kats

Hi Keith , I was going to ask same thing to Steve as I also want the light green cloth for my seat restoration . Great work Steve ! Here is a picture of the screws and washers for the plastic guard, they look special for me . Kats

Alan, thank you for the information , Kameari Engine Works has been lived up to their parts , I will buy their ARP made bolts. We are all looking forword to seeing your ex-Kuwashima san's racing Fairlady 240ZG, please post or start a thread in some time. Gavin, thanks about the link of how to of engine rebuilding, but I am scared doing it ! Blue, I did not know a Chinese manufacture doing for S20 !! I am curious which is better , a shrinked Nissan genuine old gaskets which are almost unusable or , new and fit properly but made in China... I am not going to buy Chinese metal parts such as piston rings / bearings , and oil seals which I already bought enough and Nissan is still providing those kind of parts. Kats

I am 6ft tall, Mr.K is taller than avarage for his generation . This picture was taken when my blue 240Z was under the restoration. 18 years ago , I was young ! Kats

Hi Patcon , you have a very kind grandmother, you were lucky student but , you did not take it , you are kind too . Are you too big to fit ? You don’t look that way for me ? Thanks psdenno , I like that high school story, that is funny! Kats

Gavin, nowadays, people want two seaters for Z cars , but at that time sales volume of 2/2 was a noticeable, I can’t say precisely now but when I am home I can introduce some magazines which have very interesting interviews with Nissan engineers. I remember something about 2/2 , they sold more than two seaters in Japan , like that . And interesting story about the roof line which I found in a magazine, the engineers were thinking about “ father “ and “ his son “ . Father pay for the car , his son of course wants to take the steering wheel. So , the engineers said “ there should be a respect for father . The best is same roof as two seater but , in that case father would feel uncomfortable. We took comfortable for the rear seat passenger, so the roof had to be like that “ . About the RHD parts catalog, I only have a December 1970 issued ?. Kats

Hi Captain , I remember I learned “ don’t cry over spilled milk “ in junior high school! So I need to be calm down to avoid rushing into something “ not right “ for me . Or if I decide to go for a new world , I shall not look back where I used to be ... Hi Blue , your Chinese friends are saying that , we have same words in Japan !! So , we say “ don’t be a half way . If you stand up way tall , you won’t be hammered. If you can’t , just be nice like everyone.” Kats

“ So that means early 260z's in Australia got the flat tops, but no charcoal canister and no air pump until later in 1974.“ Thanks Gavin, that is a very good information. The canister would not affect its max power , so the 260Z except on the US got 162 ? PS , right ? As a side note , the still born Fairlady-260Z had a 170 PS engine with an electric fuel injector. I wish I could have the car , I hate “ oil crisis “ which affected automobile manufacturers. Kats And the parts catalog , very very nice, thanks !!

Hi Alan , I am checking parts what I have ? (for my PLS30 project? ) but I don’t have skills and don’t have an experience to build an engine . I sometimes dream about doing it by myself under supervisor . To be honest, just looking at those interesting parts without assembling is the most fun and happiest moment for me . When I put the parts once , then I can’t see the most of them . Alan , or anyone please teach me , a bolt for securing a head and a block , Kameari -Engine Works sells “ Kyoka- type “ head bolt. Does it means more durable? More stiff ? I think it can be tighten much more higher torque than the one from Nissan original. But , I don’t think it is a good idea to tighten the bolts more than specifically directed in the service manual. So , why people want “ Kyoka- type “aftermarket bolts for the place which is specifically directed tightening torque? Here is the website Kameari Engine Works , http://www.kameariengineworks.co.jp/Catalogue-v3/catalogue-035-S20-NEW-20181203.pdf I missed Nissan stock head bolts , I am thinking to buy Kameari or wait for another Nissan original new bolts ( but I don’t know when it comes up next ! ) Kats Alan , let me know when you begin your the third S20 engine building!!

