Carl Beck

"but" ? The Series I cars had the plastic tool storage covers... So it sounds like your Z is a Series I example. At present - the highest VIN we have recorded for a Series I example is HLS30-20419. 240Ztt has 20425, but we don't have confirmation of its configuration, likewise 20438 was reported, but no pictures or confirmation of its specific configuration. FWIW, Carl B.

Actually, it is both. It is a 1970 Production Year, or a Series I Datsun 240-Z most likely produced in 12/70. A model which was still being produced into Jan. of 1971. It was originally sold and titled as a 1971 Model Year. When talking about years - you have to specify Calendar Year, Production Year, Model Year etc - otherwise a discussion can get very confusing to people following along. Looks like your Father waited 7 months to get "a 240-Z". A seven month waiting list was not at all uncommon in 1970. Traditionally, here in the US new "Models" are introduced in Sept. or Oct. of the year prior to the upcoming Calendar Year. Because the car arrived at the Dealership in Feb. of 1971, and because the Series I Datsun 240-Z's meet all State and Federal requirements for both model years 1970 and 1971 - the car was both sold and thus titled as a 1971 Model Year Datsun 240-Z. Although the car was the same "Series" for both 1970 and 1971 - the price was not the same. The MSRP of the Series I models sold as 1971 Model Year vehicles was higher than the MSRP of the 1970 Model Year vehicles. Would be interesting to know if the Dealer held the lower price for you Father...$3526 or changed the sale price to the higher price prior to delivery. Most Dealers raised the price... or used the 1971 Window Stickers.. Nissan introduced what they called the "Late Model Year 1971 240-Z", the car we commonly call the Series II models in Jan. 1971. They sold and titled this car as a 1971 Model Year 240-Z as well. It too meet all State and Federal requirements for the 1971 Model Year. In 1970 through 1981 the VIN was comprised of model information and a chassis serial number. "H" = 2.4L engine found in the 240-Z "L" = Left Hand Drive Model "S30" = 2 dr. Sports Coupe (title will usually say "Cpe") 15369 = Chassis Serial Number (for the Left Hand Drive chassis) That is a shame, on the other hand he got to enjoy it for at least 10 years. Not at all uncommon for the doglegs at the rear wheel arches to rust on the Series I cars... easy to fix with aftermarket patch panels. If the rust is actually on the rockers - it can also be metal patched. Good luck with the car.. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Ron: Oops... I updated the file, then failed to upload to the server. I'll correct that.. Carl B.

Hi GWGarrard: Didn't mean that to sound like I was straightening anything out - only adding some info I had in my personal files. According to the info that Kats supplied: 543 total in 69 537 regular production (52 Oct, 388 Nov. 97 Dec.) 6 preproduction or factory prototypes - 1 May - 2 July - 1 Aug - 2 Sep FWIW, Carl B.

I had Bob Smith in Golden, Co. as owning the car. He reported that it was originally white with a black interior, but had it painted Deep Red. At the time he reported the production date as 11/69. That would line up pretty well with the original engine serial number of L24-02746 as well. Carl B.

Hi Robin: That's an interesting picture. I'm guessing that your build date is actually 12/72 {not 12/02}, and I see that you have the toggle switch for the hazard warning flashers... rather than the Green Push/Pull lighted switch more common on the 73 Model Year cars. Makes me wonder at what point in time, Nissan started using the newer Green Push/Pull Switch. 1973Z and Bonzi Lon - which type of hazard switch do you have, and what is the build date on your 73's? FWIW, Carl B.

Hi bjhines: Either intentionally or unintentionally - you make it sound like all US spec. 73 240-Z's came with the relays and harnesses you describe/show. Just to be clear - they did not. When the 73 Model Year 240-Z's arrived - they carried basically the same wiring for the electric fuel pump as the 70-72 model years did. To mount an electric fuel pump at the tank, using the existing wiring in the harness - you simply added a jumper with an in-line fuse holder, to connect two wires under the right side of the dash. As Arne outlines... that makes the pump feed hot when the ignition key is on. Later in the Model Year - after thousands of customers were stranded by vapor lock and/or percolation problems - Nissan came up with a series of Dealer Installed modifications intended to address the starting and running problems, brought about by the 73 Emissions Standards here in the US. These modifications included "fix'es" and/or adjustments to many components, only one of which was the addition of an electric fuel pump. The harnesses and relays you show - were only part of a Dealer Installed Kit, called the V-3 Modifications Kit - only 73 240-Z's that were returned to the Dealers, along with continuing customer complaints, received the Kit. It is possible that very late production 73 Model Year 240-Z's started to arrive from the Factory with the electric fuel pump installed... maybe the last couple of months of production. I don't know for sure, as by then - I was no longer working for Datsun. All this is outlined in Nissan's Service Bulletin titled "DATSUN 240-Z & 260Z MODIFICATIONS PLUS - FUEL SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS, as well as in several other Service Bulletins. I'm certainly no expert on this - but the Service Procedure tells you to check the fuel pressure on the electric pump with the engine running at 1000 RPM. I don't understand how that could happen if the relay turns the pump off after starting. Vapor lock was only one of the issues, percolation and vacuum break were also major contributors to hard starting after running, stopping then restarting. FWIW, Carl B.

