kats

26th-Z,thank you.Yes I remember about rare chrome Z,I forgot to tell you that I also got a "solid/heavy chrome Z" emblem.I can see "R" slightly fading but I am sure this is for Right side of quater panel.I bought it from ebay last year. I think this solid/heavy made emblem could be the earliest(not just say under 500 240Zs,rather under 100?? I do not know).The reason is when I see the differences(changing) in this quater emblem,this emblem is very similer to the prototype emblems which Mr.Matsuo showed me in his sutudio.Unfortunately the prototypes are not of S30s,they are 510,SP/SR311 etc.Yes 26th-Z,Mr.Matsuo told me a prototype emblem is always made by a Hand-made and so that they are solid.By the time a emblem is produced in the factory,it is formed(cut) meat to meet the requirment of cost and weight. Thank you, kats

Hi,I am soory I am late.I am catching up with these good inputs. Alfadog,I do not know how many books or ads are featuring a photo which came from that photo mision,but in Japan,we(japanese people)saw quite often this photo in some car magazine(see attachted below).This shot was taken from that photo mission day,I believe. When I made an interview to Mr.Osawa and Mr.Uemura(Both test crew in the U.S. & Canada) they showed me "Exactly" this photo,which is original,mono-color, the size is aprox.4X6 inch.Can you tell where they are in this photo?I also attached a photo when I made an interview in 2003.Left;Mr.Osawa/Center;kats/ Right;Mr.Uemura. Marty,in that interview,they told me that the two test vehicles were sent back to japan after the mission.They needed to do lots of work to collect data from the vehicles. kats

Hello, Bryan,I recorded them from a TV,not directly to a computer.I think it is very good too,if recording to the computer directly.But I did not have tools now,mabe someday. By the way,I am curious about the part of video "Mr.K is thinking about something standing at tail gate" in the title of my web page "Photo mission". I have heard and red like many of you about Mr.K's story that he took fairlady-Z emblems off from the very early deriverd 240Z in the U.S. Not happend in this video,because these two Zs did not have any emblems as you see from the video.Seems to me Mr.K is thinking about emblems,the american gentleman(maybe he works at NMC)is telling and explaining about emblems on the tail gate. At that moment,in Oct 1969,the name "Datsun 240Z" was already fixed I think.I will up load some photos which verify my reasons.But I am not sure emblems alredy existed or not at that moment. What I am interested in is,the story of Mr.K's took of emblems is true or not. Thank you, kats

Hello, Thank you everyone.Nice stories!!I am very happy that I can hear your good memories.These are what I have been wating for. My father was 28 years old at that time,he owned small Mitsubishi sedan.I wish he could own Z for him and for me. Alfadog,nice question!I do not have time now,I will be back soon.They are talking about badges?? kats

Hi, Today I added some films to my web site, http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/films.html Please enjoy these films. What were you doing at that time back in late 1969? How old were you ? Is there anyone who met these test 240Zs on the road and remember that? I was only 4 months old in Oct 1969.I like to imagine what people were doing in those days. Thank you, kats

Oh! Thank you all, I was only thinking about which side is up/down.But thanks Enrique, I've got what you said. This morning I did correction on my nuts. I think this is the answer?Please check this photo. gnosez,is this nut's and bolt's position what you mean?I turned it up side down,I feel now it is easy to tighten end losen the bolt. 26th-Z,please show us the photo of Jim's car.I am really interested in it. Alan,if you have a photo of your JDM parts manual's picture,also I would like to see it! Thank you, kats

Hello, I have a question about [63140-78500] "Nut- joint retainer" I attached this photo,inside of my Z's right front fender,below the side marker. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/frontfenderclip.html Are these clips(nuts) applied correctly?I am wondering they might be up-side down.I replaced these last year,still they were available from the local Nissan. If you know about this,please let me know. P.S. I revised some small items in my web site. Thank you, kats

Thank you,thank you everyone. bpilati,yes the man is wearing blue sweat is Mr.K!I do not know Nissan still keeps the early design sketches.I remember Mr.Matsuo(chief designer of S30)said he could not bring his design sketches when he quit Nissan in 1974.Seems to me he still regrets and has some angry feelings about it. 26th-Z,very good eye sights and very good question,but I am sorry I am not for sure that.I am wondering what parts was replaced after the test run.I think I said before this,the test report said On 20th Dec 1969,a 240Z arrived by air at NMC gardena.This car had some modifications to clear problems of vibration around differential gear,steering kick back,road noise,engine mountings. Mr.Uemura said they brought rear sway bar and tested in that run.They judged it was not needed for normal driving in the U.S. I will post rest of tape."Mrs.Johnnie gable?photo graph mission", "in the car washing service shop" etc.. kats

