240z On Velocity Channel Friday 9/14@9P.M.et.

[mr_han_solo]

Just noticed that the Velocity channel show "Garage Squad" will be airing a Datsun episode tomorrow (Friday 8/15) night at 9 P.M. Eastern. Here is the synopsis:

"Jason is a motorcycle mechanic with a big car problem. He owns a rare Datsun 240z, number 89 off the line with serious problems under the hood and in the interior. Can the Garage Squad team help this owner get his beloved Datsun back on the road?"

Just thought I would post this to let everyone know so they can watch/DVR it.

Edit: Just noticed that the title shows 9/14, this should be 8/15. Hopefully a mod can fix this.

Edited August 14, 2014 by mr_han_solo

[Carl Beck]

We might hope that it will be put on their Web Site - at some point in the future. I have no idea how to get that channel on our cable network.. I sure don't get it now..

the owner of 89 was last reported to be in OR.

Carl B.

[siteunseen]

Is that on Comcast or satellite in Alabama?

[mr_han_solo]

Is that on Comcast or satellite in Alabama?

DirectTV channel 281

[black gold man]

Garage Squad: A Parked Datsun 402 : Velocity

[psdenno]

Is that on Comcast or satellite in Alabama?

Channel 246 on Dish satellite.

Dennis

[Carl Beck]

I am actually ill.

Carl B.

[Mike B]

I just watched the whole episode. The current owners apparently bought the car in Oregon and drove it back to the Chicago area and parked it (fortunately inside a garage) a few years ago. The car looked to be pretty much stock and in good shape. It had the original chrome Z emblems on the quarters and hatch. It looked like it had the original early gas door knob.

Fortunately, this show doesn't appear to do much, if any, body work, so they only pick projects that are more of an engine tune up and interior work. Most everything they did is easily reversible. They added a carbon fiber hood, integrated front valance/spoiler and rear bumper, but kept the originals. They also added a carbon fiber rear spoiler and drilled mounting holes for that, but that could be fixed pretty easily. It already had what looked like dealer optional sport mirrors on the doors and rear louvers, so they left those. They replaced the door panels with new replacements and recovered the seats with stock looking replacement covers. It looks like it was missing some of the heater control panel/maplight/stock radio parts and the just left that as is. They just buffed out the existing (original?) faded paint. They replaced the aftermarket exhaust with an aftermarket Magnaflow exhaust. They replaced the points with a pertronix ignition and replaced the spark plug wires, but made a point to keep what they said were the originals, which I think were actually later Nissan replacements, as they had the red plug ends. They replaced the vintage Appliance basket wheels with some modern black mags. They removed an aftermarket A/C condenser, so I think the dealer added A/C was non-functional.

There was the typical mis-information; including an on screen comment that said the plug wires are only compatible with their model year (I think they mean they are date coded), and they said the first 100 cars were "dealer only cars sent pretty much to the west coast and trying to sell the 240 to America". They said they had to go with a 1 inch smaller wheel because the pre-100 car specs don't match up with the production car specs, which is BS.

[djwarner]

Carl, with such a significant vehicle I feel the same way. The consolation is that other than the bolt holes for the spoiler, everything thing they did is reversible. Hopefully, the owner saved the original parts.

Edited August 16, 2014 by djwarner

[larryb]

Carl - I'm in the Denver area and got the program through Comcast on the Velocity channel.

All in all, it spoke well for the 240Z. I could live with the electronic ignition install but the carbon fiber hood, bumpers and rear spoiler - Sacrilage!! Although that can easily be brought back to original.

The "motorcycle mechanic" owner seemed a little dumbstruck by what was going on and I don't think he'd given too much thought to what should be done to his car.

When they took it out for a test drive and really kicked it, that Magnaflo exhaust sounded wonderful. I admit, the Z did look pretty sharp with what they did to it. The question is, should it have been done that way and not left as original? To each his own.

Larryb

[NVZEE]

Did the Brits on Wheeler Dealers ever do a Z (or Zed, for that matter)? Their show is done pretty well compared to the US chopshop mentality.

[larryb]

NVZEE - To my knowledge, Wheeler Dealers has not done a Z program. I joined their website and made the suggestion that they do a Z car. I noticed that there was one other suggestion for a Z. Perhaps if we get enough Z fans lobbying on the Wheeler Dealer web site they may undertake the project. I have no doubt that Ed China could fit his 6" 7" frame into a Z!

Larryb