Datsun-240z Vs Fairlady-z432

[76Datsun280z]

Thanks for sharing! That is truly one beautiful car, love what you have done to it!

[jackwarnock]

Wow!!

I am amazed at the quality of the restoration of the Fairlady z-432. Kats, you must truly know what you are doing to restore the car to that level of finish.

That is the level of quality I would LIKE to have, but realise I can neither afford the time or the money to achieve it. Where do all the parts come from?Kats, you say some are restored, some are new. It is impossible for me to tell the difference.

The Fairlady is a great credit to your standard of work. It produces a very high benchmark for the rest of us to aim for. I realise that some of the group also aim for these high ideals. Well done to you too.

A most interesting tour of your photos Kats.

Regards, Jack

[Carl Beck]

Hi Kats:

Great pictures and video's... Chris said; "your new toy".....Did you buy this Z432?

regards,

Carl B.

[kats]

Again, thank you everyone enjoyed watching my web site.

What would I say if some one asked me to explain my impression of Z432 briefly?

I would say " racing model from the factory,sexy sound ! " and "it is given many special parts" and " that is why it is heavy".

S20 engine is about 440 LB, L24 is about 400 LB. Front section is relatively heavier than L-series model,Z432 got stiffer spring coils for all the suspension and front struts are slightly different.

Following items are OEM parts for Z432,please enjoy seeing and paying attention to these items which NISSAN (Prince,Alan can tell much more ) put a lot of effort and cost. I list up as much as I can remember,

Engine

#1 S20 enigne with 3 MIKUNI carbs(it is slightly different from Skyline GTR's, oil pan,cylinder block, exhaust manifold ,etc)

#2 nicely fabricated exhaust manifold

#3 air cleaner box and related parts

#4 aluminum radiator with a reservoir bottle

#5 Transistor igniter system

#6 electric fuel pump located near the final gear

Other

#1 rear suspension got sway bar

#2 R 192 is the final gear

#3 twin tail pipes exhaust system

#4 Tach displays max 10000x

#5 rally clock is standard

#6 reclining seat mechanism is standard(this was not available for the U.S. until mid 1971)

#7 Magnesium wheel is standard(including a spare)

#8 432 emblem(All early emblems are casting metal,same as other S30 family)

Jack,is your Z is Japanese Z? i.e,Fairlady-ZL?I would like to hear more:)

This Z432 remains a lot of original early parts,Chris will be interested,like bonnet bumpers,red dot mirror,seat bottm side plastic guards,seat belt holders,non-small acess door for the tail light interior trim etc.

But Mr.Moroe who did this wonderful job,put lots of OEM parts for this Z432.I did not nothing,I just talked with him a lot and I showed my intention during this restoration.

kats

[kats]

Hi Carl,

Please do not ask me.

I need to find good excuse for my family.BIG BIG problem:tapemouth

kats

[jackwarnock]

Hullo Kats

My car is a 1973 Datsun Fairlady 240Z-L, sold to an Australian lady working in Japan at the time. I have all the original Nissan documentation, including the following: Estimate, Sales Note, Purchase Order, Bill and separate Receipts for Deposit and Balance.

The Vin is HS30 103407 and Engine # L24 185588. I believe the build date is 48 07 13 and the vehicle was "transferred" on 48 07 25. The vehicle was first registered on August 10, 1973. First Insurance is dated 48 8 9.

Kats I know you understand the dates provided above.

The 240Z is not original, in the sense that there have been many parts replaced over the 30+ years. The lady who owned the car maintained it very well and has kept complete records of all maintenance. It has travelled approximately 195k km. It maintains the main theme of the 240Z-L, with the fender mirrors, headlight protectors, 8 track Stereo and AM Radio etc.

I am "refreshing" the car only, but am anxious to get it back on the road. I am waiting on important parts and upgraded seat belts (retractable) and then I will be away.

Congratulations on your cars once agian. I am particularly impressed with the Z432. It is amazing.

Regards, Jack

[ChrisA]

Hello Kats,

I was hoping you could tell me what the black canister is on the radiator bulkhead of the 432?

Thank you very much for the pictures and video.

Regards,

Chris A.

[kats]

Hi Jack,

That is a very interesting story,I love to imagine when your Z was on the trip by a ship.The Australian lady made a good choice of colour,blue Fairlady is very rare and I love blue.We hardly have ever seen this color on the road.Japanese people like to have White and Silver still nowadays.They do not want to have fun with colors?

Especially for old days like 40 years ago,people chose not-loud color.To own a sports car,that was not usual thing for ordinary people.Even the people could have Z,they chose white/silver.We often say why so many Fairlady Zs are white or silver?Because here in Japan!

I think Nissan knew this Japanese choice,then the factory made many white/ silver S30 prior to receive customer request.On the other hand,in the U.S. there are lots of Orange Zs,are not they?I guess Nissan was reported people in the U.S. love to have Orange for a sports car...

Hi Chris A,

The black box is an aircleaner box.It contains an wet paper filter.On the 432 run up video,you can see the orange box attached carbs,that looks like an air cleaner box,but it is not.It is air induction box.The orange box is connected to the black box.

Attached pictures are from the Fairlady catalog. Cooling fan is made of plastic from the beginning of its production,not like an early L24 used a metal fan.

You can see how is engine mounted , it is slant not level from the ground in order to make the drive train axle strait to the final gear.

So the engine of S30 (L-series and S20)has to be high.Skyline mounts engine lower than S30.But drive train axle is not strait.

kats

[ChrisA]

Thank you Kats!! Very interesting! Great stuff.

Chris A.

[kats]

Hi,

I do not know much about Skyline,but this shop is worth to look at.

http://www.shiraishi-eng.jp/5_gallery/photo.html

kats

[Carl Beck]

Hi Kats:

Speaking of 240-Z's and Z-432's.

Do you know if any of the Fairlady 240-Z's that were raced by the Factory supported teams are being restored by private owners today in Japan? Or for that matter any of the Fairlady 240-Z's that were raced by any of the famous private owners. After the Fairlady 240-Z's were released in Japan.

regards,

Carl B.

BTW - you may recall that the very earliest L24's, that were planned for the DATSUN 240-Z's did have a plastic fan. That was the L24 with triple side drafts, and 175 HP - recall the early 1969 Sales Brochures - that engine was however killed by the US Emissions Standards that took effect in early 70.

[kats]

Hello Carl,

Yes I know what you are talking about L24 with plastic fan.

I think that early days,some important things were not settled down yet,like this sales catalog said. U.S. Nissan planned to sale standard 240Z(150ps with S.U. carbs) and sports model 240Z(175PS with solex carbs)???

For the Z432,there were 180PS model which is tested in the factory.It has got sports cam,valves,exaust manifold,etc.Engineers pushed this 432 to be listed on the brochure as a standard Z432. But that model was not listed.They all disapointed that decision.

I recently became to know Mr.Miyazaki Takeo who was a Nissan engineer and talk with him by E-mail.

Mr.Miyazaki told me very interesting S30 developing story which I have never heard of.

He tested not only Fairlady-Z,also 240Z.Especialy he tested HS30,because he was in a europian 240Z team.

Late 1960's and early 1970's,there were still conflict of Prince and Nissan.Mr.Miyazaki said Nissan bought Prince,but Nissan really did not use their skills.

kats