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#11
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
In article >,
"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote: > Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership history > of Datsun Z-cars too? <butting in> I'm sure you meant to type "affliction"... I joined the U-Joint Of The Month Club, too, when I bought a new '71 in pale yellow. Ripped off the smog pump and installed headers/duals, Gerhaty (sp?) carb and timing kit, home-brew cold-air induction, milled 0.060" off the head--would pull redline in 4th @ 140 mph. Konis, spoiler, sways, yadda yadda. Great fun. Unlike the 260/280, the early 240s with SU carbs were actually quick. The Z started going downhill in '72, when Datsun raised the suspension a couple of inches to meet new bumper height regs. > I really don't think the Z was ever as much fun as I've had with > these lil roadsters. No way, 'cause it had a roof. The cheap strut suspension was also not nearly as forgiving once you dialed out the understeer--never, Never, NEVER lift in a hard corner! Oh, and did I mention the way it ate U-joints? Let's not talk about the rust. It broke my heart when the rear fenders rotted through the second time. -- Lanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html |
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#12
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
Lanny Chambers wrote:
> <butting in> I'm sure you meant to type "affliction"... > > I joined the U-Joint Of The Month Club, too, when I bought a new '71 in > pale yellow. Ripped off the smog pump and installed headers/duals, > Gerhaty (sp?) carb and timing kit, home-brew cold-air induction, milled > 0.060" off the head--would pull redline in 4th @ 140 mph. Konis, > spoiler, sways, yadda yadda. Great fun. Unlike the 260/280, the early > 240s with SU carbs were actually quick. The Z started going downhill in > '72, when Datsun raised the suspension a couple of inches to meet new > bumper height regs. Hey-Hey, that was stock. I had also upgraded the intake, exhaust and suspension of both my 1976 and 1978 280Z's. The heavy bumpers were off of both cars before I ever owned them. The 280Z cars were at least as low as a stock 240Z. Keeping up with my friends in their 240Z's was never a problem. They did have fun constantly adjusting their SU carbs while I never had a single problem with the fuel injection. > No way, 'cause it had a roof. The cheap strut suspension was also not > nearly as forgiving once you dialed out the understeer--never, Never, > NEVER lift in a hard corner! Oh, and did I mention the way it ate > U-joints? I still think you got unlucky with U-Joints. Either that, or they made them stronger on the 280Z than on the 240Z. I put at least 80,000 miles on the two cars together and replaced one, maybe two U-Joints during all of those years of driving. This was on cars that already had many miles on them. > Let's not talk about the rust. It broke my heart when the rear fenders > rotted through the second time. No argument whatsoever. Cheap Japanese steel of the time and bad painting process. Unless your Z-car lived it's entire life in the desert, it had rust. Pat |
#13
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message ... > In article >, > "Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote: > >> Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership >> history >> of Datsun Z-cars too? > > <butting in> I'm sure you meant to type "affliction"... > > I joined the U-Joint Of The Month Club, too, when I bought a new '71 in > pale yellow. Ripped off the smog pump and installed headers/duals, > Gerhaty (sp?) carb and timing kit, home-brew cold-air induction, milled > 0.060" off the head--would pull redline in 4th @ 140 mph. Konis, > spoiler, sways, yadda yadda. Great fun. Unlike the 260/280, the early > 240s with SU carbs were actually quick. The Z started going downhill in > '72, when Datsun raised the suspension a couple of inches to meet new > bumper height regs. > >> I really don't think the Z was ever as much fun as I've had with >> these lil roadsters. > > No way, 'cause it had a roof. The cheap strut suspension was also not > nearly as forgiving once you dialed out the understeer--never, Never, > NEVER lift in a hard corner! Oh, and did I mention the way it ate > U-joints? > > Let's not talk about the rust. It broke my heart when the rear fenders > rotted through the second time. > > -- > Lanny Chambers > '94C, St. Louis > http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html All these years I thought it was my driving style that ate u-joints. I bought a BRG Z in early '71, did the Gerraty(sp?) and added a tow hitch to flat tow my 356 Porsche hillclimb car. I also went through shocks about as fast as u-joints and added a front splitter to help tame the understeer. The best mod was a 5 speed trans from a 2000 roadster and the rear end whine disappeared when I swapped in a 4.10 rear. In '81 it was sold because rust made it unsafe to drive, an auto Xer bought it. |
