outer hatch weatherstripping!!

[EScanlon]

Mike:

MSA = MotorSport Auto

They're one of our sponsors. Click on the ad-link in the front page (usually between the Top News Stories and the Latest Gallery Uploads), it helps the club if you use the link provided rather than going there directly.

They have an on-line catalog as well as providing you with a CD when you order. If you choose to call, let them know you found the information about them on this site.

E

[AZ-240z]

The 3 piece unit is more "correct" for the earlier cars. It's 3 pieces are: the top section which has a "bulb" or tubular section affixed to the top of the flanged edge of the gasket.; the two side pieces resemble the top piece without the "bulb" or tube.

The 1 piece is just the top piece (above) extended to both sides. There are those who feel that this one piece with bulb design seals the hatch better than the other.

FWIW

E

E, I was always under the impression that the one piece outer hatch weatherstrip is correct for the series 1 cars. Mine has been replaced, many years ago, but I am certain that, when new, my car had the tubular cross section one piece weatherstrip. Banzai sells this one piece in reproduction form for the early cars.

Dan

[Arne]

My Series 1 (the old yellow car), the blue parts car (4/71) and the current red car (7/71) all came to me with the one-piece. I suppose it's possible that one or more of them had been replaced at some point, but all three?

[EScanlon]

My car had the 3 piece, it's a 71.

It's possible that it got changed, but the microfiche agrees with what I had.

My car being a "transition" car may have been changed, but when I ordered the replacement I was told that the "newer" one was the one piece.

See Section 121-5 Parts 60 & 61, it doesn't show superseded part numbers, nor a use after date.

FWIW

E

[Arne]

Hard to say at this point. McGinnis at Banzai claims the one piece is correct for '70-72. I'm fairly certain that the one-piece I took off the red car during paint prep was original. Add to that my assumption that the reason the one piece isn't in the parts fiche was because it was totally superseded, much like the early-style shift boot. The microfiche also shows the three-piece for the 280Zs. My copy of the fiche says it was updated in Dec. '79, well after the end of the 280Z run, so if the one piece had been the later replacement it should have been listed. For these reasons, I've assumed that the one piece was the earlier style.

I could still be wrong, though...

Edited August 7, 2008 by Arne

[AZ-240z]

I, too, had talked to Mike at Banzai and was told that the one piece is correct for the earliest cars. My car is a 1/71 series 1 and it was delivered new with the one piece, along with all the other typical series 1 parts.

This is one of those gray parts differences, kind of like the two phillips screws with clear plastic finisher washers that were used on very early (ie, 1969 - early 1970) cars to help to fasten the lower edge of the interior door trims panels. I have, since, found many original pictures one ebay confirming that those screws did exist, just don't know through what vin #.

E, your knowledge is an invaluable resource to me on this site, and it will be interesting to see if we can pin down the correct vin # range for this weatherstrip.

Dan

[ConchZ]

I understand that you want the "correct" weatherstripping, but here's a tip. The factory weather stripping does a poor job sometimes in keeping out exhaust fumes. To see if you have this problem, simply close the hatch on a sheet of printer paper. If you can move the paper around, your weather stripping isn't sealing right, and exhaust can get into the car. Try closing the hatch on the paper all the way around the hatch opening, looking for leaks.

Even with newer weather stripping, my Z would stink of exhaust inside it. I have a white interior, so you could see soot stains on the plastic panels on the inside of the hatch door, right above the exhaust. I broke down and solved the problem by adding generic weather stripping to the hatch itself, complementing the "correct" weather strippng that goes around the hatch opening. I only went half way up the sides of the hatch, as the closer you get to the hinges at the top, the tighter the seal becomes. Make it too tight, and you might warp the hatch when you close it.

Anyway, stinky problem solved.

[EScanlon]

...snip...the reason the one piece isn't in the parts fiche was because it was totally superseded, much like the early-style shift boot. The microfiche also shows the three-piece for the 280Zs. My copy of the fiche says it was updated in Dec. '79, well after the end of the 280Z run, so if the one piece had been the later replacement it should have been listed. For these reasons, I've assumed that the one piece was the earlier style.

I could still be wrong, though...

Look at:

1) Sect 121-4, items: 55 & 56, the Hatch Duct and Drain Tubes.

2) Sect 123-1, item 3, the Boot-Floor Shift Lever

3) Sect 110-1, item 9, the Windshield

The first example does not show any superseded items, but it IS listed. They're the internal items for the Series I hatch drain tube and duct. Not used in any later model.

The second example shows the first boot and the item that supersedes it with the proper reference to the first boot, yet no use referencing "up to" nor "from".

Third example shows the tinted and non tinted windshield, again no "up to" nor "from" dates. There is a reference to the tinted having superseded the non-tinted.

If your reasoning applies, then all the original items would also have been omitted from the 79 update.

But here are a few more tidbits:

Wick Humble, How to Restore your Datsun Z Car, page 167:

Hatch

Weatherstrip-- Zs have a three-piece weatherstrip on the hatch jamb. The tubular segment goes across the top run. Apply weatherstrip cement ...(snip)... Continue down one side similarly with the plain strip and repeat the process again on the other side.

W. Humble, ibid. illustration page 167:

Illustration points to items 13, 14 and 15 which would be the weatherstrip being discussed, but only 13 and 14 are identified as Weatherstrip, inner and outer respectively. Item 15 is not identified. Illustration is courtesy of Motorsport Auto.

W. Humble, ibid. photograph page 167:

Picture shows adhesive being applied.

Caption begins:

"Hatch weatherstrip is made up of three pieces. Side pieces are in place, taped until solidly adhered..."

W. Humble, ibid. photographs top of page 169:

Left photo clearly shows the side weatherstrip as NOT having the bulb. The right hand photo also shows it but it is hard to discern the lack of the bulb due to the indent of the metal rail. The photos on page 168 show the same side strip with the same difficulty in detail.

W. Humble, ibid. Parts Illustrations pages 223 & 230:

Both of these however, show a Single outer weatherstrip. The first illustration is for Z's up to 7-73 and the second is after 8-73. The first illustration seems to be the one from the microfiche, except that it does not show the side weatherstrips.

In pinning down Wick's car to a year or VIN, the photo of his window sticker says: HL530- 03547 (W. Humble, ibid. illustration page 200), which places it well before my vin of 43274, (except mine does say HLS30) so presumably it's earlier than a transition 71 mfg 9-71. At a WAG I would say it is a 70 Series I, which is supported by the picture on page 192.

Is it conclusive one way or the other? Hard to say.

FWIW

E

Edited August 7, 2008 by EScanlon

[Weasel73240Z]

FWIW, I did the same thing a ConchZ with the additional weatherstripping on the hatch itself. It didn't get rid of all the exhaust fumes, but its 90% better.