Mike B

I'm almost positive HLS30-00237 doesn't have the spring either, but I don't have the car at my house right now to check. It is stored about an hour away with my 72 at the moment. I should be able to check on it and a Jan 70 production car in a week or so. I don't think it was due to a parts shortage, but just the evolution of the cars over time. The earliest cars have many items that were changed or modified and improved fairly soon after production started. The earlier the car, the more of these early items they have. I would like to try to gather more data points about when certain items like this changed on early production HLS30 cars in a spreadsheet or something, but that will be in a new thread. Maybe, but it seems like the spring would stay on (at least some of the cars) even without the plate welded on. Here are a couple of pictures of the gas doors I took off HLS30-00331 (green) and a 9/70 (grey primer). As you can see, the early one is also missing the spring. I can also check with a couple other low VIN owners to see if any of their cars have the spring. -Mike

No springs on HLS30-00032 or HLS30-00210 either. Must be another low VIN thing. -Mike

I don't know, all three seem to have about the same level of geedunk to me, but then again I'm pretty much a stock guy. Here are a couple of threads with background info about the cars. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24874 http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24875 -Mike

Oops! Sorry about the false alarm then. Chris, what is the primary hotel? I got my room recently, so I am in the third or forth alternate and was just going by my poor memory. I checked on the Zcon site before I posted, but it only shows the additional rooms at the Embassy Suites and Hilton Garden, not the original hotel. Was there ever talk of using the Operyland hotel, or have I completely lost my mind? Anyway, good to hear that the convention area was unaffected and the rest of Nashville is getting back to normal. -Mike

It looks like Nashville really got hit hard by flooding this past weekend. The Opryland hotel (main convention hotel) was under 10 ft of water and I read it could be closed for up to 6 months. Here is a link to some pictures of the damage http://www.examiner.com/ExaminerSlideshow.html?entryid=1232836&slide=1. In addition to all of the property damage I heard that at least 10 people in the area lost their lives, so it's a real tragedy. Hopefully everyone on this site made it through it ok and with minimal damage. -Mike

Don't forget the Washington CZCC folks who make the drive down too. At least two of them are in your photos . -Mike

This thread is two years old, so hopefully he has found one by now. -Mike

It looks like the one you posted a picture of is from Arizona Z car, but it has a Holley bolt pattern and recommends using a Holley 390 CFM carb http://www.arizonazcar.com/manifold.html. Here is one for sale on ebay now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-83-Datsun-Z-car-4-Barrel-Carb-Manifold-EC-NR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZModelQ3a240Q5AQQhashZitem3a5a4e37deQQitemZ250623178718QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories. Currently at $5.50 with no reserve and about 5 days to go. -Mike

My guess is Willy Wonka . -Mike

So, back to the original subject of the thread.... Did anyone actually attend the "Z-Enthusiast Reunion" at MSA on Saturday? -Mike

I'm pretty sure it was still in or near Ontario when it was sold. Here is an old thread about the car when it was for sale http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28243. I have been saving all of the pictures of early cars that I came across over the last couple of years. I'm sure Carl Beck and others have a better collection of them than I do, but it does make for a good reference. Let me know if you want me to send you the pictures I have or any other documents you lost that I might have. -Mike

Yep, that was HLS30-00059, but it was definitely NOT restored (at least when it was being sold with those parts a few years ago). -Mike

Are you thinking of HLS30-00048 Ron? http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32495&highlight=%2300048 -Mike

Hmmm.... haven't seen that one listed before, and it looks like a nice car and a thorough restoration. However, two things may detract from the value some. The ad says "320 miles on new engine", which sounds like it is not the original engine. Also, it is listed on zhome.com as originally being a green car. If it was a complete stripping of the entire car and repaint that may not affect the value too much, but I think it still would have been better to keep it the original color. -Mike

Those aren't too hard to find Dave, unless you are looking for a perfect one. I have a cracked one that is complete (not missing any chunks) that would just need to be glued to be usable. I'll give it to you for free if you can wait a couple of weeks. -Mike

1969 production cars for the US market have a different emissions decal mounted to the underside of the hood than later 1970 model year cars. I'm not sure if Canada or other markets have the same decal as well. I recently found that HLS30-01590 (a 1/70 production car) has this same emission decal. I didn't think a car with that high of a VIN would still have this sticker (it also has the earliest hood design). Does anyone with a higher VIN ahave this early decal? I don't think anyone has reproduced this, due to the limited market for them. I am trying to get an idea of the size of the market to see if it would be worth while to have some reproductions made. I checked with Banzai Motorsports and they don't have any. They sell a different emissions sticker (DE07) that I believe is for later 1970 production cars, but I am not sure what the cutoff is. Also, if anyone knows of a good source to reproduce these metallic decals let me know. Thanks. -Mike

Some places sell a 'deluxe' carpet kit that covers the areas you are looking for (basically replacing the vinyl with additional carpet). Datsun Restore (http://www.datsunrestore.com/catalog.html) sells this kit Datsun Carpet Deluxe Full Floor Kits (70 - 78 Datsun 240Z 260Z 280Z All ) Full Floor, Rear Deck, Riser Shock Tower, Wheel Well Carpet Kit = 261.95 If you don't mind potentially spending a little more money you should also check out C&H. They can customize the carpet to get you exactly what you want and cut a set to a template if you want to send them one. -Mike

I have a couple of used gas tanks. If you need one let me know. -Mike

Well, I believe xs10shl has a 1969 production Fairlady Z432, so I think in his case the early wood "thin style" 5 speed shift knob would be correct. Let's not forget that JDM cars and other markets outside the US got the five speed transmission from the beginning. Xs10shl, there are reproductions of the early choke and throttle knobs available. Send me a PM if you want the contact information on those. -Mike

Arne, I saw the attached American Racing ad for sale on ebay recently. It looks like it was published in one of the car magazines after BRE won the 1970 ARRC. Given the popularity of BRE and their successful race history, I am surprised that we don't see more Le Mans wheels on 240Zs. But that is also part of why I like them, you don't see them very often. -Mike

Yes, the hoses are the same on all years of the HLS30s, including the early series one cars. -Mike

Rick, here is the thread Alan is referring to regarding 1969 production figures http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7801. There is lots of good information here and it will take about a week to read through it all and take it all in. Well, I can think of at least one car with a VIN lower than 721 and it has a production date of 2/1970..... HLS30-00048. If you have been to Jim F's place then you probably have even seen it yourself . -Mike

Too bad I don't have a way to play this yet. I think it may be a betamax tape, since it says Sony on the side. -Mike

Rick, that is one of the things that has always interested me most about your acquiring your HLS30-00013 in 1976. I think it is pretty cool that when the car was only 6 years old at least a few people were already trying to track down some of the lowest VINs. At that point they were just used cars. No problem Rick, glad you found it useful. The sharing of information is one of the things I like most about this site. I have learned more about Z's here than anywhere else and (and I continue to learn more each day). That is why this is the best Z site on the internet, in my opinion.-Mike

Found it! http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35032 -Mike