why is my car so heavy?

[Inf]

The plot thickens.

Oh yeah, and you are right Walter, the sticker in the glove box lists 400lbs as the maximum permissible load. I'll try and remember and take a picture tomorrow since i've never come across a picture of this sticker on the site.

[dogma420]

I'm gonna bump this, cause its pretty weird post! I just put my Z back in my parent's garage (they have a huge 3 car garage with nothing in it) so I can't go take a picture of mine...

...Does Carl Beck have anything to say about this? Or 26th Z? How are these vin plates looked upon in judging, if at all?

Just wondering, isn't there something about the gross weight in the glove box? I wonder if it always matches what the door plate says....

[Carl Beck]

Hi XRAY/dogma420 (everyone):

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) first took effect in law on 1 Jan. 1967. Since that time several have been added, and many have been modified over the years.

FVMSS 110 -- applies to tire selection and rims and all FMVSS's apply to the vehicle manufactures that sell motor vehicles in the USA.

Basically it requires the manufacturer to equip the car with tires, load rated to carry safely the GVWR the car manufacturers provide. (there are other standards that tell the tire manufacturers how to test and certify their load ranges on the tires).

In effect, the Federal Government is requiring the car manufacturers to equip your car with tires that can safely carry the maximum weight of the car, when it is being used per the manufacturers recommendations.

The required labels are all about giving you the information you need when you go buy replacement tires. (so you know what load range tires to buy, as well as the speed ratings and sizes).

GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Maximum loaded vehicle weight per the Standard is the combined weights consisting of:

a) Curb Weight (the car with a full tank of gass and all oil and coolants)

Accessory Weight (the additional weight of accessories like A/T, A/C etc)

c) The number of passengers times 68 kilograms (or 2 times 150lbs)

d) The maximum vehicle cargo/luggage weight (this is set by the manufacturer)

Note...

1. passenger weight is a set number per the Standard (150 lbs per passenger)

2. if the manufacturer wanted to, they could raise the GVWR by installing tires with higher load ratings. Curb Weight, Accessory Weight, Passenger weight would be pretty well fixed number, but an increase in cargo/luggage weight could be achieved by installing tires with higher load ranges at the factory.

The requirements for Labels, that provide the required information to the consumer, are set in the Standard as well... they do allowed the manufacturer to place the required information labels in either the Glove Box or on the Drivers door jam.

Just exactly why Nissan decided to move the GVWR info to the drivers door jam at the beginning of 1972 I do not know. (maybe it saved them one label in the glove box, by adding the info to the existing door data tag??). Just exactly why the GVWR went from 2400lbs to 2820lbs. at that time, I do not know (could be as simple as higher load ratings on the tires they were getting at the time).

What is important to you as an owner, as Walter mentioned, is that you know what load range tires you need for your Z as well as the inflation pressures required. Also important to know that you can increase the GVWR of your car, by buying better tires than the OEM''s (better - meaning tires with higher load ratings if you need to carry more/heaver cargo/luggage).

Since it only seems to have lasted a few months in the beginning of 72.. the 2,400lb. GVWR on the door tag, could have simply been a mistake... Could be they just forgot to add the 400lbs for luggage/cargo at first.

FWIW,

Carl

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[Inf]

I had forgotten to followup on this last year, I did take a picture of the glovebox sticker in my 03/72 stamped car, I just forgot to upload it. Here it is.

If you add the "permissible vehicle load capacity" of 420lbs to the GVWR of 2400, it is obviously 2820. I think Carl is right on here and Nissan just goofed up or for some reason was transitioning how they did the numbers.

The picture came out pretty poor, but you can make out the important info.

[zguitar71]

Hi XRAY/dogma420 (everyone):

Maximum loaded vehicle weight per the Standard is the combined weights consisting of:

a) Curb Weight (the car with a full tank of gass and all oil and coolants)

Accessory Weight (the additional weight of accessories like A/T, A/C etc)

c) The number of passengers times 68 kilograms (or 2 times 150lbs)

d) The maximum vehicle cargo/luggage weight (this is set by the manufacturer)

Note...

1. passenger weight is a set number per the Standard (150 lbs per passenger)

http://ZHome.com

I wonder what the average passenger weight is these days? 150 seems a little out dated and lite in this bloated day and age. It was probably about right back in the late 60's though.

[Alfadog]

Wow, I weigh exactly 68kg