26th-Z

I agree - Permatex

The cork gaskets are my favorite and don't seem to leak. Are your surfaces clean and do you use a sealant?

Wow! Spend the day at the beach and look what happens! Spring Break! Nice picture of the front suspension - Kats. Is that a plated finish? Very nice! I think one thing that needs to be put in perspective is the idea that judging and giving out awards is nothing more than something to enhance a car show. The guys who judge cars at car shows are guys just like you and me - volunteers. The trophies - although not $8 anymore - are not worth the time and effort required to win one, yet we commonly see what we refer to as trailer queens. Its a game! The ZCCA rules are purposley vague so that this whole process is easy. Keep in mind that the judging team can only spend so much time on any particular car. The car owner, on the other hand, gets to spend all day looking at and discussing the car. I encourage relaxation and enjoyment of the ride. My take on the modifications limits between classes is that the number of mods is only somewhat of a boudary. If your really do-dad your car up, it goes to Nissan modified - like track cars and race cars - rather than a few nice "street" mods for the street class.

Stock is the hardest class to judge because that is the only class where “correct” is a relative term. I would say that in all the rest of the classes the relative term for judging is cleanliness. My rule of thumb for deducting points is this: brand new = 0 points, used looking = 5 points, junk = 9 points. Look at the judging forms and notice how things are grouped. Points are deducted by the whole group of items – not each individual blemish. Cars are judged by a team of three guys; one doing the engine, one the body, and one the interior. The team always talks and all the cars in the class are compared with one another in an attempt to be consistent. Judges usually don’t look underneath a car. Anything you can see by only dropping down to one knee.

Oh! Hey, John! Yea, cleanliness.

We have many ZCCA judges frequent this site and I'm one of them. I have judged the last three ZCCA national conventions and I have been the lead organizing judge at the last two Z-Fests. At the last national convention (Dallas), I was made a chief judge and was one of the three judges for the medalion round. Every now and then, I’ll do a local hot rod show or club event. Mark Lambert was the chief ZCCA judge for the stock classes. Todd Wagner (Tidewater Z) is the chief ZCCA judge for all the modified classes and the last I heard was that Fred Buoni is to take over the stock class from retiring Lambert. These are all East Coast guys. The ZCCA judging software was developed by Paul Hollander within the very strong presence of the Tidewater Z Car Club which has many active directors involved with the ZCCA, like Dan Banks, ZCCA historian. A little further North, are Paul Gasparola and John Jefferey (Bad Dog Parts) and Jeff Fox. These guys pretty much make up the backbone of ZCCA judging. There was strong judging talent in Texas and California, but I have always worked at the national conventions with Todd, Paul, Fred and Mark. The judges at any of these events are guys just like us who will spend the day looking at only a few cars and running around filling out forms rather than enjoying the show. They are called volunteers. Jim Peters is going to do the Daytona convention car show in October. I may or may not judge.

Well...rust is probably the main problem. Other than that, they run great.

I have a choice radio I would sell, but I would easily want the prices that you have seen. That's cheap if you are into "Stock".

The stripe kit box is just the same as my visor vanity mirror. Check this out! I was just talking to Jerry about this...What other accessories came with this labeling? This is pretty early stuff. When did these first accessories get released? DOes Carl have a blurb on his site about this?

You bring up a good point, Marty. The stripes would probably put the car in the "Street Modified" class for ZCCA events. Personally, I wouldn't dock points in the "Stock" class because I know that the stripes were Datsun optional almost from the begining. Go Gators

That's pretty cool, Carl. Check out those white-wall tires!

Whew! Haven't seen anything like that in a long time.

Cut it up and part it out. It will take you at least 3or4 to make it worth that. Save the ID tags and screw them to a nice wooden plaque (made of walnut) for your trophy room.

E4600 is translucent white injected molded styrene with a chrome mylar finsh. It sits in the N/S position latched and I associate it with probably no more than the first thousand cars made. Because it is injected plastic, it has no contouring and the shape is quite angular. E4601 and E4602 were part replacements - upgrades if you will - and are cast pot-metal with a chrome finish. They sit latched in the E/W position. Good pictures, Kats.

Ask Todd about Carl Beck and tell him I said hi. Roof racks were also available from AMCO as an aftermarket accessory of the period. Snow ski racks were available also.

Thanks for the picture!

What you missed was this little beauty - the real thing. The early Datsun corporate HQ was at 137 East Alondra Blvd. in Gardena (CA). In 1970, the Master Parts Depot (MPD) opened on Artesia Blvd. (also in Gardena). From early 1970 until the famous 9-story HQ building was finished in '72, the corporate HQ was located in one of the front modules at the newly constructed MPD. Originally, the building had front & rear entrances. However, upon completion of the 91 freeway, the back entrance (on Walnut Street) became the main (& only) entrance. Prior to the freeway coming thru, the front lawn contained a volleyball court (complete w/sand pit) for the employees to use during lunch hour. Mr. Katayama (Mr. K) was also known to have flown his kites on that front lawn. This sign is made from 3/4" wood w/plastic lettering & border. It measures 30" x 18" &, except for being a little worn from 15 years worth of exposure & dirty from 20+ years of storage, is in very good condition. This sign was removed upon the name conversion from DATSUN to NISSAN in 1984. Fortunately, it has gone to one of the best homes it could have.

I need to go out to the shop and get the lamps. I'll measure them and post some answers. I have two lamps = one set. I believe they were 280Z vintage Datsun options and I don't know if they are fog or driving lamps. They come with the Datsun covers. Yes, fog lamps are made for a different lighting pattern than driving lamps. Driving lamps illuminate distance and cannot pierce the fog. Fog lamps illuminate the ground in front of the car and although they do not pierce the fog either, they are great for a wide range of illumination directly in front of the car.

Jump back into the conversation, I really thought Steele would have something, and I realize it specializes in American stuff, but if you aren't satisfied then I will go along with it. I'm just not at the stage of needing special rubber parts that I don't already have. I have a shift boot as well as a couple of the lace types. I was planning to have new boots made from my pattern and such, HOWEVER there seems to be a ground swell gaining here and I would happily jump on the support bandwagon to buy at least two shift boot replicas. Let me know. Chris

As usual, Kats, you make me jealous.:knockedou

I was (and still am) looking for these when I bought the ones I would sell. Chloe (remember her?) e-mailed me with a zcar.com ad and I bought them sight unseen. I think they are for the 280Z as a Datsun option. They are in pretty good shape but I do not know if the bulbs work. Metal and plastic housings. Glass lens. Plastic slip-on caps. I recall one of the caps has a scratch.

I have these - $100 - PM me.

That's pretty cool. A four page thread over all of this! Well congrats! Welcome to the low VIN club and best of luck with the restoration. Her Majesty awards you two atta-boys!