decoding my vin#

[Carl Beck]

We have discussed this before, for some reason best known to Nissan, no L was used to indicate a LHD HS-130.

Now the waters get mudder as there is no way of determining how many RHD or LHD HS-130 models where made. Perhaps ZHome has more info on this?

The "L" is not part of the VIN on ZX - but it is part of the "Model Number" listed on the Model Identification Plate.... on some of the ZX's it's under the hood on the cowl or innerfender...

ie... HLS130 (J) (F)(A) (T) (U)(V)(N) or KHLS130....or HLGS130

K= T-Bar Roof

H= 2.8L FI engine

L= Left Hand Drive

G = 2+2

J=GL Package I believe

F=5 spd

A=A/T

T=Turbo

U=Federal Standard

V=California Standard

N=Canada Standard

I have not seen a break-down of the Right Hand Drive vs Left Hand Drive total production numbers.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Zedrally]

There is to much information on this site.

I re-read an old post about HS-130's in Australia and realised why I got confused about the (L). I thought I had better mention this before Alan T reads this thread and has a heart seizure!

Interestingly, if the originator of this thread had performed a search, the information would have become available to him.

Carl, given that there is no break up of RHD/LHD models, have you any idea if serial numbers were separate for both models;

ie did HLS-130 00001 & HS-130 00001 co-exist?

[1980_280zx?]

Being the originator I do not realy know where to look for all these things. I am a long time ford man and have fair knowledge of them but I am brand new to the Z car and I am trying to gather as much info as possible before realy ripping into it. Again I realy appreciate all the help. Please keep the info coming.

thanks Van

[zbane]

These are the stickers that show paint code (between radiator & air filter area)

production plate 1 (left hand side firewall, when looking from the nose)

production plate 2 (door jamb)

There is also a number stamped into the firewall, just to the right of the production plate-I don't have a shot of it.

While you are on that side of the car, turn 90 degrees and face the engine.

On the back half of the engine side (between cylinders 6 and 3) there is a number stamped on the engine. It will probably be hard to find/see due to grime and wires being in the way, but poke around and you'll find it. What it's for, I really don't know (I'm sure someone here does, though-so feel free to chime in here!), but it's nice to know where it is.

There is also a stamp somewhere on the cylinder head-this you should find, since different years/models had different heads- this would be good to know if you decide to order engine internals.

I would suggest looking around for a factory service manual-it will be your friend.

[1980_280zx?]

I found the head stamp while replacing the head gasket, it's an SJ. I have also located the product plate on the firewall. Boy I learn something new about these things every day. Thanksfor the great info, again.

[sblake01]

I found the head stamp while replacing the head gasket, it's an SJ. I have also located the product plate on the firewall. Boy I learn something new about these things every day. Thanksfor the great info, again.

'SJ' would be some type of casting mark. The number for the head would be something like N42, N42, P79, P90, P90a, etc.

[1980_280zx?]

ok, I will have to look again. What does the casting mark tell me?

[1980_280zx?]

Next question is where can I get the color code decoded? It may yet be a while before paint is applied but would still like to know what color is right. As I said before I believe it is blue but would like to make sure.

Thanks again for everyones help!

[zbane]

This may seem like a stupid answer, but I think it will work. The PO of my car repainted (MAACO's finest overspray, runs and all!) everything except the

1. inside of the hood

2. engine bay

3. hatch area underneath the pad

4. spare tire well

5. the channels where the water runs when the hatch is closed (whatever that is called)

6. under the plastic sill runner (the plastic peice that has the hatch opener attatched to it on the driver side)

Those photos I posted in #16 are from my car, the PO went from Root Beer Brown to Generic Red. If your PO (previous owner) repainted on the cheap, I doubt these areas would have been sprayed.

I would check there to see what the original color is, if this is not enough, I might try calling your local Nissan dealer armed with your VIN, production date, and paint ID number, or a custom paint shop-you never know what resources they have.

[1980_280zx?]

All the areas you just stated are the blue I menchuned before thats what leads me to believe it was blue. That and the interior is a blue. I just want to make sure whom ever I have do it does it the right color.

[daddz]

Van,

I am joining this thread a bit late but it looks like you have gotten some good information so far. Do you have any service records or receipts that came with your car? In addition check the data plate located in the driver's side doorjamb as the U.S. specification cars had this tag applied to the b-pillar. It will repeat the chassis number and give you a month and year for your production date. Also, remove your spare tire cover (right hand side as you face the taillights--same side as the gas cap) and look on the back of it. There may be still legible two sets of numbers. We are concerned with a set that will appear in this format:

56.4.28 and for another example 56.10.30

These numbers are dates in the Showa format. Without getting into too much history 'Showa' refers to the Emperor of Japan and at the time of your car's assembly the Showa period was in existance. The Showa period begins in 1925 and the '56' in the examples above is the year (1925 + 56 = 1981) and the '4' would be 4th month or April and the '28' would be the 28th day. Putting this altogether we get: April 28,1981 and the other example would be October 30,1981. These two dates were found in both of my 280ZX's. Don't be alrmed if the dates don't fit rigidly. For example my '82 280ZX is 10/30/81 and yet the data tag is stamped '11/81'.

This is also a good place to find and see the original color of your ZX as well as to verify that there isn't a bunch of rust in your spare tire well. The 280ZX's have been known to rust badly in that location so it's a good idea to check it.

For what it's worth I do have a 280ZX hood, driver's side fender with headlight bucket and lower front valence panel end, (Nissan parts sticker visible under the primer) that I would like to find a new home for. The hood is a '81.5-'83 style which has different ducting from the '79-'81.

Lastly, if you have a chance post some pics of your 280ZX so we can see what we're talking about.

[1980_280zx?]

I tried to post some last night but couldn't get the camera to work right. I will post some pics soon(Sunday). I do have a technical problem I could use a bit of help with. The second manifold bolt from the front, how do I get it in?