My two swiss S30Z Fairlady Restoration build thread

[HS30-H]

1 hour ago, JDMjunkies.ch said:

Here you you see the new Z together with what appears to be a Z432 and a regular JDM Spec Fairlady Z

In fact that is Takeuchi san's Z432-R, as used as a muse through the whole genesis of the RZ34 project, and debuted today on Nissan's Fairlady Z-themed stand at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon, paired with the RZ34 'Customised Proto' concept car:

 

     

[JDMjunkies.ch]

Today i finally got the Japanese Neko publishing "Fairlady Volume I" & "Fairlady Volume II" Books. Two super nice hardcover books that come in an additional nice cardboard box each.

I've seen those books many times but somehow forgot about them until a friend reminded me about them (Shoutout to Florian!), So i had to get them, of course.
I have only flipped through them quickly so far, so have to dive deeper into them. It appears that vol 1 has a lot of background information about the development. like below shown the different prototype / development versions:


They also feature nice pictures of all variants like the HS30-H G-nose version or the PS30 (Z432), etc, where you can see all the details:

Vol. II has a lot of motorsports photos


And also shows one of the famous Z432 Highway patrol cars:


As i said, i still have to go through them in detail in the coming days, but so far, they look good in my (partial) collection of Japanese Z-related books:

[JDMjunkies.ch]

On 12/28/2022 at 1:28 AM, zed2 said:

Nils,

What are the part numbers of the strut inserts?

Thanks,

Keith

Hi Keith, sorry it took me a while.
1) i realized i have two similar sets (i thought they were different ones). Both  Have the part number 56105-N3785

The labels says
GS30 (Hard) 74-11 and
S30(Hard) 74-11

Both sets came from two independant european dealers (one from germany, one i found in Austria) with the set including a sheet on how to install them.
The manual seems to be generic, as it also includes instrction for the 510 and other cars:

this is the other (exactly same) set with the same sheet included, but the backside shown.

The backside is written in Japanese. and clearly shows the "AMPCO" logo, even though both sets of struts included are of "ATSUGI" brand.
That is because AMPCO = Atsugi Motor Parts Corp. So it's the same company, just different branding.

This also seems to be confirmed in this thread, with the exact same strusts and installation sheet:

Update:
Here's a closer look at the scanned installation manual. Japanese on one side and english on the other side:

If you look up the part numbers, they seem to fit for the S30. but only for the 260Z: As for up to October 1974, 56105-E4185 was used.
"OP" means "optional". This usually indicates  harder "competition" suspension, or european factory specs, as we usually got from factory, what was optional competition suspension in other countries.
This information also seems to fit with the "Hard" and date indication on the box (see 2nd. picture in this post)

I still have yet to find out what to do with the two sets. Also i'm not sure yet if they're the correct euro-spec for the 240Z.
If have yet to find out if the 56105-N3785 is the 1:1 replacement unit for 56105-E4185. then it would be fitting. Otherwise it's "just" a set of (optional hard) struts for the 260Z (2+2).
So i looked it up in the parts manual. took me a while to find one where this one is listed:

So, you can see it is not listed as a direct replacement for the 240Z items. (ok that part is cut off on the right side, but it is not listed as the replacement for the up to 10-'74 items)
Means, while technically probably fitting as a replacement. they were never listed or sold from factory as an official fitting item for the 240Z.

So what do we have then?
It seems like it is a fitting replacement front shock absorber for the 01-74+ 260Z 2+2 and 11-74+ 260Z factory items.
But it's not a standard item, but
- a complete strut cartridge ("for service") to replace the original "open" style strut inserts.
- a "hard" spec, factory for european cars, or optional as "competition" items for other country cars.

You might wonder why there are so many of these struts around in europe that i was able to "accidentally" obtain two sets of them?
Well over here the 260Z never got replaced by the 280Z, so we had the 260Z for much longer, until it got replaced by the Z31.

So i guess these might be interesting for one or another 260Z (2+2) owner outside europe.

If you're interested, i once wrote a big post about the 240Z suspension and options here, but i haven't updated it in a while, so you might want to read it with a pinch of salt:
https://www.jdmjunkies.ch/wordpress/2017-01-19/240z-the-ultimate-guide-to-factory-suspension-and-options/

Edited January 30, 2023 by JDMjunkies.ch

[zed2]

Nils,

Wonderful information.  I have not looked at the spring options, however I presume that Nissan offered different options to match the various shocks.

