Hi All!

On my '71 240 on the INSIDE of the door sills, there is a piece of vinyl that lays against the side of the sill and extends downward to the floorboard. On TOP of that is a vinyl-covered metal trim piece that is held in place by 4 or 5 oval-head sheet metal screws. This metal trim piece extends over the frame (where it is spot welded, I believe?) and OVER the aluminum "beauty plate" on the actual door sill (proper term?).

I have seen that replacement vinyl strips are available to re-cover the metal trim as they take alot of foot-dragging abuse, but my metal strip is VERY RUSTY and beyond repair. Are the metal pieces available somewhere?? I have searched here and at the usual vendors (MSA, Black Dragon, Datsun Restore, etc.) but all I can find are the cut vinyl pieces, not the whole metal strip.

Any help would be great!!

Regards,

Astrohog

Think this is it on black dragon

http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icatalog/z/0020.asp

Astrohog,

That is called a skuff plate. You can buy new ones from almost anywhere but they are cheapest from http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=76942-S30

They can't have rusted as they are made out of aluminium. If you have rust stains on them then this could indicate a more serious issue that I had on my car. You should take off the scuff plate and the door weatherseal to get at the seam that is formed by the outer sill and the inner rail. I'd also remove the kick plate (Datsun logo) at the same time to check the state of the sill itself. It is not uncommon that if you have a badly worn of perished door seal that water track underneath the plates and sit and rust out the sill and the seam. Mine was horrific!

These are available from Courtesy Nissan parts: SKUFF PLATES

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=76942-S30

They are quite inexpensive now and they have a different finish than before.

They are no longer clad in vinyl over the metal, but are a crinkle finished metal only, and mount with 3 screws versus the 5 that held my originals on.

Believe me they are much less expensive at Courtesy compared to the outrageous prices some e-Bay sellers are asking in their auctions! Charlie Osborne commented recently in a phone conversation that since they are a Nissan part they would be a "correct" replacement, even though not exactly as original.

Jim D.

"Zup"

slow typist at work

I decided to strip my scuff plates since the vinyl was pulling up from scuffing and on its own even. One was just about perfect, and the other had a small problem area that probably can't be seen unless you look well.

If it's rusted, I suggest you look into the reason, like a leaking door seal or leaking elsewhere.

I also sanded of any oxidation, and polished it a little with steel wool. I plan on coating it with some black bedliner stuff. It won't be a wrinkle finish, but it'll be better than vinyl. Maybe some creative sanding or pressing on a leather pattern while still soft will give it a krinkle look.

Now, the aluminum sill plates are a different story. I've polished those things for weeks, and still can't get them "shiny," like show judges expect. Maybe one of those drill-gadgets?

thx

No, they are definately NOT aluminum and mine ARE rusted. I do believe it is because of a bad or "pinched" weatherstrip. I am about to tackle what little rust does exist in this car and give her the old POR-15 treatment along with a fresh coat of paint!! Just met with my body/paint guy so he could give me an estimate.........I am gonna have to save alittle while longer (and/or entertain a couple more quotes) but it will all be worth it when she is done!!!

Thanks for all of the replies, guys, I do not know how I did not find that part in my searches. I think I will get the ones from Courtesy as I am not doing a complete concourse-quality restore.

Regards,

Astrohog

Just bought some from Courtesy about a month ago for my '71. Very inexpensive. They are held on by three metal screws. Good luck.

The "skuff plates" are made of stamped steel and were originially covered with vinyl.

The "sill plates" are made of stamped aluminum embossed with "DATSUN"

Your car came with both and are sill available here:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/secondtier_s30.html

Todd

The "skuff plates" are made of stamped steel and were originially covered with vinyl.

The "sill plates" are made of stamped aluminum embossed with "DATSUN"

Your car came with both and are sill available here:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/secondtier_s30.html

Todd

Well, how about that then. This means one of three things.

1. Either my car has been fitted with new aluminium scuff plates at some stage.

or

2. Nissan shipped early cars (mine is HS30-00352) with aluminium scuff plates and chanded to vinyl covered steel at later date.

or

3. The car you have has had its aluminium scuff plates replaced with steel ones at some stage.

It makes sense that Nissan made them out of steel as they would get hit by the heel of shoes more often than traffic on the kick plates. Just seems strange that there are two types to me. Surely the vinyl steel versions would cost more to produce?

Is this another cost saving measure Nissan made druring the evolution of the zed? Time for a search.

Interesting theory on the early scuff plates. Maybe someone else with an early car can chime in. Mine are original, steel covered in vinyl but is a 10/70. I have never heard of them made from aluminum.

To clarify my earlier post:

The kick plates are the horizontal aluminum embossed plates screwed to the top of the door sill visible with the door open.

Seen here: http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CP&Product_Code=74590-S30

The scuff plates are steel covered with a black vinyl material and mount to the interior side of the door sill and are visible from inside the car with the door closed.

Seen here: http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=76942-S30

It's not a matter of using one or the other, both are used on the car.

They are shown on the parts CD (which I don't have here).

Todd