SpeedRoo

Don't assume the previous rebuilder did the best job possible if you have no history on the engine. Chain and guides are cheap, replace them. I'm doing the same build F54 with P79 head, just about finished. Balanced the bottom end after a rebore, head skim, cleaned up the ports, new gaskets etc and full block paint after boiling it out and heat treatment. If you have no idea what was done to it then re do it.

You can also google Robert Jackson Madill OK and get lots of background. Seems he left a few unhappy customers in the Ford and Volvo worlds before coming to 240Zs.

Fantastic stuff, thanks for that 26th-Z. I bought 08802 a few weeks ago, must have come down the assembly line with 08808. Must have been pretty special if it had the time machine option added, how else would it appear at the 1988 Z car convention if it went through the Z Store in the mid 1990s!😎 Roo

So let me get this right "No '240ZR' model was sold to the general public, but '240ZR' was the designation given to some of the factory Nissan 'Works' HS30 race cars". There's nothing in the chassis number to indicate these race cars are 240ZR; however the Z432R did have its own chassis number designation. Nissan insiders gave the 240ZR the designation, to some not all cars. Nissan in the USA, owned by Nissan Japan obviously, through their Z Store program built up the USA 240ZR and some insiders employed by Nissan gave it the designation. Am I missing anything? Still makes it a rare car in my book, probably the rarest as Nissan quietly kept it under wraps and off the records.

To quote: 2 hours ago, SpeedRoo said: The Z Store 240Z I want to know more about is the rarest one, number 38 of 37. The 240ZR as the Z Store likes to refer to it! How is it "the rarest one"? It's an individual car - like they all are, given that they each have unique chassis prefix and body serial number - and the only difference is that it got a few additions and an extra nickname a good 20+ years after it left the production line. Since that nickname was not anything to do with the manufacturer and it was not an official series variant, it's hard to take it seriously as anything over and above any other car. '240ZR' was an internal Nissan race department soubriquet for a factory Works-prepped S30-series Z race car with an L24-based engine. What's the betting that the Z Store people didn't think about the name clash, or simply didn't know? So let me get this right "No '240ZR' model was sold to the general public, but '240ZR' was the designation given to some of the factory Nissan 'Works' HS30 race cars". There's nothing in the chassis number to indicate these race cars are 240ZR; however the Z432R did have its own chassis number designation. Nissan insiders gave the 240ZR the designation, to some not all cars. Nissan in the USA, owned by Nissan Japan obviously, through their Z Store program built up the USA 240ZR and some insiders employed by Nissan gave it the designation. Am I missing anything? Still makes it a rare car in my book, probably the rarest as Nissan quietly kept it under wraps and off the records.

Thanks Dennis, interesting program. Just as I said, it is the Porsche owned classic restoration program, not done in the factory where they build cars but in their dedicated service/restoration shops. Ferrari, Aston Martin, etc all have similar programs.

With all the talk of the Z Store "Vintage" Z cars there seems to be a unicorn that is loose in the wild somewhere. It's the 38th car of 37 built but not officially on the list. Would be great to get more details on it and see some pictures. Anyone know where it is? Peter Evanow who ran the Z Store for Nissan had this to say about it: "I certainly remember when Nissan bought up a bunch of old 240Zs because I was the guy doing it, as I ran The Z Store from 1996-1998, when we ended up building 38 cars (there’s a 240ZR that was the last one built for a private buyer that was never officially recorded)." "No matter what list – and Carl Beck’s is good – of restored Zs there is, there’s always a joker in the deck. The one not listed was built as an “R” which Marc Jones handled in his Datsun Alley shop, with a front lip and custom interior, shipped to a customer in NJ. It was run through the program in terms of parts ordered, but off the books for reasons I’m not sure why at this point."

Not sure I understand how any factory can do a "factory restoration". The factory builds new cars, usually on an assembly line, using new components. They have certification/homologation approval from their relevant national authority to do so which allows them to sell the vehicle as a new car in applicable markets. Now the factory may have their service/restoration department restore a car to as new condition but that is still not a "factory restoration". With the Z Store program my understanding is Nissan USA commissioned the restoration of 37 cars to as new condition which they sold through Nissan dealers in the USA. NOS stock components from their warehouse were used and I think 4 outside "Z" specialists tasked with the restorations. The Z Store 240Z I want to know more about is the rarest one, number 38 of 37. The 240ZR as the Z Store likes to refer to it!

As a manufacturer they did have a business license to sell vehicles to the public as a motor vehicle trader. At no time before 2014 did Aston Martin buy and refurbish cars to sell back to the public. They happily restored a car for customers though. I had a continuing conversation with the managing director about buying cars, restoring them and selling them off their own forecourt at Newport Pagnell which is what they have ended up doing, once they became a separate commercial entity from the factory. Have to say I would believe the MD on any Aston Martin matter before I would listen to your drivel again Alan. Have been called Roo for over 20 years, many people know me by that name in various walks of life...they seem to think its feasible and believable. Had no trouble getting the data on the 432R I was looking for, many generous knowledgeable people were happy to share the information, just as I happily do with my Aston Martin knowledge. The only dubious character I have come across in the "Z" world is yourself. Roo

You seem to be living in an alternate reality, Aston Martin never bought in cars and sold them as factory refurbished. It's only in the last five or six years it has happened as that is when the works service side of the operation became licensed to sell cars. Best to stick to what you know Alan rather than spouting mistruths about stuff you know nothing of. I speak from experience as the former Director of Service has been quite a good friend since the 1980's and provided me unlimited access to the records. A lot of the information is in the books I have written on Aston Martin.

Aston Martin only started doing it in the last 5 to 6 years, they never did it before that. Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story now. The DB4 Zagato Sanction 2 cars in the late 1980s/early 1990s were essentially 4 brand new cars with newly issued chassis numbers.

Do not clean it, put the original pieces back on. Store as is in a carcoon and never drive it. It will only be a barn find once and that will add to the value. Wait a few years and put it in an auction as is. In the meantime go buy a nice 240Z to drive around.

Thanks 26th, have sent Mike a message but not heard back from him yet. Thanks 240dkw, will start detailing what I need and assemble the bits. Roo

Thanks 26th-Z. Are they the round Phillips heads or the hex ones? Are they all the same on heater/fuel/emissions/coolant hoses? Roo

Just picked up a 8/1970 build 240Z to join my 1973. Plan on doing a full period correct restoration over the next few years with my son. Car came with a full set of spares from a 1971 240Z that was written off so I can start reconditioning parts and swapping them around to prepare for restoration. Trying to work out the correct wire hose clamps for a 8/70 build, chassis number 08802. Do they have hex heads or Phillips screw heads. Also what finish are they, zinc or gold? There also seems to be a style that has curved tensioner screw plate rather than the flat one. Also trying to find the correct cut pile carpet in black, does anyone know of a supplier. Regards, Roo