirbo the L24, how much did it cost etc. I want to either turbo my L28 or get a 1jz-GTE sooner or later (most probably later) but i cant decide. I think turboing the L28 will be cheaper, but 280hp bone stock is pretty tempting

Alan, Australia

 

Well gang, you'll have to excuse the length of this one.


First of all, the turbocharging project saw the car off the road for 6-months.

The second time 'round (on my MR30 Skyline) it took me around 2. This was because I installed the L28E into the Skyline with the bigger injecters & the Haltech ECU as a stock NA, ran it in & then put the turbo kit on (J-pipe, intercooler, air cleaner etc). In short I re-used many parts from the L24ET & that saved a heap of time.

All costs are approximate, as I did this 4-years ago...

Stock L24 rebuld (1st OS pistons) ~$1000AUD (assembly by me)
Performance workshop head modifications (mild exhaust porting) & piston fly cutting ~$1000AUD (inc. supply of big-valve E88 head - mine had the valves too far recessed.)
E6A ECU ~$2000AUD (wired by me)
Modifications to 3N71B tranmission ~$750AUD (inc purchase)
TO4 & external wastegate + manifold ~$350AUD
TO4 rebuild (the thrust bearing was in 4 pieces...) ~$700AUD (a new compressor was required)
AiResearch Intercooler ~$750AUD
Manifold mods/intercooler plumbing/SS exhaust ~$2500AUD
diff rebuild (it was getting old) ~$400AUD
New uni's in tailshaft & driveshafts ~$400AUD(?)
Oil cooler/thermostat ~$400AUD
Custom distributor/throttle cable linkages.~$250AUD
All the little parts that we spent ages pi**ing around with
~$1000AUD
Tuning ~$350AUD(?)

Bear in mind that some of the above items had to be done anyway (eg driveshaft uni's & the engine rebuild) so YMMV.
The car was stock, & had done plenty of miles, so it needed attention. In the end I wanted it reliable, so I spent the money.

The Skyline cost less than a third of the 240 to turbocharge (Smaller IC, smaller turbo, stock manifolds w/J-pipe etc.)

The 3.1L for the 240 will be a mega-buck engine (hang on, it already is) - $1500AUD for the exhaust manifold alone (see attachment), & we all know how expensive that Turbonetics 42mm wastegate is....

I wanted the challenge of extracting big power from the old motor, but for similar money I could have had big power from a new motor.

Over to you....



6366-manifold.jpg

 

PS
there's a photo of the L24ET on my 'rides' page.

 

I have bough a 260Z and have had no real problem finding parts for it, however I have had problems finding a replacement for my drivers side door and trunk. But I guess after I drop then new 350 in mine I will see where I want to go from there. But I love my 1974 260 Z

 

You have to remember though, that in Australia the 260's are a plenty...compared to the 240's anyway. We never got the 280's so our 260 went straight from 74 through till 78....

Nissan?!?! give me the datto anyday...

 

You're kidding? Nothing on my engine is covered in my insurance. When my truck got rear-ended last year, they wouldn't even think of paying to check out the drive train, which I had just re-done. They paid for the body damage, that's it. I figure if my front end got wiped out, they'd pay me some figure off a chart and that'd be it, regardless of my mods.

 

Havent been there since it changed hands, but the previous owner was a great panel beater and very knowedgable. The other place to check out is ZXtra's in Altona. Good prices and a decent range of stuff.