Z Club of NZ Forum

Nice car good find .

Okay, I have been replacing a few parts lately namely:
-Replaced all rubber fuel lines
-Replaced radiator hoses
-Removed rear wheel cylinders and front calipers and taken for recon
-Removed voltage regulator for recon
-Removed alternator for recon
-Replaced thermostat

now I need some advice please:

The shock absorbers aren't going to pass a re-vin as a couple are leaking so I'm looking to replace the lot.
Has anyone found a set of springs and shocks that ride nicely? Not super concerned with price but less than a grand would be ideal.

Also, how difficult are the wheel bearings to get out and replace? I can't hear or feel any rumblings in them but would like to replace them all the same.

Is it worth upgrading the alternator to 60amp or not so much?

Is there anywhere in nz that sells carb refurb kits for SU's?

Thanks in advance,

Reubin

I got some adjustable konis from Stocks a while back and are still running factory springs.....can't get a lowered car into my garage.....happy with them.

The US crowd seem to like the tokico shock and eibach spring combo. Google is your friend for those.

I got rebuilt carbs from ztherapy in the states - happy with those too.

If you have all the brakes apart and recond use silicon fluid when you get them back. Front wheel bearings are easy but back ones can be a nightmare so I am told (never tried) Don't fix them if they are not broken.
I have konis and lowered progressive king springs Great for the road and have no problems yet
There is a crowd in Wiri Auckland that specialise in all types of carb refurbishing. They do a great resto job and are very competitively price from what I hear.
A friend has used them for a Holley carb resto and he said it looked and worked like new and it was around $300

With significant help from a good friend the gearbox has been removed as well as the driveshaft and half shafts.

The universals in the drive and half shafts are super notchy and have been sent away for refurb. I figure I don't want to be going in there again for as long as possible.

Now the clutch assembly... not so pretty as you can see from photos!

The main frost plug has been weeping coolant into the clutch assembly so the flywheel, clutch plate and pressure plate have been sitting in about 25mm of water for the last god knows how long. Needless to say the clutch and pressure plates were fused together hence the lack of gear-change-ness. I had anticipated this so already have a replacement clutch kit ready to go. I also got the flywheel skimmed by the good fellas at Waikato Clutch and Brake who previously serviced all the brakes.

Now to take the scrubbing brush and degreaser to the rear of the block to make it nicer and put everything back together after I have the shafts back. I also got a new rear crank seal for safety.

Things are coming together slowly, just ticking things off the list.




I would advise everyone to check their frost plugs if they have never been replaced


I was pretty hesitant to take the console to bits but worth it to solve the problem.

Righto,

A few weekends have passed since the last update so here goes:

-Put in a new clutch kit, crank seal and frost plug.

-New inner and outer shifter boot.

-Replaced a whole bunch of heater hoses.

-Reconditioned and balanced the driveshaft and replaced all universal joints.

-Got the brakes back in and working nicely.

-Sent her to my local tune shop to get the carbies looked over as only three cylinders were firing and only just at that. Came back running super smooth.

-Flushed the radiator out and got a nice tray of rusty gunk out.

Now shocks, new exhaust and muffler. Then off to the VIN fairy for more things to fix!






A little tinkle haha couldn't get the tray in the right place for flush but I really like this photo anyway.




Looking good in the fresh air.

Great to see it come to life - awesome car and looking great. Colour combo is fab!

Well done, looks fab!

Many many things done to the old girl in the last few months.

Some bits and pieces I can remember off the top of my head:
-Full poly bushing kit installed
-New Tokico Illumina shocks with Eibach springs
-Konig rewinds from SR240z/Adam
-Powdercoated all the suspension arms and brackets while they were out
-replaced front wheel bearings
-heaps of other bits and pieces.
-decided not to upgrade the front calipers until I get a re-reg which should be early Jan.
-Seats re-covered with MSA covers, really happy with the colour match



Not the same lighting, but you get the idea.





Coming along nicely

She's looking good, what else have you got planned for her?

Looking good! All the suspension bits will surely make a difference on the road

Looking really good. Great to see these cars getting well looked after.

I took the lady in white to see the VIN man today.





Turns out she passed "with flying colours" when I was expecting to be pulled up on a small crack in the windscreen corner.

After the vin man, I went to see Vinz to sort out rego and plates.

We're all legal and good to go cruising!

According to Carjam, this is the first time it has had registration since August of 1990!

Next on the list is THIS

Well done bringing the old girl back onto the road after 25 years, great another is saved and motoring. Look forward to seeing your Zed at an event.

As a couple of you might know I took my Z to the Kumeu Classic Car and Hotrod show yesterday.

Someone even put a Z club card in my window! I like your enthusiasm whoever that was.

This was the first proper road test and she passed easily. Temp and oil pressure were constant and she purrs at 60-65mph on the new expressways.
I used half a tank going from Hamilton and back which seems good to me. Any ideas on what fuel range should be?

I had all types coming up and wanting to yarn. The 240's definitely appeal to a wide audience, I had to run away or I'd never get to see the show!

Here are some pics:






She's looking preeeety tiny next to the Buick!