Early Series 1 Fuel Door Question

[kats]

Thank you Mike,

Now I have got you, I thought very early like yours and Chris's car do not have the long vertical plate on the back, but they have it, right?

The test cars must be HLS30-00004 and 00005, I guess after these cars got the change.

My 01/70 Z432 and 03/70 240Z both have the spring and the ordinaly fuel door.

kats

[Mike B]

Thank you Mike,

Now I have got you, I thought very early like yours and Chris's car do not have the long vertical plate on the back, but they have it, right?

The test cars must be HLS30-00004 and 00005, I guess after these cars got the change.

My 01/70 Z432 and 03/70 240Z both have the spring and the ordinaly fuel door.

kats

Yes, my HLS30-00032 and HLS30-00210 both have the long vertical plate on the back of the door.

I was also wondering if the the Fairlady ZL got the spring and the base Fairlady Z did not? Originally the HLS30U model that we received in North America had some of the base features like the like the Fairlady Z (such as rubber mats, clear glass, and no rear defroster) but they were quickly upgraded soon after production began. It is a small thing, but I wonder if this was the case with the gas door spring? Either that or the springs were just not available yet the at start of production, but the doors had been designed to use one and were added to production once they were available.

-Mike

[26th-Z]

Great conversation!

How anal does it get over here at ClassicZ ? Or...is this a symptom of my "Low VIN" disease? How many great resources we have! Kats, you MUST make a DVD of your films! The scene shows exactly how fragile the early fuel doors and that plastic knob were. Notice how the door bounces? No spring. And notice how difficult it was to close the latch. I see that after a couple of fumbles, the knob closes in the North / South position. Confirm that, right-waist!

I thought the "extra plate" was the spring plate also. Not the weld tab on the door. Over time, the weld tab pulls away from the door and rusts. Mine are all pulled away some.

You bring up a good point, Mike. Did the S30 come equipped with the sprung door and the S30-S not? Big question.

[kats]

Mike,

Good point,you are referring about Fairlady-Z432, ZL and Z.

ZL and Z432 are having some featuring as standard while Z is not.

Hi Chris, thanks! May I confirm her majesty has a fuel door which does have long vertical plate on the back of the door?

Fairlady-Z has rubber mats for floors, side frames under the doors are covered by vinyl while ZL and Z432 have carpet on that.

Also it has a big knob for seat back which is adjustable 5 degrees forward/

5 degrees backward while ZL and Z432 have reclining mechanism.

And non-defogger rear glass(but Fairlady Zs are all tinted glass except Z432-R,Z432-R has Plexiglas)

These featuring are seen in an early HLS30U, so we can expect same thing on the fuel door...

I made a call Mr.Watanabe (PS30-00063 12/69) and he said his 12/69 Z432

has the spring on the fuel door.He guesses Fairlady Zs have a key cylinder for the door (but Z432-R has a knob like an early export 240Z),

so the door is little bit heavier than the knob type.The door has to keep opened position without support, this could be the reason of applying the spring.

But I still have to ask Z432-R and early Fairlady-Z owner about spring, to clear our question which is what makes it has spring due to a key cylinder or car model grade.

kats

PS:attached picture is from an owners manual of Fairlady Z series issued NOV 1969.

Edited May 16, 2010 by kats
add some

[kats]

Hi,

Following informations are off set course but will be interesting to know

Japanese Zs.

Fairlady Z (S30S: standard model) has a simple radio,it does not have auto matic antenna nor automatic station tuning.See the first picture from the owners manual issued NOV 1969.

The antenna is also different, this manual extension antenna has a big point while automatic antenna has a sharpened point.

Even this antenna has a small key to lock the point to prevent from someone

trying to extend badly.Mr Matsuo gave me this antenna,I will post picture in some day.

See the second picture from the brochure issued NOV 1969.

And Z(S30S) does not have a glove box light, nor clock, passing light switch, wheel cover, rubbers on the bumpers.

Z432-R has a different rear view mirror,it does not have day/night mode.

See the 3rd picture from the owners manual issued NOV 1969.(actually the car in the picture is not Z432-R

because you can see a dome light on the roof)

Z432-R has a non-tinted front windshield , this is what one of the most rare

item in Japan.(of course every little thing on Z432-R is so rare) But we can see it some good numbers in 1969 240Z. According from the parts catalog, this windshield is 72631-E4600. Yes, this E4600 is basically for export model.

Same thing on the fuel door knob, in Japan we do not see it many because it is for Z432-R. The part number is 84360-E4602( 1969 Z-432R must have E4600/E4601 )

kats

Edited May 16, 2010 by kats
add some

[Bonzi Lon]

I used the word 'fragile' as a watchmaker with lots of experience with springs. If not made or tempered properly they can and will fail. Rust also has a huge effect on steel springs making them weaker as time goes on, until failure. So, thinking out loud, maybe they wern't needed (early VIN) as the fuel door had a latch, or sub-standard springs were installed and failed right off the bat, and fell out, the 'welded plate' added to help reduce the loss, better springs, first 2 coils then 3 coils were used and the knob discontinued. Makes you wonder.

Bonzi Lon

[JohnnyO]

Thanks Kats for all your information. I am glad I noticed the difference in the doors when I was reassembling my car. I also noticed something else that seemed to be an early Series 1 thing but I cannot remember what it was.

Does anybody actually keep an official list of Early Series 1 Unique parts? I know we have had a few list threads on this site but I don't know if there is an official list that discoveries should be submitted to.

John

[Mike B]

I also noticed something else that seemed to be an early Series 1 thing but I cannot remember what it was.

Does anybody actually keep an official list of Early Series 1 Unique parts? I know we have had a few list threads on this site but I don't know if there is an official list that discoveries should be submitted to.

John

I am working on an online spreadsheet that we can revise as needed, similar to the registry spreadsheet started by Mike W. I will post it in a new thread when I am done. Send me a PM for now if you have something you want me to include.

-Mike

[JohnnyO]

Link to Mike B's spreadsheet of early Series 1 unique parts:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38607

[jellobob777]

Just Checked Hls300033 and no springs and no cover plate Hls3004017 has 2 springs and the plate .I also have an NOS series one gas door with the part# ink stamped on it part # 78810-B4101 that has 2 springs and the extra plate on it.