Namerow

Thanks, Carl. I was aware of Gorham's story (maybe by way of David Halberstam's book) but never though to search out his book. Thanks for the info. Earlier in my career, I had the good fortune to be able to spend a lot of time in South Korea during the 1980's -- a time when their auto industry (and the country in general for that matter) was just beginning to take real shape. There was energy in the air everywhere (along with a lot of garlic ). I expect there were a lot of parallels between Korea then and what the Japanese auto industry looked and felt like during the 1950's and early 1960's. The young Korean engineers I met were super-eager but a bit shy and hesitant when dealing with visiting tech specialists like me. I remember one of them telling me that he hoped that his company (I won't say which one, but they were largely known for trucks and buses at the time) would become the Porsche of the Far East. That didn't quite happen and the company went through some major hardships, but the brand has eventually emerged as a success and is marketed worldwide.

I went through the same trawling exercise and agree that the photos, while excellent throughout, don't actually cover the process of separating the T/C rear bracket (bucket?) from the rail. However, GK's comments in Post #3 make sense and confirmed what I had expected. Just don't get carried away with the grinder. You may want to check out the lower rail repro that's now available c/o KlassicFab Vintage JDM... https://kfvintagejdm.com/product-category/datsun/?swoof=1&paged=1&really_curr_tax=37-product_cat If you haven't seen the KF Vintage catalog, It's well worth a look. Prices are reasonable, payment is straightforward, and shipping was prompt (at least in my experience, anyway). The pieces I received look really good. I haven't done a trial-install yet, so I can't offer any first-person comments about the quality of fit. All I can say is that I have yet to see any complaints surface from other customers. Another excellent reference thread for Z structural repairs (although the work performed is at a pretty high level) is that by member Disepyon over on the HybridZ.com site... https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/103797-2-4-0-z-l-s-1/#comments I'm enjoying your thread. Nice production quality in your videos. I'm impressed. This will probably become a go-to reference for others contemplating a full re-build of a Z.

JIDECO A picture in another thread posted today shows an electrical relay (rear window defroster, I think) with the manufacturer's name ('JIDECO') stamped on the side of the cover. I didn't recognize that company, but figured that the 'J' maybe stood for 'Japan' and the 'ECO' for 'Electric Company'. The 'I' and the 'D' were a puzzle, though, so I did a bit of on-line searching. The answer lay in the corporate website of another Japanese manufacturer, 'Mitsuba' (wiper motors) that came up in some of the hits I got using, 'Japan + company + JIDECO' as my search string. Hiding in the 'History' page on Mitsuba's site was this entry: 2007: The Jidosha Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Jideco) merged with Mitsuba. A bit more poking around revealed that Jidosha Denki's old website was www.jideco.co.jp. However, that site now just shows a message saying that Mitsuba and Jidosha Denki have 'merged' and providing links to the Mitsuba website. An old Bloomberg listing for Jidosha Denki said that they manufactured wipers, power windows and power lock systems and provided a single address: 1760 Higashi-Matanocho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 245-8510 Japan. So they were probably located not too far from the Nissan assembly plant in Yokohama. Entering that address into Google Maps shows that it's now listed as, 'Mitsuba Corporation Yokohama R&D Centre'. Street view shows us what the former Jidosha Denki h/q looks like today: Hard to tell whether there's any manufacturing facilities at the back of the property. The front part looks like strictly admin and engineering. The back part may just be lab space. Digging back into Jidosha Denki's history, I found this not-happy story from 1998 in a business trade newspaper: "Jidosha Denki Kogyo has unveiled plans to restructure its operations and those of its subsidiaries, a move which will result in the company's workforce being reduced by 30% to 700 staff by 2000. The company plans to close down three subsidiaries, with production being switched to overseas bases in India, China and Indonesia. The restructuring will leave the company to provide wiper systems, control devices and motors in Japan... Jidosha Denki Kogyo will move all of its mass production of motors for power windows and windscreen wipers to subsidiaries in the Philippines and China for its products to be more cost-competitive to its main client, Nissan Motor. Jidosha Denki Kogyo's two Japanese plants will stop production of these products by March 2002, and will specialise instead in making prototypes and some spare parts, and in assembling complete wiper units." Then in 2002: "Jidosha Denki Kogyo (JIDECO) will have a 35.8% stake acquired by fellow electric motors and wiper systems maker, Mitsuba, affiliate of Honda. JIDECO will issue 15 mil third-party shares on 07 January 2003 as part of the deal. The companies hope that the deal will enable them to improve their cost competitiveness by working together on purchasing, product development and manufacturing. The deal will result in Nissan and Hitachi reducing their stakes in JIDECO to 14.6% and 13.8% respectively." And in 2004: "Jidosha Denki Kogyo, automobile control parts maker, will invest around Y500 mil to restart production at its plant in Tomioka in Japan's Gunma Prefecture. It stopped production at the plant in 2002, but has now decided to use the plant as a major site to improve production technology. It has installed a new assembly line for seat-use operations, which is already in operation; and will transfer another such line from its plant in Kikugawa by September 2004. By March 2005, it will transfer a line for motors used in power windows from Kikugawa to Tomioka." And, finally, this, from the Mitsuba 2006 Annual Report: "The Company has decided to merge with its wholly owned subsidiary Jidosha Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd., effective April 1, 2007. The Company and Jidosha Denki Kogyo, having been closely working, have agreed on the merger to enhance their synergy as an integrated group and seek greater management efficiency. The Company will be the "surviving entity" under the provisions of Japanese Corporate Law following the absorption and merger of Jidosha Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd. and its subsequent dissolution." And that was the end of JIDECO.

