73 240z restoration 904 White

[CanTechZ]

One of the good things about being so slow on my own project is that they have added a lot of the parts I was looking for last year.  Just received these recently...

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by CanTechZ

[Patcon]

The floor pan looks really good. You did a good job!

[DC871F]

1 hour ago, Patcon said:

The floor pan looks really good. You did a good job!

Thank you!

 

Welding new metal onto old Datsun metal was quite a task, especially for a novice. Several pin holes. Has to be a better way of doing it. One thing I would do different is to make the cut onto the tunnel at one level. I adjusted each strip to where there was clean metal. I should have just went up the tunnel level.

Edited December 22, 2021 by DC871F

[Patcon]

I agree going from thick new metal to old thin metal can be a challenge.  You did really well and there's not really a better method other than a spot welder.

One continuous seam line would be easier. I normally tack all the floor tabs to the tunnel with ¼" self tapping screws and cut through both layers with a cut off wheel.

Edited December 22, 2021 by Patcon

[DC871F]

On 12/21/2021 at 7:36 PM, CanTechZ said:

One of the good things about being so slow on my own project is that they have added a lot of the parts I was looking for last year.  Just received these recently...

 

I have to say those rails look a little better than Zedd Findings. They have the correct shape up by the radiator support. May have to order some.

Not sure yet but I believe one of my rails just needs patch work, but the other needs to be replaced, so one would look different than the other if I just used one of ZF's.

Edited December 27, 2021 by DC871F

[DC871F]

Working on seat mounts for passenger side and since I just ran out of welding gas, I went ahead and cut out the driver's side floor and got it cleaned up.

Started the patch panel for the forward foot well to fix up the rust where the floor pan welds up to.

Smoked turkey for Christmas dinner. Had to share 

Edited December 27, 2021 by DC871F

[CanTechZ]

18 hours ago, DC871F said:

I have to say those rails look a little better than Zedd Findings. They have the correct shape up by the radiator support. May have to order some.

Not sure yet but I believe one of my rails just needs patch work, but the other needs to be replaced, so one would look different than the other if I just used one of ZF's.

Since I now have both, here is a set of pictures comparing Klassic Fab rails with Zedd Findings. Both appear very good, but the KF rails are definitely much closer to original, at least when compared to the rails on my 1970. The ZF rails are more of a "universal' fit for 240/260/280, as they are formed, they are very straight. The KF rails I received have a little waviness to the lower horizontal flange, but it's not a show stopper.

Regarding the shape of the rail near the rad support, I only just now noticed that in addition to the width being narrowed, the height is actually shorter as well. You can see this clearly in the pictures.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by CanTechZ

[DC871F]

54 minutes ago, CanTechZ said:

Since I now have both, here is a set of pictures comparing Klassic Fab rails with Zedd Findings. Both appear very good, but the KF rails are definitely much closer to original, at least when compared to the rails on my 1970. The ZF rails are more of a "universal' fit for 240/260/280, as they are formed, they are very straight. The KF rails I received have a little waviness to the lower horizontal flange, but it's not a show stopper.

Regarding the shape of the rail near the rad support, I only just now noticed that in addition to the width being narrowed, the height is actually shorter as well. You can see this clearly in the pictures.

 

 

I see the waviness, at least its on the bottom where it will be plug welded.

When it dawned on me that the ZF rails were missing the step down by the radiator support, it kind of concerned me about originality, but I may be getting over it. If not, I'll have to order the two rails from KF.

Another note as well. The tow hook mounts on both rails are wrong for 240z. I think they are supposed to be parallel to the rail, not perpendicular. Maybe 280z had it perpendicular.

Anyone have a pic of their front hooks on the 240? If you look at mine on the rotisserie, my mounting holes are parallel.

[CanTechZ]

2 hours ago, DC871F said:

I see the waviness, at least its on the bottom where it will be plug welded.

When it dawned on me that the ZF rails were missing the step down by the radiator support, it kind of concerned me about originality, but I may be getting over it. If not, I'll have to order the two rails from KF.

Another note as well. The tow hook mounts on both rails are wrong for 240z. I think they are supposed to be parallel to the rail, not perpendicular. Maybe 280z had it perpendicular.

Anyone have a pic of their front hooks on the 240? If you look at mine on the rotisserie, my mounting holes are parallel.

 

It seems to be a 1973 thing, here is a picture from a BaT auction of a 1973.

Pic #206 from here:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-169/

And here's my 1970,

[DC871F]

17 minutes ago, CanTechZ said:

It seems to be a 1973 thing, here is a picture from a BaT auction of a 1973.

Pic #206 from here:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-169/

And here's my 1970,

I see a little modification coming. Thanks for the pics.

When I first noticed this, I called Charlie at ZF and he didnt really understand what I was referring to. I wonder what the cutoff year was for this. 

 

[CanTechZ]

8 minutes ago, DC871F said:

I see a little modification coming. Thanks for the pics.

When I first noticed this, I called Charlie at ZF and he didnt really understand what I was referring to. I wonder what the cutoff year was for this. 

 

This might help from the 1973 JDM parts book, early circled in blue, 1973 circled in red. I would assume it was the same for North America. It's not shown very clearly in the N.A. parts book.

[DC871F]

Late Christmas gifts from Bogota, Columbia today.