Keith

[JDMjunkies.ch]

Yes, there were various spring sets for the various markets plus various option sets. you can find most of the information (including springs) in the Link at the end of my previous post.

[JDMjunkies.ch]

Today i managed to find something nice and rare. Something i have been looking for for a while and recently one popped up for sale:
An original Nissan "two-button" Rallye clock including oscillator box in excellent shape:

It consists of a the clock itself including the wires

And the oscillator box:

A while ago i got this aftermarket oscillator box From japan, which i don't need anymore, but since someone might be curious, here's a little comparison:

For those who don't know the Rallye clock was Standard in some japanese cars, and also available as a dealer option over there. In other countries (USA for e.g.) the rallye clock was sold in the "competition" catalogues as an option as well:

[HS30-H]

15 hours ago, JDMjunkies.ch said:

Today i managed to find something nice and rare. Something i have been looking for for a while and recently one popped up for sale:
An original Nissan "two-button" Rallye clock including oscillator box in excellent shape:

Looks to be in A1 condition. Nice find!

On an LHD car, where will you mount the Oscillator box?

[xs10shl]

To my eye, just based on the harness, that looks like it could be a ZClocks restoration.  I've sent him 4 clocks, and they all came back looking perfect.  He typically replaces the entire harness with new wiring (at least it appeared that way).  One of the boxes I sent him had a cracked vibrating fork, so he replaced it with a PCB in the original case.  A great service - highly recommended.

Just as an option, mine appeared to have been mounted using a pair of thru-bolts on the upper-right firewall.  I modified the design slightly by running a longer bolt through from the engine bay, and tightening it in place with a locknut.  Then I could just slip the oscillator on and off over the remaining protrusion, and tighten using a second nut.

JDMjunkies, perhaps this will give you an idea for mounting yours.

Edited February 16, 2023 by xs10shl

[JDMjunkies.ch]

3 hours ago, HS30-H said:

Looks to be in A1 condition. Nice find!

On an LHD car, where will you mount the Oscillator box?

Thanks. That's something i honestly still have to find out. I know the RHD cars had dedicated holes for installing it. I was hoping since the LHD cars got this as an optional "competition" item, there might be some place to put it. But since the chassis is in the bodyshop atm i wasn't able to check it out yet. My plan was to find a place when i assemble it. but maybe i should check beforehand

1 hour ago, xs10shl said:

To my eye, just based on the harness, that looks like it could be a ZClocks restoration.  I've sent him 4 clocks, and they all came back looking perfect.  He typically replaces the entire harness with new wiring (at least it appeared that way).  One of the boxes I sent him had a cracked vibrating fork, so he replaced it with a PCB in the original case.  A great service - highly recommended.

Just as an option, mine appeared to have been mounted using a pair of thru-bolts on the upper-right firewall.  I modified the design slightly by running a longer bolt through from the engine bay, and tightening it in place with a locknut.  Then I could just slip the oscillator on and off over the remaining protrusion, and tighten using a second nut.

JDMjunkies, perhaps this will give you an idea for mounting yours.

Thanks for the input. Yeah it's likely possible that it's a Zclocks restauration. The seller was based in America and claimed it to be 100% restored. The only guy i know doing this in the US is Zclocks. Anyway it's in excellent condition

[JDMjunkies.ch]

A good friend of mine just recently sent me this photo and said i need to visit him ASAP, he got hands on some cool stuff. Who i am to turn such an offer down?

Especially the boxes, martketing material and stuff made me a bit curious. it's not usually stuff to be found at dealerships or at collectors, but only at the Import Company Datsun Suisse SA, back in the days.
And that's exactly where these parts come from. A former employee of DSSA took home random stuff which they wanted to scrap at some point, due to lack of space or some other cleanup. He stored the parts for many years, before putting them up for sale. A dealership at the other end of switzerland bought them and now they put this up for sale too. That's where my buddy Jumped in and made sure it ends up in good hands.


