Deja Vu: 1971 Restoration

[motorman7 671]

  Seems like I just finished restoring my 918 orange 1971 240Z and now I have another one to work on.  This one however is a friends car and not mine personally.  And coincidentally, this one is also 918 orange.  They are virtual twins, although my friends is the series III 1971 while mine is an earlier Series II, so there are a few differences.   The serial numbers are off by about 9000 units.   Anyway, The car is in pretty reasonable shape and I think it would start with very little effort.   It has not run for about 5 years so I definitely will need to go through the fuel lines eventually.

The plan here is to document the restoration  so that my friend can watch the build as it progresses.  The goal is to have it look as nice or better than the one I just finished .  

 

The car arrived last Friday and my friend and I went over the vehicle and took a lot of pictures.   I will post some of these as time permits.  I charged the battery to see what condition the electrical was in.  The running lights and headlights were operational and most of the dash lights worked.  The engine was able to turn over and the heater fan works.  Electrically, everything seems to be in very good working order.  It will be nice to not have to mess with the electrical on the car.

 The next step is to strip the car and prep it for paint.  There are a few small dings on the body that will be easy to fix.  The underside will be a bit more of a challenge.  The frame rails and floor pan are pretty deeply dented in several spots.  Also, the back hatch area has some deep rust.  I will fix that before it gets sent off to paint.

So, I started pulling off parts today.  Attached are some pics of the progress.  I will post pics as the process continues. 

 

[madkaw 321]

Make some $$$ for your car - sweet. It's also nice to have a copy handy to reference !!


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[siteunseen 2,180 5 Vehicles]

Nice looking car!  Looks almost identical to mine so I'll be watching this for some ideas/tips. 

I sure was happy to get rid of my Yorx a/c compressor and that pulley bracket, it was inop anyway and a huge pain in the butt.  

[psdenno 541]

What's the build month on the new '71 project?  The picture of the interior shows a later style center console than my April '71 Z.

Dennis

[motorman7 671]

1 hour ago, siteunseen said:

Nice looking car!  Looks almost identical to mine so I'll be watching this for some ideas/tips. 

I sure was happy to get rid of my Yorx a/c compressor and that pulley bracket, it was inop anyway and a huge pain in the butt.  

Fortunately, the owner does not want the A/C in the car car, so I will be removing the compressor. I didn't realize that it was a Yorx compressor...I thought it was a Briggs & Stratton .  The weight of that compressor and bracket has got to be near 30 pounds.

12 minutes ago, psdenno said:

What's the build month on the new '71 project?  The picture of the interior shows a later style center console than my April '71 Z.

Dennis

Hi Dennis,

   I will check when I get home on the build date and get back to you.  I know that it is later in the year.

 

[7tooZ 117 1 Vehicles]

Has this car been converted to a 5 speed. This console looks like it is from a 72. I have two series 1 consoles, but they would require trimming to be used with a later 5 speed conversion. Are you in need of the chock lever cover, ash tray, and the defroster switch?


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[Zed Head 1,153]

12 hours ago, motorman7 said:

 They are virtual twins, although my friends is the series III 1971 while mine is an earlier Series II, so there are a few differences.   The serial numbers are off by about 9000 units.

Weird, I've been observing the 240Z's indirectly, since I have a 280Z, but I never noticed anyone refer to anything but Series I and Series II (and there have been arguments over just those two labels).  But now I see that maybe they go all the way up to IV.  And there are actually two Series I's, a 1969 and 1970 version.

Is this generally accepted labeling or is it just a certain club's?  I found Carl Beck's page when I searched "240Z Series III".  Somehow I'd never seen it before.

http://zhome.com/History/DesignChanges.htm

[motorman7 671]

17 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

Weird, I've been observing the 240Z's indirectly, since I have a 280Z, but I never noticed anyone refer to anything but Series I and Series II (and there have been arguments over just those two labels).  But now I see that maybe they go all the way up to IV.  And there are actually two Series I's, a 1969 and 1970 version.

Is this generally accepted labeling or is it just a certain club's?  I found Carl Beck's page when I searched "240Z Series III".  Somehow I'd never seen it before.

http://zhome.com/History/DesignChanges.htm

Carl's page is what I would use as a reference.  I don't know enough of the history otherwise.  The serial number on my 71 is 40498 which falls in the series II range.  The series III 1971 Z is in the 49000 range which fits with the reference.

The center console and fuel tank door are the two most obvious indicators of the different series.

1 hour ago, 7tooZ said:

Has this car been converted to a 5 speed. This console looks like it is from a 72. I have two series 1 consoles, but they would require trimming to be used with a later 5 speed conversion. Are you in need of the chock lever cover, ash tray, and the defroster switch?


Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

The car has the standard 4 speed and the console is complete and in very nice condition.  The choke light and rear defroster lights also work, very nice.

[Zed Head 1,153]

Don't want to hijack your thread.  Just trying to figure out who decided.  Seems to be the IZCC, I guess.  Internet Z Car Club. 

Carry on.  There's probably a past thread out there about it.

[wheee! 1,169]

Very solid car to start a resto on! Good luck and keep posting pics!

[motorman7 671]

I just had to post this picture of the spare from this car.  I think this is the most perfect original spare that I have ever seen.

[Captain Obvious 1,432]

Wuss. Post a pic without the hold-down plate installed so we can see if lug nuts were ever torqued down and smeared the paint.  

[motorman7 671]

41 minutes ago, Captain Obvious said:

Wuss. Post a pic without the hold-down plate installed so we can see if lug nuts were ever torqued down and smeared the paint.  

Funny, you made me look.  Looks like there were lug nuts installed at one time and some paint scratches around that area, but very minor.  No hubcap scratches on the rim and the tread looks brand new.   Still very impressive for such an old tire.

Here are a few more pics of bagged and labeled parts.  Also pics of parts with their respective fasteners so I get the right ones back in the correct place.  Since most of the fasteners will get re-zinced, the pics are a big help.  No use bagging those.  Also, parts are separated into silver zinc and yellow zinc tubs so we get the plating color correct.

[Captain Obvious 1,432]

Haha! Made ya look! 

My PO bead blasted everything and then clear coated the hardware instead of the original yellow coating. Not only does it look "wrong" to me, but it also rusts as soon as you chip the clear coat paint with a wrench. Looked great to sell the car (to me), but overall I think it is poor judgment. I would love to go through what you are and have all the plating redone. I think that looks awesome when complete.

[siteunseen 2,180 5 Vehicles]

Mine has a Metric 600T spare, I don't know if that's the brand name or just the size?

 

 

 

[motorman7 671]

Started removing parts from the engine bay in prep for engine removal.  Removed the battery and was happy to see the battery tray in good condition.  It's dirty, but looks like little to no rust.  That is very nice.  I think I will remove the compressor before I pull the motor.  That should make things a bit easier.  Should have the motor out this weekend.  The fan looks a little beat up.  Not sure what happened there.  Maybe an oldwater pump had bad bearings and the fan rubbed against the radiator fins.  Anyway, the strip down is going along pretty quickly.  I am hoping to finish the part removal phase this month and do the body work in February.  Then, off to the paint shop with a rolling chassis in March....hopefully.

[lonetreesteve 100]

Motorman7,

Your friends' car is an early '72 model Series III car built with in late 1971. I find the early Series III cars to be interesting. I like the vertical defroster lines on the early Series III cars: Sept thru Nov of '71?  My very first Z that I bought when I was in college was an early '72 (HLS30-59523), but it had the horizontal defroster lines since it was built in 12/71. However, it still had the older, non-retractable seat belts, as well as a blank plastic plug in its Series II console fuse box cover where the seat belt light was later installed in the '72 models starting in 1/72.  My son and I used to have HLS30-64733, built in 1/71 and it had the retractable seat belts with the seat belt light and the annoying buzzer that was still operational when we bought the car in 2004.

Good luck with the 918 Orange project! 

[motorman7 671]

Hi Steve,

    I am pretty sure it is a '71, but will check when I get home.  Will check the build date also.  Also, seat belts are not retractable.  Interesting thing is the shoulder harnesses are missing for both driver and passenger.  Owner said the car did not come with those.  Maybe taken off by the dealer?  Will post info later when I get pics.

Best regards,

   Rich

[motorman7 671]

Hhmmmmm...I may have to change the title to the thread.   The car is a 10/71 build on the door tag and registration says it is a 1972 model year.   

Edited January 11, 2017 by motorman7

[Carl Beck 149]

21 hours ago, lonetreesteve said:

Motorman7,

Your friends' car is an early '72 model Series III car built with in late 1971. I find the early Series III cars to be interesting. I like the vertical defroster lines on the early Series III cars: Sept thru Nov of '71?  My very first Z that I bought when I was in college was an early '72 (HLS30-59523), but it had the horizontal defroster lines since it was built in 12/71. However, it still had the older, non-retractable seat belts, as well as a blank plastic plug in its Series II console fuse box cover where the seat belt light was later installed in the '72 models starting in 1/72.  My son and I used to have HLS30-64733, built in 1/71 and it had the retractable seat belts with the seat belt light and the annoying buzzer that was still operational when we bought the car in 2004.

Good luck with the 918 Orange project! 

If Motoman7 will forgive another off-topic followup.

