26th-Z

Dan, Cleveland was my first "digital" automotive outing. I bought a little Canon powershot A590 and didn't lug the film camera equipment this year. I wasn't real sure how to use the buttons and features completely. Sorry I didn't take any pictures of the fasteners. I did manage to take some shots during a conversation we were having about original finishes and I think they turned out nicely. These two unruley characters were examining the paint and chrome finish on the 1973 240Z. Notice the very faint orange peel finish and the plating quality of the chrome bumper. These "as original" finishes are not so common. Re-chrome work today is highly polished with few, if any, undersurface blemishes. In comparison to the blue paint on this example, there was a black 240Z at the show that had the most remarkable mirror quality paint finish.

Dan, It took me forever to find this thread again! I took your question to Cleveland this past week and looked at several "original" cars. The inspection lid screws were painted and the tapered screws used to attach the hatch to the hinge is unpainted - finished in a super light cad yelow finish, almost silver zink. Chris

From the Z Car Club Association web site; http://www.zcca.org/pages/SiteMap.htm The ZCCA was started during the second Annual Z Car Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona in the summer of 1990. The Club representatives had lunch with Nissan's VP of Marketing, Mr. Hadley Chamberlain, who stressed the company was very supportive of the grass roots Z Car Club movement but could not interface effectively with each individual Club. It was therefore decided by the Clubs represented at that meeting to form the ZCCA. After a few years of coordination and setting up the Constitution and By-Laws, the current formalized ZCCA was set in operation, complete with a dues structure, etc. The Charter Member Clubs of the current ZCCA are: ARIZONA Z-CAR CLUB BLUE RIDGE Z CLUB BRAZOS VALLEY Z CAR CLUB BRITISH COLUMBIA Z REGISTRY CAROLINA Z CLUB DATSUN ZOOM CLUB [MONTREAL] GATEWAY Z CLUB INC GROUP Z MARYLAND Z CLUB OKLAHOMA Z CLUB SMOKY MOUNTAIN Z CAR CLUB THOUSAND ISLAND Z CAR CLUB TRIAD Z CLUB TRIANGLE Z CLUB WHITE ROSE Z & ZX CLUB Z CAR ASSOCIATION OF RICHMOND Z CAR CLUB OF COLORADO Z CAR CLUB OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Z CLUB OF ALBUQUERQUE Z CLUB OF GEORGIA Z CLUB OF HOUSTON Z CLUB OF OHIO Z CLUB OF SAN DIEGO Z CLUB OF TEXAS Z SPORT ZOOM [Z CLUB OF MN] The time of year depends on the preference of the organizing local club. Daytona was scheduled because it was off season and the rates were lowest and the freebees plentiful (supposedly). San Antonio is scheduled for the same reason. I like the enthusiasm I'm reading about putting on a convention. One of things I like about the conventions is the ability to go places I wouldn't normally go. Cleveland is a perfect example and I have no problem with the "its too far to drive my car" thing. I just fly there, rent a car, and party - so what! Another thing I'm noticing about the conventions is the attendance of "Internet" clubs. I propose that at San Antonio, ClassicZ hosts a dinner party of our own for one of the off evenings, OR sponsors an event at the convention. We had a real nice turnout at Cleveland and I was delighted to meet several of the guys from here. Collectively, our ClassicZ site had a noticable presence at Cleveland. Our voice could be a significant contribution to the Z conventions.

