I've had the transmissions out of both my cars recently (more than once actually, really long story), and noticed something new to me. Big splotches of red paint.

Both transmissions are Type A 4 speeds. The clean one is out of my low mileage red car (7/71). The grubby one has been (and soon will be again) in my yellow Series 1, but originally came from a 4/71 parts car.

The big spot of red on the left top of the bellhousing was visible from under the hood. With the transmission out on the floor, I could see the similar sloppy paint splotch on the top right of the gear case. Interesting, but not notable -- until I looked closely at the other transmission.

Because while the other transmission is dirty and corroded, it still has some red paint visible, in much the same spots. While the red paint is similar in color to the red car, the parts car was originally blue. So I figure that the red paint may be some sort of inspectors' mark.

So should a properly "restored" '70-71 240Z have sloppy red paint applied to the transmission?

I have two Type A 4 speeds stored away. One is a 10/70 build & the other is from an early '71. When I get over to that garage I'll be sure to check for the red markings. It does seem to be a little more than coincidence for both of yours to be similarily marked.

maybe it was some way for them to say "ok, it passed inspection" and have it be VERY visible?

Maybe they had a paint fight in the tranny room.

Well...the bottom marking looks like an "L". Could that indicate these trannys were destined for L series engines or left hand drive S30's.

Most of the time paint splotches on parts were to indicate that it was either full of fluid or if the paint was on a drain plug or other type of bolt that they were torqued to spec and ready to be shipped to the assembly plant.

maybe it was some way for them to say "ok, it passed inspection" and have it be VERY visible?

Er...that sounds kind of like the the gist of the original question.....

Maybe it was the blood of some of the Porsches and Jags that the Z's used to eat on a regular basis when they were introduced....

My mistake, I only have one Type A four speed left. It came from a parted out early '71 "series 1". It has the red L but not the red blotch. Another mystery to solve....

Interesting question Arne. As far as a correct restoration, the "L" wouldn't matter because a judge couldn't see it by getting down on one knee, but the red blotch on yours could be seen from the engine compartment. It's probably something not on a judge's checklist anyhow.

I went out and looked at my series II 240Z (2/71 build) original 4 speed now sitting in the corner of the garage and it looks like geezer's, only the red L mark. My guess is its some kind of quality check(s) marking after the trany was assembled but prior to installation in the car, but thats just me.

Good to see that mine aren't the only red-spattered gearboxes here.

I hadn't put any thought into the lower splotch being 'L' shaped, but that seems to be consistent so far. Don't know what that means, though.

Another thought on the larger spot on the bell housing - I wonder if (since it is so visible from under the hood) some owners might have removed that one at some point in the past? Seems a bit unlikely that my two gearboxes have both red marks (or their remnants) but no one else's has the bell housing mark?

I'd sure be interested in hearing from other Type A tranny owners on this. But if the lower 'L' mark is the common one, it'll almost need to be Type A owners whose transmissions are out of the car...

Arne: I have a 71 parts car that was only a few hundred ahead of yours on the line vin# 37248 and it has a red spot on the top of the tranny as well.

Dan