#14
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> Plenty of humor around here! I love it. > > Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership history > of Datsun Z-cars too? That's amazing. I owned a 73 240Z starting in 78 and > later owned a ........mmmmmmm.....76 or 77 280Z. The exact year doesn't > matter I wanted a 78 so's I could have the five speed! A friend of mine had > a car I've always coveted, he bought a wine colored 78 280Z, 5-speed of > course. Sweet car! > > Oh, those were the days.....seems so long ago but I feel so > young.......mmmmmm. I think the miata helps on that front. I really don't > think the Z was ever as much fun as I've had with these lil roadsters. > > Chris > 99BBB Did your Z-cars eat up U-Joints? Or is this a Lanny thing? I had quite a few friends with Z-cars during and right after high school and I just don't remember the U-Joints going out all the time on any of the Z-Car models. Pat |
#15
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
I didn't have that problem but it sounds like Chas did also so
unfortunately, we can't put the full blame on Lanny ;-) I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. Sorry to the original poster for highjacking this thread! Chris 99BBB "pws" > wrote in message ... > Chris D'Agnolo wrote: >> Plenty of humor around here! I love it. >> >> Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership >> history of Datsun Z-cars too? That's amazing. I owned a 73 240Z starting >> in 78 and later owned a ........mmmmmmm.....76 or 77 280Z. The exact year >> doesn't matter I wanted a 78 so's I could have the five speed! A friend >> of mine had a car I've always coveted, he bought a wine colored 78 280Z, >> 5-speed of course. Sweet car! >> >> Oh, those were the days.....seems so long ago but I feel so >> young.......mmmmmm. I think the miata helps on that front. I really don't >> think the Z was ever as much fun as I've had with these lil roadsters. >> >> Chris >> 99BBB > > Did your Z-cars eat up U-Joints? Or is this a Lanny thing? > > I had quite a few friends with Z-cars during and right after high school > and I just don't remember the U-Joints going out all the time on any of > the Z-Car models. > > Pat |
#16
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
In article >,
"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote: > I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a > fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. Scary, wasn't it? I would've said "over 80." I did three things that resulted in rock-steady tracking all the way to 140: 1. Koni struts. 'Nuff said. 2. BRE front spoiler. 3. Bushing tweaks: I added shims cut from an old radiator hose to preload the soft rubber steering rack mounts; where the front trailing arms bolted to the chassis, I cut a bit off the inner sleeves so the bushings would compress more. I love free mods that work. Aside from the rust, I sold the car at 80k in 1977 (for $2000) because the driveline clunks were making me crazy. My mechanic said there was no single cause, just accumulated wear on everything. It was starting to burn oil, too. The poor car was just worn out. Hopping it up and driving the bejeezus out of it might not have helped... -- Lanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html |
#17
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message ... > In article >, > "Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote: > >> I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a >> fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. > > Scary, wasn't it? I would've said "over 80." I did three things that > resulted in rock-steady tracking all the way to 140: > > 1. Koni struts. 'Nuff said. > > 2. BRE front spoiler. > > 3. Bushing tweaks: I added shims cut from an old radiator hose to > preload the soft rubber steering rack mounts; where the front trailing > arms bolted to the chassis, I cut a bit off the inner sleeves so the > bushings would compress more. I love free mods that work. > > Aside from the rust, I sold the car at 80k in 1977 (for $2000) because > the driveline clunks were making me crazy. My mechanic said there was no > single cause, just accumulated wear on everything. It was starting to > burn oil, too. The poor car was just worn out. Hopping it up and driving > the bejeezus out of it might not have helped... > > -- > Lanny Chambers The air dam I used could be felt at 60 mph. I went through a number of them due to thank-you-ma'ams and wildlife. A friend worked for a local fiberglass moulding shop and would slip me a new one when needed. I used Koni struts but wore them out. The guarantee required the worn struts to be returned, leaving the car useless for weeks, so I used another brand that could be warrantied by the local parts store. The steering rack got the rubber shims too. I had 155K on the chassis, changed the engine at 120K cause the head cracked after being welded 20K before, when I sold what was left after rust for $1000. |
