Low Vin 240z, is this a good thing?

[jaywis]

Hi, today I bought another 240z as the one I have was really too far rusted to repair. So now I am fixing up this 1970 240z and I will use my other z for any parts I may need. Now the interesting part is my Vin number is 000566, is this a good thing? does it make the car more collectable? i plan to do a proper restoration over the next couple months.

here are a couple pics, it even has the D hubcaps

[olzed]

Hey there. Now that looks to be a good find.

More pictures?

[AndysPlit]

Excellent find. Needs a lot of work, but many would be envious.

[kjohnson2444]

Looks pretty nice for a car from up north. I think there is some value to a nicely restored low VIN car, but I think it is more important that you make it the car YOU want it to be. Just be sure to save all of those original parts (including those hubcaps) for the future owner.

[GreenZZZ]

Wish I could do a restoration in a couple of months. 2 1/2 years in so far and I still need about another year!

[Montezuma]

A couple of months seemed a little short on time to me as well.

[Walter Moore]

A couple of months seemed a little short on time to me as well.

Now don't rain on his parade... Maybe he has $20k sitting in the bank waiting for something to spend it on...
Personally it took me five years to get my Z operational, and I still have to tweek it and fix my earlier mistakes every winter. But I know that there are people out there who are way better at repairing cars than I am.

[mally002]

Well, "Overhaulin" does it in 7 days so a good crew and a couple months.........don't see why not, but $$$$$$$.

Save your time and money and just buy mine

Good luck on your project, nice find.

[26th-Z]

Yes, this is a good thing - very good thing.

[theczechone]

congratulations and yes! i'd say it brings up the value of the car. Is your's a 12/69? It's funny that yours is 566 because mine is 655 also in need of full resto.

[jaywis]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback, today was a busy day of deconstruction. I have new floors and rockers coming in the next day or two so i hope to get thise on before the weekend. I still have to remove the rear diff and tank. This is my 5th Datsun z car so i know where the nuts and bolts are at.

[olzed]

Hey that looks pretty darn good. But two months ??

[zhead240]

at the rate he's going i think he'll be ahead of schedule.

[GreenZZZ]

Cool thing on the new floors/rockers. Rust and floor jack contact damage in there.

[Taz0162]

I'm 6-1/2 years in. Every time I get close I find more things to do to mine. Debating whether to restore my york ac unit or leave it off and keep the engine compartment looking clean. This one you found looks pretty good.

[theczechone]

Great progress, are you going to media blast or use a chemical stripper to remove the paint?

[roy-73-240z]

Wow, great find. Thanks for posting the pics of this series1 s30's interior metal work.

[26th-Z]

When you're fitting the new floors and frame rails, bolt the transmission cross member and fit the sway bar to make sure you have good alignment on the new metal.

[jaywis]

When you're fitting the new floors and frame rails, bolt the transmission cross member and fit the sway bar to make sure you have good alignment on the new metal.

Will do, I am using some parts such as transmission cross member from my 72 240z parts car. I do have a few questions as this is my first early 70 240z. besides the early models not having any jack compartments behind the seats and the vents in the hatchback, is there any other major differences between 70 and 72? The dash in the 70 is cracked so I plan to use the one from the 72 and swap over the serial numbers, is there any changes in the dash? is wiring all the same?

I will be doing some chemical paint remover, some blasting in rust areas and torch fire scrapper on the stubborn rubber coating. Fun fun fun.


And yes, I do think I can do this in under 2 months.


Will post pics of what I do today later on tonight.


cheers


jay

[26th-Z]

Yes, there is a difference between a '70 dash and a '72 dash. No, the wiring is not the same. Early cars had many distinguishable differences. And then there is the issue of the dated parts. Here's some reading for you:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/s...kanji+markings

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/s...te+stamp+kanji

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/s...te+stamp+kanji

[jaywis]

Also, is there a way to track my 240z history and is there any list of low vin z cars? how many 240z's were made?

