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Bump Anyone have a comment? Keith

That document should be downloaded then uploaded to the Resources area before it disappears. I saved a copy. Not sure which category it might belong in. Maybe the Vintage program should be a separate category. https://www.classiczcars.com/files/ or https://www.classiczcars.com/articles/

My Dad raised a gearhead and I didn't even know it. Started out as the keeper of the light shining "right here damnit" then tool chaser, he'd get flustered and throw wrenches. He hardly ever used sockets.

Hi Dean Thanks for finding the document I was referring to. Based on this, chalk one up for me!

@26th-Z I have been looking for the red "Rebirth" brochure, would it be possible for me to make a scan of this? I'm located near Sarasota. Also I've been looking for the original owner to my #HLS3068727 car. A previous owner told me he bought it off eBay from a guy in Michigan 20 years ago. Does anyone by any chance have an archive showing the seller's user name?

@SpeedRoo Thanks for the addition, I scoured the internet and found the checklist document via the wayback machine Cylinder head checklist #4 states "new seats"...so it looks like hardend valve seats were in the protocol.

Most of my kids are gearheads. I need to build a couple more Z's to reduce the fighting when I'm gone...;)

The document is 34 pages long, it doesn't mention who did the work. It also doesn't mention who did the body restoration, paint and assembly. There were at least 5 Datsun restoration companies involved in the program. There is a master sheet listing all the cars and the companies responsible for each one. Two of them confirmed to me the engines and gearbox were sent out to be rebuilt, that's from people involved in the program and not armchair experts who had nothing to do with it. Now that doesn't mean every single engine was sent out, the early ones may have been built up to check the process and parts required. If you watch the videos @deanhuff linked to you can see the different companies involved. @zspert was one of those who worked closely with Pierre and also supplied parts to the program. I tend to listen when he speaks!

So the engines were reportedly 'remanufactured' at AER Manufacturing, but the photos from two different Japanese magazine articles on the VZ Program show a partly assembled engine (in one) and two in-process cylinder heads (in the other), clearly not at AER. There often seem to be missing pieces - or pieces that don't fit - in the VZ Program story...

@Zed Head I am aware of 2 promotional brochures related to the Vintage Restoration Program. One is red with "Rebirth" on the cover the other is yellow with "Spirit". I was able to purchase a yellow one from eBay, it contains an overview of the history of Z models up to the 300ZX and a little about the race cars. There is a copy of the yellow brochure online here The vehicle came with a photo copy of the red brochure. If anyone is aware of either a digital copy or physical copy of the red brochure, I would certainly be interested in it. The Red brochure states the following regarding Engines: The engine and transmission are completely disassembled, cleaned and analyzed. From the engine block to the smallest nut and bolt, the parts are laid out on tables, so they can be inspected and, if necessary replaced. When available, genuine Nissan parts are used. And in cases when non-Nissan are used, quality non-OEM parts are approved by Nissan engineers, specifically for use on these restored cars. All external engine parts such as the block, oil pan and air cleaner, are painted their original factory colors. Many ancillary components, including the alternator, starter motor and fuel pump are replaced with new units or ones that have been re-manufactured to our stringent standards. @zspert thank you for the recommendations, I will pursue a full compression test and valve clearance checkout. @HS30-H thank you for these great pictures! I don't want to hijack the theme of this thread being about BaT and other online listings too much, but If anyone is interested, there are some really neat videos of the vintage restoration process in the links below: Original Z Program Footage - This is video from Pierre'Z Restoration Program for Nissan 3 more Z program cars from Pierre'Z Restorations (I think my car might be shown at 10:44 mark but not sure) Autoweek July 1997 - Z restoration program with Pierre Perrott at Pierre'Z Service Center.

Somewhere along the line I remember seeing a quality control checklist used by Nissan for the program. Maybe that would provide some insights? Google search links me to what appears to be the New Zealand Z Car Club and no permission to view the attachment to the forum post which is a copy of the checklist. I vaguely remember seeing it on here somewhere but cant find it.

I love the fact you get the kids involved in rebuilding the Datsuns. Keeping the hobby alive going forward is getting harder to do. Let's hope they keep up their enthusiasm.

Roo - You're correct, and I know from first hand experience, Pierre wasn't amused! Many moons ago I serviced 2 of the Z Store cars and just can't remember what exactly I did to them. If I did a valve adjust to one or both and found little or no adjustment room left for the exhausts that would have told the tale about valve seat replacement, but............

