26th-Z

Hey Rama! Yes, people over in Japan race and compare chassis just like we do in America. It's called "bench racing" (racing from the bench); the common automotive dialect of the main language, "Bull $^!#", well known throughout the universe.

Good reference thread for the early steel wheels and covers.

I would really like to believe that there is no reason for story fabrication but that just isn't the way it is. From "driven only on Sundays" to "previously owned by (insert famous person's name)", I would like to think I have heard it all. For that matter, my car was the first S30 in the State of Florida. Just ask the brother of the previous owner's son. Perhaps it was raced in Japan. I have heard many stories about servicemen racing their newly purchased sports cars in amateur events. Generally speaking, that's the sort of thing one wants to stay away from when considering the purchase of a used car. You know; the abuse and all. I don't know quite what to think of the LHD conversion. Plenty of RHD cars made their way into the U.S. The guy down the street from me in 1971 came home with an RHD Fairlady. It was yellow and had headlight covers. I just can't imagine why someone would go to all that trouble and, of course, the question has come up concerning from where the donor parts came. I would bet that the conversion happened after it was imported and that the car has seen major work, parts replacement, and previous owner stuff. None-the-less, the car is unique and appears to be in nice restorable shape. Considering the unique configuration of components in the car, I think you have a lot of latitude for your restoration while still remaining "on course". Have fun and enjoy the ride! Screw the history and let the project be a testament to your automotive skills.

The writer got the date of introduction wrong. October 21, 1969. Of course, the New York unveiling was the next day as the writer stated. He doesn't explain why, but his assessment of relative value between model years holds true in the collector world. Certainly, it can be argued that the economy dictates price and the economy for collector cars seems to be roaring even though we are six months into a new administration. What the author wants to say is that the Datsun 240Z has made it to legitimate collector car status and as such, the prices will continue to go up.

Jerry, The honest truth about hand throttles is that very, very few cars ever made it into the hands of consumers equipped from Japan with the hand throttle. Most, if not all of the hand throttles we see were added at a later date. My cars have hand throttles but they are not original. What was original was the dual lever housing with the lever and cable removed. None-the-less, it's a great feature.

I know we are talking about HS30s and I know that this subject is discussed somewhere in the archives. Just thought I would share some specific HLS30 info again about the clear glass, vertical de-mister glass, and horizontal de-mister glass. Technical Bulletin # TS72-29, published 11 April 1972, states that HLS30-01455 was the last car produced with clear glass. Vertical de-mister lined glass was installed up to HLS30-062001. The May 1970 Service Bulletin, Vol. 125, discusses the vertical de-mister on page 45.

Why don't you just replace your JVC? $129 at Crutchfield JVC KW-R925BTS. It took me longer to type this response than to find the unit with Google.

Hey! Glad to see your comment, Mike. I was thinking of responding as well about scraping the glass. The glass is etched. You won't get the lines out. I tried. Both my cars are clear glass type and I bought a brand new piece many years ago for the same reason.

My comment was based on my surprise and scheming mind. The Sage HLS30-00222 is a vintage Z, one of around 37. That's why it was so expensive and I saw the BAT auction of the blue 1970. I'm surprised to hear as well as pleased - somewhat. Thanks for explaining.

I saw a video of Eiji translating for Matsuo san. Gut gemacht, Eiji!

Hmmm....six digits, huh? I would like to read that conversation.

Kats, The original throttle shaft bearing design was doomed to wear from day one. And for that matter, all carburetors have a similar problem; the metal of the shaft and the carburetor body is 'soft' metal which will wear excessively with the constant use. I believe that they were designed that way to prevent binding. Throttle shafts machined from a harder alloy with a similar alloy bushing will work just as well as the bearing arrangement that ZTherapy provides. I have even seen throttle shafts plated to compensate for wear. In both cases, either design, I would recommend occasionally oiling the bushing / bearing with some penetrating oil. Your re-builds look fantastic. It is great to see such a delicious set of early carburetors. Engine jewelry!

Those are very nice, Kats. I do not see very many early carburetors like mine. Here are some solutions to make for etching the shiny aluminum. Use gloves and safety glasses. http://www.metallographic.com/Etchants/Aluminum etchants.htm Etchant Concentration / Mix Conditions Comments Kellers Etch Distilled water Nitric acid Hydrochloric acid Hydrofluoric acid 190 ml 5 ml 3 ml 2 ml 10-30 second immersion Use fresh For most aluminum and aluminum alloys Methanol Hydrochloric acid Nitric acid Hydrofluoric acid 25 ml 25 ml 25 ml 1 drop 10-60 seconds Pure aluminum, aluminum-magnesium, and aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys Krolls Reagent Distilled water Nitric acid Hydrofluoric acid 92 ml 6 ml 2 ml 15 seconds Aluminum-copper alloys

If memory serves me right, 105 was listed on BAT about the same time as 187. 105 was in a field in Kentucky and was sold with another parts car.

Wow. I'm SO glad I bought mine when I did.

Ok, I remember when this conversation started as the claim of a unique competition frame member. I was afraid that "apparently" was going to mystically become reality ( I have had enough of mystic reality these days ) and I had to respond.

When did this become 'apparently"? Any photographs or parts catalog drawings to support this "apparently"? I think the tabs are for frame alignment purposes but "apparently" I can't support my opinion either!

No better way to troll a crowd than to let your ignorance hang out! What few Japanese friends I have on Facebook are celebrating. I would imagine he's a national hero for the moment.

Ohhh!! Those are great pictures, Alan!

I had fun making those tags years ago, Kats! Thanks for taking this one on, Ziggy. Here's a picture from my collection - just to mess with everyone.

Yes - confirm six labels required per car and yes I think a 12/70 date stamp is appropriate for your car, Dan.

I thought silk material when I did my reproduction effort many years ago. But it isn't silk. The thread size is much thicker, the weave is much more course, but the fiber size IS very similar to silk. Also want to tip my hat to Snake Oyl seat belt restoration. Yea expensive but very good quality and easy to work with.

It's rare that I enjoy a rarely disputed discussion of rarity. I didn't even know that there is an ABS valve cover. What car did that come on? So, are those scratches in the logo? $2,000 for a scratched (irreparable) valve cover? Or are those scratches even rarer that the rare rarity?

Then perhaps they are not as rare as everyone seems to think?

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