[jaywis]

ok will read up, maybe I will use the cracked dash then,

[jaywis]

ok will read up, maybe I will use the cracked dash then,

[jaywis]

Here are my Vin tags of the 2 cars, one is 1970 and the other I think is 72.

[Healey Z]

Cheering you on, this should be fun to watch. What are your plans in terms of cosmetic and mechanical restoration? Rattle can resto, concourse resto, driver resto?

[jaywis]

For the motor I plan to only re gasket/seal and paint as I was told it ran well, maybe rings too depending on compression. I have my own little powder coating oven that is 60 inches wide so i will be able to powder things like the cross members, suspension parts ect in black. First on the list is to get all the sheet metal done, so far it looks not too bad. I plan to keep it mostly stock, I have original carpets and most of the stock parts in good condition from the 72 Z, new gas/brake lines all over, full paint top and bottom, most time and body shop materials.

[26th-Z]

Jay,
Looks like your HLS30U-00566 is a January 1970 build. This site is a pretty good reference. http://zhome.com/ Even though I don't particularly agree with a number of topics on the site, Carl has an outstanding collection of VIN data. Page down to the bottom and there is a listing for production and sales history. Carl also lists the differences between production series / model years. You'll get a kick out of this site also. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/

Your 1970 dash can be repaired. There are huge threads on the subject here. Cruize through this site's archives and you'll find tons of information which may help you decide which direction to turn with your restoration.

BTW, is your car equipped with the air pump emission control system or has it been removed?

All the best,
Chris

[Blue]

When you're fitting the new floors and frame rails, bolt the transmission cross member and fit the sway bar to make sure you have good alignment on the new metal.

And only cut out and weld one side at a time.

Ohhh we are all looking over your shoulder and envious...that is a fine car and project you have there sir! We'll get you through it!

[Blue]

Ohh yeah.... get a big pail and fill it with this for soaking:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

[Carl Beck]

Will do, I am using some parts such as transmission cross member from my 72 240z parts car.

Hi Jay:
I think you will find that the 70 and 72 Cross-members are quite different. As I recall the 70 cross-member bolts up into the body - where the 72 has bolts that run parallel to the body - that is the 72 has brackets that stick down from the body and the cross-member slides up into them.

FWIW,
Carl B.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Jay:
In case you haven't seen it - here is a good article about replacing the floorboards.
http://zhome.com/Classic/240ZFloorbo...loorboards.htm

You may notice a couple things - first leave the front seat support bracket in place - that will hold the transmission tunnel in place. Second the rear seat supports are connected/reinforced on your 72 - they are not on your 70. So you will want to cut the rear seat supports out of your 70 while still connected to the floorboards - so you can use them as a template for positioning to reinstall.


FWIW,
Carl B.

[jaywis]

I think my car may have been built in 69, see pic of wire harness,

[ZCurves]

Jaywis, Make sure to keep taking (and posting) lots of pics - not only because I am a 'Z-Voyeur' , but because it is fun to chronicle everything that you do as you restore. The fact that your Z is has a low VIN is great! Think of the future when you have it finished - Pictures, Receipts and a Journal will make the low VIN that much sweeter! Good Luck!

[Carl Beck]

I think my car may have been built in 69, see pic of wire harness,

Hi Jay:
To build a car to completion - the assembly plant has to have all the parts necessary. So with a Date Of Manufacture of 01/70 - you can expect most of the parts to have been produced prior to that.

FWIW,
Carl B.

[jaywis]

hey guys, I pulled out the rear end today, not too much rust, really seems to be floors that were the most rusty, cut out the floors, still waiting on my new rockers and panels. The car is very light now!

[240Ziggy]

I've read that it was gonna take a couple of months to complete this project? I know it's been over a couple of years now but I'm just curious to see more new update photos of your zed if there are any available?

[bpilati]

I've read that it was gonna take a couple of months to complete this project? I know it's been over a couple of years now but I'm just curious to see more new update photos of your zed if there are any available?

Yeah, come on let's see some pics.