Mike B

You might try premium gasoline if you aren't running it already. My 1972 dieseled a bit on regular when I first got it, so I switched to premium and never had a problem again. -Mike

I think there are also a lot of lime Zs that were painted other colors over the years. That seems to be one of the colors that people either love or hate. -Mike

This looks similar to another spray on product I have seen advertised, Alsa Killer Chrome paint http://www.alsacorp.com/products/killercans/kc/killerchrome.htm. It looks like the Spectra chrome doesn't come in spray cans though. I haven't seen either of these in person so I'm not sure how good they look in real life or how they would hold up. For the plastic taillight trim, I think the best option is to have them electroplated, but its difficult to find a good place to electroplate plastic for a decent price. I think the best use for a paint like this would be for something that can't be removed for plating, like the chrome strips on the door panels. -Mike

Many of us of this site have Hagerty insurance, and everyone seems to be very happy with it, including me. The topic has been covered many times, so if you search for Hagerty you will find many threads discussing it. I believe that is the case. I'm sure someone can scan and post the article. If no one else does, I will when mine arrives. -Mike

Printed via an 'ink jet printer'? Where did your supplier get that from? Here is the info from the Datsun parts site: "The artwork was reproduced by painstakingly matching 40-year old fonts to samples of original roadster stickers. We tried to match the spacing to the originals as best as possible' date=' even if we knew it was possible to space things better, we spaced them like the originals. Any logos were re-created as vector drawings, and placed in the illustration. Japanese text was scanned at high resolution from near-perfect original decals and cleaned up if necessary. The decals are printed on metallic polyester using thermal imaging system that produces a minimum of 3 times the resolution of standard screen printing (aka “silk screening”+). All stickers are being laminated for additional protection and if they were in full sun (ie, on the outside of the car, not under the hood) they should have a life of 8-10 years. Much longer life under the hood. Won't smear. The laminated stickers are then plotter cut for accuracy."[/i'] Did the supplier mention what his printing method was, since he apparently is claiming it was the same as the originals? I'm not sure I understand or agree with that logic. So we should only buy reproduction parts made in Japan' date=' because American quality sucks? Well, like I said, my shipping was $2 for several stickers (I also got some radiator ones at the same time). If the price is $9.50 each now and shipping is $2, that is $11.50, which is still half what the Japanese supplier is charging, even with 'free' shipping. If you want to do a side by side comparison and report back, I'll send you one of my extras for free. -Mike

Yeah, I've seen those too. One minor error I see is that there is a period after the word 'NUESTRO' in this reproduction that is not on the original. I doubt anyone would notice, since the sticker can't really even be seen one it is on the tank. Here is a link to the ebay ad http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380151494073&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT. I found that Datsun roadsters use the exact same sticker and a seller has been reproducing them for several years (with no errors that I can see). I bought several of them a couple of years ago for $7 each and shipping was $2 total. It looks like they sell for $9.50 each now. Here is the link http://www.datsunparts.com/Engine-Room-Decals-and-Stickers. The part number is 2128 - Datsun Washer Tank Sticker. All of the foil reproduction stickers I have seen (these washer tank reproductions, paint codes, emissions, etc) seem a little different foil color than the originals. I attached some comparison pics below. The first is from the ebay ad Travel 'n Man referenced. The other is a new tank I have showing the original sticker on top and the reproduction from datsunparts.com below. For some reason, the new tank (and other new ones I have seen) has the sticker mounted up higher so that it folds over the top. However, the original stickers on my cars are like the picture from Arne, where the sticker is mounted lower and only on one side. -Mike

Hopefully this old Datsun Comp catalog info is authoritative enough for you. -Mike

What speed are you going at 7k RPM with a 3.9 diff? I assume that is with a 5 speed? Using the calculator I linked to with an 81-83 factory 5 speed, an 81-83 280zx 3.9 R200 diff, and 205/60/15 tires, it calculates 3165 rpm at 80 mph in 5th gear. With that setup, 7000 RPM would be about 177 MPH. -Mike

I'm not a fan of them myself, but maybe if you also try hybridz and zcar.com you will get enough interest. -Mike

You type too slooowww Chris;). -Mike

I agree with Arne, 4.3 is probably too low for highway use, even with a 5 speed. I think most people prefer a 3.9 or 4.11 with a five speed. Here is a link to an online calculator that should be helpful http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/. -Mike

