NOS Dash Blues

[midman]

OK, I have had an 70,000 mile unmolested 1972 240Z for a few years now and in that time redid the mechanicals and suspension.

Knowing I had a cracked dash I found an NOS dash a couple of years ago. It had a 1982 date code and was uninstalled and still in the original box.

Well I recently went to install it and what a disappointment!

Nothing lines up! The glove box opening is to low, the hazard switch hole is too far to the right and what a struggle getting the thing back in the car. I had to bend and force the thing to get the mounting holes right and there is a big gap in between the control console and dash.

I don't know if this thing tweeked in storage or it was never manufactured right in the first place but frankly the only good thing is it is not cracked.

If I had it to do over again I would have had the original dash redone.

[Darrel]

Maybe it's for a 280 or 260?

[Carl Beck]

Pictures???? Something is wrong…

The original box should have a Part Number - what was that?

Carl B.

[midman]

[jfa.series1]

The online catalogue confirms your P/N for models up thru 72/06. For 72/07 and after it is 68100-N3300. What is the exact build date on your car?

Edited March 9, 2014 by jfa.series1

[midman]

The online catalogue confirms your P/N for models up thru 72/06. For 72/07 and after it is 68100-N3300. What is the exact build date on your car?

Mine is well before that HLS3057797.

The build quality is crap. I'll keep tweaking it to try to get it as close as possible, just frustrating when you buy NOS and have to deal with crappy fit, though finish wise it is nice.

[Zup]

Ventured guess---

1. Warped glove box door inner panel from 40 years of the glove box light and spring assembly pushing against the inner panel. It sets a bend into the glove box door that usually creates a gap that is widest near the switch.

2. A mounting tab on either the dash or the control panel (or both) is bent or otherwise misaligned as it appears the gap closes down and is closer to fitting properly to the left side of the control panel.

Dang, I sure hope you can adjust it out---NOS dashes are a very rare and quite expensive item now, and I am sure the rest of your Z is very nice or you wouldn't have made the plunge for one when you purchased it!

May the Z gods be with you!

Jim D.

"Zup"

[midman]

Thanks for the ideas Zup. I'll check the glove box door, I hadn't.t thought to check it as it fit in the original dash fine.

The dash mounting points in the center all lined up so I don't think that is the issue.

It seems like the whole vinyl and padding part of the dash is off from the center to the passenger side, that's why I was guessing at long term storage as a possible issue (maybe stood on end the last 30 years?).

I'll keep working on it and tweek some of it out but it still looks a lot better than the original, even with the gaps.

[jonathanrussell]

Is it possible that it is in a NOS box but is a rebuilt dash- Just Dashes.....? A Just Dashes rebuild could have different padding and finish dimensions. Does the dash surface look identical to your original?

[midman]

Jonathan,

Anything's possible but the dash frame is pristine and all the mounting points were untouched and showed no mounting marks that I could see. The material looks like my original.

I have found a couple of internet posts of others that had sub par NOS dashes.

Has anyone on here bought one with issues?

[Zup]

I bought one from Courtesy Nissan around 9 years ago.

It is still in the original shipping box---never removed---and stored inside the house in the horizontal position.

Your post has me a little worried that mine may have issues that I had never given a thought about.

I may unbox it this weekend and give it the once over to see.

If I do, I'll post up some photos.

Jim D.

"Zup"

[ZCurves]

I too bought a new one when I was restoring my Z, I do remember that I had to adjust the Glovebox door and catch. I also needed to tweak the mounting tabs for the Center Vent Assy. Looking at the pics, I suggest that you look at it again and try to bend the tabs in a little at a time on the center vent area. For the Glovebox door, I seem to remember there is some wiggle room on the hinge, there are slots where the screws go through to allow for some adjustment. Try removing the catch and adjust the door until it is where you want it - replacing the catch when you are done... Remember to be patient with this old plastic -even though the dash's mfr date is more recent, the center vent and GB door may be less forgiving. Snap/crack some of these interior pieces and you'll be "Attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis"...