JDMjunkies.ch

While i'm busy building my garage/house/Workshop i don't have a lot of time to spend on the cars, but still from time to time i get some things done. like looking for interesting reads. Today this arrived from japan: A set of Nissan service announcement Book No. 184 "Introduction of Fairlady Z". With tons of information about the then new Fairlady Z. Still need to read through it (and my japanese isn't Very well). but so far i already found some really interesting information in there... For examlpe here the different badging on the different japanese versions of the cars are explained. Sure you find this information in the parts manual as well, but there is a lot more background information and additional information in this books and i absolutely love it ?

As far as i know, hee used oldschool hammer and dolly technique to re-shape it.. he's an oldschool perfectionist without a lot of modern day machines. Just takes his time (and my money *lol*) but the results are outstanding.

This is just a short (but important) update. The right hand side rear lower corner has been re-attached (replacement part cutout from a donor car, which i found in America) to the car. This means the right side is complete again. At least from the outside. Now just floors, roof, rear and left side left *lol*. allthough i think the most complicated part of the body restauration is completed now. Still will take a lot of months until the rest is completed..

It has been a while since a serious update on the 240Z has happened. it was a bit of a hectic time the last few weeks. Aside from marrying my wife and having a three-week / 4850km road-trip to sweden and back (See here) we also started building our House including a big Workshop and Garage (See here), which will be the final home of the Z, and where it will be assembled. At least my bodyshop guy was working during my absence and sent me some updates from the Z. No big things, but again those small details that matter and make the difference between a cheap resto and a bit more serious one. The door gap at the rear fender has been adjusted and aligned, so that it will have a perfect fit. Before: And after my Panelbeater worked his magic. Looks absolutely lovely if you ask me. Now just hope fore some more work getting done soon Oh, and waiting for some interesting reads from Japan too ?

Despite beeing in full swing with wedding preparations and working on the new house / Garage / Workshop project, i found a little time to find some parts. Well Honestly they found me this time. I guy from the netherlands which i purchased parts for in the past contacted me about some more parts he found: A whole bunch NOS 71A transmission spareparts (early 5-speed): With a few 71B parts included as well, like a complete 2nd cear assy And because the price was so good i decided to take the complete, disassembled 71B (later 5-speed) as well. I dont really need it but you never know. and the price was too good. If someone is interested i can sell it. But won't actively advertise it and will keep it as a spare transmission at the moment ?

I didn't know the fact that nissan used a 432-R shell as the base, quite interesting... makes sense when i think about it. I guess they (Autocar) didn't even know about the existense of a Z432(-R) by then in the UK ? As they write in the article, Nissan / Datsun wasn't very helpful in giving them the specs of the car, which is - as you point out - totally understandable when thinking about a fairly new car in the rallye game with the risk of a marketing desaster.... Still i was impressed about the text when comparing to others, especially when you think about the fact that they haven't even got hands on a "street" 240Z by then. so they had basically nothing to compare it with.

Ever since i read about Autocar UK Magazine testing one of the 240Z Works rallye Cars in 1970 in the "Race and Rallye Car" Magazine Article, i was wondering what it's all about. I thought it could be interesting not only for me, but for many of my followers, so i contacted Autocar since i wasn't able to find a printed copy online, allthough im sure i would if i was waiting long enough for one to show up. I know at least one person who has the printed original magazine issue ? Today Autocar UK replied me with the complete Article of the Test they did as a part of the December 1970 Issue. Big thanks to Matt B. (Executive Editor at www.autocar.co.uk) for not only searching the old article for me and sending it, but also for allowing me to publish it here. THANK YOU! Click the following link to get the full 3-paged article as high-res pdf file: Autocar Dec 1970 Works rallye car test www.JDMjunkies.ch

I'll add some Pictures from my bodyshop again. It's a more OEM-style solution compared to the one showed previously. which isn't a bad Thing either

Really interessted to see the first Feedbacks on These. the Overall Quality and fitment.

Not even sure yet if i will end up with solex / Mikuni Triple carbs but, when i was ordering some parts from Japan and saw this set of Manuals for 10 bucks i just couldn't resist. It's a set of three Manuals / parts catalogue copies in high quality by Mikuni Kogyo corp and Tokiwa (Mikuni / Solex agent in Japan). This one even features a nice picture of the S20 Engine. Now also figoured out the same seller sells new sets with an additional Manual... Still have to read through it though. quite a bit busy atm and can't find time to study all this stuff thoroughly.

