Carl Beck

Your friend that does the body and paint work - did a really nice job on the floorpans. That's a real good friend to have when you undertake a project like this. Keep the photo's coming … Carl B.

Yes - as original equipment production in 5/71 had metal fans. However, given the reasons for the change to the lighter weight plastic fan's - It is a good idea to replace the metal fan's with the plastic one's for any street driven Z. The plastic fan might cost you a couple points in a Stock Class at a Judged Show…but it reduces the risk of early water pump failure - or damage to the radiator/hood etc if the metal fan breaks away.. FWIW, Carl B.

That also would still allow confusion - and both the Series I and Series II were produced in 1971. FWIW, Carl B.

Also keep in mind that it may not be the cap. I can be the seal between the tank filler neck and the cap. These filler necks get pretty brittle with age and they can crack as well at that interface.. this too can cause fuel spills right under the cap… FWIW, Carl B.

Back to the Original Post - from the pictures provided - that looks like a very solid example - and would most likely be fun to fully restore at this point. It will be interesting to see where the bidding winds up at the end of the auction…$10K would not surprise me. It is getting very hard to find un-molested 240Z's in easily restorable condition. I hope someone we know gets the car and just cleans it up - to see what it really looks like. FWIW, Carl B.

Chris: We avoid using Nissan's terms - because they allow confusion as to the specific's of the exact model being discussed. I'm pretty sure most of the Model Introduction Service Bulletins for the 240Z's have been shown/discussed here. Here is the cover page introducing the "1971 late model" or as we call it the Series II cars. That way we can tell if a 240Z Sold/Titled or advertised for sale used as a 1971 Model - is in fact the first or second model sold/titled as a 1971. FWIW, Carl B.

The fact that Nissan and their Authorized Dealers here in the US sold the same model 240Z as 1970 and 1971 "Model Year" vehicles; then introduced yet another "Late Model Year 1971" vehicle - - - should make the reason clear as to why there is no "Official Nissan" designation that points out the difference. They seem to have made ever effort to hide the differences at the time. While the average buyer didn't have a clue that while they were paying for what they thought was the latest model i.e. 1971 - they were in fact getting the previous years model with no changes, other than to the MSPR. The buyers that actually waited for 240Z's produce in Feb. 1971 actually got what they paid for - a newer model with several improvements. So to avoid the confusion caused by having the same model being sold/titled as 1970 and 1971, then having a second model sold/titled as 1971 - Yes, knowledgable enthusiast apply the more specific terms of Series I and Series II to these vehicles. Metal Fan's were replaced on the 1972 Model Year 240Z's here in the North American Market. FWIW, Carl B.

Julio - what radiator are you running? Has it been pulled, flow tested or re-cored lately? By all means, do a pressure test on the radiator and cap first. Carl B.

Jeff - ZTek has a battery hold down for the OEM Battery. I sent him a copy of your drawing/model - and ask if he had anything like that for the Optima. Must say he makes some very nice pieces.. BLING! Polished Billet 240Z Logo Battery Hold Down 70 78 Datsun S30 | eBay Will let you know.. I like Mike W's set up as well. Thanks for Posting that Mike. Carl B.

See: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/electrical-s30/29889-battery-bracket-red-optima-battery.html#post249206 Carl B.

Red Top in the White 72 - somewhere in this forum, I believe one person posted a diagram that shows how to build a custom top battery bracket for the Red Tops. Interstate - in the Blue 72 Interstate Absorbed Glass Mat's {AGM} two of them in the BRE Z All kept on battery tenders.. Important to note - that all of todays batteries have Posts that are no longer in the exact same position - as batteries from the 70's. The result is that the OEM Battery Hold Downs - now come very very closet to the terminals on the cables. I've had to wrap battery top hold down brackets with electrical tape - to assure that the positive terminals on the battery cables - don't come into contact with the bracket. I bought a Firestone "FOREVER" battery in 1976… Firestone has been replacing it free of charge since then. They were lasting 3 to 4 years, when not kept on modern battery tenders. The last one lasted 7 years when kept on a battery tender. It was replaced by Firestone with an Interstate, which is what they now carry. I say "battery tender" rather than "Battery Tender" because mine were made by Guest.. Battery Maintainer/Charger - charges at 3 amp if necessary. Otherwise it is a microprocessor controlled - Float Charger. It kicks on and charges when battery voltage drops to around 12.2 volts, kicks off when the charge is back up to 12.6. These Float Chargers keep your battery fully charged - and won't overcharge like the older Trickle Chargers could. There is no need to take the battery out of the car. FWIW, Carl B.