I hope this doesn't feel like "doxing" but I found the place you bought the car from. Not that you're hiding it, it's pretty obvious. The ad copy says that it came with Restoration literature. There's a picture of what looks like photocopied pages. Is there anything in there about the engine details? Or is it just vague statements about remanufactured engines? Somehwere out there is some old AER Nissan reman engine paperwork that tells exactly what is done. They were used on more than just the Restoration program cars. I'm here for the puzzle.

Here's a different AER page. It's from 2002 and "Not secure" so can't tell if it's just an internet artifact or current. http://dealer.aermanufacturing.com/manufac/remeng.html They do have a Contact page though. Might send them an email and see if they have some documents. http://dealer.aermanufacturing.com/contact/index.html

Looks like AER is getting absorbed in to bigger corporation. Contracts with Ford and Stellantis. No contact means on their web page. Documents and old-timers probably disappearing. https://www.aersales.com/company-history/ The History page has some odd references but Nissan did get a mention. I assume that it's for all Nissan remans. So, maybe any Nissan reman documentation would be relevant. Not just the Restoration program.

Here are two descriptions showing the possibilities. https://gaynors.com/auto-repair/engine-rebuilding/ "Valve seats are replaced with hardened seats..." https://www.budgetenginerebuilders.com/ "Cylinder heads reconditioned with new bronze guide liners, valve springs, valve stem seals, resurface of valves, seats and head gasket surface area..."

There are different levels though. Sometimes valve seats are checked for wear and just recut, or if they look okay they might just be lapped. Sometimes they are removed and replaced. That's the question at hand. If they were all removed and replaced as part of the rebuild, and the program was done after hardened seats were introduced, then they probably have hardened seats. An old AER document probably has the information.

AER Manufacturing in Carrolton, TX remanufactured the engines. Williams Technology in Summerville, S.C. rebuilt the transmissions. (Williams Tech was bought by Caterpillar circa 2004/5) Both were existing suppliers to Nissan. https://www.aermanufacturing.com/ https://www.ame.org/sites/default/files/target_articles/92Q6A4.pdf

A couple of pages from period Japanese magazines which covered the 'Program' show engines and engine parts (see attached). Clearly - and fairly obviously - the engines were rebuilt and warrantied. It's not like overhauling an L24 was rocket science or anything. No rare earth elements involved. Putting forward the idea that that they were just given a spruce up and a coat of paint is fairly, er, out there...

Registration: 9am–11am Hosted and Sponsored by: Bridgewater Nissan, Cars in no time 1400 US-22, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Google Map to Bridgewater Nissan Save time at the show and pre-register your car (at no obligation or upfront cost) at: NJ Z Show Registration Portal Everyone is invited – you don't need to be a Member! Get there early, we expect a big turn-out. First 75 Z cars will receive a free Z Car Show tee shirt, dash plaque, plus a goody bag with car stuff. Over 60 trophies to be awarded! 1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophies in Stock and Street Mod, plus Nissan Mod, Roadster, GT-R & Other Nissan/Datsun trophies. Lots of great raffle items, and a 50/50! Bridgewater Nissan is also offering 20% discount on parts purchases for the day of the show. Food Truck for refreshments and lunch. A family friendly event: no alcohol, please be respectful & polite to our generous hosts. Help promote the Show by hanging a NJ Z Car Show Flyer. ‣ Base Registration is $15 (payable at the show). ‣ For an additional $15, you can Support the Club & get a NJ Z Car Club sweatshirt ($30 total). Organized by the NJ Z Car Club at NJZClub.com Looking forward to a great day shared with Z enthusiasts. Your participation is what makes this show so rewarding!

For sale is a completely refurbished 1-knob calendar clock. This clock is very nice and keeps good time. Price is $550 and includes taxes and shipping. Please contact me, ron@zclocks.com, if you have questions.

From what I understand the fist batch of rebuilt engines were rejected and returned to be rebuilt. Metal bits from machining were found in the engines. Everything was done to time and budget constraints, quality may have suffered because of this.

I think that the fundamental question is about how much and what kind of work was put in to the engines. Were they completely rebuilt, or were they just evaluated for function like a rebuilt alternator? Is there documentation out there about any engine work? If the valve seats weren't replaced then the new owner is in the same boat as if it was an original 240Z. It would be interesting to see the "work orders" for a Nissan Vintage Restoration Program car. I've only seen anecdotes and old publications about the program, but not the official communications from Nissan.

Wow! Could have just got you to print the mirrors rather than rescuing old beaten up one 🤣