Also depending heavily on the location. in most US-places you can easy find better cars. but in snow- and salt-heavy conditions in a country like switzerland a car like this is still repairable. however don't think you will ever get the investment back over the next years. labour is expensive here too. but if you love it - it's worth it i guess.. Yeah i would definitely take it of the rotiserie for that. as you can see in my picture, the car is standing on a chassis-jig (or whatever you call it) and put on a single-post lift. Not sure who you're referring to. but in my last pic it's a single post lift from my bodyshop, and on top of it is the car complete with a full rolling chassis jig / Dolly. I got it off my rotisserie for serious bodywork. for reasons mentioned above.

THe original air channels may be hard to find These days and probably quite expensive. but this is how my panelbeater repaired mine: Before (cheap patched up ugliness): and then:

Facebook groups can suck. While there are always guys beeing A**holes on the internet, sometimes you really run into nice people that help you with your needs and do that happily as well! Recently i asked around if someone had a RH rear quarter panel in usable shape for sale, so my bodyshop doesn't have to make one from scratch (which is a lot more expensive over here). And a guy called Crow Aries immediately was in. It took a while to get all sorted out, but he even was kind enough to remove the old paint before shipping (didn't even ask for this!). Thank you so much sir! This is the car it was removed from: After some blasting and cleaning: Needs some minor work but still way better than getting this whole panel made from scratch. With this the RH-side of the car's body should be completed soon Oh and he was also kind enough to throw in a hood rod in the package since it appears that i accidentally sold the one i had.. Thanks again sir. Appreciate to deal with you!

here are some more Pictures of Aerodynamic Testing by Alan Thomas (originally found here: http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/236658-1969-nissan-s20-twin-cam-engine-rebuild-7.html#post3352097 ) This time with some scale model cars:

I think In this topic of "Aerodynamics", the subtitle of above image (from "the fairlady Z story" (by Yutaka Katayama and Yoshihiko Matsuo)) is interesting, because it tells the measured Cd Drag coefficient values from the "Standard" (Cd= 0,4) and the "ZG" (Cd = 0,37) equipped cars: Sorry for the bad Image quality. scanned with some wrong settings, but will do the job

This was actually a joke about the gas fumes always ending up inside the car in Z-cars in the DPAN facebook group.

Yes, you're right

i guess it's the wrong rubber then. mspeed states it's the "later style" rubber grommet. but yeah, it was just a few bucks so i bought it. @Captain obvious : since it doesn't fit mine. if you're interested, send me a PM, you can get it cheap from me. Cheers

Should fit the heater hoses. but have to check it out. Mainly bought it because it was cheap and fitted into the package. got it at mspeed Japan: http://mspeed-japan.com/product_information.php?category_id=7

You just have to love the days, when this is in your mailbox (or next to it): But let's start in chronological order. On saturday i decided it's time to get rid of the old paint (Part two) of the lately acquired chin spoiler. Since the weak paint stripper (stronger ones are forbidden now in Switzerland). didn't do anything i got out my CSD Disks and that worked pretty well.. Before: And about an hour later: Yesterday the first package then showed up at the door. A set of Dixcel front disks for the OEM Brakes (for use with the MK63 solid type calipers). I decided to go for the optional black painted center-hubs, just for the looks and to prevent the area from surface rust, which is quite common there... And today some more stuff showed up at my door. Pitworks oil filter (mainly bought it because it was cheap and fitted in the same box for free..) The lately released Hayashi oil filler cap. in an awesome packing that only the japanese can do Set of genuine JAF Emblems (not sure if i will put them on the car, but i liked it). will post some details about this in another post... Mspeed firewall rubber grommet Well and a little blingy Z-keychain (From mspeed), because i didn't have anything to put my keys on and it fitted in the package for free.. Set of NOS brake pads. not interested in the pads themselves, but needed the metal-shims, which i messed up from my original set... Then some reading stuff. Japanese Z-story book. looks promising but have to study it first: Japense (later version) Z432-R & 240Z Race & Rallye preparation manual... has lots of technical information about how to prepare the car and some additional information. Nostalgic Hero S30Z only book. Seems to have some interesting cars and information inside as well... Oh and then a beautiful set of old used but restoreable Enkei mag wheels... Unfortunately the Shirt and Wheels are not for me or my project. I just helped a friend get them here. but because they're nice i thought i'd share the pictures anyway

Thanks for your Input. I'll take it with a grain of salt. Meanwhile i've learned that many (especially older) documents are full of mistakes. Even the factory documentation is not 100% correct in some cases but it seemed like it includes a lot of Background Information, normally not found in the official (technical) documents.