Steve/ Bonzi Lon Feed back from our Original Owners, that know they have the original dash in their cars - supports your position. I've updated, edited the description on "the Z Car Home Page" to make that distinction clear. http://zhome.com/Classic/Restore/dash.htm Thanks for pointing that out... Carl B.

"Restore" to put back in original condition, aka "as it left the factory" Give me the car - and you would have at least $35,000.00 in labor (and I'm cheap labor). That would be to take the car apart, send the shell out to a good bodyshop for body and paint. Send the engine out for a rebuild, tranny out for a rebuild etc. Then the labor to put the car back together to OEM spec.' and standards. In addition to the labor - you would need about $40,000.00 for parts and services like machine shops, electroplating, engine and tranny rebuild facilities, body shop etc. That would include the labor needed to find the parts in the first place. Take the car to any serious Restoration Shop - and you would have to give them a retainer for at least $50K before they would put the car in their shop. If on the other hand you are really thinking about "refreshing" a 240-Z that is in good condition to begin with - - you might get away with as little as $20K plus the cost of the car and necessary parts, perhaps another $15K.. The bottom line is - it would be financially silly to pay someone to restore a 240-Z for you - far less expensive to simply buy a restored car. You can still find #2 condition cars for $25K to $30K today. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Jon: Visit the Club Store - hyper-link at the Left - and buy the CD-ROM for the S30. It includes the factory Parts Catalog for your Z. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Robin: In your signature line - you list HLS30 140770 as your 73 240Z. That would be a correct VIN for a 73 Model Year 240-Z, even if it had a build date of 07/72 through 12/72 and beyond. If the date of manufacture on the data tag on the door jam says 02/72 then the VIN would be something less than HLS30 103xxx. Are we talking about two different cars? Or is it possible your build date is 07/73? Something is out of wack here. FWIW, Carl B.

1973Z: Maybe... send me a picture of your dash in that area.. and I'll ask some of our original owners to do the same. Give me the build date on your car and if Bonzi can do the same - we'll see what we come up with. thanks, Carl B.

Documented on the Z Car Home Page http://ZHome.com See: http://zhome.com/Classic/Restore/dash.htm

It looks much better in "race trim"... I noticed that when all this was in the future - the Automotive Press kept referring to the Skyline GT-R coming to America.... but also notice that Nissan itself refuses to use the name Skyline - and simply refers to the car as the Nissan GT-R. Anyone know why Nissan doesn't use the Skyline name on the GT-R? As an aside - I got to drive a friends new G37 with the 6spd. ... NICE, very nice ... FWIW, Carl B.

SOLD...for the BIN.... Carl B.

Hi Walter: I don't know for sure - but Bart's 240Z was sent to the Netherlands from Arizona. FWIW, Carl B.

Funds were wire transferred already for the 82 Turbo. True #1 Z's and ZX's will bring the money... That Turbo could easily be over $50K in a couple years. Carl B.

Dwell angle - reflects the number of degrees of distributor shaft rotation during which the points are closed, and the coil is energized. If the mechanical points have been replaced with either a magnetic or LED sensor it really doesn't change the need for the proper dwell angle to be present. You check the dwell angle with a digital meter. The dwell can be out of spec due to the distributor shaft/bearings being worn, sensors for the LED or magnet being improperly aligned etc. Although it is doubtful that it needed to be done on a ZX with 1400 miles... ;-) FWIW, Carl B.

What is the VIN on the car? Maybe that would yield some information... Carl B. Clearwater, FL USA http://ZHome.com

Here is one for a Collector. A 1982 280ZX Tubo, 5sd. with 1,415 miles. Starting Bid $22K and Buy-it-now for $29K. Anyone that has attempted to restore an older Z, knows that you could not duplicate this car without spending twice that amount today. E Bay Item Number: 300195233750 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-1982-DATSUN-280ZX-TURBO-5-SPEED-1-410-MILES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQihZ020QQitemZ300195233750QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW FWIW, Carl B.

"strip" ?? Did you ship them the entire tail light assy - or did you remove the chrome trim and ship it only? Any problems removing and reinstalling the chrome strips? thanks, Carl

That is the rocker panel - it is two pieces - and inner and outter It is welded to the floorpan, as well as the front fire wall See Item #19, 20 and #2 #3.. You used to be able to get them from TABCO or Mill Supply FWIW, Carl B.

spoiler looks like the factory Nissan OEM part....

theianmonster would appear to be an up and coming "Burt". In my humble opinion, he and his post should be eliminated, rather than encouraged. It's the Moderators call, but I'd cut this off at the knees. As Hybridz was mentioned, I'll point out the fact that they would not for an instant, put up with anyone from the "purists" mind set, posting their trash talk on the Hybridz forum... and we should be just as vigilant about people trashing Classic Z Cars and then rubbing our collective noses in the resulting mess. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Steve: I can assure you that starting with a car that was in relatively beautiful condition, you can spend close to $100,000.00 restoring an older competition car....Looking at the pictures of the work done just on the body of this Toyota - they spent closer to $1,000,000.00 or more by the time it was finished.... FWIW, Carl B.