Mike B

Hey guys sorry for the delay in getting back on this. Getting the overspray off was a difficult chore and took a lot of elbow grease. I took everything off the sides of the inner fenders and removed the radiator. I used several different methods depending on how thick the overspray was. I tried a couple of different rubbing and polishing compounds with scotch-brite scouring pads, Goof-off, and, as a last resort, 0000 steel wool in a few areas. I also used a small battery operated scrubber that I found at ACE hardward. Its about the size of an electric tooth brush with replaceable scrubbing pads and it was good for getting into tight places. The tops of the front shock towers have some spots of missing paint, but I think that was just covered by overspray before. I am going to get some touch up paint made to match, as a temporary measure, and will pull the engine and have the engine bay repainted at some point. As I noted in my first post, I put on new Z-therapy carbs and center linkage, but they looked so nice I needed to clean up the exhaust and intake manifolds. I used Calyx manifold coating (http://www.eastwood.com/calyx-manifold-coating.html) on the exhaust manifold and glass bead blasted the intake manifold, balance tube, and heatshield. As Zup guessed, I replaced the AB valve with a spare that was in really good shape and replaced some hoses. I had the radiator boiled out and it came back with shinny new paint . I replaced the blue plug wires and battery cable with a stock used parts and installed a new Nissan coil. I replaced the metal fan with a NOS one and the fan pulley and hood inspection lamp with replated spares. I bead blasted and painted the horns the correct OD color and installed a splash pan that I had powder coated. I also used paint stripper to remove overspray from many of the wires in the engine bay. I think that is about everything. I still need to have a lot of replating done and replace a couple more things. I got a new camera as an early Christmas present, so I pulled the car out of the garage and took a few more pictures today. I even posted a couple of attempts at artsy exterior reflection shots at the end. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179590863/" title="035 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4179590863_e0fcae7053_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="035" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179595483/" title="045 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4179595483_972e8b2a2e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="045" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179593593/" title="039 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4179593593_8af0fd8508_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="039" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179592869/" title="038 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4179592869_8fdc14c50b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="038" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4180635338/" title="115 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4180635338_bff5d65f8d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="115" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179874777/" title="025 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4179874777_96c8825d13_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="025" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4180654694/" title="088 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4180654694_85d6dca6e2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="088" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179893689/" title="093 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4179893689_01d7d49408_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="093" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4180655856/" title="112 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4180655856_1e5b277d5a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="112" /></a> -Mike

This is the 1969 US emissions decal on HLS30-00032, a 10/69 production car. -Mike

Don't you mean original owner - yes, longest owner - no, since he was the first person to buy the car, but he hasn't owned it the entire time? -Mike

That is not the same car as the thread that Arne posted. The car in the original thread (and now listed on ebay) is in Sacramento and the picture you posted is in front of the DHM in Southern California. -Mike Here is a link to the current craigslist ad http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ctd/1504098880.html

Yes, the one in the thread Arne linked to was the same car, although there are no pictures of it in the thread now. They were in the craigslist link that has expired. -Mike

These are what real OK inspection decals SHOULD look like. I have not seen an accurate reproduction yet that aligns the text under the "OK" on the left side, as it should be. Apparently that is a small detail to some. No matter what the sellers claim or where they are printed (like that somehow matters?) they all look like copies of the same bad reproduction. The earlier OK stickers (as found on 240Zs) seem to be wider than those on later cars (like the 280z or zx). The first two pictures are from one of my 11/69 cars. The third is from a 1972. The last two are from later cars, not sure of the years. -Mike

Did you actually drive the car home that day, or is that just when you ordered it? -Mike

The BRE (Mulholland) springs were color coded. I sold a NOS set for the early 260Z last year. The ones for the 240Z were color coded grey for the front and dark blue for the rear. I had a copy of the installation instructions, but I included them with the springs when I sold them, and I don't think I made a copy. I know that they didn't mention the specs spring rates though because I checked for that before I sold them. -Mike

My thoughts exactly, which is why I was surprised to see the cover of the upcoming Nissan Sport Magazine describe it like that. I'm sure it is a great car though and I can't wait to read the article about it. -Mike

