zspert

Lonetreesteve I wasn't able to have a look, sure wish I could have. On the other hand it might have broken my heart. About 2 months ago I got a call from a salesman asking if I would be interested in pimping for E's new Z car book. When he mentioned that my shop got a mention my ears perked up. He offered to send me an e version for my perusal. I had a look and got a bit hot when he, E, touted up the very characters we've been commenting on while devoting exactly one sentence, or is it two, to the shops that did the Z Store restorations - for very little profit. Go back about 20 years or so. At that time I was supplying Nissan with reproduction parts for the Z Store program. Some I already offered and some they, Nissan, commissioned. This relationship fostered a number of conversations about my experiences as a Datsun dealer mechanic during the early 70's and how the environment was, as I described it, heady. E mentioned that perhaps some day he would write about the US Z scene. On one hand I'm flattered to get some ink for my business while on the other hand don't like being associated with a resident of OK who has such an extensive record of deceit. In short, If one is known by the company they keep then this book may not be in my best interest. However, could it be that a number of the the characters outlined in the book, now well known to those of us that have been in the Z world for more than 15 minutes, should indeed be known by the company they keep? Cheers

SH30-H & DougN you've hit the nail squarely on the head. I have a lot to say about that book, and some back story, but don't have a lot of time in the am so I'll have to chime in this evening. Cheers

Yes, quite the personal "history" indeed.

"mostly the underside" I sure hope they didn't screw up the assembly marks like they seem to do to every Z that slips through their hands. Last time I worked on Paul's car the underside was PERFECT!

Banzai has those connectors NEW for far less. WOW, 2 grand for those cables. I think I have 2 new sets in stock.

The VAST majority of the OK decals were scraped off by the guys in the wash rack before the Z was delivered to the happy new owner. Therefore just about every time I sell one of my reproductions my customer asks me where, exactly, it should go on the right quarter window. Before I give my recommendation I stress that the guys on the assembly line weren't to exact about location. Over the more than 40 years Banzai has been in business I've been very lucky to have a large # of original owner cars go through my shop. A couple of days ago another landed in my shop. It's a blue on blue mid 71 build correct down to the hubcaps. It does have dealer installed a/c. This picture of the factory installed OK decal is an example of what I'm talking about regarding placement! I've also included a picture of our latest offering, 240 tire info decal. Unlike the decal offered by our would be competitor in B.C, ours has the correct font.

Given his history, I just can't believe ANYTHING that character says!

Interesting thing about those Euro dists. They were available from the Comp Dept after the standard units were NLA through the regular parts Dept. This is why I won't reuse a lock washer. Still available from your dealer

Yes, I use 10-12 BTDC @ 40 degrees dwell. I have installed Euro dists when you could still get them from Nissan US and used the same specs.

After being on display in my office for umpteen years the colors, yes colors, were a bit faded. One of my customers very generously agreed to have it professionally reproduced and enhanced. Should bring the colors back. When it returns, soon I hope, I'll post the results.

It is?

Yes, model, therefore, market is indicated on a build sheet I have.

I think it's important to remember that all of the Datsun models - Z, 510, 1200, 521 and Roadster - imported to the US during the period being discussed had information decals. I can assure you they were not added at the dealers. That would leave Port of Entry. Again, I can assure you that there were no facilities at the US ports that could have handled such an operation.

I finally had a chance to dig through the archives for those sound deadener part numbers. they are, or were, G5930-89904 and G5930-89902. I last bought any 9/07. I can't remember which is thicker (cargo area)

Banzai Motorworks 1971 240 reproduction on a particularly nice example.

There MAY be as many as 4 different decals for 1971

Looks silver to me

The underhood emissions/tune-up specs on the BAT car was silver as is my reproduction, as it should be.

I found it funny that those $%^& door jamb bumpers were missing!!

Gav240z - BINGO!! Cheers

We, Datsun dealer personnel in the US, were taught, by the factory, to identify cars by production date and model name, i.e. 3/72 510 2 door. It was explained to us as being the best way to get the correct parts from the mechanic's parts counter in the dealership. Not trying to be argumentative - just stating the historical record as experienced by me. PS I worked in Datsun dealers as a mechanic from 1970-1980

54436-E4100 Bolt-Transverse Link - Bolt that secures the front control arm to the subframe(note the color) NLA from Nissan US 01221-00211 Nut-Hex Lock L - left tie rod end lock nut- NLA from Nissan US 08911-34410(A) Nut-Rev idle shaft - Early 4 speed trans also used on the 3N71A automatic trans to lock the shifter in place. However more familiar as the right tie rod end lock nut- NLA from Nissan US

26th & Chris - Please give me a few days to dig into the archives for those part #s. Cheers

I first have to give a shout out to my customers/friends Marc and Chris. About every two years or so I have to be reminded that my customers are The Greatest! Thanks guys! Sure wish I had saved the FIA papers I had to, as I remember, send off to France for along with, as I recall, $50.00. That was a lot of money for a Datsun dealer mechanic back in 1971 who was spending every nickel he had to race that 70 240 in IMSA. jason240z, thank you very much for cutting to the chase about 240guild and lsteppe. In one case you have a convicted fraudster and the other owns all the worthwhile Z cars on earth and is a gold plated diamond encrusted member of the Barrett-Jackson community who only drinks at the Pie-On-The-Sky Head-In-The-Clouds bar while at the auction. I had a run-in with the later character after he bad mouthed my business on the BAT comments section. Said he would never do business with me and strongly suggested no one in the community do business with me. He later called to apologize - long after the damage was done - but the apology lasted about 15 seconds followed by 3-4 minutes of his cars and what he's done to and with them. Series 1, series2, series 1.5. We were taught to identify Datsuns by their production date. Yes, That sound deadener was indeed on the floor, trans tunnel and rear deck of Zs. it was 2 different thicknesses and up until about 2 years ago was still available from Nissan US in both thicknesses. May still be available, I haven't needed any for that long. I'll give you, sorry but you don't have a choice and it ain't all pretty, my take on Mr. K and Nissan/Datsun in the US in the early days another time but just now I have some zinc to sort. Cheers and I hope everyone has a safe weekend

In my view the reality is this - 2 guys with deep pockets JUST HAD TO HAVE IT!!! Also, male ego backed by plenty of bux equals too much macho. Wow, I guess the value of my stash of Holy Grail parts just went up a couple of notches. If buyer wants a set of NOS factory plug wires he should give me a call! Cheers