plastic vs steel fan

[Richard McDonel]

I am restoring HLS3028726, build date April 1971.  Is the steel fan or the plastic correct for this car?

Second question; what is the correct finish for unpainted bolts; cadmium, tin, nickle, or ???

 

Thanks,

RDM

[Patcon]

I don't know on the fan. I suspect metal was original but plastic is safer

On the bolts most are yellow zinc but not all. Some are bright zinc like the door strike bolts and screws and the hatch screws.

The member here with the user name "careless" has meticulously done a car and has good documentation in his thread. Look through it. It will answer a lot of your questions

[gnosez]

metal fan was heavier and could cause the water pump to fail earlier

[psdenno]

My Z is also an April '71 build and it came with a metal fan which went through the radiator around 1979 when the water pump failed.  I replaced it with a lighter weight metal flex fan and no clutch at the time, but now have a plastic fan and clutch

Dennis.

[240tom]

Mine was built 11/70 and it has the plastic fan, positive it came with it.

[CanTechZ]

The steel fan was used up to July/71

http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/Z-1969-1978/engine-240z-260z/water-pump-fan

My 7/70 had the steel fan and I had exactly the same problem as Dennis in the early 80's.  I now have a plastic fan from a 280.

Edited May 3, 2016 by CanTechZ

[Richard McDonel]

Thanks guys,

I take it that the consensus opinion is "forget about 'original' - save the car and run with the plastic fan."

Plastic it is!

[jfa.series1]

With the fan issue settled, your second question is about the finish on the various fasteners and clamps.  A general "rule of thumb" is that everything forward of the firewall has a yellow zinc or cadmium finish, everything aft of the firewall is white/clear zinc.  One exception to this is the fuel  cap, collar, and screws are all done in yellow zinc / cadmium.  I think the early cars (perhaps all) had clear zinc finish on the OE hose clamps.  I did all my OE hose clamps in yellow zinc for consistency under the hood.  Also, the fuel rail is yellow zinc / cadmium.

[Namerow]

10 hours ago, jfa.series1 said:

With the fan issue settled, your second question is about the finish on the various fasteners and clamps.  A general "rule of thumb" is that everything forward of the firewall has a yellow zinc or cadmium finish, everything aft of the firewall is white/clear zinc.  One exception to this is the fuel  cap, collar, and screws are all done in yellow zinc / cadmium.  I think the early cars (perhaps all) had clear zinc finish on the OE hose clamps.  I did all my OE hose clamps in yellow zinc for consistency under the hood.  Also, the fuel rail is yellow zinc / cadmium.

'Forward of the firewall = yellow zinc'...  What about the coil mounting bracket?  The three that I have are all clear zinc.

[Namerow]

10 hours ago, jfa.series1 said:

With the fan issue settled, your second question is about the finish on the various fasteners and clamps.  A general "rule of thumb" is that everything forward of the firewall has a yellow zinc or cadmium finish, everything aft of the firewall is white/clear zinc.  One exception to this is the fuel  cap, collar, and screws are all done in yellow zinc / cadmium.  I think the early cars (perhaps all) had clear zinc finish on the OE hose clamps.  I did all my OE hose clamps in yellow zinc for consistency under the hood.  Also, the fuel rail is yellow zinc / cadmium.

Sorry.  Double post.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Namerow
double-post

[jfa.series1]

2 hours ago, Namerow said:

'Forward of the firewall = yellow zinc'...  What about the coil mounting bracket?  The three that I have are all clear zinc.

Which is why I hedged my statement as a general rule of thumb.  I can't confirm the color of the coil bracket.  Another couple of examples are the  fuel filter bracket and the brake vac check valve clamp on the firewall - both finished in black.  Someone with a pure stock car such as AZ-240 would have to chime in with specifics if our OP wants to go with that level of detail.