Will, You sound like I did when I returned from the Long Beach convention. There I met Mr. K for the first time and Matsuo san. I was most impressed by the hotel Embassy Suites. Jim Frederick and I shared a room and it was exactly what we needed - each having our own "room" to pile our crap in. To my delight, breakfast was free every morning and drinks were free every afternoon. OMG! I had omlettes every day and rum every evening. It was sik! I gained weight! Monday the suds day was the best time getting to talk to people and look at their cars. Carl, Jimbo and I spent a lot of time being impressed with the number and quality of S30s that came to the show. But the car show Tuesday was a very long day. This would be my second national show in the rain, however it wasn't anywhere near as bad as Daytona. Inside parking was gracious and the planners really had thier act together parking the cars and setting up. One of the buildings had a collection of previous "gold" award winners. Mark and Barbara Lambert took the opportunity to bring a little Amelia Island flavor to the show and dressed in period clothing to show off Mark's stunning 240Z. I don't think anyone "got" it! Ray Herin? brought back his silver 240 that gave him a gold cup in Syracuse. The judging took place in two more buildings; one for S30s and S31s and the other for S32s and S33s. The lighting (fluorescent tube yellow/green) was pretty good - considering it was dark grey outside. The judges scored over twenty cars into the gold cup/medallion round and we tried to get the cars out in the sunlight, but no sooner had we started judging than it started to rain again and everyone had to move their cars back inside! Oh brother! Even so, Roger Casanova of Syracuse took home his second gold medallion in his pearlescent yellow N/A S32. Roger really gets it about making a car clean. I got back in time to make the driver's meeting for track day. That morning, Dave Palermo and John Jefferies asked me to be an instructor. As it seemed to turn out, Cleveland had a lot of novice drivers for track day. The ZCCA business meeting was two hours long and Fred Buoni was assigned the duties of drink bitch. Look for the ZCCA to improve over the coming year. The web site is going to get a revamp with the intention that all future registration be handled on line through the ZCCA site. Also look for changes and clarifications in the car show rules and proceedures. Fred and I were given our marching orders. I will also explain that with the Nissan move from California to Tennessee, the relationship between Nissan and the Z-Car community changed. The ZCCA is actively involved in keeping this relationship strong. The ZCCA has new officers as well. Chris Karl will be the new executive vice president, Bob Bosse will be the new treasurer, and Todd Wagner will become secretary. Paul Hollander will chair the car show events with Todd, Fred, and myself making up the chief judge positions. The Mid Ohio race course was a one and one-half hour drive away but well worth it. Because of the conventions, I have driven two courses I always wanted to drive; Watkins Glen and Mid Ohio. It was a dry day until the last session but cold. Cold tires vs tire barrier took out a 240Z in the first session and a new 350Z later. Ouch! My student, Chris Ford, had a very nice Z32 and we both quickly learned that Mid Ohio was a late apex course. Chris was impressively smooth right off the bat and my job was very easy. Todd Wagner gave me a ride in his 350Z to show off his brakes. Nice brakes. Then as the fates would have it, I copped a ride in the new GT-R. I couldn't stop giggling. Caught up with Art Singer for dinner when I got back to the hotel and then sat up to God knows what hour drinking in the bar with Mike Taylor, John Yukawa and the Japanese guys from ADVAN/Yokohama. Atsu Ishikawa is a scream! It was so damned cold that I skipped the auto-cross and opted for the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday. Thursday night was the dinner boat cruise and I was Fred's bitch for the evening. Todd's girlfriend, Mandy, was all over us to dance but we decided that there would be no pictures. Cleveland is the Northern end of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and I did the Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor train ride on Friday. Mr. K talked to the convention via Skype for both the opening and closing banquet. He looks to be in very good health and we had the chance to joke around with him. Came home with five more t-shirts and a ton of other stuff. The goodie bags were a duffle style this year (best goodie bags of all the conventions I have attended) and I picked up a signed Shin drawing of the BRE 240Z to add to my poster collection. That was my experience. Cleveland definitely DID rock and I'm looking forward to San Antonio. I was told to keep my mouth shut about 2010, but I threw my hat into the ring for planning and I'll let everyone know what's in the future when this gig unfolds.

Real good to meet all of you! Wasn't that a blast?!?!!! Boy, did I get the Z-immersion for the past week! Whew! Great car show even if it was horrible weather. Cleveland did a bang-up job. For me, track day was the highlight culminating with a ride in the GT-R Nissan sent up for the day. Spent more time on the track at Mid Ohio than I ever thought I would. I'm very glad I made it to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland doesn't have a Hooters so the pervs went to Outback and harrased some poor young bimbo named Jamie. Did the dinner cruise and the train ride also. Talked to John Yukawa one evening. Got my fill of ZCCA politics and future plans. Just a great time!

That is indeed Mr. K's personal car and it is an HLS30 with a g-nose. Johnnie Gable's son owns the car. I would like to see the article as Fumio Yashida may be taken out of context. Design credit is correctly given to the design team of Yoshihiko Matsuo.

All of the above. Did you have a good time, Will?

San Antonio September 27th thru October 2nd, 2009 hosted by Z Sport Z Car Club of San Antonio.

26th-Z has returned home safely. Had a blast. Thanks to all in Cleveland for putting on a great convention. Just now getting my pictures ready to post. Hear is a shot of the crew at the car show. Its a definite...San Antonio same time next year. I have a ton of stuff to upload, the most challenging being the promo video for the convention next year.

I may have posted this before, but I'm flying up with Carl Beck and Jim Frederick Sunday and will be there the whole week.

