26th-Z

Brandy, I'm reading and reading, and then I linked over to have a look at Ruby, and I have some basic confusion. Lets get some terminology straight, first. The wheel is the round metal thing that bolts on to the car. The tire is the rubber stuff filled with air that goes around the wheel. Wheels on a stock 240Z are 14" in diameter and 4-1/2" wide. Datsun 240Zs never had 13" wheels. Ruby looks like she already has 14" wheels. Go measure the diameter. 14" wheels are not very common any more and most people are buying 15" diameter new wheels to fit the Z. Used 14" wheels are quite common and Ruby will fit into a size 4-1/2" to 6" width without any problem. She could also wear a 15" wheel in those widths without any big deal. In used 14" wheels, some of the hottest fashions are "slots", "ARE Libres", and "Watanabes" in my opinion. Now lets talk tires. The stock tire was a 175 /60SR14, but that isn't made anymore. 195 /60SR14s replace that old size and fit best on a 4-1/2" wide wheel. If you go over to the Tire Rack site, you can read about the size of the tire versus the width and what all those numbers mean. Check this site out also. http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi Keep in mind that Ruby's speedometer is set up for the original 175 size tire on a 14" diameter wheel and the resultant overall diameter. You want to stay as close to that diameter as you can. Around 22.3 inches. So if you go with a larger diameter wheel, you will want a lower profile tire. Wider wheels will demand a wider tire. Have fun.

The latest issue of Classic Motorsports magazine (#112, Jan 2005) contains their readers chioce poll of the top fifty classic sports cars, "Best Sports Cars of All Time", "The Fabulous 50", a readers survey conducted some months ago. The top ten include; 1. MGB 2. Jaguar E-type 3. Porsche 911 4. AC/Shelby Cobra 5. Chevy Corvette Stingray 6. Datsun 240Z 7. Jaguar XK120 8. Triumph TR2, TR3 9. Austin Healy Sprite / MG Midget 10. Austin Morris Mini The Datsun Roadster finished 16th. The Datsun 510 finished 36th. Other articles include an auction report; "We believe the Datsun 240Z is on the brink of true classic status, so buy one now and enjoy the fact that it's a fun, reliable sports car to boot". There is coverage of the ZCCA national convention and a nice photo of the Zclub line-up at the Walter Mitty. "Datsun showed everyone in 1969 that the Japanese could build cars as well as anyone. The 240Z was superior to any other low-priced sports car on the market, and could embarrass some that cost thousands more. Plus, it was reliable, comfortable and well made. For the first time, buyers flocked to Datsun showrooms. If the Z wasn't Japanese, it would have been widely recognized as a classic from day one. Because it is Japanese, far too many have been left to rot away due to rust and neglect".

Love the clock. Not correct for my car. Too bad. Can't use it. I think you will get a line forming in the morning.

Yea, Ed. That's the stuff. Eastwood's loom tape. Glue the ends over a double wrap instead of tying it off. If you are going for points, make sure you get the part labels off the original harness. They are dated. Thanks for the link.

Nice car, welcome to the club!

Yea, that is what is listed and I think it comes from Humble's book. I really don't want the adhesive either.

For what it's worth now that I missed most of this discussion. The "Z Restoration Program" data calls for "3M Scotchbrand" tape and lists part number 054007-06130. I have not looked for it yet. Remember to never use the F word when discussing the Vintage Z Restoration Program!

Great advice, everyone.

I would have had something more like this one in mind for your Zs, Vicky.

Ok not so funny but spectacular http://www.big-boys.com/articles/japancrash.html

That was funnier than hell. Thanks!

Thanks for the confirmation on the seat belt labels, Alan.

You make such a good point, Alan, about the various model types and the related serial numbers. I must thank you again for clearing up all that confusion with me some time ago and sending me a photo of HS30-00026. I am beginning to notice that this information needs to be repeated from time to time. Your mention of the seat belt label finds my curiosity as I am unaware of label type and requirements outside the US. Here is the North American spec label. What does the UK label look like? Same? RichieP, Another obscure manufacturing date is stamped into the wheels. The standard steel wheel (and you may have only the unmolested spare remaining) has a date of manufacture stamped in the rim. From my experience, they seem to follow production dates closely. I want to express that the dates appearing on individual parts probably preceed the actual manufacture date of the car within the accuracy of a month - not a specific day. For instance, my seat belts show a September date and my wheels show an October date.

Ha! I didn't realize that! Send me to my photographs! Sure enough, here is a picture of an S30 with round emblems and hatch vents. The PS30 shows the same, but my pictures of an S30-S do not include hatch vents. Of course that makes sense. The home market cars would not have 240Z on the pillar, would they? You must be insinuating that the North American imports were left-strokers and the home market cars were right-strokers?

Ed, As you know, I am not a pillar vent kind of guy. I am a hatch venter. But I understand from my most respected gurus that the hole is supposed to be black. I was standing around some time ago listening to a guy go on and on about how his car was original paint and the snide comment was made based on the fact that his vent holes were not black. Beandip is also correct about the right and left hand applications of the emblem. I know its picky, but I wanted to share it with you guys.

I don't recall ever seeing a 200GT, Bob. Nifty cars to say the least, and a fascinating story of Japanese autombilia. I'm not surprised that someone in Florida collects them. Nothing surprises me down here any more. It used to be that on a sunny Sunday like the ones we have been enjoying lately (hurricane season ended yesterday - whew!) one would see a lot of Harleys out for a ride. Lately, I take delight in driving around on Sundays to see the collector cars out.

Flow-thru ventilation was one of Datsun's big selling points at the time. Considering the 240Z was one of the first automobiles equipped with such a feature, it is not unreasonable to understand that it didn't work as well as ventilation systems work today. The early cars with the hatch vents established ventilation through an elaborate system of ducts and louvers incorporating a rubber flap as a backdraft preventer. By comparison, the pillar vents are much more sophisticated. Still, it is unfair to compair their performance to anything contemporary.

Thanks daddz!

The best girl-catching investment you can make, Bill, is to join a gym and work out. Girls love muscles.

It can pretty much be said that all cars with the round pillar emblems have vent holes as ya'll are discussing. The exception applies to 432s and prototype models. The hole is for venting purposes and was originally back painted black.

Try this place. I have been using this stuff to make molds and repros. I can buy it in Orlando in smaller quantities. http://www.rubbermoldcompounds.com/

It took me forever to get this part off the car and clean the undercoating off to see if there was anything remaining of the original. Here you go, Kats! Original 1969 direct from Her Majesty the 26th.

As promised, inspection lid clip pictures. This is 63209-E4101, the plastic clip and the inspection lid (thank you Princess 27 for lifting your lid). The original clips were painted along with the body. Notice the slotted bracket welded to the lid and how the clip slips on. The parts book lists these up to July '73, but I think they were replaced earlier.

Speaking of not having a car to show....I could enter Princess 27 in the "gross-out pig" category. Perhaps someone could loan me their car hauler boxed trailer so that everyone would know how serious I am when I unload the babe. Maybe I better not. The poor thing just drips rust flakes and would make a big mess.