One more today, I have a pile of file of “ service Kai- Show “ it’s like a bulletin I just don’t know what is a suitable word for this . Some topic has many pages and some just a few pages . I found descriptions of a canister, and a label for emission device applied . My ZG still remains the label on the left rear quarter glass . The right one is for the emissions , it might be put in 1973 . When my ZG was rolled out from the factory in June 1972 , there was no device required. But in 1973 , new rule became active , my ZG was affected by the rule to have a lime green vacuum ball to cooperate with an ignition timing . But no need to have a canister. The middle one is the label for “ new car delivery inspection completed “ by a local Tokyo Nissan dealer. Kats

I have a question, Is a good S20 block ( or bearing cap or both ) must have all the same thickness washer ? I have not seen such a block . Why Prince had to do this for assembling? Was the quality of casting not good ? Or , were the workers in the factory careful enough to build S20 , to make it better gap installing the crankshaft? Alan , please let us know . And if you need some washers, I will give you some . But you won’t need them any?more Kats

About a S20 engine block , crankshaft bearing cap has two extra bolts from side not seen in L series engine , this is what we feel S20 is special. Each bearing cap comes with specifically designated washer (Shim ) , 10 different thickness washers has letters from A to K ( I is not used to avoid confusing with 1 ) . I have got these washers yesterday, I am so happy with a lot of washers. Mr.Yamamoto told me he is trying to find washers which are used in my spare S20 engine but , I have not heard good news from him yet . So I took it from the auction. Seeing these sets of washers , now I am wondering how many S20 engines did the seller overhaul in his life ? He may have some more interesting S20 parts ? Kats

Hi Gavin , it is very interesting to read what happened in Australia, I am surprised Japan is not the only country about the rules . About the digital readout speed indicator, I also love it , my 180SX has the same , it was an expensive option . I think Nissan did this a long time ago than Ferrari ? Kats

Thanks Alan , you have tremendous knowledge about true stories of cars in Japan not only Zs , when was the first time you came to Japan , in 1970 ? The way you enjoy your S30 cars is not a JDM style, you have real Fairlady Z cars just like a Japanese owner or even a racer in Japan ( I know you have some HLS30 cars too ) . As I have been a HLS30 owner in Japan , I always feel I am a stranger in Japan . For me people seemed to think domestic model Fairlady Z series is the best , I was so disappointed when someone said LHD is fake ... although I have met some gentlemen who friendly approached me and said “ your 240Z is the real one ! We have got 240Z two years later than abroad “ I have been trying to change Japanese people’s image , HLS30 is not a fake , S30 was made “ export “ in mind . But I recently found about “ grass is always green “ thing is , some Japanese people used to try “ American look “ in old days . I saw a picture which was taken maybe late 1970 or 1980s , a Z car meeting in Japan there are some big 5 mile US bumper on Fairlady Zs , or even some real HLS30 cars . And US tail lights on a Fairlady Z ! Kats

Thanks Captain! You are my mentor. Recently I am so inclined to Dino 246 , is it because I am looking at the car sitting on the grass the other side of the fence ? Kats

You will be shocked by this , even most Japanese people would be . https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d329095161 I can’t stop saying this , this fender mirrors is not beautiful. An example from active Yahoo auction in Japan . People in Japan , at that time 1993 almost every one appreciated door mirrors, seems no one wants to have fender mirrors on his / her personal coupe ( even for sedans ) anymore like before . Japan’s economy was really good, every young men tried to buy these cars and their father all rushed to buy Luxury sedan Nissan CIMA or Toyota Celcior . But here it is , a very very few people was still preferred the fender mirrors even on a Silvia ! This fender mirrors must be a dealer option at a local Nissan . I posted old stories on here or other thread before , Japanese rules were really strict, too much conservative. It was just crazy. No door mirrors allowed cars before March 1983 , no wide wheels , even some people got a ticket because they had Z432 emblems instead of their original registration type of car . ( on the other hand, there were a lot of protesters enjoyed whatever they want on the street ) Z32 and R32GTR , NSX , Supra , all Japanese manufacturers followed max 280 PS engine voluntary restraints . Literally it was not mandatory, but it was just like a restriction . RB26DETT , it was meant to be produce 500 PS or more , however it was sold as 280 PS engine to the public. And many people know about that , when type S130 debuted in Japan , the law did not allowed “ space saver “ spare tire . So , Japanese S130 had to have a big spare wheel on the rear deck ( what a meaningless law , the tire obscured almost whole space ) as it did intended to be flat for the compartment area , with newly introduced a space saver tire in the rear quarter panel . Everything like that , Japan was very very stubborn for new things , and worried about too much “ freedom of car “ . I used to owned this Silvia , everything original car . Kats

