HS30-H

Hi Alan, When you say "undersize", are you getting the information from the stamping / engraving on the backs of the main bearing shells? The reason I ask is that I'm wondering if the 'undersize' is that of the main bearing bore rather than the main journal size of the crank....... I've seen a few engines with oversized main bearing bores ( presumably line-bored oversize at the Factory ) but with stock sized crank main journals, and a few engines with oversized bearings in big ends ( again, presumably because they were machined oversize at the Factory, and a 'fatter' bearing was used to correct it ). Could it be that you are misunderstanding exactly what part is 'undersized'? What are the bores for the main bearings in the block measuring up at without the bearings in them? Worth a shot?

I don't know if its 100% true or not, but it was explained to me that the horizontal lines actually help to clear ice ( or snow )...... Apparently, the theory is that the ice melts and drops down - hence assisting efficient clearance, whereas vertical lines will tend to leave vertical stripes of unmelted ice that take longer to clear. I can't imagine this being of any great use when demisting, but there you go. Urban myth maybe?

Glad to hear that you are agnostic. That'll be just you and me then. Everybody else seems to take his word as Gospel, or are too afraid to say anything. I agree that it must have been an intentional decision. The fact that some of the Press Preview event cars were fitted with the HRW means that the system was designed, tested, manufactured and approved well before series production began. That's one of the big points I wanted us to remember, as it might otherwise be implied that the HRW system was 'not ready' for production in late '69 or that there were supply problems. This does not seem to be the case. Yes, I'd agree that the HLS30U ( and indeed all the other 'Export' market '240Z' models ) was more closely related to the S30 model than the S30S, but there is strong evidence that the spec of the HLS30U was cost-cut to some extent in comparison to the spec of the S30 ( "deluxe" ) model. I quite agree that NMC USA underestimated their potential market for a more 'loaded' car, and I think this whole question relates back to the crux of the design process, and the fact that massive Export sales for the Z were never a 'done deal' until they actually started happening..... We have to be careful though. We might get into a Chicken and Egg type of argument. Did the cheap price of the cars boost sales more than a 'loaded' version would have done, hence financing higher production quantities of the more expensive parts? ( I'm probably not explaining this very well, but do you see what I'm driving at? ). Maybe there was more than one reason why they did not fit the HRW to most of the early Export cars. I would have thought it would be a decision that might have been difficult to reverse quickly; surely it would mean changes to sales literature, owners manuals and Factory service manuals at the very least? I agree that discussing this kind of thing can sound incredibly anal to some, but I think its all relevant to uncovering more about how these cars came about, what was going on in the heads of the people involved, and the machinations of a big corporation such as Nissan. Alan T.

Eek! Thinking like that might get you a personal 'interview' with the Tomas de Torquemada of the Z world It seems that most of those early HLS30Us that you have seen had the clear ( non-Heated Rear Window ) hatch glass, and therefore it was most likely not a haphazard situation due to 'mistakes' or supply problems ( speculation on my part there ). However, as sblake01 and Zedrally have pointed out, these clear hatch glasses have turned up ( inexplicably? ) on later cars too, and I myself have seen two or three UK-market HS30s with clear hatch glass - which I put down to supply shortages or some other force majeure type situation. Who knows. Big point for me was the thought that anyone looking at just the situation regarding the earliest HLS30Us might tend to believe that the HRW was only phased in as an afterthought in ALL models, or was perhaps delayed for some reason. Since there is compelling evidence that some of the earliest production cars in the Japanese home market did have the HRW, this would not be the case. That's what made me wonder whether this was an item dropped from the spec of some early 'Export' cars in order to save costs (?). I can imagine that having no HRW would save a little labour time, and a fair amount of parts cost. Don't forget that we are talking about a difference in the wiring loom ( in the case of the S30S anyway ) and the relay / switch etc too. Would it be possible that NMC USA staff ( and I'm thinking of the buck stopping at Katayama san ) might have considered the HRW an unnecessary feature - particularly for California? Does that sound silly? Personally I would have thought a Factory-fitted HRW would be a great boon on any car - indeed a necessity - but I still remember that a lot of European cars of the late Sixties and early Seventies did NOT have them as standard equipment......... Anyway, as I mentioned in the previous post, the S30 and PS30 models had the HRW from the off whilst the S30S model did not. Interestingly, I can't find any differing part numbers for the interior plastic "Garnish-tail rail" between the S30 / PS30 and the S30S. They all had the same part number whether they had the HRW or not. That's curious. Makes me wonder if the slots for the wires were hand cut for cars with the HRW? Part numbers: *90301-E4100 - GLASS tail gate window ( clear ) *90301-E4101 - GLASS tail gate window ( heated element type ) *86722-E4100 - GROMMET heat glass switch ( this is the blanking plug for the console panel when no HRW is fitted ). Some photos: A scan of a couple of pages from Nissan's first "Service Shuho" booklet from November 1969, introducing the new Fairlady Z models to the dealerships. Page no.138 has a line drawing of the HRW element system and wiring, and mentions that this is fitted as standard to the S30 and PS30 but is an 'Option' on the S30S. Page no.165 shows the operation of the HRW switch on the console panel. I think the gloved hand is Matsuo san's.

