Carl Beck

Hi Alan: I've scanned the "Introduction" pages 02 & 03.. of the English version, so you can compare them to the same pages in the Japanese version, (and everyone else can read them). Just FYI.. Carl B. Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Hi Garth: Fairlady Z Story - DATSUN SP/SR & Z by: Yutaka Katayama & Yoshikiko Matsuo ISBN 4-89522-244-6 (translation by Brian Long, sold at 2002 ZCCA Convention) If you don't have the translation - e-mail me and I'll loan you my copy in digital form. But you still need the book for the pictures etc. E-mail beck@becksystems.com I have a partial listing of the reference books, magazine articles etc. related to the articles I've written on the Z Car Home Page at: a href=http://zhome.com/History/Truth/BookList.htm TARGET=NEW> http://zhome.com/History/Truth/BookList.htm </a> We also have book reviews and listings in the Library Section of the Z Car Home Page at: <a href=http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/Books/references.html TARGET=NEW> http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/Books/references.html</a> If Alan wants to add the information about the books from Japan we can add them to the list in the Library. FWIW, Carl B. Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Oops.. thanks Alan.. one of these days I'll learn to copy/past... I corrected the error. I don't know if they are fundamentally different versions - or just published in different languages. I would think that the basic presentation of the story would be the same (yes/no?). A quick and dirty summary of the sections of the English publication is: Prologue - They Called It "Z" (the story starts in America as a young boy see's a 240-Z. Does it start in Japan in the Japanese version and a young boy in Japan?) Chapter 1 - The Z Ensign - (Introduces Katayama, he starts the Tokyo Motor Show, dreams of producing his own Sports Car, runs the Rally in Australia in 58..which angers his management chain - he is cast out to America.... his brother gives him the Z Ensign flag as a going away present) Chapter 2 - The Dream Sports Car - (Introduces Matsuo - he dreams of designing a car - goes to work for Nissan and is somewhat an "out of the box" thinker... who speaks to bluntly about the 411.. then gets to fix it so to speak, comes up with the image change to the SSS... and in 65 is reassigned to the Sports Car Design Studio..meets resistance to his plan "A" etc. ) Chapter 3 - Convergence - (Introduces Hiroo Miyate, Katayama in L.A. and Masataka Usami as Service Engineer in US in 1960; 1965 Matsuo in the studio, Hara introduces Matsuo to Katayama, ) Chapter 4 - Project Z - (with Katayama's selection of Matsuo's plan "A" and Nissan Managements approval - plan "A" moves from concept to full development. Matsuo fights to keep his original concept/styling clean... while engine is specified as six cylinder, and cab height must be raised so American's can fit with comfort... battles between Hisashi Uemura and Matsuo follow... Chapter 5- - Fruition - (starts with American Road Test of Z, problem with front end shakes identified and solved, weak sugar scoop head nacelle identified and corrected, Epilogue - The Z Reborn - (starts with Matsuo Tie Pin, Matsuo leaves Nissan, 25 years later in May of 1995 25th Anniversary of the Z Car Celebrated by US Z Car Clubs..Katayama invited back to the USA to attend. Z Across America Rally takes place.. Z Production stops, 1999 Renault takes over and assigns Carlos Ghosn.. 2002 New Z introduced I know my summary is very brief - but is that basically what the Japanese book contains? It would be interesting if there were significant differences.. FWIW, Carl

Hi Alan: Yes - the English-language version. While the link to Amazon shows the Japanese cover - the description shows the language as English. The ISBN matches the English version I have - not the different ISBN for the Japanese version. ISBN 1-56970-957-2 for the paperback. So if anyone orders the book from Amazon - with the ISBN 1-56970-957-2, the'll get the English version. FWIW, Carl

