zspert

That's one of my engine compartment ID plates!! Looks great doesn't it?

Excellent information. Thank you very much

Thank you! I expended the last of my NOS dashes on my last restoration and recently started on another customer car that needs a dash. I've been following the many comments about the good and bad of reproduction dashes but just couldn't remember the name of the company that doesn't require you to send your old unit for rehabilitation. I'll report on my experience with Vintage Dashes Cheers

Need the name and contact info for the "other than Just Dashes " reproduction dash company. Thank you

I measured the original stuff I use as a pattern and it's 13mm/1/2 inch

Jute should be 13mm thick.

What happened to the fuel rail?

Please note the correct orientation of the Nihon radiator decal.

Yes, that is indeed original carpet under the tiger print. I suspect that the original padding/jute is also present by the dip in the carpet just forward of the luggage strap bracket. No padding used in that last couple of inches - 70/early 71 owners please take note.

I've had a brief look at this one and so far it looks very genuine. It may sell for real $s.

DO NOT use LED bulbs !

If all you're doing is removing one or more of the gauges it isn't necessary to remove the dash. Refer to the factory service manual. Don't have one - get one!! Best tool you'll ever buy.

The early style sold by Motorsport won't fit. How do I know? Those are my recliner mechanism covers!! I would like to be able to offer the later style but haven't come up with a sample to reverse engineer from.

Seriously interested in as many as 10 or more depending on price.

HS30-H I can't agree more. In the early 70s, while working as a Datsun dealer mechanic, we were taught to refer to Datsuns by their production date.

I learned long, long ago that the quality of the work coming out of a shop is equal to the condition of the shop - messy shop=messy work

Maybe a "tech" but certainly not a mechanic

Classic example of "10% more effort would have yielded 100% better results". Example (one of many) no door jamb bumpers!!!

Major problem with reproducing parts like these, everyone wants them to be EXACTLY like what they perceive to be correct. So, someone ponys-up the multiple thousands, not to mention their many, many hours of time spent, for such a project and therefore has to charge quite a bit for each set even if @ cost. However, the market is so very tiny because their reproduction only applies to a sliver of the potential customer base.

Gotta make a coupla observations based on my experience. I was a Datsun dealer mechanic, no, not a technician or "tech" - a mechanic, from the early summer of 1970 until about 1980. ALL of the new Datsuns sold at the dealers where I was employed until about 1976 or so did not have undercoating from the factory and were, therefore, body color underneath. The paint applied at the factory to the bottom of the 240s, 510s, 1200, 610s, 710s, roadsters and trucks was very inconsistent from one area to another. It might be pretty OK here but thin over there. Lots of orange peel here and a bit of dirt in the paint over there. Whoa, yes, I know the trucks and roadsters had separate frames, painted a rather thin black, but the bottom sheet metal was body color. Sorry to say I undercoated lots and lots of the same cars. I seem to remember getting paid .3/hour labor for every one I did usually as the finale of the PDI (per delivery inspection) which paid additionally depending on the model. Flash forward a number of years to my shop where I've/we've done a number of 240 restorations to ZCCA Gold Medallion standards. I hope to notch my fourth at the convention this summer. In each case I've asked the owner if he wants his restoration to reflect the way it rolled off the truck at the dealership or the contemporary standard. Before he answers me I show him the many detailed pictures I keep on file of original unmodified Zs. Remember, these pictures show details like glue running down from grommets and orange peel in enamel paint. I think you can guess the answer I always get. Carl, you're very close on your estimate of the current cost of such an undertaking. Yes, there are cheaper prices being quoted all over the place but those units will NEVER be in the running for the top prizes or pass inspection from snobs like me who have seen just about every shade of half assed restorations. The big problem I see going forward is parts. The highest level restorations require fast disappearing goodies. Just the elementary stuff like correct spark plug wire sets, exhaust system components, battery cables, wiper blades, etc. can only be had by beating the bushes really really hard and paying a ton of money. Here's one I hear all the time - well, someone should reproduce that, if they do they'll get rich! NO, NO it doesn't happen that way. I know from my very extensive experience that reproduction, after you spend a LOT of time finding a manufacturer willing to make that widget for you, is VERY expensive. One example, for several years I've been shopping around looking for a domestic manufacturer willing and able to manufacture correct battery cables. Finally found one but the fixed costs would be about 40K for 240 positive and negative cables. Another example, 77/78 280 front and rear bumper ends, 10k for the mold and you would need 4. Chris @ S30 World, my hat is off to you and I sincerely hope you live to a healthy very old age! I know you have a TON of $ invested in your very nice tanks. PS, best of luck with your hand brake cables. Yes, his cars are for his personal collection. It's late and I'm getting sleepy.

Looks like one of my reproduction voltage reg covers. Missing are the rad overflow hose, Anti-Freese and Nihon Rad decals.

I suspect my 280 is the only Z car with Campagnolos and yes they were purchased new.

S30driver - they're 14 inch Campagnolo wheels. I purchased them new in the early 90s from the late Al Costintino (sp) the US importer. Manufactured to a high standard and complete with Campy lug nuts! That sensor, the one on the side by itself, didn't appear in 77 or 78 - with or without factory a/c.

I can't agree more!

I've been around long enough to remember the factory tool. Yours is very close.