It's pretty random stuff with many boxes of documents, a lot from the 80ies sadly, but also some really rare stuff.. There were also plenty of parts, but mainly for the Patrol car and some various less sporty Datsuns from back in the days. (Micra K10 anyone?).
I helped unload a bit of the stuff, pre-sort some things and went through all the boxes. I was able to get some of the documents, but there were unfortunately no big Z-parts to take home. Nevertheless. i ended up with quite the lot of random datsun and Z documents:

The lot also included a set of Triple Webers which datsun switerland used to test, including the test reports. I will tell you more about this pretty cool story in the coming days. My friend will keep this for himself as it's understandable One-off piece of swiss datsun history.


But as i said, it consisted of mainly documents. Many of them not being very rare.


But then again things like a NOS E88 head, NOS propeller shafts, or how about a complete NOS Datsun Cherry A12 Engine GT Racing kit?

Speaking of cherry, the Lot also included multiple packs of Cherry advertizing stickers, straight from Japan:

Loads of Posters and Training charts. Unfortunately mainly for boring cars. Please ignore the grilles in the background, they were not part of the lot and belong to my friend)

And then some probably very rare Nissan Motor Co advertizing and training movies on 16mm FIlm:


One from the 1972 East African Safari rallye:


Or one from the 1969 Japan Grand prix race. We're currently trying to figure out of they're still usable and how we can digitalize them.
Some of the roles had pretty cryptical names like "Group AZ" or something. I hope we can rescue them. If not the boxes themselves make a beautiful decoration.


At the end, this is what i got home with me yesterday.


That includes a set of nice original Datsun sales bags and spare parts wrapping: I like it so much, i will frame it an dhang it on the wall.


A set of absolutely mint swiss (german / french) Datsun Z and ZX series operating manuals (including the correct 1972 one for my car!)


Some sales brochures and price lists of the Z and ZX series


A load of empty Datsun folders, which i like to put my Documents inside (already have plenty, but you never can have enough of those :-P)

Also a NOS oil filter removal special tool and some small items (not part of the lot, but took them with me anyway :-P)

A special yellow Datsun "advertizing" folder, which i've never seen before (empty) and a Datsun / Nissan special tool overview folder:

Now this is the rare stuff: Documents used internally at Datsun Suisse SA to make notes, approve modifications on the car, to send with documents, or to make notes after the car returns from a repair:

Also various unused workshop documents like the warranty claim form, Repair log pages, and carts as well as a specs-and-data booklet.

On one of the boxes i also found s sticker of the shipping company, who was most probably given the task to import the spare parts from japan:

The set also included a few factory Dias from the 240Z, and some customer photos of tuned Z's and ZX's:

Also included were some newspaper cutouts and reviews from magazines from back in the day:

Some cool manuals, which i so far only had in digital form (AUtomatic transmission in french, the S30 Heater manual and the American Competition parts catalogue):

Also included was a complete folder full of original homologation specification sheets, used to get the cars homologated in switzerland! You still can find a copy of those in every registry in switzerland:

This one is also nice: A users folder including service folder, the sticker that came with every new car, a three-year warranty card and the exhaust emission document:

Then a few cool Nissan / Datsun documents, like letter drafts, or management training manuals, some shareholder documentatipmn, and a cool manual on  how to use the digital satellite parts ordering system, if i got that right:

The lot also included a set of Datsun 240Z information (mainly copies from the FSM, but still have to check it in detail), and a nice advertizing flyer template, which the Z on it:

I still have to check them all out in detail and will post more in the coming days. Nothing crazy at the end of the day, but then again all those small, rare items, so i'm very happy at the end. great stuff.
This will also allow me to update a few details in the Big Datsun Switzerland (Hi)story post. There was also a discussion about some bigger parts lots which still need to be picked up, so i hope i can help there too. even though it's more fun than work. Stay tuned...

Edited February 28, 2023 by JDMjunkies.ch
spelling correction

[JDMjunkies.ch]

The recent lot find, constinsting of many datsun Switzerland items, also contained a very cool one-off thing: A set of triple Weber carbs complete with Intake manifold and linkage. But the really cool part is that it came including an internal test report by Datsun (Suisse) SA, indicating that this very setup was used by Datsun Suisse SA (DSSA) to test said setup on a company or employee Datsun 240Z.