Hi Gareth: I have read the "Project X - 240-Z" book and there are several factors I really appreciated about it. I'll go so far as to say that personally, it's the best, most accurate and most complete "STORY" written about the creation of the Datsun 240-Z. I'll agree with Chris in that we can question many of the individual facts, specific dates and other minute points... but in the end, in my opinion, the over-all "Story" is as concisely laid out and interesting to read as you will find. If you are new to the Z Car, this should be the first or second book you read. (the other being the story of the Z Car as written by Katayama/Matsuo). If you are an old hand at this subject, have read everything else and done as much research as possible - you'll see lots of the very interesting tid-bits scattered around in many other places - drawn together here in a more comprehensive manor than ever before. I said I appreciated several factors about the Project X- 240-Z book - so I'll list them in brief. 1. It's fun to read (just make sure you start at what we would consider the Rear Cover and as Chris mentioned read Right to Left;-) 2. It's a book about people and business so it puts the story in proper context as far as I am concerned. 3. It gives you a far more complete story about the Z Car than any previous book. From Concept, to Full Development, to Road Testing in the USA... followed up by the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Z here in the USA 1995. 4. It gives you a good, if too brief insight to the workings, interpersonal relationships and politics of the Corporate Culture. (which many believe really destroyed Nissan Motors Ltd.) 5. It follows the origins of the Z Car from the correct starting point as far as I'm concerned- (Matsuo, Katayama and the Datsun 510) - with no mention of the old school roadsters, nor Mr. Goertz. Hurray!! These guys got it right!! 6. Being a story about people and business, it includes more about, more of, the people involved than any previous book or magazine article; and thus answers a lot of questions that readers of the previous books were left with. It also pulls together in one place many very interesting side notes not discussed in previous books about the Z. If you don't have a copy - I'd encourage you to order a couple copies and save on the shipping costs. Read and keep one for yourself - and give a copy to another fellow Z Car lover. FWIW, Carl B. Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Hi Owen: It looks like a 72 Dash. The last list price Nissan had for a new one was in the $800.00 range. I do not know for sure that you can no longer get a new dash from Nissan. They may be NLA... but Motorsports price is silly. There are two issues that will hurt the value of the dash you have. New In The Box - a 72 Dash is well worth $800.00. On e-bay it might even bring a few hundred above that. Packed New In The Box - the dash was also inside a large plastic bag. That plastic bag keep most of the harmful ozone away from the vinyl. Without the OEM box & packing... most likely something closer to $650.00. The second issue is far more important however, the dash would appear from the pictures to have a couple of indentations (dents) in the top vinyl - - That would knock it out of the real Restorer or Collector market all together. It's easily seen and would lose points for show quality cars. If it isn't perfect, no sense to putting it in the car in the first place. That damage makes it a good dash, that someone might live with in a daily driver but for something closer to $350.00 to $450.00. FWIW, Carl B. Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

A Set of NOS Nissan supplied Racing Mirrors - as used on the Black Pearl's just sold on e-bay for $405.00. See Item Number 8065716766 You can find them in used condition at very reasonable prices. On a Black Pearl you really should have the correct mirrors if you want to keep the Stock Look. FWIW, Carl B.

Depends entirely on the specific year... is it a 70/71 dash or 72, or 73 dash? Part Number on the box? Picture of the front of the dash please... Carl B. Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Hi BD280Z: Is the Buld Date 05 or 06 of 70?... thanks, Carl

Hi Fred: Jason Cheney, IZCC #399 has HLS30 93993... very close... kind regards, Carl

Hi Bonzi Lon: Well you can still make the claim that you have one of the last DATSUN 240-Z's produced. It's just that when we are trying to reconcile the actual production numbers, with the numbers reported - we really need to find that last VIN if possible. Many people check the "NO" box as to having their data Published on the Web Site or not - so not all data points collected are "Published" on the register. Also, the Original Owner's have a different Register that breaks them out - although we consider the Original Owners as part of the over-all Classic Z Car Register. kind regards, Carl

Hi Dimer (everyone): A comment just so we don't run too far afield or add confusion. Most of the talk over the years that I have heard, was about the triple SU's not working "any better" and/or "as well" as the Twin SU set-up. Most people know it will work, as it had been done decades ago by other manufacturers. It would appear that Steve has his set-up working fairly well, and I'm sure he has a lot of fun with it. If he wanted to satisfy our curiosity and/or prove/disprove the triple SU Myth... he'd throw that baby on a dyno - and make a few runs with his engine. First dial in the triple SU's and establish a base line, then switch too a proper (matched to that engine) twin SU set-up, dial it in and do a comparison run. At that point we'd have at least one controlled experiment as a benchmark for the L series engines. Does the Triple SU set-up work "as well" or "any better"? FWIW, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Dean Tilton in Glendale, AZ has HLS30 2563... FWIW, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http:ZHome.com

Hi Bonzi: Ron Millik in Washington State had HLS30 172715, 08/73 Build Date. Not sure who he sold it too. Stan Musick, one of our Z Car Original Owners has HLS30 171716 in Miami, Florida. FWIW, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

The main problems are 1) you'd have to have a flat bed to pick it up and you couldn't have it shipped without wheels and tires. 2) no mention of the condition of the most important parts is made.. that being the floorboards and frame rails... FWIW, Carl