Beautiful Job Namerow - - I'll bet you had several enjoyable hours doing that. Had to laugh however - I had to put the "loops" back in cables from a 70- for my 72… Carl B.

Hello AMelbye: Honestly - I think your budget is way to low at this point. $5K to $10K will only get you a 240Z that needs a lot of attention. Most of the items on your list… FWIW, Carl B.

1 3/4" inlet/outlet is pretty close to what the OEM muffler is - so unless there was something inside that second muffler that had collapsed.. or was shutting the exhaust flow off almost completely - - it is very doubtful anything would be harmed at the engine. FWIW, Carl B.

non-factory headlight covers.. in a Datsun Commercial?

I don't believe you do… should be able to run with the stock coil.. Carl

So what do you hope or plan to do with it? Carl B.

DO NOT hook up the Unilte without reducing the voltage feed to it - you can burn it out. This might help.. Mallory UniLite Hook Up<br> for 72 Datsun 240Z the wiring there is for a 72 - and I can't remember if the 73 Tach is exactly the same or not. FWIW, Carl B.

This might help..

Mallory Distributor - or Mallory Unilite Distributor? Carl B.

yes - the NOS Door Seals, both with and without the pinch welting - are NLA - so you have to find someone that bought them years ago - and who now wising to resell them. Carl

That price seems pretty reasonable for NOS Nissan Parts. With rubber NOS door seals are now in the $$250.00 per side range - if you can find any. Given all the hassle of fit and door closing issues with the after-market seals, OEM door seals seem like a place to spend the money. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Jeff/Bob: Glad to share the information with all Z Car enthusiasts. I believe that having high quality Z's at high end events, reminds most people attending, just what an amazingly beautiful car they are. Stunning as they were when first introduced; and appreciated as beautiful art today. One definition of a "Classic" is; a thing of lasting or timeless beauty. We can ask anyone that has taken their Z to one of these events, and they will tell us that the Z always draws a lot of attention - and very favorable comments from former owners, as well as people that really wanted one 40 years ago. A line from "Silence OF The Lamb" comes to mind - it went something like: "What do people covet?" - - "They covet what they see". I think that is a killer line - but it rings true. Put a 240Z in front of the people with the ability to buy very expensive Z's - - and it will provide the motivation for some of them to do so. I am no longer surprised when I meet Collectors with old V12 Ferrari, rare high dollar Porsches etc - that also have a Datsun 240Z in their collection. They recognize the Z for the Sports/GT that it is and they don't seem to have any hang-up about the price. If anything they seem to enjoy the "reverse-snob-appeal" of appreciating a capable and beautiful car - for no other reason than that. FWIW, Carl B.

To a large extent - they already are or would be accepted if entered. The problem is getting the owners of the very finest examples - to enter them. It costs the owners of any of the cars shown at these events a significant amount of money, to be there with their cars. For the guys that are showing their multi-million dollar Classics - the cost of showing up is relatively insignificant. For many people that just put $60K+ in the restoration of an early Z …the additional expense of attending one of the higher end Concours Events just doesn't seem worth it. Like the saying goes - "you can't win if you don't enter". So hats off to the few guys that do - Better, perhaps, than new ? Jeffrey Mader?s 1972 Datsun 240Z | Hemmings Daily https://www.facebook.com/PinehurstConcours FWIW, Carl B.

Amelia - the last Roadster sold there for $50K last year. Keith Crain is one of the Judges at Amelia, and he is also one of the Vintage Z Owners. There is little doubt in my mind that Series I VZ would bring bids above $65K there. Taken to Monterey next year - who knows. One problem in establishing values for Collector Quality 240Z's - is they tend to trade hands at private sales. Then the general market is left wondering?