Time for another update. I lately stumbled on the Nissan / Datsun USA Technical service bulletin about the change of the hatch window rear defroster lines from Vertical to horizontal: Since i had been wondering why my cars (which were built close together) came with two different types of windows, which i figoured out lately, it cought my interest and i started to look closer. Car 1. SNR: HLS30-56801 came with horizontal lines. Registered in March 1972 Car 2. SNR: HLS30-59660 came with Vertical lines.Registered in May 1972 Strange enough, the SNR of my (European spec) cars are one Digit shorter than the ones mentioned in (American) Service bulletin. Both my cars were built in late 1971, but i assume the date in the Service bulletin is not the production date of change, but the release date of the document. Given the lead time of the cars from production to first registration in switzerland, and the lead time from Production change to the release of the Service bulletin. i guess my two cars, built close together just happend to be around the change. Also it is a prove that there is nothing like a "Series 1" car mentioned often. My "older" car doesn't have the vented hatch / side emblems, but it still came with "old" type window. Service bulletin 231 (1975 introduction of the Datsun 280Z, America) also mentions a 6-digit VIN (HLS30-6digits). So i guess we just got a different vin-Block for european cars? I checked both my stamped serials as well as the VIN-plate. Both my cars only have HLS30-5digits Oh and then got some interesting read from the UK. Race & Rally Magazine, Jan. 1993 It features 16 Pages intresting background information about the Works 240Z rallye cars. Including a variety of side-stories around them. Still have to read through it, but it seems very promising

outstanding work man. love the attention to details!

Dear Kats, thank you so much for this rare insight and information. Really interesting read. As for the topic, i'd like to add a few of my own documents. 1. The swiss 240Z Sales brochure which i got from my good friend Stefan a while ago. These are scans from above original printed sales brochure which he found and donated to me. It was found in an old stock at an ex Datsun, now nissan Dealership. Enjoy the read While the B/W pictures inside are probably some Nissan / Datsun stock photos, the one on the first and last pages (red colored car) show the typical Swiss car with front and rear spoiler, which is also mentionend especially in the text about aerodynamics. Most cars were delivered like that over here. It's a common practice for swiss car import companies (like nissan switzerland) to add parts, which are optional in other markets, as a standard feature to boost "sportiness" of a car, as switzerland has a higher density of sporty cars compared to surrounding countries. It's also interresting to see how they advertised it by explaining the aerodynamics with some details, with it's rallye heritage and with the fact that it was very popular in america. In general the description is very technical. really trying to explain how good and simple the car is. Quite funny when comparing it with todays sales brochures, which is all about emotions and how practical a car is. 2nd: The swiss homologation fiches in french, Which i got from t he swiss car registry office. On a side note, we have four official languages in switzerland (german, french, italian and romanian). So most docuements are available in italien, french an german, while romanian is only for a small part of switzerland which all of them also speak a second official language. What is particulary interresting here is the second page: It says the chassis used for homologation was HLS30-00243 and the document was released on 6. May 1970. in the additional notes at the bottom it mentions which bulbs have to be used for the lamps. It also mentions the IKI 5004 side markers used and that they had to install a second set of taillights (type ULO K 11254), since the original set that came with the car was leaky. on the third page (additinional sheet, this time in german) there were some later informations like - what kind of lamps where installed Note fom 10. november 1971) - Where the car's serial number is found (note from 19. July 1972) - Note from 7. February 1973, that from Chassis-nr HLS30-132850 a brake boost / force limiter (don't know the official english word for it) was installed for the rear brakes, to reach the braking performance requirements, which were introduced after the car's initial homologation.

It's a bit off-Topic so maybe we can discuss this in a personal conversation. I Totally get your Point. same here. Just wanted to mention that i have mentioned your Name at several places on my Website, and if i've missed it at some Point, please let me know, i will very happily update it with your Name. Sometimes i just don't remember where i got the data from several years back. Also i missed to post sources in the early Posts, which i've changed since then. Also it is free to anyone to comment on my blogposts in the comments section. i release and comment every comment there. As said, i totally get your Point and it was never my Intention to offend you or anything near that. I really appreciate the snippets of informations you spread along the interwebs. Together with the Information i have from original documentation (which i have to purchase from around the world as well), non factory documentation, FIA-homologations, etc. I try to puzzle together those Posts. It would sometimes already be very helpful to just know where i can get the information. i don't want to be lazy, i work for my Information. The big difference is that you seem to have far better sources and a bigger Network than me. so it makes it hard to get some informations that other have, and therefore complete things. Also please, in future, if you feel like i've done something in a wrong matter, let me know directly - i will try my best to get it right. we're grown up men after all, right? nevertheless thanks again for your Inputs and it's really a joy to read your Posts. Cheers