Carl Beck

The Series III 240-Z's started production 9/71. All automobile manufacturers start producing their next "Model Year " cars ahead of the current calendar year for sale in the U.S. So YES it is a 1972 Datsun 240-Z, with most of the improvements for 72 included. The Date Of Manufacture is on the car because the US Safety and Emissions Regulations are made effective as of certain specific dates. So any car made on or after that date had to be in compliance with the laws in order to be legally sold to the public here. Early 72 Model Year cars did not have the retractable seat belts, nor the seat belt warning light on the center console that cars produced a few months later did. The car still has the ARA - Dealer Installed A/C evaporator and thermo contol installed in the interior, but I don't see any compressor under the hood. So when you refresh the car, you can eliminate them as well. Looks like the heater core may have been leaking, or one of the hoses let go. So the water inlet/outlet hoses have been cut off - and a loop put in the tubes on the block. When you take the old A/C evaporator out, you'll want to replace the heater core and get new hoses to hook everything back up. If nothing else you'll defrosters for the windshield in Northern Calif. Personally - I like the 72 Z's about the best of any of them. I also like that color combination - so I'd strip that car down to a bare shell and start on a complete "refresh". It could easily be a stunning example and a wonderful car to keep for decades to come. FWIW, Carl B.

What Casting Number is on the block?

See Attached...

Mansfield Ohio - - a side note off subject... Is Furggie's (spl?) Blue Note still just off the square? How about the Boston Spaghetti House - is it still in the flats? Do the Moyer Brothers still have the Junk Yards around Mansfield? Are you a member of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Club? Is the "Friendly House" still there for boys? Ah... memories of my youth.... FWIW, Carl B. Ashland, Ohio... got out of there as soon as I could...

So now the State Sales Tax people are checking to see what you reported as the Sale Price when you paid the sales tax upon transfering the title. On average - according to the State Sales Tax records - first generation Z's sell for $500.00 or less here in Florida. When you have an accident, the Insurance Claims Adjustors draw on that data base to determin the ACV of your first generation Z. Then you have fun trying to convince them it's worth $8K. "tell me what you paid".... your kidding - right? Anyone with a brain might tell you what they told the sales tax collector.... FWIW, Carl b.

Some people are just LUCKY...!! Did they have to coil the long brake/fuel lines - or were their tanks long enough to put such parts in without bending them? Carl B.

Hi Kats: Glad to hear that you have found, and/or met another person directly involved during the 67 to 69 period. Can you ask Mr.Tamura if he is talking about the shape and total size {ie. area} of "that area" being what it is on the rear panel, or if he is talking about the specific off-set location of that area being where it is? Understandable that the area pressed was limited in size/shape to reduce excessive shrinkage in a large curved panel. The original question was related to why it is offset from the center of the panel. FWIW, Carl B.

Exactly - what good are kids if you can't use themLOL There is nothing I like more than working on my Z when my son is here to help. I figure that if he puts enough work into it - he'll appreciate it more when it's his anyway. FWIW, Carl B.

Wow - Congratulations Greg ! That is some pretty significant company to keep... Carl B.

Hi Mike: Good to see you here. I'm sure there are several people on this site that will be glad to tell you where to goROFL At one time, there was an article somewhere that outlined using a Ford Mustang II Power Steering system on the 280Z 2+2. So if you really want or need P/S it can be done. Just a matter of time and money... I'm sure you will enjoy the Z... Carl B.

They look great... it's a matter of personal taste. I do have to agree with Stephen and Rob... Personally I think the four spoke factory wheels look the best.. but then I'm more or less a four spoke person.. American Libra's have always been my favorite... FWIW, Carl B.

