Mike B

Looks like this car is for sale now with an asking price of $125K http://bringatrailer.com/2010/10/16/blue-chip-1972-datsun-240z/. Its a nice resto-mod, but I can't see someone paying that much for it, even if that is what the owner has into it. I think if you pay a shop to build you a car like this there is no way you can expect to get your money back, but good luck to the seller. -Mike

Here is a 280z heater core that has been advertised for months on the Seattle craigslist for $50 if you are looking for one http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/pts/2003557481.html. -Mike

I'm sure Alan T would point out that makes perfect sense, given where the cars were built (along with the emergency brake handle). Actually, I thought I remember seeing the codes on both of the door locks. Maybe I am not recalling that correctly though. I'll have to check some parts that are off the car. -Mike

Are you looking for the black rubber insulators or the metal clip that goes on top and holds them in place? Jim Frederick was selling sets of the black rubber insulators that he had reproduced. If you are looking for the metal clip and screws you would probably need to get them from a parts car. Johnny'O has a car he is parting out I believe. -Mike edit: Actually I think the set Jim was selling was just for the fuel lines.

It's definitely a Zedd. Named after this fellow I believe ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Zedd . -Mike

I could be wrong, but I think even if you find "the good stuff" you would have trouble finding a paint shop in CA that would paint your car with it. Seems like a lot of risk for a shop to take on for not much gain. -Mike

:eek::eek: I been hyp-no-tized :eek::eek: Ok, I concede, the E4100 IS a non-dipping mirror. Thanks for the photos and additional information Alan, Kats and Jerz. Yes, I do. I have revised pages in one of my USA and Canada parts catalogs dated December 1971 that show the E8200 and E8800 part numbers used. Also, there were parts that ended with E8300 with applied dates from 1/71. 25410-E8300 Assy-Fuse Block is one such example. It looks to me like the E8xxx part numbers began in 1/71, so there is nothing unusual about a part with an 8/71 production stamp having an E8300 part number. One of Jerz’s scans shows that E4601 was superceded by N3500 in 10/77. We know that E4601 is a dipping mirror (I can post a picture of a new one in a box, but I think you will agree with that). I think it is possible there were two versions of the non-dipping mirror, E4100 and E8300, with E4100 being for the JDM market and E8300 being for “Europe”. I think that the E4600 dipping mirror could have been inadvertently omitted from the early RHD catalogs. Since the North American catalog erroneously lists the E4100 as applied to automatic models (never corrected thru 1978) and I have seen many other errors in the catalogs, I don’t think that is too great a stretch. Also, if E8300 was a dipping mirror, why would the part number change from E8300 to E4601? Wouldn’t going from E4600 to E4601 like it did in the US make more sense? So you are saying that the IKI-8006 number could apply to different Nissan part numbers? Do you have an example of when you have seen something like that in the past? You seem to be putting a lot of faith in the numbers stamped on the right side of the housing (and ignoring those on the left) to indicate that Jerz’s mirror is for a European S30, but mine is not, since it doesn’t have the letter "E" and the other letter/numbers. It seems more logical that mine would just be an earlier variation of the same part and the other stamping was added to later versions of the same part. Except for the additional stamping, my mirror and Jerz’s look exactly the same, whereas the E4100 mirror you posted pictures of has a different looking case (as you noted). To conclude, I think my mirror is the same part as Jerz’s. I can’t be sure that it is the correct box and part number, but I think it is a definite possibility. Thanks for the pictures, especially of the racing mirror. That is much bigger than I envisioned, so it makes sense to me now why they would have offered it. -Mike

I think flipping anything is a risky business, whether it is a car or a house, especially if you are refreshing it to a level that you would want if you were keeping it. If flipping it for a profit was your sole goal, you probably would have done better by just reselling it after you got if running again. I think the level of attachment to the car will be proportional to what someone offers you for it. If they offer what you have in it or less, you are more attached, if it is a decent profit (to cover some of your labor) then you will probably be less attached. So where are you at now with the total cost, after the paint, bumpers, etc? It would be a good reference to post the total "investment" to date as you post updates. Another expense to a repaint is the cost of all the new seals, etc. Even with an aftermarket kit, that adds several hundred dollars. I guess if you are able to use it as a daily driver for awhile you should also factor that benefit in when you add up the costs. Anyway, it looks great and I'm curious to see where you end up with it when it is all said and done. -Mike

Alan, I guess at this point we don't know whether the E4100 was the non-dipping version or not. I'll be interested to see pictures of the one you have in storage. Hopefully we can trust that it is in the correct box . According to the USA and Canada parts catalogs, the E4100 (which you say is the non-dipping version) was applied to "automatic" models, while the E4600 was applied to "manual" models. As far as I know, non-dipping mirrors never came in any North American market cars and there was no difference in mirrors based on the type of transmission the cars came with. I can't think of a logical reason why that would be the case. Therefore, I don't think we can rely too much on the parts catalog information. I'm sure you'll agree that "Europe" and "Exc Europe" are not great descriptions of exactly what type of mirrors they are or what markets they were available in. I would also disagree that the E8300 doesn't match up with a Aug 1971 inspection stamp, since the R-drive catalog page I posted a picture of earlier shows both the E4100 and E8300 listed. I agree, I don't know why anyone would choose to have a non-dipping type mirror, unless it was a legal requirement. Yet, it sounds like the non-dipping mirrors came standard on the S30-S and the PS30-SB models. It seems it would have cost Nissan more to make and stock two versions of the mirror rather than just make the dipping type standard on all JDM cars. Also, Esprist noted in another thread that Nismo offered an optional "racing mirror" with no dipping function http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showpost.php?p=333346&postcount=1. What would be the benefit of such a mirror? It appears to be about the same size as a standard mirror. -Mike