Nissan Sport Mag says HLS30-00013 is the "ultimate barn find". -Mike

Assuming he still owns it, since it was reported as of 4/17/96... almost 14 years ago. How about HLS30-00346, owned by Anne Webster Adams? Do you know when she bought it? Wasn't she at the Dallas convention with it a couple of years ago? HLS30-00210 was sold on 5/11/70 and owned by its' original owner until a little over a year ago. -Mike

Thanks Dave! -Mike

This is another case of MSA reselling and marking up the one that Banzai Motorworks reproduced, I believe. Banzai sells it for $14.75 (part #ENG-59) and MSA sells it for $24.95. -Mike

It's not the only game in town. These are the same ones that Banzai Motorworks (zzxdatsun.com) had made and has been selling since August at $48.25 (part #WH-04). From what I have seen, MSA seems to buy and resell reproductions made by others, rather than do it themselves. -Mike

I guess I better get one before they're gone Dave. Add me to your list. -Mike

Its called tar mat. Search for that and you'll get a ton of information. -Mike

I think this is the version I have seen on ebay before, but it appears to be by another artist http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cutaway-Poster-Print-of-the-Datsun-240Z_W0QQitemZ130315711603QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET?hash=item1e576bf473. Carl, let me know when you are ready to make reproductions of your set of posters. I would love a set. -Mike

Wick Humble mentions dealer posters for the Z introduction with illustrations by Yoshihiro Inomoto in his "How to Restore Your Datsun Z Car" book. The first pic is from his book, but it looks like a mix of early and late features. The hubcaps look like the 72 and later version, but with a D emblem instead of a Z, the quarter panel emblem is the later Z style instead of the earlier 240Z, and the air cleaner is an early non-flapper version. The poster you have looks to be the same as the "clairvoyant view" from the Chassis and Body Service Manual. Maybe that is the one that Wick was referring to, but he didn't have a photo of the correct one. I think I have seen similar copies of that illustration on posters for sale on eBay, but yours is the first version of that poster I have seen. -Mike

Here are some more photos from the 2009 Z Nationals you may appreciate then http://www.amszstore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=76 -Mike

Here is a link to the Octane article posted online for those of us that couldn't find the magazine http://www.autotraderclassics.com/articles/templates/generalArticle.xhtml;jsessionid=494CAC693C7A286578F508AE02E96BEB?articleId=55346&conversationId=236. -Mike

Alan, Thanks for all of the great photos! I recently bought a book called Japanese Showcars 1 Tokyo Motor Show 1954-1969. I hoped it would have more pictures of the Nissan cars from the 1969 show, but it only had one color picture of the front of the Z432, one b&w photo of the R382, and two B&W photos of a Nissan styling study. If you are interested I can scan and post them. I love the picture of the 903 blue Fairlady Z Export Model with the rear spoiler and yellow and red taillights. I have thought about adding both to my HLS30-00032 to replicate the look of the car, but people would probably shoot me if I did. I do have an extra early rear hatch with clear glass, so maybe I will get it painted and store my original to keep it stock for the future. I have never seen a color picture of the front of this car until you posted this one. Why does it have clear front turn signal indicators when the other JDM Z's you posted pictures of have the same yellow version that we received in North America? Which markets got the clear ones? -Mike

Here is a Datsun Dealer Co-op Advertising package from 1967. It has forms and details of the program, along with various Parker Advertising pieces and five copies of "Datsun Dashes". It was mentioned in the book ''NISSAN DATSUN A History OF Nissan Motor Corporation IN U.S.A. 1960-1980'' BY John Rae. -Mike

Carl, Have you seen this brochure before - "The Company Behind the Car"? It was published in 8/71 and seems aimed at US customers to give them some background on both Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Nissan Motor Corp USA. -Mike

Arne, Why would the air cleaner to valve cover hose need to be fuel/oil rated? Doesn't it just have air going through it? -Mike

No, I haven't seen them before. Why don't you scan some and post them for us to take a look at. -Mike