Evie 1972 Datsun 240z

[gav240z]

Got this today!

[PB260Z]

Hi Gav

 

Very nice, can I assume it is an original ?

 

Cheers

 

PB

[gav240z]

Hi Gav

 

Very nice, can I assume it is an original ?

 

Cheers

 

PB

From what I have been able to determine, it appears to be an original and not a reproduction. In which case I feel like I fleeced Gareth price wise. But hopefully he's ok with that.

 

Just installed it.

[PB260Z]

From what I have been able to determine, it appears to be an original and not a reproduction. In which case I feel like I fleeced Gareth price wise. But hopefully he's ok with that.Just installed it.

Looks good, I have a repo in the bus.

[gav240z]

Looks good, I have a repo in the bus.

If you have a photo can you post 1 for comparison?

[PB260Z]

Hi

 

Best I can do at night in the "Z Shed"

 

Cheers

 

PB

[gav240z]

Very similar indeed, no problems re: lighting. I had the same issue.

[Riceburner]

Looks good Gav, glad to hear it arrived safely.

 

I'm not sure if it was a repro or original, how do you tell the difference?

[gav240z]

Looks good Gav, glad to hear it arrived safely.

 

I'm not sure if it was a repro or original, how do you tell the difference?

 

I'll send you an email with some comparison shots. Might help, but not 100% sure it is accurate.

[gav240z]

So I've been wanting to re-trim the stock seats for ages, but never had a chance to work on them. So I will disassemble them and take them back to Sydney with me so I can work on them while I'm not in Melbourne and re-trim them and then I'll bring them back and install them again.

 

In the interim I've installed these seats (which I've had for maybe a year now) and thought I'd see what they are like.

 

Taking the car out for a drive it was interesting with the new steering wheel and seats. Interesting side note: (I had the car out for 2 mins) when some bloke pulls up at the lights and yells out "mate that's so awesome!"

 

Anyway back to the seats, before buying them I was informed the Ikeda Bussan seats are not very comfortable and the driving position is a bit too far back. So I wasn't sure what to expect.

 

I actually really like the feel of the material on the seats (which is very much like office furniture/seats). There is a slight hump in the middle between your legs which is moulded into the seat bucket) but not obvious in the photos. Also the seat buckets are moulded for each side with a slightly raised side on each seat facing the transmission tunnel and slightly lower facing the doors to let you get in and out more easily.

 

It is a bit more difficult to hop in and out of the car, but that's all fixed bucket seats in general. When installing them I first tried them with the rubber/plastic spacers on them to see how high / low I would be sitting. I actually decided to remove them all together and mount them directly on to the floor mounts.

 

I'm not sure how someone taller than I or wider in the hips would fit in them. But I actually quite like the seats and didn't mind the driving position. The seats adapt to the standard seat rails so I can still slide them back and forth. I can imagine a long drive might get a bit tiresome in the fixed position and the seat base is padded but a little hard also.

 

However they are better than the stock, sagging and unsupportive original seats, so I am actually quite happy with them and they look great.

 

Eventually when I find a replacement rubber grip, I'll put the Fairlady Z-L foot rest in the passenger foot well. Which I think will be a nice support to go with the bucket seats.

 

1 negative is that the seat rails I have them on are looking a bit rough and really need to be re-powder coated in that dark olive green colour. I bought them as a spare set because I had ruined the threads on the original rails when I installed the "Recaro's" I had in it previously, so I need to get a tap and die kit to fix the threads. 

 

PS: Undoing the seat nuts on an S30Z without a ratchet spanner is a PITA. I didn't have all my normal tools with me.

[Riceburner]

so much want!

 

Where did you find them, are they reproductions or NOS, do they flex much?

 

Can you measure the base width from belt hole to belt hole (where your hips would be).

[gav240z]

so much want!

 

Where did you find them, are they reproductions or NOS, do they flex much?

 

Can you measure the base width from belt hole to belt hole (where your hips would be).

 

I got these on Yahoo! Auctions many months ago, they were NOT cheap (hate to think what the real deal is worth mind you!). But for a while I've been considering turning the 72 into a Works Rally Car tribute and I couldn't help myself and bought them. From talking with Alan Thomas, he seems to think they were a Rose Auto made reproduction. I must say for a reproduction piece they are really well made. I believe Alan also took a mould of these seats and made some many years ago.

 

Ashley at Moorabbin Autospares wanted to mould a set for his 240ZR replica, I said I'd think about it. I would rather not have too many of these seats floating about if you know what I mean? Kind of diminishes how special they are.