hummm.... I've had the BRE Spook on my 72 since Dec. 71, and it has been just fine. The only time I've seen the Spook bend any of the panels is when you hit parking curb's with it. It would seem that securing the rigid Spook to the sheetmetal panels, actually reinforces them. There really isn't all that much force on the Spook itself - as it simply redirects the air flow up into the radiator opening and on up over the hood... the reduced air flow under the car, and the increased airflow over the car account for the reduction in lift or additional down force... but that pressure isn't applied directly to the Spook itself. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Webdawg1 I bought the same brand/type trailer that cbudvet pointed out - - only I did not buy it on E-Bay. The trailer on e-bay was $3995.00 PLUS $1.45 per mile for delivery.... that would have added at least $396.00 to final price {maybe a couple bucks more}... so $4391. Cash in Advance and wait 5 to 10 days for production and delivery. The manufacturer also had another dealer, that had placed on-line adds outside of E-Bay with a price of $4095.00 but they offered a Tampa Drop Off Point for $200.00 addition fee. Bringing the final price to $4295.00. Hey, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks...!! I was calling local dealers to see if any of them could be competitive with the Internet Advertised Prices... The sales person at a Tampa Dealer - said they had a 8.5' x 20' V-Nose coming in next week - and it would be $4695.00. When I ask for the specifics and specifications - it sounded like the list of standard equipment of the trailer on E-Bay, and which I had seen advertised other place on the Internet. So I ask - what is the manufacturer of that trailer - - answer - Freedom. I told the salesman that they had ad.'s on the internet for that trailer for $4095.00 + $200.00 shipping to Tampa... He answered that they were indeed the drop off point... and after checking, he said that they would sell the trailer they ordered for stock - for the same price. $4295.00 plus tax and tag transfer - {cash/check price no charge cards}. I'm supposed to pick it up when it comes in next Wed. to Friday. Cheap trailer, but at that price I can use it a few times as needed and resell it without a huge loss... Given how hard it is to find a used trailer, it should be easy to move at $2950.00 used, or I can just keep it for storage... Now we'll see if it actually arrives in Tampa next week - - - Some of these Trailer Dealers are worse than used car dealers... That's the story so far.... Carl B.

Hi David: Mr. Brock was kind enough to send me pictures of the BRE Car Hauler as it was being designed and developed - but he isn't "kind" enough provide one at anything close to my meager budget. I couldn't afford the shipping from Washington State to Florida!! At $16,996.00 it's a bit over my budget - - I think Mr. Brock designed his for the Daytona Cobra Coupes... Maybe next year??? It sure is nice however.... FWIW, Carl B.

Funny - I always thought that Nissan did a much better job of styling the 2+2 with the 280ZX. The 260/280 2+2 always looked a little bulbous to me... Of course the best job on the 2+2 was the 90+ 300ZX 2+2... you have to look closely to notice it being different than the coupe. FWIW, Carl B.

What is your Budget? How much time would you have to devote to getting a car though the Body Shop process? If I wanted a Racing Green Z - I'd just pay the $35K+ for a nice one and be done with it... FWIW, Carl B.

Yes - BUT - I wonder - could you use the internal parts from the Maxima rack - to rebuild an S30 rack?

Two of the three Aftermarket replacements - ie the $150.00 or less type... had serious distoration problems. Always ask about that - what happens if - the windshield is installed and it has distortation problems. See if the installer will replace it or not - BEFORE you buy... FWIW, Carl B.

Clear Glass - might be. However people have ordered and received OEM Nissan replacemenmts within the last year. NLA one day - on back-order the next - delivered a few weeks later..... You just never know... FWIW, Carl B.

Agreed - The KA24 makes a good swap into a PL510. Throw a turbo on it and you've got something fun. But then the old 510 weighs less than 2000lbs. I went and drove one "at the time" it first came out - it could have been a great car - but it was a slug. Never went back and drove the later models. I have always liked the styling, and the suspension. It was priced right when first introduced as well. I drove one with the RB swap - that was fun. No T-Tops from the factory until the 280ZX in 79. FWIW, Carl B.

Glass Bead Blast it first..... then sand it... then polish it. Better still - just buy a polished valve cover. Unless you really want to get into and continue polishing metal... In which case, I'd get on-line and order one of many many CD/DVD's that show you how. Then join a Metal Polishing forum and find out what tools and polishing products work best with them... FWIW, Carl B.

Keep the 240SX and put an L28 turbo in it. The main thing Nissan did wrong with the 240SX was to vastly underpower it for the time. If they had come out with a real screamer they could have kept a much larger share of the youth market. FWIW Carl B.

Could be the radiator Could be a lose radiator cap or one not holding proper pressure Could be a fan fluid coupling (thermostat control) Could be a lose fan belt Could be an idle mixture set way to lean Could be a timing issue Could be a weak water pump Could be it's low on coolant Could be a thermostat not opening all the way Could be a thermostat that is missing FWIW, Carl B.

Never-Dull.... as used on Air Force 1. No question it's one of the best products for metal polishing by hand. I've been using it since the mid-60's. I don't know what "Eagle One" adds to the price - but you can buy the original at any ACE Hardware store. FWIW, Carl B.

When you get a few nice days - you'll have to dig them out and take some really good pictures. I'm sure we'd all love to see them. HLS30 00157 is stunning. FWIW, Carl B.