VIN help

[Oregon260z]

I have a 260z and cant seem to find out info on when my car was made. I am restoring the car and want to know what things the car should have .

Can someone please decode my VIN and tell me manafacture date and maybe what all its spose to have so I can get it as close as possible to stock.

here is my VIN RLS30035450

Thanks

Jonathan

[oldhemi]

The VIN only has the serial number. There is nothing there to indicate any options. The born-on date will be stamped on a metal plate on the drivers door striker area - on the body - not the door itself. Another metal plate is located on the passenger side of the engine compartment, forward of the strut tower and near the trouble light. There will also be a sticker on the passenger side upper radiator support that will contain the code of the paint color. Lastly the VIN is stamped on the firewall above the M/C brake booster.

Now then, my numbers and datum are not correct yet for the 260Z and some following info is a little fuzzy:

There were about 65,000 260's built. One year only in the USA. The rest of the world got the 260Z thru 1978.

The latter portion of the cars were more 280Z appearance-wise in their bumpers and strut changes in the suspension. I have never been close to a later 260Z to observe all of the changes. Some mechanical changes can be gleaned by parts offered that state which years or serial number range that they fit. I need to document this info when I find it. If anyone that reads this far can point me in some directions, I will be grateful and stick it into a word document.

My serial number is 13490, born on 11/73. Doing some dirty and fuzzy math, there were about 65,000 built in an assumed 12 month period. 65K/12 = 5400 built per month. I am guessing that production started around 9/1/1973. So, yours might have been built in April 74 give or take a month. This would be considered an "early" 260Z. Again, if anyone has read this far and wants to chime in with some info, please have at it as I am too tired tonight.

Oregon260Z, please use the search function, there is a lot of info here on 260Z's. If you have some specific questions, you will get a better and more concise answer - maybe.

Look at my signature, I know what's factory and what's not because I am the only person to have mechanically worked on this car. It's not stock, but close and I still have nearly all of the parts that I changed out.

Edited March 12, 2010 by oldhemi

[sblake01]

According the the Z Car micrifiche, the early US 260Z was built Aug. 1973-Aug. 1974, and the late 260Z was built from Sep. 1974-Nov. 1974. Early serial numbers were RLS30-000001 to RLS30-060000 and late were from RLS30-060001 to RLS30-200000. As far as breaking them down by month, I'll leave that up to someone else since that becomes fairly speculative.

[Oregon260z]

Thanks for the info guys and I do use the search function oldhemi but didnt really come up with anything about 260z vin mainly 240.

I looked at your sig pics and I dont think the 3 weber carbs are stock on the L26 mine has 2.

I have seen alot of pictures of a 260z and none of them seem to look like mine the hoods seem different the bottom of the doors has metal along it never seen another with that, the bumpers are different so I am a little confused did I mention I am new to the datsun world.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Oregon260z
made changes

[ZCurves]

You should post some pics of your car, that way everyone could chime in on what was OEM and what has been done by the previous owner.

Besides, it would be fun to see the "Authoritative Pontification" begin!

[oldhemi]

I specifically posted that mine is not ALL stock! The webers and exhaust were installed in early '77 along with suspension mods. The rust is all original too!

Your 2 carbs could be the original flat tops, previous years SU's or even downdraft Webers!

The car in your avatar has some trim added to the bottom. Dealers would load these cars up with "dealer options" for more profit because there was still a waiting list in early '74 for these cars. I have seen this trim before on cars along with the belt molding. If your hood has vents it is likely off of a '77-78. I can not tell if you have 260 or 240 bumpers/bumperettes because the pic is too small for my poor eyes.

Try a more specific search like: 260Z bumper. You will get lots of hits. You have to sift through them. Some even have pictures!

Do as zcurves posted and link us up to foto album. We can then all get into arguments on what is stock or not!

Edited March 12, 2010 by oldhemi

[Arne]

The picture he attached in his intro thread (http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?p=320303) is larger. It shows an early 260Z (small bumpers) with a late 280Z hood and aftermarket front towel bar, aluminum rocker trim and side mirrors.

[beezee]

My 260 vin is RLS30034513,door tag stamped 5/74 ,yours would have a build date close to mine.

[Oregon260z]

oldhemi I was basiclly asking if the triple weber was stock wasent trying to insult or correct you. Funny you brought up the hood I was talking to my step father in Cali on phone and he said his 74 260z he bought new had the same hood it was a dealer option to have the vents installed and he opted for the aluminum rock guards on lower side of car too. Iam getting pics now even though I have the car started to be torn down because its cheaper to get info here than calling long distance for info and a drunken studder .

[Arne]

260Zs with the stock carbs and hood ran hot in the engine compartment, and had lots of vapor lock problems. There were several "fixes" regarding vents, insulation and such in attempt to reduce underhood temps. Now that I look closely, it is impossible to say whether the vents in your hood are stock '77-78 280Z parts added later, something else added by the dealer while the car was still fresh, or if the entire hood was replaced with a late 280Z hood at some later time. I'd need better pictures to be able to tell.

It would be interesting to see underhood pics to know what carbs you have on the car now, too.

[Oregon260z]

here are some pics sorry there not the best will get better with good camera later. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v202/jlnuna/cars/260z/

[oldhemi]

Oregon, no insult taken! Most folks dont "restore" 260Z's as opposed to the 240's and even the 280's! And I am not the foremost expert on 260's, I just happen to have owned one since new that's sitting in one of garages. I can walk in there and look at something to answer a question or two.

You have round top SU's from a 70-72 240Z. The 240 guys can tell you which year(s)that they are - 3 screw or 4 screw tops. That is probably a good thing for you! Does not look like that you have the original intake manifold. BTW, Oregon has a TON of Z car fanatics! You should have a lot of local experience to draw from.

It looks like you are tearing the car down for a paint job?

Your bumpers are 260's as Arne posted. I never cared for the way that they stuck out from the body and the way that the rubber quickly deteriorated. My bumperettes are starting to split on the bottom and I am afraid that they will disintegrate if I try to remove nuts off of the impregnated bolts. Wont be easy to find good ones these days. Its easy to let the gas out of the shock mounts, push the bumper in and then weld up the shock tube. There are other methods also. Depending on how far you push them in, you will have to either remove or trim the rubber aprons that are attached to the body. For me, they are history when I get around to it. I am pretty sure that the rubber on the bumper is still available from Black Dragon and MSA. Dont know about the rubber on the body that sits in back of the bumper on both sides and front and back.

Your front valance panels look to be in good shape. As does the grill.

Is that lower side trim hiding some rust? I hope not, but dont be surprised. Its a common "trick" to cover the rust.

Are you having fun yet breaking the bolts on the car when you are removing items?

I cant tell from your new pics if the hood grills are 280Z or something else. I never had any vapor lock problems and my car still ran smooth when I removed the original carbs. Arne could be right that they could be something added at some point. A lot of discussion on their effectiveness at removing heat over at hybidz. I dont care since I dont plan on running one of those hoods.

Is it me or does the new format of Photobucket have really small pictures?

Edited March 13, 2010 by oldhemi