It would probably help to add some force from underneath while you're prying up from the top side (forked trim removal tool). Maybe you could make up a levering tool and insert it through the hole shown to the right in your photo. Say, from a length of 1/4" steel bar stock with a bend in it. With the bend positioned right at the point where the bar exits the hole, the sheet metal would act as a fulcrum. 3/16" steel rod with a flattened tip would be another option. Either way, you'd be able to generate at least some upward pushing force that would help to reduce what would otherwise be 100% reliance on putting tension into the plastic tit. A bit of spray lube won't hurt, either.

After living with Datsuns and Hondas and Yamahas and Suzukis over the past 50 years, this is a topic that is brand new to me. Who knew?

JCW was a stalwart for my 'everyday' hot-rod heroes from the 1950's. I didn't realize they were even still around.

'L-bracket'. I like that. So much more elegant than, 'cheap-and-dirty fix-up with a piece of hardware store angle iron'.

You have completely dated yourself by the use of the word, 'contraption' (which I personally use a lot)

Not the optimum picture of a Riv, IMO, but point taken and agreed with. GM Design (styling) was on a major roll in the years from 1963-1965. Everybody has their favourite, but it has to be said that The General rarely put a foot wrong during those 3 model years. Examples: 1963 Corvette Sting Ray (arguably improved in 1965, although the split rear window was a styling tour de force and should have been retained) 1963 Pontiac Bonneville 1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 1965 Chevrolet Corvair 1963 Buick Riviera Things started to go a bit sideways starting in 1966, but there remained a couple of additional exceptional designs , the original Oldsmobile Toronado being the leading example (a great riff on 'big car' styling). I personally loved the 2nd-generation Riviera. Styling is a great topic because there is no 'wrong answer'. Even the AMC Pacer had some exceptional elements. And who can argue with the brilliance of the original Ford Mustang fastback coupe? And the 1963 Studebaker Avanti? I can't think of any Chrysler examples, though (maybe the original Dodge Charger).

Would you be willing to share with us the cost of having the car media-blasted? Pricing info for these types of large-scale procedures (blasting, chemical dipping, etc) helps others to develop a plan and budget for their restorations.

