AZ-240z

Since there was some mild interest in the vintage photos of my 918 orange car, I added a few more and thought I would bump this back to the front page. Dan Original Owner hls30-20419

These aren't necessarily vintage photos, but were taken at the 2004 ZCON in Los Angeles. You may recognize the gentleman posing next to my car as Matsuo San, the designer of the 240Z. The last several attachments are pages of an article featuring my car published in the book shown. If anyone can provide a translation of this article for me, please let me know. I think that these pictures are a pretty good representation of the original 918 orange used by Datsun. Dan

Here are a couple of more pictures from the same vintage as the above three.

Hi Phil, Here are a few pictures of my car just after I purchased it 40 years ago. It should give you a good look at the original factory 918 orange. And, yes, those are the original Bridgestone superspeed-20 radial tires mounted on the dealer installed aluminum mag wheels. Dan

Very nice find, Zup. I've had to ask myself the same question for unreplaceable NOS parts I have found. Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective. I use a rag impregnated with WD-40 to clean and preserve metal finished parts. I believe WD-40 was originally developed for the military to keep rust and corrosion at bay in unaccessible recesses of aircraft and similar machinery. I have a set of NOS bumpers and plan to use WD-40 to provide a moisture barrier to the inside surfaces rather than using a silver paint. I'll be looking for other ideas coming from this thread. Dan

Thanks for all of your responses. Yea, I did go to Ace hardware and they had a selection of oil drain plug washers but didn't see any crush washers. I'll pull the tank drain plug today, take it to Ace and see what will work. I'm afraid I sometimes get hung up on original or stock when it really is not necessary. Dan

I recently drained my tank and installed a new fuel sending unit. Thought I could get a new drain plug and washer from Nissan but they have been NA for some time. I do need a new washer, drain plug stays wet, (aren't they crush washers similar to the oil plug drain washer?) and thought someone might know of a source or something that would do the job. Thanks Dan

WOW, real interesting information, Arne. As a frame up restoration, there are many parts on my car that have been replaced with NOS parts. My main purpose in the restoration, which was done by Pierre-Z, was to have a car that was as close to correct as possible with the quality and reliability of the car as new from the factory. I guess what I am saying is, I would label the fuel pump as a consumable part, periodically in need of replacement. A factory NOS part, whether Kyosandenki, or Nikki, for my purposes, does not detract from the originality, quality, or valuation of the car as a total restoration. I have been following the other thread about "240z collector value" with great interest. It has also been discussed in the past about how you evaluate a car that is a totally original survivor vs. a total ground (frame) up restoration. No need to get into that bucket of worms, now. I guess the question boils down to, if my pump was originally a Nikki with the correct date code stamp on the top and it exploded on a pleasure cruise to Tucson and is not restorable, what are my options? For me it is the reliability of OEM NOS parts correct for the period. The really neat (I can say NEAT and COOL because I am old) thing about this place is the depth of information available here. If I don't key in all the correct wording in the search function, so much can be missed until Arne or someone else is able to offer up the secret archivial passwords. Dan

I appreciate the offer, but I would also need the two fuel hose pipe fittings that are yellow plated too and screw into the pump. I can just take all the yellow plated screws and pipe fittings from the original and put them on the replacement, but thanks for the offer. Arne, I don't see a date code on the top plate of my original, but it, I am sure, is a NOS replacement when the car was restored. Dan

I purchases a rebox Kyosandenki pump from my local Carquest supply store, $18. It is identical to the factory unit, except the screws and hose pipe fittings are silver instead of yellow plating as mentioned by "ajmcforester". I will just swap out these fittings and screws from the old pump which will do nicely until, and if I can ever find an original NOS pump. Thanks for everyone's input; it wasn't nearly the problem I imagined. Dan

I would offer a word of caution if you ever attempt to change the water pump yourself. Sounds like you may not have done too much wrenching and it can be costly. One or two of the bolts securing the waterpump are fairly fragil (long and slim). It is very easy, with a little corrosion, to snap one of these bolts off in the head. I would highly recommend having your mechanic doing this which may save a lot of money and aggravation for what it's worth. Dan

And, that is probably what I will end up doing, Arne. Hopefully I can find the K-D pump locally tomorrow without having to order one from MSA. I also found a Nissan dealer in Missouri that had one in there inventory, but just couldn't find it. They told me that there practice was to throw old parts away if the original packaging was missing. Thanks, again, for the leads in info. Dan

Arne, thanks for the information. Not sure who would handle Beck/Arnley here in Phoenix, but I will check with BAP Auto Parts tomorrow. I called Motorsports Auto and they have a pump made my Kyosan, just without the correct name stamping in the pump body. I was hoping that there might be a rebuild kit for these but so far no luck. Thanks, again, and I'll post my findings. Dan

Just when you least expect it, Murphy's Law jumps up and bits you. I took my restored series 1 in to get some service work done. After servicing gets done, including new fuel filter,the car fails to start. The mechanic narrowed it down to a failed fuel pump. Long story short, I need to find a NOS factory fuel pump like yesterday. Everything on my car is correct factory parts, so aftermarket is not my first choice. Anyone know where I might find one of these? Any help appreciated. I think it is made out of something called "unobtainium". Thanks. Dan Hls30-20419 Original Owner

Yes you should have, and I am excited for you. Total political correctness can sometimes get a little tedious.

I think Kats was probably refering to non-tinted window glass, and probably hatch glass without defrost grid.

My parts CD shows the earliest dash panel as #68100-E4600, followed by #68100-E8800 both interchangeable, newer to former and visa versa up to 06/72. I am guessing the earliest dash changed to the #68100-E8800 with the 1972 model year.

This brings up an interesting restoration question. Were the boots painted originally, or were the hinges and hatch installed after painting, leaving the boots unpainted from the factory? Nice to know if one were to go to the trouble of buying and installing these boots.

Arne, that brass bottle-brush thing is, I believe, called a flame arrestor, and it may still be available from Nissan. Worth a shot. Dan

I bought a NOS grill for $220 about a year ago, and thought that was a reasonable price. I have seen them offered on ebay in the past several years anywhere from $200 to $250. As they are now near impossible to find in NOS condition, I think anything in the above range would be a good deal. Dan

If you are talking about a 240z, the simplest solution would be to buy a can of the correct paint at www.zzxdatsun.com, or www.classicdatsun.com.

I've recently heard rumors that the 2012 convention is tentatively planned to be in Phoenix, AZ. Any thoughts, or is this just wishful thinking by a desert rat. Last one I attended was in 2004 in Los Angeles and would like to see a return of the convention to the LEFT COAST someday. Thanks to all for the great stories and pictures. Dan

Is your fan the early metal fan or plastic fan. Don't think the fan clutch for the early metal fans are rebuildable. If the metal fan clutches are rebuildable, or anyone has any experience doing that, I would be interested in hearing about it. Dan

I will weigh in on the consensus opinion that the welting fits beneath the quarter window plastic trim B-pillar area. I have a late (1/71) series 1 car that also has a oval head phillips screw with a clear plastic washer that helps secure this B-pillar trim area to the quarter window frame. Don't know if your 71 has this screw or if it was just on the series 1 cars, but it helps to hold the plastic panel securely against the welting. Dan

Rob, Don't know if this part has been discussed, but there is a rubber, or plastic grommet that fits in a hole in the radiator support. The engine wiring harness passes through this hole and is protected by this grommet. May be difficult finding an original to copy, but would be important to an original restoration project. Dan