Question Regarding Distributor Cap

[Mckrack]

Simply put, does any one know the original and correct color of the distributor cap in a series one Datsun 240z out of the factory.

Thanks

[DaveN]

It was a light grayish green.

[Arne]

Agreed. My red car still had the original on it when I bought it. That cap is now safely packed up along with the Koito headlights and date-coded plug wires.

[sblake01]

That cap is now safely packed up along with the Koito headlights and date-coded plug wires.

You do that too! Do you ever plan to use the stuff? I have a lot of original Datsun stuff bagged, boxed and tagged but I wonder if I'll ever use it. I don't really do the 'show car' thing and except for the unique nla Datsun stuff the replacements are easier to find and in general, better.

[Arne]

I actually installed the cap, wires and headlights for the Canby gathering last June, just because I could. I don't really show my cars either, but it's kinda cool to have the parts available for others to see.

[Mckrack]

Thanks Fellas

[Mckrack]

Actually is it possible that gray/green color faded over time. I was under the impression it was close to the color of the engine block. But I wanted to confirm it with you guys.

[Arne]

Not faded, as I've seen an NOS unit that was the same as mine.

[26th-Z]

Brochure photo from 1970 attached. Hard to dispute Nissan published documentation. Black.

Actually both colors are correct.

[26th-Z]

Futher fuel to the fire...the "correct" distributor cap has bronze contacts, not aluminum.

[Mckrack]

Unfortunately the Thumbnail picture is not clear.

some how there must be a more definitive answer. Vin or dates of manufacture.

As for the thumbnail picture from the brochure I suppose that this was a car they forgot to put the air filter housing stickers on or am I seeing something you arent.

If in fact that is the 1970 brochure does it not seem strange that those stickers are missing. Could that have been an oversight by Nissan when the vehicle was professionally photographed. Or just not the 70 brochure you reference. Or some other mishap.

I have queried this issue with others off the board and some have told me that the cap was actually the color of the block. That is the earliest cars in the series one line. However I thought that some one here would know more then the guys I initially asked.

Maybe Mr. Beck knows more about this or even a fellow that I have heard of by the name of Bob Fredericks in Jacksonville Florida. Guys if you see this chime in if you would.

[26th-Z]

Sorry the picture isn't clear enough for you. You should buy a brochure for your model year. You noticed the air filter box! Yea, the early cars didn't have decals. You see, there is no such thing as a "series one". So, there isn't "correct" across the range of construction refered to as "series one". Our term "series one" is a club term. Datsun never usde the description "series one". The early cars had black distributor caps and the later ones had the dull green cap. The replacement part is the dull green cap. Years later, the cap was constructed with aluminum contacts. The aftermarket caps all had aluminum contacts. That's why people like Arne still have the original cap. The original bronze (maybe brass?) contacts didn't wear out. One of the little things that made Datsun durability famous. You also want to make certain the cap is an original manufacturer and not the aftermarket. A search through the archives will reveal conversations Bambikiller had about this topic.