Original or period upgrade, what should I keep in restoration.

[SpeedRoo]

I have an August 1970 240Z that I've been enjoying for the last couple of years. My intention is to restore it some time soon so I've been busy buying up NOS original Datsun/Nissan parts for it.

The question for the experts out there, should I return mine to original or keep all the BRE/Interpart/Mulholland upgrades fitted by the first owner, including original American Racing 14" Libre wheels. It came with BRE front and rear spoilers, Interpart/Mulholland suspension upgrade including sway bars, adjustable camber bushings, compression rod bearing, steering coupler, BRE exhaust header. All the bits were on the car when I got it, it had been sitting in storage since the early 1980s but I have it up and running/driving now. I have a complete original suspension setup as well as what is on the car, so I've restored that with all original bushes/bearings etc. It's powder coated and all bolts/brackets gold zinced in the appropriate places.

With the way the market seems to be going, my hunch is that all original is more valuable than a period upgraded 240Z. I'll probably sell it once finished but have another 240Z that's a keeper!

 

[siteunseen]

I think I would keep the period correct upgrades and offer the OE parts as well when you decide to sale. 

When I read BRE and Mulholland it raises my interest. Just my fyi. Take it with a grain of salt...

Edited April 9, 2022 by siteunseen

[Mark Maras]

 I agree with Cliff. Keep it as is and keep adding parts to your 401Z account.

[SpeedRoo]

Thanks for the ideas. I've never driven a 240Z with the standard original suspension setup, will be interesting to bolt on the newly restored pieces to see what it's like. Only thing I'm concerned about is the holes in bodywork needed to mount the front and rear BRE spook/spoiler, is there a way to fix them to the car without using bolts through the metalwork. If I could use double sided tape then I could remove them and the uprated suspension if someone wanted a standard spec car.

I've even managed to find NOS Mulholland struts for the car, I wonder if the modern KYB ones are better performing? One thing I did find in my search for NOS OEM parts is that Lazorlite repackaged a lot of them and sold them in their boxes. Seems a lot of the pieces came from the same source and have the same markings and part numbers on them, especially the suspension and brake pieces. Slowly putting together a cross reference list of part numbers for Nissan/Datsun OEM parts and their Lazorlite equivalent.

Edited April 9, 2022 by SpeedRoo

[siteunseen]

On my car the rear spoiler holes that are unsightly after 50 years are OE emblem placement. They put 240Z but covered up Datsun. So the holes where  Da was are exsposed on my car.

 

 

[psdenno]

1 hour ago, SpeedRoo said:

Thanks for the ideas. I've never driven a 240Z with the standard original suspension setup, will be interesting to bolt on the newly restored pieces to see what it's like. Only thing I'm concerned about is the holes in bodywork needed to mount the front and rear BRE spook/spoiler, is there a way to fix them to the car without using bolts through the metalwork. If I could use double sided tape then I could remove them and the uprated suspension if someone wanted a standard spec car.

Double faced tape isn''t going to keep the spoilers in place very long once you achieve highway speed.  Both front and rear need to be bolted on and that means holes.  I had a Spook on mine for decades and like the look and the downforce.

[26th-Z]

I think your car is way more valuable with the period upgrades.  It should drive much stiffer with better road-holding capabilities.  I was going to go for a set of your wheels before Alan talked me into a set of Watanabes.  I have adjustable camber bushings also.  But I think you will enjoy your car much more set up the way you describe.  The stuff you have on your car is just as valuable.  I would keep the BRE options.

Edited April 10, 2022 by 26th-Z

[SpeedRoo]

Thank you for the positive feedback everyone. Seems the consensus is to keep all the goodies on the car. I'll explore ways of attaching the spoilers without using bolts to see if that will work, if it does then it's a win win. The car does drive really well with all the BRE/Mulholland upgrades, must have been amazing back in the early 1970s when they were fitted. In the stash of parts that came with the car were original BRE stickers that came with the parts.

[siteunseen]

These are from 1972 when the dealer installed spoilers were put on. They aren't very noticeable to anyone but me. These are where the DATSUN emblem was.

I removed that spoiler when I had the car's single stage paint cut and buffed out. Then repainted them in satin black. The rear was a huge pain getting off and even worse reinstalling it, FYI.