26th-Z

I am finding it is still cheaper to buy new bumpers even though they are pricey. The cost to re-chrome one bumper is in the $500 range - after purchasing an old one!

I thought the quote was "cuffs match the collars"!

Red rivets on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42612&item=2445824653

What's the difference? You will bend the sheet metal valance just as easily with either spoiler material. Don't think a urethane spoiler will flex and save the bodywork when a fiberglass one won't. Spoilers mean low ground clearance and you must be very careful with your driving. Easiest way to bend up a front end is to put a spoiler on in my opinion.

It looks like you are going to have some problems. New body panels - http://www.rustrepair.com/app2/onlinecat.htm?p=sm-datsun

The pin connection clips between the dash harness and the engine harness / body harness may be different. new pin connectors can be found here http://store.yahoo.com/eagleday/blco.html Otherwise, the dash will fit in the car.

Seat belt straps will wear and rot with age. I would not recommend using a set simply pulled out of a junkyard. THis place rebuilds seat belts and restores them to new http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/

Car HLS30-00332 has tar mat insulation covering the rear deck just as you describe, kats.

Hi guys, Her Majesty the 26th has round knobs. I'm sure I can confirm rounded knobs with the other early cars. Evidently, it was quite fashionable to have rounded knobs in the early days! The part number discrepancy between Mark's piece and Alan's description list is so typical Datsun. I am not surprised. It can easily be surmised that specific parts did not appear in an orderly progression of production numbers and dates / models. However it is quite evident that the squared knobs appeared later and replaced the original production of the rounded type. So many bits of the very early cars are unique, one might suggest that the first productions were of limited quantity and that the second orders for these parts were made with slight modifications. Perhaps the result of a comment made during a press release coctail party! In my opinion, the hand throttle is so unique that any knob shape is an interesting detail for a car. The knobs, like many other interior components, were made with a plastic that resembles "Bakelite", an older composition material. The only glue that will work to repair this material is "Superglue".

Evidently, the tar mat was applied before the car was painted. Here is a picture of the tunnel jute over the tunnel tar mat. The interior vinyl was glued directly to the jute. Please, no comments about my floors or the firewall insulation. I'm going to fix all that! The tar mat is already off the floors and they are discolored from a rust treatment solution. Interestingly, the jute has roller compression marks in it. Perhaps from the application of the sticky solution? The contact cement was also applied mechanically. The cement application is patterend on the fire wall, however it does appear to be a hand applied technique from the sloppiness of the work and drip marks. I imagine a paint roller type of tool used to apply the cement. By the way, the cement is yellow, just like the 3M brand of interior and weatherstrip cement.

Hello Carl, I think you have it described very well. The "INSULATOR" is what we are calling tar mat. It is thick (2mm) tar-paper adhered to bare metal covering the floor, tunnel, and I have seen it on the rear deck (HLS30-00332). I have new "INSULATOR" material and it is flexible, but will not fold as it is impregnated with a fibrous filler. I suspect the tar mat will adhere to the floor with a heat gun application. It was used for sound insulation. I understand the 432-R did not have this material for weight reasons, Alan? Kats' jute pictures show a light brown fibrous "JUTE" mat. I think our old stuff was soaked in a solution that leaves it "sticky" and dark (see my tunnel jute picture), but it is very fibrous almost like a horse hair material. Old Porsche jute is very similar. The jute covers the floors, tunnel, and rear deck. Now here is where it gets a little strange. I understand that the stock original 240Z import came with "rubber" floor and rear deck mats. See my picture of the rear deck mat. It has a leather texture, 2mm thick foam composite vinyl. Mdbrandy's picture looks like the floor mats, but I need to confirm. The tunnel was covered with diamond patterned interior vinyl, contact cemented to the jute which was contact cemented to the tar mat. The floors and deck were loose laid and the rubber mats were either snap fitted or Velcro fitted. My car has both. Evidently, rubber mats were not a big hit in America and carpeting is very common. The Japanese version ZL came with carpeting in place of the rubber mats. Take a look at your materials closely. It sounds to me as though you have two layers of jute. This picture shows the tunnel jute removed and the tunnel tar mat remaining with remnants of the dark brown jute fiber and yellow contact cement. Notice some of the tar mat (brittle from age) chipped off next to the seat mount revealing bare metal.