Thank you Gav240z, My wheels are japanese made "ENKEI".I wish I had american made wheels like American racing,Western wheels,etc.I bought them aprox.$100 U.S. then I did polishing by myself. Off set is plus 6mm,I still prefer 0mm or minus off set like american made wheels which I think looks cooler than mine. They are 14X6,tires are 205/70-14. kats

Thank you everyone for watching them! 26th-z and Alan,I am happy if you help me as usual! Today I revised the website for adding some films,you will enjoy them. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/films.html "Test vehicles arrived" you can see how the vehicles are transported and please feel what a great moment when they open the box!!I imagine they must be so excited like children opening their birthday present. "Heavy maintenance" I am sorry this bad condition,original tape is not good too.According to the report from the crew,they did 4 times of maintenance in the test operation.Once I asked Mr.Uemura that the maintenance period of 240Z service manual was scheduled after their test in the U.S. & Canada? He told me "NOT".He siad the maintenance period had already scheduled before the test.I think I made a stupid question because the first service manual of 240Z is dated "1st November 1969".The test was completed very late of December. And one thing I was surprised is,the test crews DID maintenance themselvs!Also they are specialists in their company,each of them have a specialized field for making S30 project.Mr.Uemura is a specialist of the suspention & drive train components,Mr.Osawa is not just a cameraman on this test operation,he is a specialist of instrument & dash compornents. And,who are they?? you can see 2 ladies are invited to "STAFF ONLY" area and looking around at 240Zs.I think they must be feel the beauty of 240Z. "Cold weather operation" you can see the defroster is working!! Thank you, kats

Thank you everyone, the original tape is aprox.20 minutes.And I was told from Mr.OSAWA that he recorded so many hours during that road test.He even does not know how long they are for total.Maby 100-200 reals or so!? he siad. The original tape was edited to show the crew's activity in the U.S. to their boss or next crews who took after road tests for teaching know-how for the crew. I will upload next short video,you will see Mr.K,opening a box,disassembling engine,etc. kats

Thank you, The red roadstar was not involved with the test.She was just a visitor at a gas stop.Only one red 510 was involved with the test. kats

Hello everyone, I come back,and I have revised my web site a little bit. Please see this video.I am sorry they are not good condition,and a original video is a silent recording,but I use my home camera so you can hear noises in my living room. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/films.html If you can not see the video,please let me know.I need to do some work for my website. Thank you, kats

Hello!! Christopher, just jumping in shortly,the two HLS30 which for the test drive in late 1969 they have got heated rear glass.A video tape which I have got from test a crew OSAWA-san showes the cars have heated glass and they were working in the snow-cold morning in Canada. I am still away from this forum but I will post a photo of the heated glass of the test car. Merry Christmas,I am fine !! kats

Hello Alan and Ben, Great informations for owners out side of japan!I think factory dual tips with completely tubes are still available aprx.$1,000 U.S. in the "Japan DATSUN service" in Yokohama. They are cool,but I will not to intend to replace my original "SINGLE tip" because this is also rare nowadays and I think it is beautiful too.And many many japanese owners want to have dual tips,I am not going to do samething like them. And I have to say I am leaving(absent) this club due to I have got so many things to do with my family.But someday I want to come back here,just my passion for Z is going to sleep. I am sorry for this writing Alan,just keep up for putting great informations! kats

Hello everyone, I have read all the post in this thread. Especialy Ben and 26th-Z,you made a great story for all of us!Thank you for your writing which is very detailed.I had a so much fun in the convention,I met and talked with many nice Z-people especialy people from this web club like Ben,26th-Z,Victor, we are all "for the first time "each other. mimzey,are you a blonde lady wearing glasses and neat dress in the convention?I am sorry if I made a mistake.I immediately found "Visalia,CA" in your post.That city reminds me when I was a trainee I made a lot of solo flights there with touch and go maneuvers.We talked in front of my 240Z, right? I do not know what should I tell all of you first,because so many great memories came up in my mind.Now I miss my Z very very much,our japanese club member have not told yet when our Z come back to japan.When my Z arrives,I will put 3 "chrome Z"emblems(2 for quater 1 for rear deck) which did not complete the restoration before the convention.I wanted to put them on my car for the show,but they were not ready when I left japan. One thing I apologize, I have to amend the price of LY engine.I was upset when I tried to convert japanese yen to $U.S.I confirmed Mr.Akamatsu later,he paid aprox.3,500,000 japanese yen for ONE LY engine in 1979.He bought TWO LY engines,so total amount was 7,000,000 japanese yen in 1979. My another friend told me late 1970's, $1.00 U.S. was aprox. 220.00 japanese yen.If this is correct,Mr.Akamatsu paid aprox. $31,800 U.S. in 1979.How much was a DATSUN Z car in 1979? Anyway,he paid a lot of money.Thank you Alfadog,can you or anyone can give much better conversion for all of us again? Mr.Akamatsu is now working in progress for the another LY engine.He is putting TWIN TURBOs on it!! Thank you, kats