zspert

Too dark, black really. I looked again of my pix of the Franklin Mint manifold above and the true, not light distorted, color is at the extreme ends.

I've been very lucky on many fronts in my life. My luck started with being born in this country and continued through being born into my family. However, for this screed I'll stick to the Z world. I started getting paid, $125.00/week, to be a mechanic at a dealer in 1970, talk about luck. I very quickly realized that paying close attention/noticing things were important aspects to becoming successful at my craft. When I opened my now closed shop in 1980 a trickle of unmodified original owner Z cars started to flow through, talk about luck. It didn't take me long to understand the importance of documenting as many details as possible. The results of my appreciation are a large stack of photos of the many fine details of 240/260/280 construction. I also have many sloppy pages of notes describing the fine points of construction and differences between model years. My goodness, I even have several pages of notes describing, in detail, the fasteners used to secure a 240 timing chain cover for production date X. Every time a serious customer approached me for a restoration I would ask, in detail, exactly what he/she wanted the finished product to look like. Before they had a chance to answer I would describe what an original Z looked like from the factory and I'd often show them a few pictures from my collection. The answer was always not just no but HELL NO! They wanted pretty. What does pretty mean? Modern, often 2 stage, paint that has been wet sanded and buffed to near perfection. Powder coated suspension and all the other bits and pieces of modern restoration required to satisfy a customer. To see 2 of my last 3 Z car restorations visit my site and click on Customer Profiles. When a 240 left the factory there was orange peel in the paint in random places. Have to mention that this particular problem improved markedly in about 1975 or so. However, there was often a serious problem with the clear coat discoloring when 2 stage paint was used starting about the same time. The paint on the bottom was applied very unevenly and often contained dirt in random places. Most of the grommets that were glued in place had glue running down from the grommet. The suspension pieces were painted a sloppy and uneven satin black. There was overspray on some of the exterior engine components that were in proximity to the engine block. The list goes on from there. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not criticizing Datsun, that was the way cars were often manufactured back in the Olden Days. I can all but guarantee that if a real factory-like restored Z showed up at a convention a trophy would not be forth coming. Now to address the hyperbole that has crept into the world of Z restoration. "Frame -off Restoration", "Rotisserie Restoration", "Factory Restoration", etc., etc., etc. There are some new ones now like "Magnificent" and so forth. The situation is often made worse with fancy photography and lighting. This is what happens when marketing geniuses get involved. Remember the Z Store Program? H@#$, now I'm often confused and don't understand what they're talking about. ALWAYS look at the car you're considering or send someone like me to have a look before making that offer. I understand that I've only lightly covered this subject but there you have it for better or worse.

Sorry about that but I HAD to take that call. Every part on that car will pass through the hands of the restorer so why not do it correctly. So many times I've casually helped an owner who's doing a lot of the work himself and he'll often put an incorrect finish on a part or subassembly or use an incorrect part. His reply to my comment about the mistake he made or is planning to make is "well, I never plan to put it in a show". WRONG, every time he takes it out it's in a show. OK, what about cost? In the world of today, and it doesn't make a bit of difference what the marque is, it starts @ 80K. Yes, I said 80K. It will very quickly go up from there if rust is prevalent. "But Mike, I just talked to a body shop who quoted me 25K for the works". Be careful, very careful. Another important issue in the case of Zs is parts. Expect to pay a TON for that rare gem you found after shaking the bushes for a while. Last week I had a chat with a Z owner who recently sold an NOS 240 air injection manifold for 2K. Restoration is not for the weak of heart. Next installment "Factory Restoration", "Just off the boat restoration", etc. How to cut through the hype/marketing.

RESTORATION Customer excitedly bursts into my now closed shop "Mike, you've gotta check out my 240 - I just had it restored". This is the same chap that wasted a fair amount of my time a few months ago when I explained the restoration process. At that time his only question was "why does it cost so much". That was followed, almost without taking time to breathe, "I don't wanna do all that"! Anyway, I go outside to check out his beauty only to find that it had recently suffered a rather cheap, glass-in, paint job, a new set of incorrect seat covers complimented with mags that are too wide sporting new tires - clearly not a restoration. The industry recognized definition of a restoration is to first reduce the car to a shell with just enough suspension to roll the car around as required. Next it goes to a stripper who removes all of the paint, undercoating, sound deadener and rust to expose what I call the "sins". Sins are the holes in the body that resulted from the rust being removed by the stripping process and or repairs done to the body in the past that, in most cases, were poorly executed. Yes, one may strip the body by applying paint stripper and scraping the layers of old paint off but this takes way too much time and doesn't expose all of the sins. Of course, the chap doing the stripping MUST know his craft and apply the correct media otherwise there could be problems no one wants or needs. The pictured 510 wagon went through the stripping process using 2 different types of media. The fellow who did the job is very experienced and knows his craft. Many, many years ago I restored a 74.5 260 and an 82 ZX which were both stripped using plastic media. I was very happy with the results but plastic seems to have fallen out of favor as I couldn't find anyone to do the 510 with plastic. The next step is body and paint. The body shell may be mounted on a a rotisserie which could make working on the body shell easier - each case is different. All of the unacceptable sheet metal is replaced with new metal which is carefully, and hopefully, done in a way to replicate the original process. Major ripples, dents and or unevenness are treated with hammers/dollies or rivets and pullers. Bondo or plastic filler is used to smooth out minor imperfections. Now we're ready for the paint booth. Interesting to note - about 90% of the dirt that finds its way onto new paint jobs comes off of the painter. Most painters now use a one time use suit and hood. While the car is making its way through the body and paint shop is when all of the stuff you removed to reduce the car to a shell gets the business. Engine and trans rebuild, heater restoration, gauge restoration/repair, fastener replating, suspension powder coating, seat rebuilding, etc. Yes, the list is much longer than I've outlined but each system needs to be addressed and now is the best time to do it. Now is NOT the time to say "well it just costs too much to address X. NO, now is the time. Just got a VERY important call so I'll finish later.