Thanks for the update. That's going to be a great little car. I am in deep envy of your rotisserie set-up. It just makes things so much easier. I'd forgotten all about this vendor. I wish they'd clean up their website by eliminating all of their, 'No Longer Available' listings. It may have made sense ten years ago, but now it's just annoying. 'I don't care about what you used to have in stock. Just tell me what you have to sell now.'

Look at the company being kept by Z #000029 on this R&T classified page! Bizzarrini GT Strada De Thomaso Mangusta BMW 507 Cord 812 Cobra 427 (the real one) It would have been easy to skip over the two Datsun listings back in the day. And $4995 wasn't small change back in 1971 (esp. in comparison with the MSRP for a brand-new 1972 Z with all the 2nd-generation upgrades). And just exactly what does 'Positraction' mean here? Was that a Datsun Competition Parts offering?

(sigh) I long for winters of my youth, when snow on the ground and natural ice rinks were the norm. All I get in January 2021 is relentless overcast and brown grass.

Looking forward to your report on these after you take delivery. A few photos would be great, too. Available in black only?

C&H have a new Facebook page (dated 2019) which announces that the operation has moved from California to El Paso, Texas. Jim is still mentioned as one of the contact people.

Those would be complicated pieces to offer new (made even more challenging because of the need to make and stock LHS and RHS versions). At best, someone like 240ZRubberParts.com might be interested in making the plastic (nylon) piece. However, I'm not sure whether most owners care enough about wear on these to warrant making a re-pop. If you're willing to attempt driving out the pins, it looks like the plastic wedge piece would be easy to fabricate from nylon bar stock.

It already looks pretty clean. A far cry from the usual undercoated mess.

Sorry. I knew I should have checked out 'vicarious' before using it, so ignore the word if you will. My point was this: It's risky to write these guys off as nothing more than goofballs and grandstanders.

I wouldn't take this too lightly. America has a history of vicarious presidential assassinations. If that happens... what next?

OK, before this thread gets completely highjacked, would somebody please start a new one to address the, 'My Favorite Accident Story' theme that this is turning into? In the meantime, here's my updated summary of NLA parts: Part Category Suggested by Suggester’s Comments Possible Solutions Diff Front Mount (insulator) – ‘early’ type (PN 55415 E4102) Drivetrain Namerow Required to preserve originality of ‘early’ driveline layout. No easy workarounds, but… In late 2020, Netherlands-based CZCC member Bart (bartsscooterservice) devised a method for re-working the later-style 240Z mount… Hatch Glass Glass S30Driver Getting difficult to find in acceptable to pristine condition. Side Window Glass Glass S30Driver Getting difficult to find in acceptable to pristine condition. Carpet underlay pieces, cut-to-shape from OE-spec jute material Floor Coverings Gav240z Correct material not readily available and not pre-cut Correct jute material might be sourceable from the UK c/o The Roadster Factory (www.trf.zeni.net ) Carpets in correct, loop-style Floor Coverings Gav240z Carpets in correct material not readily available Rear quarter panels Body Panels Gav240z Tabco’s half-length patch panel has traditionally been the only option. Wolf Steel Restorations (www.alfaparts.net ) offer a full-length (dog leg-to-tailight) panel in 280Z format @ Cdn$300. Inner Dogleg panels Body Parts Namerow Previously a make-your-own item 2020-12: Now offered in LHS and RHS formats by KlassicFab Vintage JDM (www.kfvintagejdm.com ) @ $75/side. Roof panel Body Panels Gav240z Required to fix cars cut for sunroof. Re-pop panel not available. Rear valence panel (aka rear ‘apron’ / ‘roll’ panel) Body Panels Gav240z Available re-pops fit OK but are not accurate in certain details. Door Cards (bare, w/o vinyl trim cover) Interior Richard McDonel Often compromised by speaker installations and/or water damage. Available c/w correct vinyl trim from Z Car Depot @ $419/pr (black only) or from Banzai Motorsports @ $500/pr (all colours) 2020/12: CZCC member, 240dkw, suggests these may still be available over-the-counter from Nissan (Canada only?) Center console – ‘early’ type Interior Mike Later-style 240Z console available from Motorsport Auto @ $159 Ashtray Lid – ‘early’ type Interior Gav240z ‘fragile’ (one or both pivot ‘ears’ break off and cannot be reliably glued back in place) www.240zrubberparts.com Ashtray Tub – ‘early’ type Interior Namerow Threaded bosses for Lid hinge pins can crack and break off. Successful repair is difficult. Smoker-used Trays are not pretty. Horn Pad - Locking Ring Interior Siteunseen 2020-12 – Now offered by www.240zrubberparts.com @ $25. ‘Nismo’ fuel pump mounting bracket Body Parts Mike Not an OE part, but… Door Upper Molding – Rubber Squeegee Strip Exterior Namerow Fifty-year old originals are typically rock-hard, chipped and barely function. Requires correct profile in order to mount and function properly. OE rubber has ‘fuzzy’ treatment on face that contacts the window glass. An important component for proper window glass motion and location. Supply seemed to dry up ~ 2015. No one seems to have found a good replacement rubber. Can be had from ZCar Depot as part of their ‘Belt Molding Chrome Door Trim’ piece @ $79/side (molding is straight) or from Motorsport Auto as part of their ‘Reproduction Door Upper Molding Set’ @ $369/pair (moldings are curved like the OE pieces). Not sure if either alternative has the correct ‘fuzzy’ treatment on the glass contact side. Engine Splash Panel (metal) Body Parts Namerow Fibreglass reproduction available from JDM Parts @ $189. Wiper Motor Cover - early-style, hard-plastic ‘clamshell’ Body Parts Namerow Required for accurate restoration of early 240’s

