Carl Beck

So far as we have found - with a couple of exceptions - the Datsun 240Z’s with VIN’s between HLS30 8944 and HLS30 9603 with DOM's of 08/70 - have been A/T equipped. The earliest reported was HLS30 07963 07/70.

Be careful to keep the same pistons in the same carb. body - they wear in differently.

It really did not depend on the Date of Sale. It depended upon the Selling Dealer who took the Manufacturers Statement of Origin (MSO) to the local DMV and filled out the paper work to request the first registration to create the first Vehicle Title. So we have lots of 240Z's registered as either 1970 or 1971 overlapping within 6 or more months.

The different positions could be either a spring rate difference - or a difference in Free Length. The corner weight could be 635 lbs on one side and 685 lbs on the other for example. So if the spring rate is the same, then you would use a slightly longer spring on the heavy side - so that both side would wind up with the same 'installed length". Most of the Factory Service Manuals give you the Spring Rate (constant), the Free Length and the Installed length.

The different colored paint dabs help identify the Spring Rates, as well as the position on the car. I don't have the information for the 280ZX, but as an example see: http://zhome.com/240ZSprings/EuroSpecSprings.htm

Hi Kyle - welcome to the group. No question in my mind - a 240Z can be daily driven and easily set up for the occasional Track Days and weekend Autocross. As far as being competitive in todays Sports Car racing …I think Greg Ira has done pretty well these past few years if you ever plan to go all out Racing. Best advice is take your time shopping, looking, shopping. Look for the cleanest, most rust free body you can find, that hasn’t been hacked up by some PO. I would expect to spend $20K to $25K today for really good 240Z. Pay the money up front for a good one - it is always the least expensive way to go. Everything mechanical on the 240Z’s is easy to fix. Add a set of good shocks, coil-overs, proper anti-sway bar or bars - great wheel/tires sets (one for street use, another for Track Days/Auto-X). A good engine and drive train… and the Z’s capabilities well far exceed your driving ability for several years. Plus you’ll have a really beautiful Classic to drive and enjoy every day.

1968 BRE Baja Team:

Or this one..

My Vote for a Truck - -

The only Vent that is necessary - is the one you are having turned around. The one on the lower part of the tank and the one of the other side of the top of the tank should be plugged.

Might as well have them block off the rest of the unused vent and evaporative tubes while it's there..

If the shop will reverse the output from that vent to eliminate the need for a 180 degree turn in the hose - DO IT - far better solution. There is no need for the hose to be bent, nor reason that vent points the wrong way.

Studied SAC Logistics - SAC was updating and automating their entire supply chain. We all loved Denver. Returned there for the 1996 ZCCA Convention hosted by the Z Car Club of Colorado - great group of Z enthusiasts. Didn't realize the base was shut down.. real shame, Denver is a beautiful place.

“.. a B52 can come in so low and so fast they will burn chickens in the barnyard..” (Dr. Strangelove) God I love the Buff’s.. Great to see they left one there..

See the Thread: "I've Been Looking For A Project"

Former Lowry AFB? What is it now? I have very fond memories of Denver, from my time at Lowrey -circa 1969. Carl B.

Hard to tell from the picture - but the valve train doesn't look to bad for a 50 year old. Oil bar is still intact.. Looks like a spare from a 260Z. Glad you were able to get the rear drums off - without destroying them. Take your time and enjoy the process.. Carl B.

Hi Guy: Reliable count? - no. In rounded numbers, there were 153,000 HLS30 Datsun 240Z’s were produced. That is just based on the highest HLS30 VIN found so far. HLS30 172767 minus 20,000 VIN numbers not used/assigned between the 1972 and 1973 Model Years. 98% of which were sold in North America. Over the past 30 years, I’ve recorded about 2600 HLS30 VIN’s 1969 though 1973 - gathered from any/all sources. Local Club’s, For Sale Ad.’s, eBay, ZCCA Conventions, on-line forums like this, FaceBook etc. etc. Most likely some of the VIN’s recorded 20 or 30 years ago - have also been lost to crashes or rust etc. If my statistical sample captured 1 out of 3 HLS30 240Z’s remaining - there very well might be 7800 of them still in existence. For vehicles 46 to 49 years old - 5% remaining would be an exceptional number. How Many are Restorable?… depends on now much the market values them now and in the future. At present rates of $30K to $50K could be 25% of the remaining cars are financially feasible for a full refresh or restoration. If market values increase significantly to say $80K to $100K maybe 35%+ are restorable. Carl

Not an old Sign - but a new one in an old place. https://www.tireco.com/article/2018/03/28/history-post-ii-2-2-2-4-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/

Hi gnosez - Very interesting, would love to see more. The Camel GT Pace Car is especially interesting as it was prepared to be an actual race car.

Hi Mike - Thanks, I'll have to go back though some of the old Datsun News again, always find something I wasn't looking for the last time. Wonder who the kids sitting on the fender are? Of course Rodney Allen Rippy is still a “Car Nut”. You should Post that picture on his Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/rodneyallenrippy427?lst=665002773%3A100026930003513%3A1544994936

Ah GREAT - thanks Mike. Funny thing, Gary Savage sent in a picture of the 1972 OMS Pace Car at OMS back in 1999. Finally got to meet Gary in person this year at Jim's ZMECCA Christmas Party. So when are we going to get you back down here to Florida?

That is the 1972 OMS Pace Car... http://zhome.com/Racing/PaceCars.htm They changed the tail lights to make it look like a more current model - to get additional Nissan rewards..

@jakay11 Current pictures of the undercarriage would help yield the best advice. There are several different approaches - and solutions depending on how much rust and were specifically it is. A 70 Datsun 240Z with documented 24K miles - might be a $65K+ example, if it isn’t improperly refreshed or screwed up. Might be something requiring a spot treatment of a rust converter like Ospho, or Rust Sgt. .. might be something that could be refinished with something like POR-15. ...

Keep in mind that insurance is all about managing risk - so the difference between a Yearly Premium of $135.00 or $450.00 could be because of different age drivers, location of the car, and Liability Coverage - $50K/$100K will be quite a bit less than $300K/$1M. Then you have to add any "options" you select. Hagerty has road side assist that dispatches tow trucks equipped to handle Classic Cars etc, then there are insurance for things like spare parts and the cars contents etc. So basically the only way to compare rates for you - is get quotes for you, in your area etc. Otherwise the numbers can be very misleading. I've been with a couple different Classic Car insurance carriers - been with Hagerty since they agreed to insure our Original Owners 240z's with much higher Agreed Values than any other company would at the time.. plus they have an excellent reputation for Paying Claims.