Datsun-240z Vs Fairlady-z432

[kats]

Thanks Captain! You are my mentor. Recently I am so inclined to Dino 246 , is it because I am looking at the car sitting on the grass the other side of the fence ? 

Kats

[Gav240z]

12 hours ago, kats said:

Z32 and R32GTR , NSX , Supra , all Japanese manufacturers followed max 280 PS engine voluntary restraints . Literally it was not mandatory, but it was just like a restriction . RB26DETT , it was meant to be produce 500 PS or more , however it was sold as 280 PS engine to the public.

You forgot the best car Kats, the FD RX-7 :). 1 of the most beautiful cars of the era (if not the most beautiful in my humble opinion).

The only modern sports car in Japan I've seen with the fender mirrors has been the RE Amemiya Super G RX-7 kit.

Love how Orido puts the Civic into the weeds here ?

RE: The Gentleman's agreement of 280PS, I am pretty sure they were ALL over this power figure but never dyno'd each car to confirm it's true "stock" power.

There was a similar issue in Australia in the 70s as we kept building more and more powerful muscle cars (with inadequate brakes and suspension/handling to go with it).

A Journalist wrote an article that changed the direction of such cars forever.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercar_scare

It resulted in the stillborn Ford Falcon Phase 4 GTHO. These homologation specials were really race cars dressed up as street cars.

It's not just Japan with strict laws re: modification of vehicles. In Australia you can be issued with a defect notice for removal of the standard airbox and replacing it with pod filters (unenclosed in a box). Also non-recirculating blow off valves are a no no (since they vent to atmosphere) and could disrupt MAF/MAS readings (so the story goes). So it's supposedly emissions related. A lot of the rules don't make sense, some of them do (waste-gates should be plumbed back in, no screamer pipes thank you!).

PS: Kats I love your old Silvia, very hard to find a clean example like that today. That dashboard cluster is unique, I'm not used to seeing the digital readout etc.. is that a special option?

12 hours ago, kats said:

No door mirrors allowed  cars before March 1983 , no wide wheels , even some people got a ticket because they had Z432 emblems instead of their original registration type of car . ( on the other hand, there were a lot of protesters enjoyed whatever they want on the street ) 

 

8 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

The Honda guys peeling off the US hood ornament and installing the red Japanese H instead because it's neat.

In Australia you see a lot of Holden's rebadged as "Chevy's" because of the LS motor's and the wannabe status. It's a good way to attract the wrong attention from the Police etc.. however.

Edited December 18, 2018 by Gav240z

[kats]

Thanks Alan , you have tremendous knowledge about true stories of cars in Japan not only Zs , when was the first time you came to Japan , in 1970 ?  The way you enjoy your S30 cars is not a JDM style, you have real  Fairlady Z cars just like a Japanese owner or even a racer in Japan ( I know you have some HLS30 cars too ) .

As I have been a HLS30 owner in Japan , I always feel I am a stranger in Japan . For me people seemed to think domestic model Fairlady  Z series is  the best , I was so disappointed when someone said LHD  is fake ... although I have met some gentlemen who friendly approached me and said “ your 240Z is the real one ! We have got 240Z two years later than abroad “ 

I have been trying to change Japanese people’s image , HLS30 is not a fake , S30 was made “ export “ in mind . 

But I recently found about “ grass is always green “ thing is , some Japanese people used to try “ American look “ in old days .

I saw a picture which was taken maybe late 1970 or 1980s , a Z car meeting in Japan there are some big 5 mile US bumper on Fairlady  Zs , or even some real HLS30 cars . And US tail lights on a Fairlady Z  !

Kats

Edited December 18, 2018 by kats

[kats]

Hi Gavin , it is very interesting to read what happened in Australia, I am surprised Japan is not the only country about the rules . 

About  the digital readout speed indicator, I also love it , my 180SX has the same , it was an expensive option . I think Nissan did this a long time ago than Ferrari  ?

Kats

[kats]

About a S20 engine block , crankshaft bearing cap has two extra bolts from side not seen in L series engine , this is what we feel S20 is special. Each bearing cap comes with specifically designated washer (Shim )  , 10 different thickness washers has letters from A to K ( I is not used to avoid confusing with 1 ) . I have got these washers yesterday, I am so happy with a lot of washers. Mr.Yamamoto told me he is trying to find washers which are used in my spare S20 engine but , I have not heard good news from him yet .

So I took it from the auction. Seeing these sets of washers , now I am wondering how many S20 engines did the seller overhaul  in his life ? He may have some more interesting S20 parts ?

Kats

Edited December 18, 2018 by kats

[kats]

I have a question, Is a good S20 block ( or bearing cap or both ) must have all the same thickness washer ? I have not seen such a block . Why Prince had to do this for assembling? Was the quality of casting not good ? Or , were the workers in the factory careful enough to build S20 , to make it better gap installing the crankshaft?

Alan , please let us know . And if you need some washers, I will give you some . But you won’t need them any?more 

 

Kats

Edited December 18, 2018 by kats

[kats]

One more today, 

I have a pile of file of “ service Kai- Show “ it’s like a bulletin I just don’t know what is a suitable word for this . Some topic has many pages and some just a few pages .

