Mike B

Kats, I saw this ebay listing for an Australian newspaper dated Feb 15, 1971 and it reminded me of your old thread. The article is titled "The Poor Man's E-type Jaguar" http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120662060453&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT. -Mike

Some pictures of the Datsuns in attendance. I think the stock blue 70 should have been on display inside next to the silver turbo 280Z . -MIke

Well, you guys missed it. It was a beautiful day for a drive and a great 90 min presentation by Pete covering everything from his early days in the GM design department, the Shelby years, and of course the BRE Datsun years. He brought his Superformance Daytona coupe and his "Datzilla" 510. There were a couple of other S30s from the Seattle area Z club and a couple of 510's, but not a great Datsun turnout unfortunately. Oh well, I enjoyed it. My first time at Griot's. They have a really nice facility. -Mike

$88.90 USD in 1970 is equal to $499.03 in 2010 USD http://www.aier.org/research/worksheets-and-tools/cost-of-living-calculator/. In my 1978 Datsun Comp catalog the headlight covers are listed for $100 each ($200 per set). That would be $668.10 for the set in 2010 USD. -Mike

Looks great. Silver is one of my favorite colors on a Z. I also have a silver car that I hope to get to next year after my white one is done. Just curious, but why leave the windshield in when you took all the other glass out and stripped the rest of the body before paint? -Mike

Hi Rick, Here is a thread about the rear hatch glass that discusses the clear (untinted) glass and when the defroster was included on various models of the S30 http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15886. Keep in mind that tinted glass and defrosters were available from the beginning of S30 production for Japanese market cars, they just weren't initially included on North American market cars. That decision was quickly changed after the first couple months of production. According to NMC USA's Technical Service Bulletin TD72-29 (see post #31 in the thread I linked to above), there was no provision for a rear defroster in the wiring harness for HLS30 cars until HLS30-01456. I don't know that is 100% accurate though. I parted out HLS30-00882 a few years ago and it had the defroster and what I think was the original wiring for it. This TSB describes the procedures required to add the defroster to cars that didn't originally get it from the factory. -Mike

Thanks for the clarification Carl. I saw the cut-away to the signed access panel, but didn't get the connection that it was a joke about the tape. As you know, some Z's have a black paint treatment on the lower body like that (such as "lucky #13"). I wondered if that was the look Mr. Matsuo was trying to achieve . -Mike

Yep. Thanks for the catch. I guess I got the 8 from the 8am time stuck in my head when typing. I fixed my original post. You OR folks are welcome to drive up too, of course, but I figured it is probably too far for most people. -Mike

Peter Brock will be at Griot's Garage in Tacoma, WA this Saturday Dec 4th at 8:00am for their monthly "Caffeine and Gasoline" event http://p.p0.com/YesConnect/HtmlMessagePreview?a=4ib3sesVLV-qn4GqU5nXWF. Apparently this is their spin on the "Cars and Coffee" events. I'll be there. Hopefully in a Z. Any other WA people plan to go? -Mike

Even though it has flaws it was an interesting video. I agree with Alan's points though. It would have been much better if they had a translator to assist with the interview. I'm sure that contributed to some of the misstatements and omissions. I wonder why they kept splicing driving scenes and side conversations into the interview with Mr. Matsuo? I'm surprised no one has commented on the "factory" restored program Z they showed. I see it (HLS30-15189) is listed in Carl's program car registry, but it is listed as 918 orange and it definitely looks to be 920 gold instead. The owner didn't look too thrilled to hear Mr. Matsuo had "improved it" with a piece of tape. I can't blame him for that. -Mike

Not that I am aware of. The only cold weather part difference I have seen for North America was the battery, which had a different specific gravity for cold regions. Ok, back to the headlight cover discussion. -Mike

After seeing the episode, it was definitely the Frisselle IMSA Z. They were at Canepa design to look at an early 60's Mercedes 300 SL roadster. They ended up buying another 300 SL roadster in Victoria, BC instead. -Mike

Alan, didn't all S30s (at least through 1973) get the same style wipers? Those look like the same ones on North American market 240Zs (except they are the RHD version of course). -Mike

That car was listed in the classifieds section here recently, but it says it is sold now http://www.datsunclassifieds.com/showproduct.php/product/5524/title/71-240z-2c-40-2c000-miles-original-2c-no-rust26amp-3b-full-owner-history/cat/1. It was also discussed a bit when the prior owner had it three years ago http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29281. -Mike

I think it is the Brad Frisselle IMSA Z http://www.canepacollection.com/detail-1974-datsun-240z_imsa_gtu-brad_frisselle_imsa_gt_u_championship-used-5124662.html. I have seen several Z's on that show. Last week there was a 240Z and a 280ZX in the yard of the guy trying to sell a vintage Mercedes. There was also a silver 240Z in another collection one time and I saw glimpses of another 240Z as they were driving to a Cars & Coffee meeting in So Cal once. -Mike

Ztherapy will also sell you just the needles and jets. -Mike

Probably in "The Tool Shed" forum on Hybridz . -Mike

Ron, I looked at a couple of old Datsun Competition Parts Catalogs (1976 and 1978) and a 1993 Nissan Motorsport Parts Catalog and they all only list the 63900-E4126 & 63901-E4126 for the headlight covers. That might explain why all of the NOS sets that North American members here have appear to be the "early" version. It looks like my headlight covers and rings are in storage, so I probably won't be able to check on them for a month or so. -Mike

Someone at Hybridz has a supposedly NOS set listed in the classifieds. They are asking $1,250 http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/96453-nos-parts/ -Mike

It seems the best deal was had by "d51298" in this auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_rdc=1&item=260690504728&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_nkw%3D260690504728%26_sacat%3D0%26_dmpt%3DMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories%26_odkw%3D240z%26_osacat%3D0%26_trksid%3Dp3286.c0.m270.l1313%26_fvi%3D1&viewitem=. A set of part numbers 63900-E4126 and 63901-E4126 "in as new condition" still in the boxes for $350, only missing the hardware set from the passenger side. -Mike

I believe the guy that operates zccjdm.com is a member here and this is a post he made about the reproductions he sells http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showpost.php?p=275419&postcount=25. I have one set of lenses and rings that were supposedly OEM, but without the hardware or the boxes (makes me think they are actually repros). I also have one set of used rings that I am certain must be OEM because I got them from an older local guy that had kept them from a car he had years ago. No hardware for them either, but that seems to be fairly easy to recreate. I'll have to dig them out later and see exactly what I have. -Mike

I just came across this online 240Z/260Z/280Z parts catalogs on a site called carpartsmanual.com. Here is the link http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsuns30/DatsunFairladyZIndex/tabid/1543/Default.aspx. Oddly enough, it looks like they only have Datsun catalogs available right now. In addition to the S30, they also have catalogs for the 311, 520, and 510. Seems like a good resource for when you don't have the club CD or a hard copy version handy. -Mike

http://www.ziebart.com/protection/rust_protection/

Very cool! Maybe you could put the stickers on very thin magnet material and make them removable? I have an original East African Safari Rally poster from a Nissan Dealer that's being framed now along with some other Datsun posters. It's my favorite vintage poster. I can't wait to get it back and display it. -Mike

Since you are going from a 4 speed to a 5 speed you would probably want to get a differential with a better gear ratio. I think the 82ZX would have an R200 with a 3.90 ratio that would be a direct swap into your 280Z, so you should pick that up too. If that is not correct someone let me know. -Mike