Hello.

I'm new to this list but not to Zs. However, I've been gone for quite a long time (family stuff). Now I'm back and my son and I are getting my old 240Z autocrosser out of mothballs to go have some fun. I bought this '73 in '79. It has about 65,000 miles on it and is very solid. I also have an early 260Z 2+2 that I picked up in the early 90s that's now undergoing restoration.

I last raced the 240 in '91 and did quite well with it. The engine internals are basically stock but that's about all that is. It's got Webers, header, 3" exhaust, electronic ignition, 5-speed and Centerforce II. The body is a JCR California Z kit with modifications to the nose and hood. The suspension has performance springs, struts, and bushings all around. For street use it runs on 245/45/16 tires front and rear mounted on custom made Compomotive 3-piece wheels (8.5" front 9.5" rear). For racing I currently have an old set of Goodyear race tires mounted on custom steel wheels.

So.....

Here's the problem:

When I parked this car about 10 years ago, it had suddenly developed a wierd rear-end wiggle that just about took me off the road. It felt like a badly busted rear tire. At that time we jacked up the rear of the car and detected what appeared to be a busted cord on the right rear. Fast forward 10 years and we're looking at these old street tires and can't find anything wrong with them. No signs of bulge, put them on the car and spun them and they look fine. Wheels look straight, everything is good. Took her out for a test drive and WATCH OUT! The back end is twiching all over the place on a smooth road even at low speeds. Yikes!

I brought the car back in and got it back up in the air. Poked and prodded around the rear suspension and couldn't find anything amiss. Decided to put the race tires on to see if I could elliminate the problem. Nope! Even more pronounced with the race rubber. Spooky.

So, anybody got any ideas? I'm really scratching my head on this one. I guess I'll get it back up in the air tonight and start poking and prodding again. It sure feels like something is broke in the right rear.

By the way, anybody got a set of R160 4-bolt stub axles. I need them for a Subaru LSD I just picked up on eBay.

Thanks.

Jeff Warner
Galloway, OH
'73 California Z
'74 260Z 2+2

 

Maybe you're not poking hard enough. Something is broken on at least one of your lower control arms. I noticed this on one of my parts cars, the lower bushings were literally gone.

 

Agreed. Unless there are cracks in the body it almost has to be either the control arms or the bearings. Guess I'll grab a bigger pry bar.

Thanks.