Interesting - some addition notes. Nissan's TSB TS72-29 lists HLS30 62001 as the beginning of the Horizontal Defroster Lines (also the seat belt holders were added to the center console per TS72-69). TS72-29  also notes that there were no Defroster Lines in 240Z's before HLS30 01456, and provides guidance as to how to install them at the Dealership.

Didn't the Series II console fuse box cover - have a hole for the Cig.Lighter?  Anyway - the early Series III (1972 Model Year) had a black space - where the coming Seat Belt Warning Light was planned to go. The structure of the seats had to be changed - to hold the seat belt sensors. The early 72's still had the Pirelli rubber like webbing supporting the foam - the newer seats have steel springs supporting the foam & the seat belt sensors. The early 72's had no "pocket" in the floor behind the seats - for the seat belt retractors - and thus no self retracting seat belts. A little later the Pockets starting showing up - but still with no retractors.. So it seems that 09/71 through most of 1/71 the transition to the newer safety requirements were "in process".  AIR.. the standards had to be in place by March of 72. So any thing produced after that date had to fully comply. ( I'm the original owner on an early 72 - and the second owner on a later 72).

As mentioned earlier - the 72 Center Console was redesigned to accommodate the newer Type B 4spd. at which point Nissan also moved the differential rearward to reduce the low frequency harmonics transmitted into the cabin.

[motorman7 671]

Hi Carl,

   Thanks for the info on the differences between the various Z models.  I was not aware of the differences as my 3 Z's are earlier models that have the standard seat belt attachment without the re-tractors.  Also, I will have to look closer at the center console.  This one does look nice and the warning lights (choke and rear window de-fog) work.  This is much better than I am used to.

Best regards,

   Rich

[lonetreesteve 100]

22 hours ago, Carl Beck said:

If Motoman7 will forgive another off-topic followup.

Interesting - some addition notes. Nissan's TSB TS72-29 lists HLS30 62001 as the beginning of the Horizontal Defroster Lines (also the seat belt holders were added to the center console per TS72-69). TS72-29  also notes that there were no Defroster Lines in 240Z's before HLS30 01456, and provides guidance as to how to install them at the Dealership.

Didn't the Series II console fuse box cover - have a hole for the Cig.Lighter?  Anyway - the early Series III (1972 Model Year) had a black space - where the coming Seat Belt Warning Light was planned to go. The structure of the seats had to be changed - to hold the seat belt sensors. The early 72's still had the Pirelli rubber like webbing supporting the foam - the newer seats have steel springs supporting the foam & the seat belt sensors. The early 72's had no "pocket" in the floor behind the seats - for the seat belt retractors - and thus no self retracting seat belts. A little later the Pockets starting showing up - but still with no retractors.. So it seems that 09/71 through most of 1/71 the transition to the newer safety requirements were "in process".  AIR.. the standards had to be in place by March of 72. So any thing produced after that date had to fully comply. ( I'm the original owner on an early 72 - and the second owner on a later 72).

As mentioned earlier - the 72 Center Console was redesigned to accommodate the newer Type B 4spd. at which point Nissan also moved the differential rearward to reduce the low frequency harmonics transmitted into the cabin.

Thanks for clarifying things, Carl.  I should have said that my Series III console and not Series II console on my 12/71 240Z had the blank plug where the coming seat belt warning light was planned to go.  You also mentioned that Nissan's records indicate that HLS30-62001 as the beginning of the horizontal defroster lines.  So my thinking is that perhaps my former 240Z's (HLS30-59523) rear hatch glass with vertical defroster lines was broken at some point before I bought the car in September 1978 and was replaced with a new a piece of hatch glass with horizontal defroster lines. 

[sweatybetty 252]

On 1/11/2017 at 7:53 PM, Carl Beck said:

I. The early 72's had no "pocket" in the floor behind the seats - for the seat belt retractors - and thus no self retracting seat belts.

my car #65002, which as far as i can figure, was built in 1/72, has the pockets for the seatbelts, and the retractors

[motorman7 671]

Took out the AC compressor and bracket, engine harness, grill,head lights and turn lights, fuel tank, vapor tank and other small parts and hoses.  Should have the motor out tomorrow.  This is progressing fairly well.  No glitches at all.  I did find one item at the forward tie down location where a bolt had been sheared off.  Will drill and tap that before paint.  Pics are below.

[Carl Beck 149]

Looks like an exceptionally clean 240Z - always far more fun to work on well cared for Z's.  Somewhat odd to see the bolts for the tie downs sheared off - far more common on the lower bolts on the front fenders..  Bummer any way you look at it..

Amazing how much work could be saved - if people would only use a good penetrating oil on 20+ year old nuts/bolts/screws - before they start twisting on them. This is especially true on 40+ year old cars.  Kroil is one of the best "tools" in my garage.