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

Hi Ian and Gavin , thanks for your input , this place ( classiczcars.com ) changed my image “ flat top “ . I just don’t know what it is like , I had just followed the rumors without having experience with it . I have a friend whose car has flat tops and really mint condition, I must see it and feel it . Kats

Oh , this Toyota 2000GT is an automatic, "TOYO GLIDE" model. And an airconditioning blowere has to sit in the middle of the both seats ! No space in a dashboard, while S30 (Fairlady Z /Fairlady 240Z series except Z432 and Z432-R) has an in-dash airconditioning system assembled in a factory. Did you notice Toyota 2000GT has the same seat belts which manufactured by TAKATA , I saw it in some Honda models too. Kats

Thank you bartsscooterservice, I think S30 was modern in many ways , unibody is one of them . Thanks Alan , yes S30 was a huge quantity model , Nissan Shatai reached 6000 S30 cars per month in April 1972 ! While Toyota 2000 GT was 30 cars per month , big difference. Unibody is good for less weight, for example Z432 is 1040 kg , ( S20 Engine 199kg ) , Toyota 2000GT 1145 kg ( 3M Engine 209 kg ) . Courtesy モーターワールド Nov 1970 , 自動車の実務 Feb 1970 , 月間自動車 Jan 1970 . Kats

Gavin , thanks, please let us know it ! And Australia and New Zealand got the most powerful engined S30 ever same as the UK and Europe in September 1973 ? Kats

Thanks Woody928 , Toyota 2000GT in the UK , and a Lady , just reminds me James Bond and his secretary . Wow ! I soon will not be willing to drive my cars because road patrol agency spread solt everywhere especially in high way . I hate it every winter in Japan . Kats

Hi Ian , thanks , I am now learning about the air inlet , but I did not know that , looking at the catalog did not tell it to me . I studied HMB 46 has many new features , one of them is a power jet when the throttle butterfly is wide open . Kats