DKW 2-stroke 3-cylinder delivers the equivalent of a 6-cylinder 4-stroke Good illustration of why you should never roll your Z. And now, back to our original program...

Lots of different ways to die or get badly hurt in a car. The shoulder belt is there to keep you off the steering column and IP and away from the windshield in a forward impact situation. I don't have the stats at hand, but I'm pretty sure that your chances of getting into a forward-impact collision are a lot higher than those of being involved in a roll-over. Your results may vary, of course. No question that a Z's windshield structure is relatively flimsy compared to those in modern cars, but it and the Z's roof structure are a long way ahead of the windshield-frame-only protection offered by an old-tech convertible like the DKW. I'll keep my shoulder belt, thanks.

A miniature 1957 Ford Thunderbird. On that same note, a well-known early-60's Ferrari owner once remarked that he sold his 250GTE because the front end styling eventually just reminded him too much of a 1957 Thunderbird.

This part is now also being produced by Steve Nix at 240ZRubberParts.com. As noted somewhere else, 'Out of Stock' does not mean, 'out of stock forever'. It just means that you'll need to contact Steve directly to place a request... 240z Horn Pad replacement ring NEW $25.00 out of stock! Inner 240z horn Pad replacement ring new. Remove the old inner ring and glue/epoxy the new ring to the Pad. Molded from an original 240z Ring and reproduced in a industrial strength hard urethane plastic. Replacement ring only, Horn pad not included.

Fifty-year old originals are typically rock-hard, chipped and barely function. Requires correct profile in order to mount and function properly. OE rubber has ‘fuzzy’ treatment on face that contacts the window glass. An important component for proper window glass motion and location. Supply seemed to dry up ~ 2015. No one seems to have found a good replacement rubber. Can be had from ZCar Depot as part of their ‘Belt Molding Chrome Door Trim’ piece @ $79/side (molding is straight) or from Motorsport Auto as part of their ‘Reproduction Door Upper Molding Set’ @ $369/pair (moldings are curved like the OE pieces). Not sure if either alternative has the correct ‘fuzzy’ treatment on the glass contact side.