Of course, you could always do something like this

This is Tricky Garage where Her Majesty the 26th lives.

Just great, kats! Of course the woman in the photograph is beautiful. I thought all Japanese women were beautiful! The radio / cassette is probably what we call 8-track. I have seen one of those. I have the service manuals from an OKINAWA car. They list a print date of 8/70. Also, the car is in Tampa and I can look at it from time to time if you have questions. I want to tell you that I have several early service manuals and the OKINAWA set is different. The paper is different and the covers have textured paper. By the way, kats. I tried to reply to your gas cap question. the first caps listed in the parts fiche 17251-E4101 do not have chains, the the next listing -E4102 says "with chain". No date of application is given.

Nice gas cap, kats! My gas cap has no chain. The parts fiche lists the gas cap 17251-E4101 and five supesede numbers. 17251-E4102 is listed with chain but no application date. The first supersede number to list an application 4/72 date is -E8800. It is quite possible an early build date of 3/70 would have a cap with no chain. I personally do not like the chain because the cap may scratch the paint.

kats, My gas cap does not have a chain. However, it has grips on top of the cap and this is very convenient for my fat fingers! My parts fiche lists 17251-E4101 as the original gas cap. The supesede number 17251-E4102 describes the cap with chain and four later numbers all describe the cap with chain. The first date associated with the third cap upgrade is 4/72. I personally do not like the chain because the cap could scratch the paint. I think you have the option to decide depending on the date of your car. Clearly the first caps came without the chain but it was added quickly. It is quite possible a 3/70 build date would not have a gas cap chain.

And the leather texture

This is the rubber deck mat from my car. The material for the rocker panels is the same. This is a composit foam vinyl with an solid inner skin and a thicker textured outer skin. Very thin, I would guess it is 2mm

It took me a while, kats. Here is a photo of my original jute for the tunnel.

Just sent you a PM

IMSA is kind of alive in the American LeMans Series - ALMS. I just saw the 1000km, ten hour race at Road Atlanta in October. Audi is king at the moment with their R8's. The Sebring 12 hour race is also an ALMS race and I saw the LeMans winning Bentley last spring in their only American appearance. One of the things I have liked about ALMS is their "Meet the Drivers" venue the day before the race. I talked with Geoff a bit last fall. Bob Tullius keeps his collection of Group 44 cars in a hanger at Sebring and will show his cars by appointment. The Nissan GTP car is just beautiful and I miss it as I miss many of the other cars of my younger days. I don't feel very old, but lets face it. Her Majesty the 26th is celebrating her 34th birthday this month!

Yea Marty, I haven't seen them in a long time. I was talking to Les Canaday a couple of weeks ago about the rubber material. He says he can get close to the texture with sheet material he has. Might call him at Classic Datsun. I also want to note that the rocker side rubber is slightly molded to conform to the chassis shape, especially near the seat belt mount.

Ok guys, We are talking about three different things! Kats, your mat is carpet with a clear backing. My mat is simply rubber - light grey, leather texture. Marty, AMCO is an aftermarket company and sold floor mats to protect the carpeting.

Marty, I'm working on a jute source, and currently waiting for a sample. Kats, Yes, that is the shape of the rear deck mat.

Alan, I have the rear deck mat and was going to make photographs this weekend. I would love photographs of the floor mats and now kats has piqued my interest for the finish of the floor behind the seat and up to the rear bulkhead. I know all the early cars in my vicinity have carpeting mixed with side rubber and deck rubber. It is common to see carpeting over the rear deck rubber as in my car. I understand the floor mats are held in place with snap grommets and I have them in the old firewall insulation. I don't think an 'L' version was available in the early days of American importation. I know my car was pre-purchased immediately after the New York Auto Show and would have been a "here's what you bought" version! I must retrieve the sales literature from the safe deposit box and see if any of the photographs show that detailed an interior finish. Personally, I'm going to finish the car with carpeting as kats has done, keeping the rubber side rocker mats. They are glued in place. Thanks for the pictures of the 432-R. After looking at them, I have a million questions / observations for future discussions.