Newbie needs help (opinions on roof damage)

[skinneriggin]

It's sort of funny to me that when I purchased my '77, all I really knew was that I got a great deal on a long project.$400 cash and drove it home.I had no idea how much history and enthusiasm was involved in the Z movement. I am proud to be a part.So far it's good to know I'm not alone with such things as rust,wiring probs,and my roof. It makes yours look good. I've been doing bodywork for 20+ years and have helped put cars in shows and still wonder if I can recycle mine without a pallet of bondo . But fear not ,i have allready done a lot of body work since my original pics and don't see as much work on yours. Find a good metal man and you'll be fine.

Brian

[RichieP]

Thanks for the kind words of encouragment everyone! As it stands now, I am looking at claiming the accident damage on the insurance - a feature of this is that I can choose any garage I want for the work and I already have a particular one in mind (a guy who recently did a full bare metal respray and an immaculate LHD to RHD swop on a car imported from Arizona by a friend in the Z Club). Having seen his work on that car and heard about his perfectionistic tendencies, I think that guy seems the best bet (he typically restores American muscle cars, but has a Datsun background - his Dad owned a dealership in South Africa apparently).

As I said originally, my thinking has shifted toward going ''the whole hog'' - basically getting the insurance-sponsored repairs done, but above and beyond that, stumping up personally and getting a full bare metal respray with new rear arches, rear corners, etc. Basically, the car's restoration is probably ten years old and though it still looks good (thanks to much hard polishing work by me!) it has a few niggling issues emerging (use of filler here and there with rust pushing through, improper paint prep, some bubbling under the paint at the roof/quarter seams). Seeing as my car sits outside through spring, summer and autumn (although covered and not exposed to rain if I can help it), the corrosion issue has been bothering me intensely for a long time. This is a bit bigger than just straightening up the roof, but one I was already planning on undertaking in the next year anyway. The motivation is that the aforementioned body shop is fantastic value for money considering the high quality of work. The vast majority of the mechanicals and trim are in good to excellent nick so a with a bit of cleaning much of this can be bolted straight back on without replacement (although I know with a Z its never that simple!) Pulling the engine also affords the opportunity to make some upgrades in that department (e.g. finding a home for the set of triple Dellorto 40s that I have sitting in a drawer!!). This plan is obviously still subject to revision - I'll keep you posted as to what happens!!

Alan, thanks for the response to Kerry's post (it wouldn't be the first time she's gone on a forum using my log in!). I shall have a look at some of the details you mentioned next time I see the car. As for the VIN, if it helps, the number begins S30-067... The net list I mentioned was a Z-related site - which one I can't remember. I noticed a rough list last night while looking through a Victoria British catalog that showed the numbers between 046001 and 120000 falling between 8/71 and 6/72. As for the accuracy of this, I don't know. Also, the DVLA ownership document for the car actually says on it first registered 1973, confirmed manufacture date 1971.

It would be interested to hear any additional info you can conjure up. As for shows, I'm part of the Cheshire Plainz part of the Z Club, so tend to do stuff in the Northwest and Midlands. I was at the JAE at Billing last year and will be again this year (although the car might not be depending on how much of it is still in boxes at that point!!). Maybe we'll catch up that way!

Rich.

[HS30-H]

I certainly think it would be wise to consider getting the other stuff ( besides the recent damage ) repaired and painted at the same time. However, watch out for your insurance company getting a sniff of you incorporating some of this into 'their' responsibilities. The insurance assessors are pretty hot on the concept of "betterment" when it comes to old cars.

As for the VIN, if it helps, the number begins S30-067... The net list I mentioned was a Z-related site - which one I can't remember. I noticed a rough list last night while looking through a Victoria British catalog that showed the numbers between 046001 and 120000 falling between 8/71 and 6/72. As for the accuracy of this, I don't know. Also, the DVLA ownership document for the car actually says on it first registered 1973, confirmed manufacture date 1971.

Rich.

Don't get fooled by those production figures you see on the websites and in the Vic Brit catalogue - they don't include 'our' Japanese domestic market cars at all....... In almost all the cases I have seen, they apply to USA / North American market cars.