#18
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
Lanny Chambers wrote:
> In article >, > "Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote: > > >>I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a >>fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. > > > Scary, wasn't it? I would've said "over 80." I did three things that > resulted in rock-steady tracking all the way to 140: > > 1. Koni struts. 'Nuff said. > > 2. BRE front spoiler. > > 3. Bushing tweaks: I added shims cut from an old radiator hose to > preload the soft rubber steering rack mounts; where the front trailing > arms bolted to the chassis, I cut a bit off the inner sleeves so the > bushings would compress more. I love free mods that work. > > Aside from the rust, I sold the car at 80k in 1977 (for $2000) because > the driveline clunks were making me crazy. My mechanic said there was no > single cause, just accumulated wear on everything. It was starting to > burn oil, too. The poor car was just worn out. Hopping it up and driving > the bejeezus out of it might not have helped... > To spare the miata owners further Z-Car discussion, I have started a new newsgroup. r.a.m.d.o.f.d.z.c. This, of course, is : rec autos makers datsun old farts discussing z cars :-) I am afraid that the main topic of discussion will be how much metal is left on the body of your car. Pat |
#19
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote:
>I'd seen the yellow one before. If you look closely, and you should!, it's >got fender flares and such. You are absolutely right. Obviously Mazda figures that the adverse aerodynamic effects are not much of an issue for a yellow Miata, as they would be for a faster white one. And if you prefer yellow Miatas, you probably also like fender flares. These are things that leap out at you (versus the refined beauty of a classically-shaped white Miata, say.) Leon > I didn't realize that it had become a reality in >Japan, looks like it may have. > >Interesting, >Chris > >"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message .. . >> "Iva" > wrote: >> >>>Jimmy wrote: >>>> here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope they >>>sell it here in >>>> the USA. >>>> >>> >>>Try this one: http://tinyurl.com/7owd7 >>> >>>Iva & Belle.) >>>'90B Classic Red.) >>>#3 winkin' Miata >> >> It seems to be a good looking car, but the ROOF is frozen!!!! >> Does it come with a saw? >> >> Leon >> -- >> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) >> http://www.dommelen.net/miata >> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) > -- Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) |
#20
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Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
Come on Leon, no Z stories?
Chris 99BBB "Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message ... > "Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote: > >>I'd seen the yellow one before. If you look closely, and you should!, it's >>got fender flares and such. > > You are absolutely right. Obviously Mazda figures that the adverse > aerodynamic > effects are not much of an issue for a yellow Miata, as they would be for > a > faster white one. And if you prefer yellow Miatas, you probably also like > fender flares. These are things that leap out at you (versus the refined > beauty > of a classically-shaped white Miata, say.) > > Leon > >> I didn't realize that it had become a reality in >>Japan, looks like it may have. >> >>Interesting, >>Chris >> >>"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message . .. >>> "Iva" > wrote: >>> >>>>Jimmy wrote: >>>>> here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope they >>>>sell it here in >>>>> the USA. >>>>> >>>> >>>>Try this one: http://tinyurl.com/7owd7 >>>> >>>>Iva & Belle.) >>>>'90B Classic Red.) >>>>#3 winkin' Miata >>> >>> It seems to be a good looking car, but the ROOF is frozen!!!! >>> Does it come with a saw? >>> >>> Leon >>> -- >>> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) >>> http://www.dommelen.net/miata >>> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) >> > -- > Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) > http://www.dommelen.net/miata > EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) |
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