Another reason to look @ a car before bidding/purchasing

Wow, that close-up really shows some warts, Thanks.

Often referred to as the Franklin Mint model

While it looks nice and will make a good starting point why was the color changed to a non Datsun Z car color? The late Paul Taylor's 240 has emerged from the shadows and is for sale @ Carolina Muscle Cars for 125K.

This is the Jet Hot cast finish. Please excuse the slightly green cast which is the result of either lighting or camera user error. I like the color but more importantly it's extremely robust. After more than 25 years the exhaust manifold on my 280 still looks like it was just done. Hope this helps. Not a job one wants to do twice. PS This is the exhaust manifold from the Z used as the model for the Franklin Mint Z car

My now closed shop generated 4 Gold medallion stock 240 recipients. We tried 2 different finishes for exhaust manifolds. One was a finish like you're using and the others had Jet-Hot cast finishes. In EVERY case the judges (?) said the finish was incorrect and deducted points. Our last Gold Medallion car was judged (?) to have a steering wheel finish which was "too shiny". Go figure!!!

WOW! My 6 letter comment that could have meant a host of different things was almost immediately taken by our resident grouch as an insult or slight that I had directed towards another member of this forum. I've had a relationship with Chris for many years and have done business with him on numerous occasions. Before Covid I was to have traveled to The Netherlands on his dime to inspect his collection and offer suggestions. I've always found him to be a gentleman on all levels who is apparently having a problem with lost/missing paperwork. I wish him all the best. While I may be a greasy and now rather ancient mechanic who doesn't know his a@$ from a hole in the ground I've learned a bit about human nature after dealing with the public for the past 45+ years. There are some people who are just plain unhappy. This unhappiness is manifest through insults, cursing, almost consent contradiction, just plain difficulty/impossibility to deal with or all of the above. While my shop was open I had to deal with these types. Thank goodness they were few and far between. From this date and time I will no longer comment on or address ANY missives from the individual in question.

Hmmmm.

Zed Head- Amen

Sorry, meant immaturity

No, that's the material it was printed on. Why would you offer a product that is CLEARLY - no pun intended - not accurate? But more to the point, why would such a product be offered for sale? Another reflection - yes, pun intended - of the immunity of our hobby.

That's not one of my paint color # decals - too shiny.

RE white 73 - can't say positively but it doesn't appear to have a V-3 kit. Also, whoever replaced the gas tank vent hoses cheaped it out by reusing those cracked vent hose boots. I just hope!!! that the replacement hoses are speced for use with gas/gas fumes. The first 73 that the dealer I was working for in 73 was sold to a Redskins player as a promotion. Got towed back two nights in a row. Too long a story for this venue but the V-3 kit resulted directly from that episode.

As one of the "old timers" who has restored to stock his share over the years - rooms, mine and those of my customers, full of first place trophies - and was a very early parts supplier to the owner of some Nissan/Renault dealerships in that part of the world I'm a bit scared to comment, might lose my head!! DC871F - Thank you. Somehow I'll squeeze your award into that room full of 1st place trophies

OUCH!! More later but I have to get my Saab ready for the trip - weather permitting - to Hershey.

Thank you Roo - I'll have more to say on this subject after I've had a chance to collect my thoughts.

I found it interesting that the company selling the Fairlady often presents very notable muscle cars, ie COPO GM products, early Z-28s, etc. that are truly outstanding examples. However, in the case in question their rep took a hit. Just one old geezers opinion.

Zed Head - glad you called our/my attention to that strut rod as the large washer is installed backwards! Paul, that is Paul Taylor, was the owner of the Franklin Mint car before he died and his Z went to the dark side.

As I've said at least twice in the recent past - the upper middle class collector car market is, and has been for at least the past year, depressed.

Paul's car is for sale AGAIN!

It's worth what someone is willing to pay for it. However, the main problem with what the current market is willing to pay is the color change, never a good idea. Also, there are a few body/paint issues that the listing details. The old market might have been willing to pay as much as - my opinion - 80k but the current market did indeed speak. The upper middle class collector car market is keeping their powder dry.