Here is a picture of a non-dipping mirror from what I was told is a JDM owners manual (not sure if that is correct though). It looks like it could be the same mirror. -Mike

That is the best part of owning multiple Z's, when I have one taken apart, I always have others to use as a reference. It does come in handy quite a bit. -Mike

Jerz, Thanks for posting the additional scans. So it appears that my mirror may be the correct part for the non-dipping mirror (non-glare proof according to your manual). It sounds like they may not be very common, since Alan wasn't aware of them. I wonder if earlier UK owner's manuals also show them as being optional. -Mike

Chris, it is the later style of stalk, the exact same as I have on my 5/72. I took some pictures of the mystery mirror and the original from my 5/72. The date on my original mirror is 2 5 18, so May 18, 1972. Alan, that was my initial thought; maybe the part currently in the box is not what originally came in it. However, after Jerz's post I am not so sure now. I agree the HLS30U written on the side doesn't seem to match up with a part only listed in the R-Drive parts catalog. The card on the side of the catalog says it is the November 1972 binder, revised December 1972. So the 96321-E4100 mirror is non-dipping? That is the other part number shown in the R-Drive parts catalog and it only notes "Exc Europe". There are no applied dates or superseded part numbers shown. The June 1974 USA and Canada parts catalog notes 96321-E4100 is applied to the automatic model and 96321-E4600 is applied to the manual model with 96321-E4601 replacing it at some point (no dates are given). Jerz, thanks for posting your pictures and owner's manual. That is very interesting. My mystery mirror appears to be exactly the same one that you have (both IKI-8006). Does your fiche have any applied dates or superseded part numbers? I have a Nissan Motor Corp in USA parts price list and part number supersession listing dated 1/1/1990. It shows 96321-E4100 as being replaced by 96321-S5000, but 96321-E8300 and 96321-N3500 are not listed. -Mike

I have a NOS rearview mirror that doesn't look like any 240Z mirror I have seen before. It has a different style case and no day/night knob. The part number is 96321-E8300. That number is listed in my RHD S30 parts catalog as Assy-Inside Back Mirror and notes Applied Model-Europe. There is also HLS30U written in black marker on the side of the box and what looks like a date code of 1 8 23 on the back of the mirror stalk. I assume that means a production date of August 23, 1971? So is this the type of mirror that came on European S30s in 1971, or is this another mirror someone put in an old box? If it is original, why did European mirrors not have a day/night knob? -Mike

Any updates on this Les? -Mike

There is also a coolant drain on the block (a bolt towards the rear on the left side). I have also heard some people use mothballs to help keep the rodents away when storing a car. -Mike

Looks great Julio, and I bet with the Rebello engine, it drives even better than it looks! Nice to finally see some pics of it now that you are done (or at least 95%) . -Mike

MSA sells them http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/SEIC04D/50-5011. -Mike

Cool, I'm glad to see a 9Y code. That solves the mystery of the 11/69 castings. It looks like all but one of the engines in Carl's summary have a code indicating they were cast before or during the month on the door tag. I wonder why AZ-240z's 01/71 car would have a code of 1616L? That should mean the engine was cast in June 1971. -Mike

Sold on ebay for $2,045. Hopefully Chris280Z got his money back out of it. Good luck to whoever bought it. -Mike

Looks great! 901 silver is one of my favorite colors on a Z. -Mike

I think they were $135 plus shipping last year. Not sure if the price has gone up since then. -Mike

Kats, Yes, the X would make sense for Oct, since it also means 10 in Roman numerals and Oct is the 10th month. I would also like to see what they used for November and December castings. Maybe they just didn't cast any engines in those months to avoid problems with their code, or they just coded them as October . Lonestreesteve, I am curious if your early engine with the later stamping had the early reinforced oil pan or not. Do you remember seeing a patch welded on the right side of the oil pan? -Mike

Its listed on ebay again now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-240z-very-rare-1970-Datsun-240-z-HLS30-00231-/120629170772?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1c160f1254. At least there are more pictures this time. -Mike

Hi Kats, Here are some casting codes from some of my early cars and parts cars: HLS30-00032 10/1969 production: L24-2130 9828G August 28, 1969? HLS30-00210 11/1969 production: L24-2396 9901D September 01, 1969? HLS30-00331 11/1969 production: L24-2585 9X04C ???? HLS30-01590 01/1970 production: L24-3652 9X04F ???? Some of these were kind of hard to read, but I think the information above is correct. I'll see if I can post some pictures this weekend. Not sure what the 9X means. I have HLS30-00237 in storage away from my house and I may not get there again for a couple of weeks, but I'll post the casting code when I get a chance. -Mike