And maybe relevant to this new thread would be my original post from the other:

Hi Christopher, Compliments of the season to you. Thanks for starting a new thread, and my apologies to everyone for taking the other thread OT. I thought it would be pertinent to bring these quotes from sblake01 and Zedrally from the other thread over here onto this new one:

Christopher, Can I ask you if you have come to any conclusion regarding the 'missing' HRW ( defroster ) in the earliest of the HLS30U models? You have in your post above noted the blanking plugs for the driving light & parking light switches. I suppose the driving / fog lights were always intended as 'Option' parts ( at least in most markets ) and the parking light switches were a Japanese-market necessity, but what about the HRW? As you know, this was 'standard' equipment on the S30 and PS30 models, and an extra-cost 'option' on the S30S. Since the time you told me that your car had the clear ( non-HRW ) hatch glass, I have been wondering if this was a case of a cost-cutting decision on the spec of the HLS30U model that was very quickly reversed. If all the early cars didn't have the HRW then I could understand the earliest of the HLS30Us not having them too ( due, for example, to something like holdups in supply ) but considering that the S30 and PS30 models were quite clearly fitted with them ( even at the Press preview event in October 1969 ) I wondered if you would agree that the HRW might have initially been left off of the spec for the HLS30U? The HLS30U model at the Press preview event was quite clearly not fitted with the HRW, whilst the S30 and PS30 at the same event were. The blue HLS30U on the Nissan show stand at the Tokyo Auto Show ( labelled as a "Fairlady Z Export Model" ) was not fitted with the HRW, whilst the S30 and PS30 also on the show stand were. Interesting isn't it? Alan T.

Don't know about the US, but NISMO wants to get back into international sportscar racing - and they say it would most likely be with the "350Z" ( ie - the Export version of the Z33 ). This would be in the renamed 'GT2' division for 2005. British team RJN Motorsport ran an RHD 350Z in selected rounds of the FIA GT Championship this year, with the support of Nissan and NISMO. They are one of the companies in the running for the contract to prepare and run the 'Works' cars for Nissan in 2005. Article scan from UK magazine Autosport here:

Thanks Chris, I appreciate you sticking up for my point of view. I realise that no harm is meant, and I honestly mean no harm myself in pointing out the difference ( although offence is taken all too quickly - and frankly, it seems - all too happily ). Notice that Ben ( v12horse ) got it right in his picture captions, and even pointed out the fact that the GT500 Fairlady Z is based on a Japanese market-only homologation special. Ben has the gift of learning and thinking in a worldly way about these things, and considers what he writes very carefully. Carl, I noticed you did some swift editing again :cheeky: Too bad you can't do the editing in your head before you put it down on the page. Alan T. ( Edit: Carl - I think you still have some editing left to do on your spelling ).

Vicky, Take a look at Carl's reply to me and tell me if you think I'm being just a little bit paranoid? I'm sorry if I misunderstood the meaning of your "Geez :stupid:" - but can you see where I'm coming from? My original comment was just a general point, and not really aimed at anyone in particular. Stickling is stickling. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. If I make a mistake then I'm very happy to be put straight on it. Be my guest. Alan T.

Personally, I'd put all that stuff on the '72 - but with the proviso that the body was kept totally stock, and maybe also in a Factory-stock colour. Mr. W is doing something similar with HLS30-00027 I think. Lots of period-correct ( and tasteful ) accessories and options. With 26 and 27, he can have his cake and eat it.... Having said that, do just what you want to do. Its your car. :classic: Cheers, Alan T.

Who's "the teacher" then Carl? Vicky, you're taking my comment completely the wrong way. If you really think I'm trying to score points off somebody then you must think I'm really sad. All I'm interested in is getting this stuff straight. It might be a small point to you, but calling the JGTC race Z cars "350Z"s is starting off on just the same wrong foot as calling all first generation Z cars "240Z"s. Why not nip it in the bud? These are JGTC race cars for Christ's sake! They came over to the USA to show you what they have been getting up to over there in Japan for the last few years. Can't we at least do them the honour of realising that Japan has some homologation specials that the rest of the world does not? Geez. :stupid:

No, I don't think they are. They are based on the Japanese market versions, not the Export versions.

Ouch! Shot by both sides.......... :squareeye Sell the parts to fund the 'resto'? Have you got the ATSUGI, TOKICO or AMPCO coil-overs? Which Comp tranny - Direct Drive Opt.1, 2 or 3? Those 50's are worth a pretty penny too.

Were they calling them "350Z"s? I think Ben got it right in his photo captions. The NISMO JGTC race cars are Fairlady Z-based.

HLS30? Ooh, the irony! I already guessed you'd be familiar with Mr W. If HLS30-00028 turns up you'll have to 'save' him from himself........ You'll be in your element here, for sure. Cheers, Alan T.

Welcome to the site JLPurcell, No doubt you are familiar with Mr Wenzel's twins, and have already been playing early VIN bingo with them. :classic: Cheers! Alan T.

Amen to that, Craig. Exactly. Kazuo Kimura probably had more direct influence on the looks of the A550X than Goertz, and he had also penned most of the styling of the Silvia before Goertz even started his contract at Nissan....... I spotted a Swiss-registered 2000GT at this year's Goodwood Revival meeting back in September. It was what I'd call semi race-prepped - with a fire extinguisher system, roll cage and lots of lock-wiring - although it wasn't participating in the race events themselves. It was parked up in the central Paddock area with some pretty cool company, so I presume it was the personal transport of one of the gentleman racers. Some runabout! Cheers, Alan T.

That's a 432, not a 432R. It's a lovely museum isn't it? Nissan need something similar, but it probably won't be a reality until 2010. Nice pics!