Mike B

I swapped the dash with the windshield in the car and I don't recall the windshield being a problem. I think it would probably be easier to install the windshield without the dash though, because you have easier access to pull the seal across the flange (which is done from inside the car). -Mike

Thanks Steve. Yes, I think 903 blue is my favorite Z color. I actually have three 1969 production cars now, but I want to get down to just 2 Z's at some point. I am hoping to get #210 up and running again before too long. -Mike

Thanks Kats. Yes, it was an unbelievable find. Especially since it is the correct untinted glass used on the early US cars. I think it is also used on the base Japanese S30-S model, correct? I wondered if this glass would be any easier to find in Japan? -Mike

I put in a NOS clear windshield, which is correct for the 1969 production cars, along with NOS weather strip and trim pieces for the windshield and hatch. Thankfully it didn't break going in. -Mike

They're slated for #210. That set is currently just glass bead blasted, but I kind of like the look. I'm debating if I should keep them as is, or if I should have the lips polished and the spokes painted like the ones on #32. -Mike

More pics from today. -Mike

Finally got HLS30-00032 finished and took her for a drive and a photo shoot today. I used a mix of NOS parts I have collected over the years and every other part I restored or cleaned up as best I could. Now I just need to detail the engine bay and the undercarriage. -Mike

Carl, the VZ window sticker must read 66510 for the engine number then (instead of the 56518 that I guessed above). Interesting that they would list the original engine number, instead of the replacement L24 number installed during the VZ program. -Mike

I doubt that this was a car that was not completed. The ad shows a copy of the VZ window sticker for this car. If you zoom in on the picture you can see a price of $25,625. I don't think they would have sold it with a program window sticker, medallion, and VZ sticker, if it wasn't complete. The window sticker also shows it had an L24 engine. Its kind of hard to read, but it looks to me like it could be engine #56518. Based on the Zhome registry data, it looks like originally that VIN would have had an L24 with an engine number around 66500. To me it just looks like someone with a lot of money that bought a VZ then upgraded it to what they wanted performance wise and eventually it was sold or traded to this dealer. I have heard that some of the work on some of the VZ cars was not perfect, so the vinyl in the back doesn't really surprise me. Then again, it could have been done when they put the rear strut tower brace in too, if it got torn or the owner just wanted to put new pieces in. -Mike

Skip, the red Z center emblems (40343-E8800) were used on Z cars in the US from the 1972 to 1975 model years. I don't think the red D center emblems (40343-N8800) were used on any Z cars in the US. -Mike

Yeah, I noticed that too. It is also one of the VINs that Chris said he was trying to track down, so it appears to be legit. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showpost.php?p=262292&postcount=9. I wonder if it was restored for the VZ program by CDM or one of the other restorers. -Mike

I have never seen a VZ program car this heavily modified (Rebello stroker motor installed after purchase, etc). http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-240Z-1972-1996-DATSUN-240Z-REBIRTH-MODEL-UNREAL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQihZ008QQitemZ180350628118QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW I wonder how that will affect the value. Carl and Chris, do either of you know anything about this car? -Mike

I see that the Nissan website now has information on the 2009 Nismo Z http://www.nissanusa.com/microsite/nismo/?dcp=tqd.mlt.hmp.nsnenewsletter.hnr and a preview of the 370Z roadster http://www.nissanusa.com/microsite/zroadster. -Mike

Are the plastic rivets used to secure the taillight panel on the 70-73 240Zs still available from the dealer? I haven't tried to order them, but I noticed that Zspecialties has what may be reproductions for sale now http://www.datsunstore.com/product_info.php/cPath/4_281/products_id/1171. The Zspecialties ad also notes that the 74-78 Z's use the regular sized black interior rivets to fasten the tops of the tail light panels to the body. Not sure if that is correct or not. -Mike

Terry, All 240Z's sold in the US had the front and rear rubber strips on the bumpers and the bumper guards with the rubber strips. The 1970 brochure you attached shows them on the red and silver cars. In other markets some models came with no rubber strips (generally the "base" models such as the JDM Fairlady Z) and others came with the rubber strips (the more "deluxe" models, such as the JDM Fairlady ZL). Here is a thread with some more details http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5958. People in the US could still order the bumpers without the holes for the rubbers strips through the parts department. It seems that a prior owner replaced your front bumper with this version after the fender bender. -Mike

www.classicdatsun.com

Chris, The March Hagerty Newletter had a mention of the auction and a link to a cool YouTube video about the car - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgV3WGl-ISA. It has interviews with both Brock and Bondurant. -Mike

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33388

I don't see where the wiring harness grommets are on Mike's site. I am just missing them or are they not listed? -Mike

Yeah, I was surprised when you said that they were still available. I think at least the earliest grommets (24253-E4100) with the openings for both cables have been NLA for a while. Here is a picture of a NOS one on Kat's site http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/workrub.html. My cars are 10/69 and 11/69 production dates. -Mike

Terry, do your hood release cable and speedo cable go through separate holes in the firewall, or the same hole? I'm pretty sure that early cars (1969 and some early 1970 cars) run through the same hole and just have one grommet that covers both cables. I'm not sure what the cut off is. Here is a picture of the grommet and cables in one of my cars (HLS30-00210). -Mike

It's interesting that the RC model Mike linked to in the first post has the ARE LeMans Wheels and yet the BRE edition doesn't. It has ARE Libre wheels, which are not correct for the car. -Mike

Very nice. I like the lights in the grill too. -Mike

Section 75 - Front Fender, Head Lamp Case, Hood Ledge & Hood. The screws are 08510-21212. -Mike

62590-E4101 (RH) and 62591-E4101 (LH). -Mike