Seat Question

[Victor Laury]

I was told yesterday that my seats were reversed! That the recliner lever should be on the inside, next to the consol.

Could this be true?

Have I been driving from the passenger seat all this time? Funny, every Z I've seen so far, it's on the outside, by the door.

Maybe this fellow is pulling my leg? I wont say who "He" is, but you would all agree that he should know what he is talking about.

[Bambikiller240]

He is wrong regarding 72 and 73 240Z's in the US market (the only ones I know about) On the earlier seats with the knob, the knob should be next to the transmission tunnel ; but for the later seats with the recline LEVER, it should be on the outside, near the door.

...and then of course there is the Ultimate Authority from Nissan...........If you have Mikey's Parts CD you can verify for yourself. See Page 122A-6 items #17 (RH i.e. Passenger seat) and #19 (LH i.e. Driver seat)

That guy is pulling something. Not sure if it's your leg or his own......

[EScanlon]

Ditto Bambi!

2¢

Victor, whoever "He" was he either confused your year of car, or didn't know this quirkly little factoid.

The Z has dozens of little unknown quirks that apply to one year and not the others. Stuff that would seem to be "common knowledge" turns out to be interesting discussion between people who enjoy those cars. You know there ought to be a place where we can discuss that stuff......

Just to point out some of the "obvious" ones. These observations are based on U.S. market cars, and as discussion on this site has shown, should not be considered as definitive all over the world.

The Steering Wheel did NOT have the cutouts in the spokes the first year.

The Seats did not tip forward to allow access to the hatch from the door openings the first year or so. Also the reclining mechanism was more of a "Tilt" the backrest style than an actual recline. The reclining adjustment knob was on the tranny side of the seat. The Seat Back had 4 chrome Vent caps installed in the seat. Since the seat back actually moved in relation to the seat, without the seat back support arms actually moving, the spacing between the seat back and cushion is slightly higher in the first year or so.

The Illuminated Heater Control Console came out only for the 73 model. The 74 changed the console, and before they weren't illuminated.

You'll never get heat out of the eyeball vents or the center vent. (Unless you're down south and you've had the A /C going all day and you suddenly pop open the fresh air vent.) At least from the Heater Unit on top of the Transmission Tunnel.

Throttle Controls were available ONLY on the early console series (in the U.S.) and only if the car had a Manual Transmission.

The first dashes had an uncut hole above the Hazard Switch. That hole was for the Fog Lamp Switch, which very, very few U.S. cars received (if any). The Cigar Lighter and Ash Tray were located to the front of the shift handle. Later, this was used to mount the Cigar Lighter. In some transition models or possibly "restored" models, it's not unusual to discover TWO cigar lighters (one in each location) or possibly a hole on the Fuse Box Cover / Ash Tray. Additionally, the very early dashes had the Toggle Hazard Switch. This switch later had a little label put to the side to denote how to operate it. When that label was added, the area it resides in was indented to protect the label from peeling off. The Toggle Hazard Switch was eventually replaced with the PULL Hazard Switch, which received it's illumination via a Fiber Optic Cable. That Fiber Optic system also illuminated the Cigar Lighter Receptacle.

The Gas Filler Door on the early models had a Latch which when turned would latch the door. At some dealerships and also enterprising owners, this was replaced with a Lock, in order to provide a Locking Door. The Gas Cap on early models was also chained to the filler neck, yet another reason for that rubber flap that pops out like a bib.

I know of a few more, but anyone else want to chime in with theirs?

[Victor Laury]

Thanks Carl, Enrique.

This fellow I speak of has built so many 70s and 71s, I quess 72's are still a mystery to him.

I'm installing my new seat covers today and restoring a 70 (solid spoke) steering wheel for a friend. Needless to say, My living room is now a Z workshop! The single life has some perks.

[v12horse]

The warning light that is on when you are in gear and your seat belt is not on has that red plate that indicates there is no seat belt on is there on the dash. On the opposite side closest to the driver, has no plate nor does it light up. I believe this to be original. Am I right and what is the use of this place? I have an early US 74' 260. Thank you.

-Ben

[EScanlon]

Ben:

From your description it sounds as though you are referring to the 73 and later panel above the shifter and below the heater control panel.

If memory serves me correctly the other light you are referring to is the Choke ON warning light.

Anyone else have an opinion on that?

2¢

[v12horse]

I would post a picture, but I am at university and my car is at home in the garage because I just cleaned very thouroghly for the MSA show. It is the space that is below the clock, gas, and amp gage. The two spaces are on each side of the map light if I remember correctly. Thanks.

-Ben