MikeW

I used to have some on my side windows. It's just a film that can be peeled off fairly easily but may require a razor blade to scrape. You can't really put any on the quarter windows because they aren't flat enough. I decided that it wasn't worth it and took it off.

I've never heard of any state caring if the engine serial number matches the ID plate inside the engine compartment (which also lists the VIN). After all, plenty of people around here swap out engines for an L28 or even a V8. As far as value goes the matching numbers thing really only matters to someone who wants to do a proper restoration.

"miniature televisions"? As I recall, in the late 70's / early 80's when this thing probably came out a "miniature" television would have been about a 5 inch B&W CRT ...

If you look really close and squint you'll notice that the VIN plate is still attached to the dash and appears to be HLS30-163XXX. Definitely a '73.

Cool!! Will, I'll take the titanium headlight covers ...

Some people/organizations/jurisdictions consider an automobile antique at a mere 25 years old.

Awesome!! No hurry, of course. My car has been missing this for 20+ years.

You need to determine if it's raw gasoline you're smelling or just the standard exhaust fumes getting sucked into the hatch. If it really is fuel and the fumes are coming from the engine (resulting from work on the fuel pump) then there should be a visible leak. More likely it's coming from the fuel tank itself by way of the aforementioned vent hoses. You may smell more fuel right after filling up the tank or when sliding around corners (we all know you do that) thus causing the fuel to slosh around a bit.

Wow, you're right. I'll have to go back and look at my car. I didn't realize it wrapped around that far. I guess since I've gone without that panel for so many years (and haven't gotten around to fabricating one from your template) that I didn't know what I was looking at.

I'm referring to the attached picture from the eBay ad.

Which picture is that? I see what looks like a patch panel in a couple of pictures of the right rear wheel.

For a car that appears to be in amazingly good shape I'm surprised that the reserve on the auction was set so low (it's already met reserve at the current bid of $3900).

I suspect you meant to thank Enrique (EScanlon) as his post was helpful to me as well.

I used a heat gun as well. However, instead of the commercial "goo gone" I used Xylene. Xylene is the main ingredient in the commercial goo removers and it's much cheaper to buy a quart of the stuff (also at Home Depot). I would advise working outside in the fresh air and/or using proper ventilation.

No, I just used sheet metal screws.

I did this years ago as well. My metal bracket is actually attached to the transmission tunnel and not to the plastic console at all.

Yes, according to http://zhome.com/History/DesignChanges.htm : HLS30 006072 06 Lowest VIN# Sold/Titled As A 1971 Model Year Car HLS30 011618 10 Highest VIN# Sold/Titled As A 1970 Model Year Car Therefore HLS30 072XX is somewhere in the middle.

Strangely enough the VB catalog lists a big gap in dates: 1970 (10/69-5/70) 00013-21000 1971 (1/71-8/71) 21001-46000 1972 (9/71-6/72) 46001-120000 I that realize the accuracy of this information is suspect but it is interesting nonetheless.

My car was manufactured the same month that I entered kindergarten.

Congratulations. You've been waiting long enough. Post some pictures. No - the shock towers only came with vinyl.

So what's your advice on getting a replacement? What alternatives are there? Should I avoid the local glass guys and go to the Nissan dealer? What should I expect to pay? Sorry for all the questions ...

No, sorry, I've still got the scratched and pitted original but did a lot of polishing on it. The aftermarket windshield that broke was the PPG and it was noticeably thinner and appeared to not be shaped right. I'd say $110 is great if they'll put it in for that. My problem was that the place where I was getting my car painted was out of the delivery area for the glass guys so I had them just bring it to me and I let the paint guy try to install it.

One thing about the replacement I ordered (made by PPG) was that it noticeably thinner than the original. I'm sure the glass or laminate layer is better these days so it probably doesn't matter.

You may have heard that from me. The aftermarket windshield I ordered had a slightly different curvature and cracked during installation. That may have been just a bad example. If I had it to do over again I'd just have someone come to my house or office and do the installation. If they break it that's their problem. I would make sure that a new gasket is part of the deal or I'd provide my own.

I agree that either the problem needs to be fixed or new posts should be disabled at this level. It's confused many people.