 

I think the harder part would be the material / cloth and sourcing that, I would love a set of the blue coloured ones, along with the darker ones found in Kevin Bristow's works rally car. (see photos attached).

 

I can take some measurements when I get a chance. They feel slightly wider than the 87000-U0175 Datsun bucket seats or Kameari copies I sat in in Mark (Mossy's) car.

 

I haven't noticed any flex in them yet, seem pretty solid.

[CBR Jeff]

There is a slight hump in the middle between your legs which is moulded into the seat bucket) but not obvious in the photos.

 

Gee Gav they are very nice. I too have a slight hump between my legs now...............

 

Jeff

[C.A.R.]

Gee Gav they are very nice. I too have a slight hump between my legs now...............

 

Jeff

  

[C.A.R.]

The 280ZX gearbox in Evie is getting a bit sad, so as Gav also has a 260Z CR box, I'm going to rebuild the 260Z box using the 280ZX box as a donor: by converting the 260Z box to brass syncros.

Stay tuned
 
260Z gearbox before I pulled it apart:

Edited October 1, 2017 by gav240z

[gav240z]

Thanks matey!

 

So it was a CR box? Sulio gave it to me for free ?. It did come out of a 74 260z 2 seater.

[Cozza]

Following with interest Lachy.

[C.A.R.]

Thanks matey!

 

So it was a CR box? Sulio gave it to me for free . It did come out of a 74 260z 2 seater.

 

 

Indeed it is

 

Following with interest Lachy.

 

Will do Mick.

Sad thing is, I'm only keeping 1st, 2nd & 3rd gears & the counter-shaft from the 260Z box - the rest isn't used.

Everything else will be 280ZX... 

Edited March 4, 2017 by Lurch ™

[Cozza]

Will do Mick.

Sad thing is, I'm only keeping 1st, 2nd & 3rd gears & the counter-shaft from the 260Z box - the rest isn't used.

Everything else will be 280ZX...

Suits me perfect ?

But how's Gav going to cope with unoriginality? ?

[PB260Z]

But how's Gav going to cope with unoriginality? ?

Have a look át Gav's thread signature - Maybe his originality focus will be directed towards one of his TWO early girls.

 

"1970 Datsun 240Z (HS30 000XX) - Bingo

1970 Datsun 240Z (HS30 00150) - Safari Gold (920)"

Edited March 4, 2017 by PB260Z

[Riceburner]

Does that a mean he also has a sub 100 car, I thought it was 'greyed' out cause it was sold or moved on?

[gav240z]

Suits me perfect

But how's Gav going to cope with unoriginality?

 

So it turns out my gearbox in the car was a 240K box (no reverse gear lock out) and somewhat to my surprise the car would have originally had a 71A gearbox fitted. I recall when I collected the original engine block from Tony he had an early gearbox also. I can't recall for sure but I think he asked if I wanted the 71A box and original tail shaft. I declined at the time... He said it was the original gearbox which I thought odd since I assumed it would have had the 71B from factory since it also had the later console.

 

This car is an early 72 model however and therefore it's likely Tony was correct and it did have a 71 box.

 

As a result, we're looking to use a 71C box (240z bell housing) with the 260z close ratio gear set and this way the gear stick will come out in the correct place.

 

It won't be 100% original, but I don't have a spare 71A gearbox and finding 1 is going to be hard work.

[gav240z]

Have a look át Gav's thread signature - Maybe his originality focus will be directed towards one of his TWO early girls.

 

"1970 Datsun 240Z (HS30 000XX) - Bingo

1970 Datsun 240Z (HS30 00150) - Safari Gold (920)"

 

Does that a mean he also has a sub 100 car, I thought it was 'greyed' out cause it was sold or moved on?

 

I guess cat is out of the bag now? I was wondering how long it would take folks to notice the change in signature. I had someone else ask about it a month or 2 ago and I have been meaning to start another thread.

 

But the short answer for now is that, yes I have a sub 100 car, numbers matching engine block with 2400 OHC valve cover and 71A gear bag etc.. It's 907 Green which is 1 of my favorite colours on the early cars. Nothing much has happened since I bought it, other than it's moved from NSW down to Victoria.

 

And yes I'm nuts for taking on another project.

[PB260Z]

Hi Gav

 

Congrats on finding a sub 100 matching numbers car - a very rare find indeed.

No wonder you need that warehouse

[Riceburner]

There's nothing like a fresh gearbox its makes the car a lot nicer to drive especially if it's close ratio too.

 

Where do you find the room and time? Lol.

 

Look foward seeing more info on the green car, it's a great color for zeds.