I took some pictures today of my 10/69 and 5/72 production cars for the Brocks to deliver to Mr K on his 100th birthday. I put the stock wheels and hubcaps back on #32 (HLS30-00032) so I could have both cars looking completely stock. I wore my vintage Datsun windbreaker and had my two assistants help hold up a couple of old Datsun dealer flags in a couple of pics. I'm submitting the first four, and attaching a few more from the photo shoot today. Did any one else send in pictures? If so, let's see them. -Mike

Here is another barn find for you, but this one is in a little rougher shape. http://cgi.ebay.com/Datsun-240Z-RUSTED-1973-VERY-DETAILED-1-of-a-KIND_W0QQitemZ180400713433QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a00b86ed9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 -Mike

Your car looks nice. It should be no problem to get it insured for the high teens to low 20's, based on the pictures. By the way, I have vintage Seattle Downtown Datsun dealer frames on two of my cars. -Mike

That works now. Did you get the car in the Seattle area? How long have you had it? I recall a car posted on the Seattle craigslist a couple of years ago that sounded like it had a similar history. -Mike

I don't see any pictures either. Are they supposed to be attached to this thread? -Mike

I think he means the Limited Slip Differential. So do you plan to 'detune' it some to run it on the streets or will you leave it as it was set up to run SCCA ITS? -Mike

According to the zhome.com registry, engine number L24-187226 and L24-188157 are both in 7/73 cars, so your engine probably also came from a 7/73 car. The automatic transmission wouldn't have anything to do with it, since automatics were available in US cars starting around mid 1970. -Mike

What is the metal tubing that is attached to the top of the balance tube just in front of the brake booster hose? There is also some kind of metal rod that looks like it goes from under the brake master cylinder to under the hood lock bracket. -Mike

Don't tease us like that. Post some pics please . -Mike

Does anyone have any pictures of an original OK inspection sticker for a 240Z? I found the original one from HLS30-00210 (an 11/69 production car) underneath the passenger side rear carpet (see first picture below). Banzai Motorworks and a seller on Ebay have reproductions, but they don't look the same. On my original, all of the text below the OK is aligned to the left, but on the reproductions, the words "Yokohama" and "Japan" don't align all the way to the left. I'm not sure if this was a change made somewhere along the way, or if the repros are just not accurate. Here is a link to the repro on ebay ad http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-260Z-280Z-510-OK-Decal_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem5882cb7756QQitemZ380151494486QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories and a picture of the Banzai repro is shown below. -Mike

I received #004 yesterday, but I had already seen the prototype several times, so I knew what to expect. I notice the model has the red/yellow "euro" taillights, rather than the red/red taillights that North American HLS30s received. I haven't seen any color pictures of the real BRE 46 car from the rear, so I'm not sure if that is correct or not. If it is correct, I wonder why that change was made. I found a picture of Ron's replica car and it has the "euro" taillights too, so maybe they are period correct. However, I also have a silver Kyosho S30 model that appears to be the HLS30 version, but it has the "euro taillights". All it needs is the rear spoiler and it would be the same as the "Fairlady Z Export Model" as shown at the Oct 1969 Tokyo auto show. Also, both the BRE model and the silver HLS30 model say "Fairlady Z" on the bottom, so I guess Kyosho didn't get the memo that the S30 was really the 240Z and was only designed for the American market . -Mike

Here are two more recently imported skylines for sale in CA. One is a 1971 2000 GT-R clone http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170371655310&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT. The other is a 1974 2000 GT http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170371647392&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT. There is also an article about a 1971 GT-R clone in the Oct 2009 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. -Mike

Thanks Dave. Yeah, if I clean up the engine bay on that red one up it will be next year. I'm still working on getting #210 up and running. It seems like every time I think I am getting close to restarting it I remember one more part I need to order that holds everything up. I've been cleaning that engine bay up quite a bit too, as it was covered in oil and dirt after setting for 25 years. By the way, the issue I was having with the carbs on #32 was due to a vacuum leak caused by not having all intake manifold nuts tightened up enough. After I got that fixed they tuned up pretty easily. -Mike

When I got #32 last year, the engine bay was pretty dirty and covered with overspray from a repaint it received many years before. Recently I went to install new Ztherapy carbs and I decided to clean things up as best I could without pulling the engine, and sending everything off to get replated. I'll do that at some point, but want to enjoy the car as is for awhile first. Here are a couple of before and after pics. Still not perfect, but much better than it was. -Mike