Thanks Captain!!! I understood it now , I see why we are talking about “ cover , price , crowded people “ etc .. Thank you !!! Kats

Thank you everyone, downfalls means rain drops ? I don’t have a problem with the mirrors in the rain , I can see the back view sufficiently but yes the mirrors have rain drops . My family car Nissan Extrail has big door mirrors , but this is so much worse than the fender mirrors in the rain , the big mirrors have downfalls badly. About the price , stock NIB would be well over 100000 JPY , very accurate replica is 39800 JPY . The fender mirror is a foldable type , when it’s got an impact , the leg will recline any direction. You see the black cylinder like a grip below the fender, there is a spring , this is the key for the function. Kats

Hi Chris! Good question, Mike is correct, The balck seat doesn’t have original , I just bought the screws and the washers in my town ( like a home depo ) . My blue seat has the originals, but the washer was plated , I like gold finish but it is not the original finish. Here is an answer, you can see originals . The two really bad shape early seats have a silver screw and a silver washer. The detail can tell you they are not obtainable nowadays, the shape of the head of the screw is something different, and the washer looks a little bit thicker than currently available at a home depo . And in March or April 1971 ? A set of new seat belts and hook were applied,I guess that time was a change of the seat too , the seat bottom would have lost the guards and , the seat back lost the hook which transferred to the body side interior trim . And I assume the change of the seat back would be made at this point , “ fat seat back “ replaced by “ narrow ( slim ) seat back “ . It is going to be interesting that everyone look into the seat bottom frame , if you find the holes for the guard , is it March or April 1971 or later ? By the way , an early seat back has a hole for the seat belt hook , the hole can be seen both side right and left for the efficiency of the production. I will check my seat bottom frame if it has holes for the guard both left and right. Kats

How about mounting screws and the special washers? If they come with the guards, would be nice. Kats

Hi Steve , we have been waiting this so long time, I buy two sets of them !! Great work !! Kats

My 240ZG has 1972 June 7th ( R. F. G ) on the jack , while 1972 June 15th ( 47. 6. 15 ) on the paper . This could be a good example of “ A paper later than a jack “ . To extend this to everything in a car , what is the latest date you can find in your car ? I will look up a steering horn metal contact , seat back metal brackets , these seems to be made close to the date that a car was completed assembling. Kats

Thanks jayhawk , you are so lucky that you have a paper with your car . Yes 47 . 10 . -3. means 1972 , October 3rd . Could you let us know what date does your jack have ? I am curious about which date is earlier , jack or paper ? I think a paper must have date later than a jack , because a stamp on a paper means “ Inspected “ . I think the date is shown on the paper is very close to the end of assembling, as well as a set of carpets . They are easy to make for the manufacturer, so seems no need to make a huge pile of them , what do you think of it? My orange 240Z has a jack 1971 November 29th ( Q K CC ) , while its carpets has 1971 November 15th ( 1 K 15 15 , I don’t know what means the last 15 , maybe 15 o’clock? ) . Unfortunately, my orange 240Z lost its paper . To imagine assembling line in the factory is very fun . Kats

About the fender mirrors, not bad in the rain . Kats

Hi , I replaced a battery of my Z432 . This is small one , so associated parts such as a tray /a holder / a cap everything is different from the export S30 cars . The negative terminal is smaller , so you need to have a specific cable for this Japanese S30 . However , there was an optional item “ battery for cold erea “ in Japan , in that case you will have the same big battery as an export S30 . To make a label , I used a paper bag for the key as a donor, then modified it to have some authentic look . Kats

Hi scotta , thanks to add more examples, now you need to find 2 I for your chocks. What a coincidence, I will look up Shimoura -san ‘s chassis number when I visit him next time. Kats