The hand written notes are written on a DSSA "Internal report" sheet. something rarely seen alone. The date noted says June 1973The text on the front says (transleted loosely):

Test performed on 240Z, with 9'806km on the odometer
Triple webers with valve play 0.10/0.15. Cylinder head minus (1mm), "Super" fuel

On the straight between Bremgarten / Wohlen (through the Forest), the max speed is short above 200 km/h
Dietikon bis Fahrweid (down), short above 210 (km/h)
Uetliberg, fourth corner in the 3rd gear, without jerking above 40km/h
At slow speeds, acceleration is possible in 2nd gear below 1000 rpm
Theoretically, with big tires, 240km/h should be possible
Attention! Fuel nozzles are not the same in the three carbs (Backfire), probably better to mount the small one son all three carbs.
Fuel consumtion seems rather improved compared to the original carbs.
The straight road between Moudon-village entrance and Moudon industrial area - slightly downwards - allows slightly above 220km/h until village sign Moudon.

On the back you find a sketch of the setup and settings, including the following note:

Payerne, from cemetery direction village, = 190km/h at village sign.
Back = 160 km/h at the cemetery
Temperature 25°C. Only driver with full fuel tank.

Looking closer at the setup, there are three Bologna (italy) made Weber 40DCOE24 type carbs.

We were guessing the intake manifold, based on the "C/S" and then "London" cast marking we concluded that it might be a Janspeed UK manifold.



It looks like some kind of "Datusun competition" derivate manifold. I forgot to take a picture from the bottom side, but it looks pretty "rough". Either somebody modified it a bit later, or the factory removed the casting remains really just rudimentary. At least this is what it looks like.

However the 1981 Janspeed catalogue has an additional "bridge" between ports 3 and 4. so we're not sure. It might just be that there was a design evolution between the 70ies and 80ies on these intakes, or it was maybe a completely different brand.
Looking closer, the ones in below catalogue photo also seem to be slightly longer than the ones in the photo. but the casting seems to fit (i don't have a detail photo of that)


It is however very likely they used Janspeed, as it is rumored that DSSA had a loose relation with Janspeed and used to test their products on a variety of cars in switzerland.

In case you're wondering, these are the part numbers of the Janspeed Weber triple DCOE intake manifolds and next to it you can find the prices (excluding VAT) in UK pounds £:
             

As far as i know, Weber (or some reseller, maybe even DSSA itself) homologated a twin DCOE setup for the swiss market at some point, but i haven't yet investigated in that direction and still need to find out more. I know it's a pretty common setup over here.

It's a nice piece of history of DSSA and the "scene" back then. I love the handwritten notes, and i'm happy to know they found a very good home (not mine), and will end up in a nice car (not mine), after being hidden for so many years.

[HS30-H]

1 hour ago, JDMjunkies.ch said:

Looking closer at the setup, there are three Bologna (italy) made Weber 40DCOE24 type carbs.

A cool part of DSSA history. Thank you for showing it to us. Intriguing!

I'm surprised that they chose to use 40DCOE-24 series carbs. Weber's own recommendation as a conversion 'road' kit for the L24 engine was three 40DCOE-18 series and the 24 series was actually only offered as stock (factory) equipment on the 1600cc ALFA Giulia Super. The 24 series had 27mm chokes and 0.35 pump jets, whereas the 18 series had 30mm chokes and 0.45 pump jets. The 18 series also had an accelerator pump stroke more suited to the L24 than the 24 series did. My best guess (take that for what its worth) is that they sourced the 24 series carbs from ALFAs and/or already had them available.

The manifold is a new one on me. I can't ever remember - even as a Londoner - seeing the name 'LONDON' cast into a manifold. Your illustration from the Janspeed catalogue shows the '470' casting that - I have always been told - was cast and supplied by Mangoletsi. Janspeed, and others, often supplied the Mangoletsi manifold with their conversion kits. I wonder if the 'LONDON' manifold was also something cast by Mangoletsi for a specific customer? However, I can't think of any L6 specialists in the London area or using the London name. Curious.

Here's a Mangoletsi '470' casting manifold that I have in my loft, for comparison. Casting quality is - I have to say - fairly rough: