Metal headlight bucket?

[kurtwwalters]

I have an 4/70 and a 6/72 240Zs. Both have fiberglass headlight buckets. I recently came across a metal one. Were the early ones metal - maybe they were replaced on my early car? If the early cars were metal then I will have to find another one.... thank you in advance

[Fun_in_my_z]

The early ones were fiberglass, the later ones are metal. I think.

my 71 has fiberglass my 72,74 and 75 had metal

[Arne]

That's the way I understood it as well. My '71 also has fiberglass.

[ncz]

I don't know, guys I think they were all metal!!!

[Fun_in_my_z]

They where not all metal

[26th-Z]

I don't know when they switched to metal, but the correct term for the early headlight fender extensions, sugar scoops, buckets, whatever...is fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP).

[LanceM]

By 73 they were metal, the 72 I'm parting has one of each, metal on driver's side which has evidence of repaired damage along the whole side and fiberglass (FRP) on the right.

[71datsunZ]

my 71 has metal ones and both of my 70's have fiberglass. From what I have heard, In the beginning they couldn't figure out how to form the metal into the right shape. Thats why they used fiberglass. Then, later on they found out how to do it with metal and switched over.

[zman525]

well my Z had a fiberglass one on the driver and metal on the passenger ( lookd to be actually stock i sat there scratching my head for awhile.) This was off a 72 240z. It made no sense cuz i sanded them both down and they both had the same paint layers on em. Theres no evidence of any crashing. i have no clue....

[26th-Z]

Your '72 was probably THE car representing the change, Jay. Collector's item.

Metal headlight buckets are made in two pieces. they have a welded seam and they were more expensive to manufacture. FRP is different from fiberglass in that it is a compression molded process as opposed to laid cloth. Kind of like comparing particle board to plywood. In some respects it is stronger and in some respects it is very difficult to repair. The manufacturer of the FRP products on the Z car was making molded stadium seating at the time. Headlight buckets are not the only thing made from FRP on the Z. The original spoiler, fender flares, ZG nose, and I think 432-R hood, doors and deck lid were made from FRP.

[c david]

vin 11546 was fpr built in oct of 1970.

when i removed them for body work one threaded stud out of three on each side broke and later another eventually fell out. i have replaced them with metal for the ease of getting them to fit properly. my original fpr set is available.

cd

[EScanlon]

Don't throw them away....they're very easy to fix, if you take the time.

I'm not in need of any, but are you selling?

E