This car has truly rekindled my passion for cars

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/18/2019 at 23:57 • Filed to: Datsun 240Z

I haven’t felt this way about a car in a very long time . Maybe I just needed more vitamin Z in my life. I’m actually spending money on it and fixing up the mechanics and interior to make it a very reliable driver. I did the brake booster vacuum hoses tonight, door jamb kick plates, and I have both heater hoses yet to replace. Then I need to maybe do a couple of U joints and it’s game on.

DISCUSSION (23)

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:08

I’m still waiting for that moment, but I’m glad you found yours. Well deserved, my man.

glemon > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:10

I have always thought these were great looking cars, one of the first cars I noticed new and decided I wanted. I drove a couple really crappy ones (worn out steering and suspension) when they were used cars, sort of turned me off for a while. Now of course I want one again, and so does everybody else, and they are not cheap anymore.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing with it, fix, drive, and enjoy.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:11

This is good Oppo. Before you know it you’ll be posting about blue printed bottom ends, high compression pistons, lumpy cam profiles, port jobs and triple Web ers.

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:14

I’m pretty sure that was why it was handed on to you, at least partly.

You’ve received a rare blessing. You won’t take it for granted.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/19/2019 at 00:19

This is not going to become a race car. It is an earlier model tho with an E31 high compression head and a lumpier cam profile. I t revs to 7k with out a fuss. The I6 has 7 bearings on the crank so it comes very well balanced from the factory.

Agrajag > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:19

Good post. Good car.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:22

In that case, all it needs is the triple W ebers :) They really make a 240 sing.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > glemon
06/19/2019 at 00:23

They were reasonably priced up to about 15 years ago the. They started to increase in value a lot. Someone offered my dad $ 28k for this one, being all original and a 1970 I guess it’s much more desirable.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
06/19/2019 at 00:24

I think the car needs to have a manual transmission, be rear wheel drive and only have two seats. That would leave you with a few options. Believe me if I could fit in a Miata I’d have bought one 20 years ago.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/19/2019 at 00:27

There is probably a set of 35’s at my dads house, but once you add Webber’s then you want tubular headers, then you want an LSD, then you want adjusting coil overs, then you are welding angle iron onto your frame rails because the torque is pulling the car to pieces.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:37

I’ll skip two of those, but I know a 3-Series would be my answer.

Here’s to hoping I can make the dream happen soon.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/19/2019 at 00:43

Oh we can talk about those things, I would add rear disk kit, the drum delete makes the car so much better. I haven’t done a cam but my friend wants to put one in.

Kinja'd!!!

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:45

Such a good concept.

Step 1: Take a well known idiom (front engine, rear drive, I6 powered 2-seat fastback, like E-type, GT6, and somewhat the Mercedes SL-series, minus the fastback part.)

Step 2: Simplify, build well but not extravagantly, reliable, good looking, and real-world fun. Build it in a less expensive part of the world with a skilled workforce, for an affordable price.

(or Toyota and Yamaha, which skipped the affordable mass market bit with the 2000GT that Yamaha pitched to Nissan before Nissan decided to develop S30 Fairlady Z in-house.)

Step 3: Sell to regular people with real world budgets .

Step 4: ???

Step 5: Profit.

Too bad that Nissan isn’t in a position to do it again now. They could take a new, next generation idiom, like a PHEV sports car like i8, and do steps 2 and 3 again, and maybe step 5 could happen... especially if there were some other compelling high-value, good looking vehicles to buy when people come in to see the new interesting sports car.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 00:45

Don’t need coilovers , I did the Eibach lowering springs and Tokico shocks and it’s so much better as it is. I do want an LSD, the hairpins near me are in the damp redwood forests and always slick. I believe I have 40s. The car came with 45s and it was too much. Sounds like a damn warbird.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 07:26

There is a certain joy in finding your niche, t hat one car that makes everything right in your world.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
06/19/2019 at 09:20

I am planning on keeping it original. This car is 100% original to the wool felt under the floor mats and AM radio. It’s great to drive as-is and is worth more unmodified. There are a few things I will do that wouldn’t devalue that originality like the wheels/tires and high quality shocks and springs along with replacing every rotten rubber bushing in the suspension.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
06/19/2019 at 09:23

Your car is very nice and I love seeing photos of it. The LSD is a huge improve ment for spirited driving. It’s really nice not to burn the inside tire coming out of a tight corner. I’m surprised you don’t already have a cam given the webbers, that just goes with the terri tory.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
06/19/2019 at 09:32

You can’t imagine my disappointment when I drove the 350z. I thought they were going to make a car like the 240 but no, they made a pig with airbags. The closest to the 240z in a modern car is probably the miata or BMW Z3 with an Inline 6. The RX8 is close but no torque really hampers it. After trying to find something similar I came to the conclusion that an RX8 with the Mazda 2.3L turbo from a mazdaspeed3/6 would be about as close as you could get. The BRZ, is another but once again no torque. The I-6 is just a fantastic engine with a car that weighs as much as a geo metro.

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 12:45

i am so jealous

StudyStudyStudy > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 21:39

S witching to drums is more of a safety/convenience set then an upgrade, it shouldn’t hurt the value unless someone is more or less insane . Those wheel cylinders that actuate the rear drums have one massive o-ring. I’ve seen one blow out, you just loose brakes. Luckily in factory form they have a shunt so it will disable the circuit, but still silly to keep it for “orginiality. ”

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > StudyStudyStudy
06/19/2019 at 22:01

My kit is all bolt on, you can change back to drums if you want.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/19/2019 at 22:07

Well I have three older cars so I got to a good point with the Z and it’s great to drive, but those other things have to wait. I don’t think anything bolt on would hurt anything since you can keep the parts and it could be changed back. Nothing on my car can’t be changed back to stock, it is a very original 71' with matching motor so I’m not messing with anything other than bolt on. The disks are so much safer, you wouldn’t believe the difference on mountain roads. I got my rear disk kit from Silver Mine Motors, I might go for the best front brakes that will fit later on as well. The Techno Toy Tuning strut brakes bolt on and really get things tighter and responsive, they have a few LSD mount options I think so I will probably use their stuff someday, they make really nice stuff.

StudyStudyStudy > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
06/21/2019 at 01:53

I know, I have discs as well, I’m in your corner. I sold my drum brakes the moment I switched to discs.