I've written this many times before, but its worth stating once again in this case: Remember that there were body serial number sequences for all the different VIN prefixes. So, for example's sake, lets take the theoretical existence of a "Number30" body serial number. This could be:

*S30-00030 ( would be a Fairlady Z or Z-L )

*PS30-00030 ( would be a Fairlady Z432 or Z432R )

*HLS30-00030 ( Export market LHD "240Z" - but not only USA market )

*HS30-00030 ( could be a bewildering amount of specs, including Japanese domestic market Fairlady 240Z, Fairlady 240Z-L and Fairlady 240ZG, or Export market RHD "240Z" aimed at Australian, NZ or UK markets )

Carry on into RS30, RLS30, GS30, GRS30, GRLS30, S31 etc etc etc and you get the idea - its very complicated!

If you have a four-digit body serial number that starts with 6 ( I'm not counting the zeroes in front ) then your S30 could well have been made in 1971 - but I'd like to cross-ref a lot of other evidence before homing in on a likely build date.

Of course, one of the easiest things to check are the labels attached to your seatbelts. They usually have a manufacturing date on them which is a rough guide to the age of the car ( but not foolproof ).

Cheers,

Alan T.

[RichieP]

Thanks Alan - I'll take a look at the seatbelts. That clarifies things a bit for me as well - I had assumed that the second half of the VIN would be standard to all Zeds in the S30 series, i.e. there would only be one car with 00030, with the S30, HLS30 etc. relating to the particular market that car was built for. Shouldn't make such assumptions!!! :laugh:

As for the betterment thing, hopefully I will be able to keep the insurers well away from my additional plans - if they get a sniff, it will be a case of attempting to convince them that it stands separately from their responsibilities and was planned long before the accident - which is the truth. Obviously, I would be willing to bet that at the least they would be harsher in their loss adjustments to make sure I wasn't siphoning repair costs into other things... which I would never do ... :cheeky:

We will have to wait and see. Considering the colour of my car and age of the paint job, a partial repair to a specific area would more than likely be noticeable no matter how good.

[26th-Z]

You make such a good point, Alan, about the various model types and the related serial numbers. I must thank you again for clearing up all that confusion with me some time ago and sending me a photo of HS30-00026. I am beginning to notice that this information needs to be repeated from time to time. Your mention of the seat belt label finds my curiosity as I am unaware of label type and requirements outside the US. Here is the North American spec label. What does the UK label look like? Same?

RichieP,

Another obscure manufacturing date is stamped into the wheels. The standard steel wheel (and you may have only the unmolested spare remaining) has a date of manufacture stamped in the rim. From my experience, they seem to follow production dates closely. I want to express that the dates appearing on individual parts probably preceed the actual manufacture date of the car within the accuracy of a month - not a specific day. For instance, my seat belts show a September date and my wheels show an October date.

[HS30-H]

Hi Christopher,

I am beginning to notice that this information needs to be repeated from time to time

I agree. I do wish that S30-series Z production would be seen as one big project family, with several family members going down the lines at the same time. I think a lot of confusion can be caused when "Production Figures" for one market and one model are published in books, on the net, or - for example - in the Vic Brit catalogue, and people are led into believing that they cover all markets and all models.....

Your mention of the seat belt label finds my curiosity as I am unaware of label type and requirements outside the US. Here is the North American spec label. What does the UK label look like? Same?

Exactly the same in my experience. In fact, they seem to be the same format for all markets and models that were made at the same time - with the "Datsun 240Z" model description used as a 'default' setting. So - for example - my mid-1970 produced Fairlady Z-L has the "Datsun 240Z" Takata seat belt labels too. Notice that they cover the regulations and requirements for three different authorities ( including the Japanese domestic 'JIS' regs ).

I want to express that the dates appearing on individual parts probably preceed the actual manufacture date of the car within the accuracy of a month - not a specific day. For instance, my seat belts show a September date and my wheels show an October date.

Good point, and this is why I think its important to cross-ref as many 'dated' components as possible and then apply this data to other 'known' factors, such as engine number, body serial number and specification. I think LHD cars are far easier to pin an accurate ( ish ) production date on than any RHD car, simply because of the amount of available cross-referencing data.

Cheers,

Alan T.

[26th-Z]

Thanks for the confirmation on the seat belt labels, Alan.

[Alfadog]

with the "Datsun 240Z" model description used as a 'default' setting.

"An American seatbelt, made in Japan"? :nervous:

But seriously, that's a very interesting point. As are the rest of the things you have said - thankyou for sharing this knowledge! I only wish I still had my Z so I could check who painted the black on it!!!