Hi Chris: I believe I did read the first Post - carefully and completely. A "long block" is not a complete running engine. A long block does not contain, nor include the many items I ask about. Nor does the term "motor" more fully define what's being offered. Call your local Nissan Dealer (or any source that sells engines) and ask them exactly what you get if you order a "short block" or a "long block". I simply noted that naviathan specifically used the term "long block" as well as qualified it by saying from the Valve Cover to the Oil Pan - and since he seems to be involved in the process of building the engine - I felt that he certainly knew the difference between a long block and a complete running engine; other wise he would have said something to the effect that you get the complete engine along with all hardware necessary to install and run it in your Z. In terms of value - the long block would account for about 35% of the total cost... If they are offering the complete engine as set up, running and raced... the value of the tickets would be much higher as long as the price of the tickets stays the same. Just didn't want there to be any misunderstanding, especially since naviathan wanted to make it abundantly clear.. FWIW, Carl

If it will run a hundred miles with no problems, it will most likely run a thousand with no problems. Nonetheless, I'd take something to cut the heater hoses with, so you can loop them back and by-pass the heater if need be. I'd also take a fuel pump as a spare. Check and or change all the rubber fuel lines... if you haven't already done that. Old hoses and/or the fuel pump going out is about the only thing that's ever put the Z to the roadside If you have Mag's... make sure you have standard lug nuts to mount the spare if needed, and check to see that the spare has air. Drive safe, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

I ordered the Nissan OEM weather strips - only with the Pinch Welt attached. The corner at the "B" pillar is mitered... and about six inches past the point at which the weather stripping turns down at the "A" pillar - there is a splice. Along the threshold - the OEM parts have a couple of half moon cut outs, on the outside edge of the rubber seal..... but no splices. I followed another thread on the door weather-stripping and the use of the term "genuine" left me wondering exactly what that meant... Did your parts come in Nissan packaging? When MSA uses the term "genuine" does that really mean "genuine type".. or does it mean Nissan OEM parts? FWIW, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

So you win ONLY the Long Block? What happens to the rest of the engine? Intake,Fuel Injection System, Engine Management System, Turbo, Turbo Exhaust System, Intercoolers, Various sensors and valves, Fan's etc etc etc - will they be available for Sale in case someone wants to buy the entire - complete - set up? thanks, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Hello Curtis: If you have HS30 00213, your car would most likely have a build date of 10/70 or 11/70. As it took between two and three months to get cars from the factory to and then into Australia, it would most likely have been inspected at the Port in Australia around 01/71 to 02/71. Let me know what the original engine serial number is, and we might be able to pin the build date down a little farther. The original engine serial number is stamped into the data tag located under the hood - and the engine serial number should be something like L24-17xxx to L24-18xxxx. FWIW, Carl Carl Beck Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

More importantly Bill - did you get Wayne to turn his Sponsors over to you with the car? <vbg> Carl B.

Hi Mike 9 everyone) While at present there is no law that requires drivers to keep right except to pass, obstructing the flow of traffic is not legal in Florida. In the film, all the cars to the left of the far right hand lane could have been ticketed for obstructing traffic, even if they were driving the Posted Speed Limit. The law gives the Highway Patrol certain "criteria" that the drivers would have to meet - such as having more than 20 cars backed up behind them, having every reasonable chance to move right and get out of the way etc... but the law allows the Trooper to use his judgment in such cases and the courts usually stand behind the Troopers. Last year both houses of the Florida Congress passed a bill that required people to keep right except to pass on all limited access highways. The intention was a) to allow the orderly flow of traffic and thus provide the safest environment for all drivers, to reduce the incidences of Road Rage caused by inconsiderate drivers. Our Governor vetoed the bill saying that he didn't think people should be given a ticket for driving the speed limit. FWIW, Carl

Hi Chris: Yes... You could buy either or any as follows.. from 72 forward.. Rear Window Shade Rear Window Shade Kit - (the "kit" came with the Racing Mirrors and was included in the SAP on the Black Pears) Racing Mirrors I was just trying to replace one on my Blue Z today... Carl

Hi Mark: A really good body man "could" straighten that hood.. enough... then fill it with bondo... and for a couple months it might "look" fine, if the fit didn't matter too much ... But you wouldn't want to keep it... Time for a new hood... sorry to see it happen.. Carl B.... Clearwater,FL USA http://ZHome.com

I see an update to your Membership Data in 99... but nothing on the cars. This would be a good time to send it again..You can send it directly to me at beck@becksystems.com For Each Car the following must be complete VIN: Build Date: (from the Drivers Door Jam) Original Color: (Ext/Int) and current color if different: Original Engine Serial Number: (from the Data Tag under the hood) Name: City/State e-mail Comments: IZCC Membership #346 Public Register Yes/No?