Nos 260Z / 280Z Alloy Wheel Centre Caps

[gilltech]

I don't know how many are interested but thought I'd post up an image of a NOS (New Old Stock) 260Z or 280Z centre cap, one of three I bought ex USA more than two decades ago to complement two which I already had.

It was only when they arrived that I discovered that they had metallic blue centres around the white 'Z', & gold embellishment. The two I already owned had no blue or gold inset left at all, seems it crazes & falls out judging by other caps I've seen around. I don't know if the blue & gold combo was the only inset colour used, or if this spec was USA-market-specific.

Note that the 'white' in the Z symbol has gone a mustard yellow over time, it used to be & should be a bright white.

I'm going to experiment with some modelling paint to see if I can closely replicate the blue & gold on my other two caps.

The blue is matching on two of the caps but is slightly more greenish on the other, whether that's a result of aging or not I don't know but it might mean I have a little leeway in selecting a suitable pre-mixed off-the-shelf blue.

Edited August 7, 2016 by gilltech

[PB260Z]

Hi

 

I suspect, although it is a guess, that they are US market specific caps.

 

I have a very tidy Aus spec original 2+2 centre cap somewhere.

It has no sign of the gold ring and is definitely more greenish in colour - I will see if I can dig it out and post a photo.

 

 

Cheers

 

PB

[gilltech]

 

 

I suspect, although it is a guess, that they are US market specific caps.

Yes they might well be. I got them from Motorsport Z Auto as they used to call themselves back then. They weren't touted as being for a specific 'package' or anything, just that they were 260/280Z caps. By the time I went to place another parts order they had sold out so sadly I only ever got the three. They weren't cheap due to the exchange rate either.

I'd be keen to see a photo of your Aus spec cap. IIRC all the tidy ones I've seen in Aus & NZ have had matt black inserts, all this time I've been assuming they were careful retouches by their owners, especially when I see the rough cast inner portions of the alloy wheels painted too, but I could be quite wrong.

[gav240z]

Hard to get now, they were popular on later Fairlady Z's also (the wheels).

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/15018-260z-alloy-wheel-40300-n3200-caps/

 

I was looking for some for a couple of folks in the US of A. The wheels are easy to find, but the caps are more difficult.

 

I'm pretty sure the centers were Blue with white Z.

 

Old Man Z - Had his caps restored.

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/12294-my-75-260-22-baby-girl/?p=159425

[gilltech]

Well those restored ones look pretty good with choice of blue, except that mine are completely filled with the blue & white so are dead flat across the top, if you get my meaning.

[gav240z]

As far as I'm aware there is only 1 part no. for the caps. 40300-N3200 - I've seen a couple of sets on Yahoo! Auctions recently and they all had the Blue Center, I didn't see any gold.

 

From what I recall mine were so faded blue they looked grey by the time they came into my possession. I recall chipping out the 'blue' section as it had cracked and all that was left was the white Z in the middle.

 

Also on the rear the little fingers that hold the cap to the hub would break off from being fragile old plastic.

 

The sets I saw for sale on Yahoo! auctions sold in the $200-$300 range and were not 'restored'. Just in good shape for their age.

 

I'd restore the ones you have and wouldn't worry too much about the exact detail differences you see.

[gav240z]

Actually you might be correct.

http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/Z-1969-1978/axle/rear-axle-drive-shaft

 

53 ORNAMENT-ROAD WHEEL

Part no. listed as: 40343-N4700

 

It could be an updated part no. or it could also explain the detailing difference.

 

Maybe for the Black Pearl Edition they did some specific detailing differences?

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/34467-what-kind-of-wheels-are-these/?p=526679

[gilltech]

Part no. on all 3 of these is 40343N3200, sort of a blend of the two numbers you've suggested.

 

BUT, a light-bulb moment! today in clear daylight (not my gloomy garage) I've now twigged to what the bright 'gold' trim is - the metallic blue & white infills were applied, then a clear coat was put over the top to flush the finish across the cap - that clear has yellowed over the 2 1/2 decades these caps have been stashed away (wrapped up, in the dark), hence the gold-appearance outlines & the stepped edge & the yellowing to the white. Sorry guys for the red herring, bright clear daylight makes all the difference.

One 'blue' is distinctly more 'aqua' than the other two, must be due to distortion thanks to the deteriorating clear coating, I can now see some crazing starting on that one cap.

Bloody hell, Nissan's paint type selections for the 'blue' and the clear coating were IMHO very poor, given that they basically detached within a few years for most people or in my case deteriorated even in storage.

Looks like I'll be stripping & restoring them.

Edited August 8, 2016 by gilltech

[gav240z]

Paint technology would have been worse back then too remember!

 

Just like the Vacuum chrome for the interior plastics, even NOS parts often don't look so good and have aged on the shelf poorly.

[PB260Z]

I'd be keen to see a photo of your Aus spec cap. IIRC all the tidy ones I've seen in Aus & NZ have had matt black inserts, all this time I've been assuming they were careful retouches by their owners, especially when I see the rough cast inner portions of the alloy wheels painted too, but I could be quite wrong.

Hi

 

Can't find the one I was thinking of. Attached is a couple of photos of some Aus spec ones, they are a little rough and the camera doesn't exactly catch the colour but should give you an idea.

FWIW my 280ZX parts car had Iron Cross rims with black centres and they were definately original as I got the car from the original owner.

[gav240z]

Those are the same colour as mine were, from years of UV exposure and neglect I suppose?

[gilltech]

Ah, so there were original ones in black, thanks for confirming.