This is the agenda for the first business meeting at the Cleveland convention. Came in the e-mail today. To all, Here is the proposed agenda for the 1st of 2 ZCCA Business meetings. Please remember that only those clubs that are paid for the coming year can sit at the main table. 1 representative from each club please. · Introductions o Insure all clubs at the table are paid for the coming year · Review of the agenda · Financial report - Bonnie · Action items from the last convention · New Business: o San Antonio Presentation - 2009 Convention o 2010 presentations o A few words from each of the candidates running for office § Chris Karl – Asst Executive Director § Bob Bosse – Treasurer § Todd Wagner – Secretary § Paul Gasparola – Executive Director · Proposed 2009 Action items o Complete Web site re-do - Pete Sanders Presentation o Move to a Convention application web based for all future conventions o Aggressive move to get new Z owners to join member clubs o Open discussion At this meeting we will gather any proxy votes for the elections on the second meeting – prior to the meeting. A club may only submit proxies for two clubs. Only clubs in good standing can vote on any issues. Paul Gasparola Executive Director - Z Car Club Association

Nissan made a competition knob and a couple of members have them. It is very slender. The replacement knob that has been selling for the last five years or so is wider than the original - by comparison here. Matria, the knobs you made are gorgeous.

Guten Tag Pascal I suggest you buy the nicest car you can afford to avoid problems to restore it. Parts to buy with it include: engine ignition set - points, condenser, spark plug wires, distributer cap and rotor - air filter, fan belts, and oil filter (s). Brake wheel cylinder rebuild kits or two new wheel cylinders. Brake pads. Perhaps a master cylinder rebuild kit. Clutch rebuild kits for both the master and the slave. I think if you buy a nice car to begin, you will not need more than these normal maintenace items. Best of luck. A Zed looks good on the roads of Germany.

Kevan, The plastic tank you are looking at is a fuel vapor recovery tank as part of the fuel system. The plastic tanks are fairly fragile from age, however there are metal ones that can be used if you plan to keep the system. Service manuals for a '70 are around; usually on eBay. A Haynes manual will do just as well. Kats' car is very similar to yours. You might enjoy his site http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/ Lots of good early parts information there. Your interior quarter window trim has the screw in the door post. Is the washer clear plastic or chrome? Loved the wire from the coat hook to the shoulder belt mount! The chrome button coat hooks are early unique. Take care of the plastic strip luggage riser. It is early unique. Looks like your'e having fun!

Has anyone seen these videos on YouTube? Very informative. Although not specifically Datsun, there are some very good points about tuning and cleaning.

Please let me know how that goes.

That would be # 903 blue http://zhome.com/History/ZColorGallary/index.html My take on why the original engine was replaced so quickly in a six year old car has to do with the lower numbered L24 engines. Mine are L24-2162 and L24-2338. 2796 seems high for VIN 110, doesn't it? Technical Bulliten TS70-15, dated 4.3.70, calls for a change in bolt length for the cylinder head begining with L24-4257. Then, TS70-28, dated 8.21.70, calls for a replacement crankshaft with eight counter weights instead of six begining with L24-3607. My engines have the reinforced oil pan which was a result of the crankshaft vibration issue and the three different sizes of head bolts. It may very well be that L24-2796 succumbed to the difficiencies, ie. crank or rob bearing - blown head gasket / warped head.

Here's the thread I'm thinking of. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21981&highlight=White+body

I would be very surprised to discover that I can buy an S30 chassis at this time. I would imagine that they went unobtanium decades ago. We did have a conversation about white bodies some time ago. I realize that they did exist. However...not now. I do believe he did miss your point, Alan.

Thought this might be appropriate.

Here's what 26th looked like when I bought her. I also had a Datsun pick-up at the time. It had a camper top. Drove it for years and into the ground.

Probably a poor example and not meant to justify the practice, but no, it was not necessarily done through a dealership and the manufacturer did it as much as private owners. There are registers of the GT-40s and the 917s. It is all documented. I recall reading about a renumbered works rally Z some time ago. I'll have to search through the archives. I would guess that Carl's site is the best registry going in the Z world. I ran across a registry of Z 432s in Japan.

I don't know what to tell you about "empiric evidence". I wouldn't consider myself "in the know" either. I have my opinion. I know where most of the first 100 HLS30s are and who owns them. I would say that we all pretty much think the same about the value of our cars. I'll bet we'll see see some of these cars in the next couple of years. And I'll bet $50,000 will be a good starting point. But here is a perfect example of how the "market" is going. http://www.classiczcars.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=3176&cat=1