I found descriptions of a canister, and a label for emission device applied .

My ZG still remains the label on the left rear quarter glass . The right one is for the emissions , it might be put in 1973 . When my ZG was rolled out from the factory in June 1972 , there was no device required. But in 1973 , new rule became active , my ZG was affected by the rule to have a lime green vacuum ball to cooperate with an ignition timing . But no need to have a canister.

The middle one is the label for “ new car delivery inspection completed “ by a local Tokyo Nissan dealer.

Kats

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by kats

[Gav240z]

Hey Kats,

RE: Emission systems on AU market S30Z's. It looks like we got the Airpump in April 1976.

My 75 260z had a charcoal canister, I am fairly sure. I will need to double-check. I thought that was part of emissions, but it may have been part of the climate control system in the dash?

I'll send you a PM with a link to the PDF for HS30 parts manual.

[HS30-H]

8 hours ago, kats said:

I have a question, Is a good S20 block ( or bearing cap or both ) must have all the same thickness washer ? I have not seen such a block . Why Prince had to do this for assembling? Was the quality of casting not good ? Or , were the workers in the factory careful enough to build S20 , to make it better gap installing the crankshaft?

Alan , please let us know . And if you need some washers, I will give you some . But you won’t need them any?more

Kats,

The S20 main bearing caps are "cross bolted". Enthusiasts of high performance engines are familiar with these as many 'Extra Duty' engines were designed like this from the factory. The advantages are in helping to eliminate 'crank walk' and 'fretting' (where the crankshaft deforms the main bearing caps and block casting) and helping to keep the engine block casting's shape and size during heat cycles and high rpm use.

As you will notice, the machinists at the factory marked the block/oil pan mating face with the 'grading' measurement for the correct shim size on each cross-bolt to help the engine builder. This is a labour-intensive operation of the type still performed by Nissan's 'Takumi' engine builders for the VR38 engine, and it is a mark of quality. 'Hand Made' still means something today too.

That's a wonderful pile of NOS shims you have found there! You can become a specialist supplier now. When I rebuilt my ex-432 S20 engine it was very hard to find these kinds of parts (valve lash caps in various sizes were also a problem) but the situation seems much better these days. Now I know where to go when I build engine no.3...

 

[Gav240z]

On 12/6/2018 at 1:54 PM, Gav240z said:

Hey Kats,

Here is a 74 model year 260z 2+2 delivered to Australia.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LpRw6YwZb9AyAKjD9

It's a bit of a time capsule so a good example of an original engine bay.

Interestingly I don't see the charcoal canister.

However my 75 2+2 did indeed have the charcoal canister.

I can try and look in the HS30 parts manual for Australian/NZ to see when those emission items were introduced if you're interested?

4 hours ago, Gav240z said:

Hey Kats,

RE: Emission systems on AU market S30Z's. It looks like we got the Airpump in April 1976.

My 75 260z had a charcoal canister, I am fairly sure. I will need to double-check. I thought that was part of emissions, but it may have been part of the climate control system in the dash?

I'll send you a PM with a link to the PDF for HS30 parts manual.

Ok so I should be in bed sleeping, but when I find stuff like this I just want to write it down whilst it's still fresh.

1. That 260z 2+2 I linked to earlier was a low VIN# GRS30.

Full album of photos I collected here.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CWdhoXxY9WjdXoKE2

"Datsun 260 z 2+2 built date 5/1974,,,80,000 kms original"

Now people mess up build date all the time here, I suspect it's compliance date. Which is found on a plate fixed in the engine bay upon arrival into Australia making the build date probably closer to March 1974 or thereabouts... I don't have the VIN # itself. But if you look at the engine bay you'll see:

(best photos I have I'm afraid).

a.) No charcoal canister

b.) No airpump (or at least I can't see 1)

If the above parts manual is correct, then it makes sense since it was introduced April 76, but what about the charcoal canister? Which appears to have started in 09/74.

So that means early 260z's in Australia got the flat tops, but no charcoal canister and no air pump until later in 1974.

[Captain Obvious]

16 hours ago, kats said:

Recently I am so inclined to Dino 246 , is it because I am looking at the car sitting on the grass the other side of the fence ?

Hi Kats,

I'm with you completely.

There are really only one or two cars in my life that I regret not buying when I had the chance. And a Dino 246 is one of them. I had the opportunity to buy one of them a bunch of years ago before the prices reached their current level and I did not buy it. I should have. When you posted those pics of your Z next to the Dino, it reminded me about that.

There's another saying in the US.... "Don't cry over spilled milk."  It means "don't spend time worrying about things that occurred in the past which you can't change now."   

In the end, however, I think I would be afraid to drive the Dino because of the value. I think it would just sit in the garage because I didn't want to risk taking it out.

[240260280]

"The nail that stands-up......GETS POUNDED DOWN"

Communism 101

 

.... all of my Chinese colleagues said this.