Splash pan

[tanny]

I asked this question before, but no response. Did the 73 z come with splash pans underneath front of the engine compartment? If so, are they hard to come by?

[2ManyZs]

As far as I can recall they had them, and yes, they are hard to find. I'm not sure if they actually have them or not, but seems like I saw them listed on Courtesy Nissan's site...

[DatsunZGuy]

My '73 had a splash pan, and it was 98% stock (even the braided top radiator hose) when I purchased it in Denver back in 1992. I hated the pan because every time I would drop a screw or nut while working on the engine, I would hear it impact the against the splash pan and it would be gone forever.

I like my pan-free '72. Any dropped nut or bolt falls nicely to the garage floor.

[24OZ]

Tanny,

If you look under the front of your car you should see about 8 small bolt holes, 2 are located on the suspension member, 3 are located on the forward end of the car, directly above the radiator and the others are located on sides of the frame rails. These holes may all have been covered with underbody paint at one time, hence you may not be able to see them at first glance.

DatsunZguy,

I know what you mean about hard to reach bolts once they get dropped. I bought a tool, for this very job, which resembles a car antenna, one end of it is very stronly magnetised and it can even pick up a small metal tin of paint. Great for those hard to reach dropped bolts.

[tanny]

Despite the disadvantage of being a black hole for nuts and bolts, I still would like to find a splash pan because I live on a couple miles of dirt road, so when it rains the engine compartment becomes a mudpie. At least I now know the car originally had a splash pan. Thanks, Victor.

[beandip]

I have a '73 and there was a splash pan in the back of the car when I bought the car. I tossed it next to the garage. After having driven the car for a few thousand miles , this over several months ,I was going about 85 or so and had a 1/4ing wind of about 10 to 15 mph coming toward the left front. The added wind power started the front end to feel vary light. After some thought after I return home I installed the splash pan and returned to the fry. and dupcated the same situation and there was a remarkable difference and much more stable. I still want to install a air dam but I rearly drive at that speed so it isn't high priorty at this time. Scanlon and I were going to make a mould from mine and make a fiberglass one for his car but his is a '71 and has a different bolt pattern so we dropped the idea for awhile. I dont konw of a source for any . You might try zdatsun dude of intence restoration . Gary:classic:

[tanny]

Thanks for the info. This car does have an air dam, but I would still want the pan for splash into the engine compartment.

[TomoHawk]

What was the purpose of the splash pan? I initially thought it was there to keep water splashed by the tires from hitting ther fan and blowing all over the underhood earea?

thx.

[beandip]

From what I have read since I installed mine it was for that reason of water but also to help the turbulense of the air flow as it passes the front crossmember . They said that it causes a pressure build up there . Couldent be much I dont think . Any from what the test showed , with the pan in place it incrased the air flow through the rad which is a plus and helped to eliiminate the turbulense as well as keeping some the splash from the engine bay. excuse the spelling

[TomoHawk]

I think I will put a "splash Pan" on my To-Do list. Maybe I can build an air dam into it as well..