HS30-H

Another site on the 'Solent': http://www.gasturbine.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/solent.htm

Maybe a Plessey Dynamics 'Solent' would be suitable? Here's a site that might provide reference / sources: http://freespace.virgin.net/dyno.power/gasturbine/

Hi Bryan, Yes, all the parts except the front bumper were FRP. The lower front panel ( the biggest piece ) was moulded with a fine weave mat - not chopped strand - and was actually pretty complicated. Quality was very high on the genuine parts. The front bumper ( it was made of an expanded urethane foam with a hard outer layer, or 'crust' ) has mountings for the bumper irons moulded into it. The ZG-type bumper irons are - as you would expect - longer than those on the 'normal' cars, but attach to the body in the same way and at the same place. The bumper ends have attachment points moulded into them, and bolt through the joint between the lower front panel and headlamp housing 'sugar scoop'. There was also a number plate bracket attachment point moulded into the underside in the centre front of the bumper. Genuine front bumpers are now jealously-guarded prizes in Japan. If they come up for sale on Yahoo Japan auctions they are usually set at a very high reserve, or are bid up to high numbers. Even some owners of genuine Factory-built ZGs have been forced to use replicas after accident damage or old age ( they harden up and crack in sunlight ). The best replicas are made by a company called Muroran Shokai up in Hokkaido, Japan. These too are very expensive........ Its a metallic grey colour ( most ZG owners in Japan call it 'Gunmetal' ) and its NOT the same as the original tail light panel because it has a clear gloss coat on it. Its very similar to the colour of the original hubcaps. I have a small touch-up bottle of this colour that was given to me by another Factory ZG owning friend in Japan, and despite asking around for many years we have never come across a proper Nissan code for this colour..... However, it is an almost exact match to a BMW colour originally known as "Anthracite". Maybe you could look that up with your paint supplier? That's 'Overfenders'. I usually see these described as "flairs" ( flares? ) in the USA, but the Factory term was "Overfender". Yes, I have used it in a few track days here in the UK - but I have to admit I don't drive it at even seven tenths, let alone try to go really fast. Putting this thing into the barriers would be a real waste; its the only genuine Factory-built ZG in Europe. Tracks such as Castle Combe and Goodwood are very unforgiving. A short patch of grass with an earth bank 'protected' by old tyres is usually what's waiting to greet you should you put a foot wrong. I beached the car up to the doors in the gravel trap at Goodwood's Woodcote corner a couple of years ago and was very lucky ( although I'm still finding stones in unexpected places ). This is why I'm building my 432R replica as a track day and fun car..... No - I've never had overheating problems. I don't know how relevant that is to your situation with quite a different engine spec and in different weather ( although it can actually get very hot here in the Summer ). On track it runs quite cool. Even in London's prolific traffic jams it does not seem too bad. I'd put this down to the fact that the Factory ZG had the metal fan shroud as standard equipment. As long as this is intact, and the standard Factory splash pan is also present and correct, I don't see why a ZG should be in any more risk of overheating than a short-nose car. Your intercooled turbo-equipped car will be a completely different kettle of fish to my pretty mild na 'old time' spec, but I don't see that the G-nose should necessarily be the cause of higher coolant temps on its own. They did have fuel vapourisation problems on the Factory ZGs that were equipped with air con and the later flat-top carbs, and ducting baffles were fitted onto the lower front panel in the radiator openings of these cars. My car is earlier and does not have them. Hope that helps. Cheers, Alan T.

"Early 1970" ZG photos? The Factory-built 'HS30-H' model Fairlady 240ZG was released for sale to the general public in October 1971. The bonnet ( hood ) extension panel and the headlamp housings ( 'sugar scoops ) were painted body colour. The lower front panel was painted metallic gunmetal grey with a clear lacquer coating, as was the urethane front bumper and the steel rear bumper. The FRP 'Overfenders' were also this colour. The rear bumper had an extra rubber strip in the centre ( joining together the two corner rubbers ). The HS30-H only came from the Factory in three colours: *116 Grand Prix Maroon *904 Grand Prix White *110 Grand Prix Red

I think you must mean the photos of the SPIRIT GARAGE race car? It might be in my Gallery, but its not mine.

Hi Cody, The S20 has 26 head bolts in total. There are 14 bolts that pass through the head casting and thread into the block. These are all located close to the cylinders, as you would expect. Additionally, there are 12 smaller studs threaded into the head casting. When the head is placed on the cylinder block, these studs pass through the cylinder block along the outside edges to emerge on machined flats under a ledge. These are then nutted and torqued in sequence with the rest of the head bolts. The mains caps are cross-bolted from the outside of the block too. Its quite a complex and over-engineered piece. They must have cost a lot to make.

I can confirm from personal experience what Matt and Tony have told you. S20 ownership - even in Japan - is not for the faint hearted. I have two engines; one at home in the UK and one still in Japan. I'm using the best parts from both to make one good one, but the rebuild parts alone have been costing me a small fortune. Photos here: http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=3069 There's a lot of baggage that comes with an S20 swap, such as the need for a different front crossmember and the correct trans to bolt up to it. There does not seem to be much point in embarking on this conversion unless you carry it out with an eye to a certain amount of period detail and period flavour. The S20 is not a big power engine, and I keep telling people that my project car ( a fairly period-correct 432R replica ) is all about just that - flavour. The 'LY' sohc crossflow head is a step up to another level entirely. These things make S20 engines look positively common. They command huge prices in Japan and anybody who is thinking of selling one will usually have a waiting list of people that booked a place in the queue years in advance. The full 'LY' conversion included a special crank, rods and pistons, flywheel, damper and numerous other details. Don't forget that it too - like the S20 - needed a different bellhousing for the trans in comparison to the normal L-series 6. I don't want to be a Dream Destroyer either, but these exotic pieces of Z history don't give you much in the way of 'bang for buck'.......

Er, binsayer I don't want to sound too harsh - but I think you are going to be on a very steep learning curve with this car. If you have no idea whether it should have an L20 or S20 then its probably fair to presume you don't know very much about the C10 series Skylines isn't it? This does not bode well for the rest of the work besides the engine swap. You are going to need to either repair and/or upgrade lots of other parts in the drivetrain if you install an RB, and even putting in an L28 will call for certain other changes. Don't underestimate that. And you say you don't want to spend a lot of time working on it?

You're still not saying what you actually have. Your description of a "1970 Skyline" could cover both L20 ( GT and GT-X ) and S20 engined ( GT-R ) models, and both the 4 door and 2 door version of the GT-R. What is the VIN prefix? If its either PGC10 or KPGC10 then surely you would be better off selling it to fund the purchase of a non-'P' coded body as a project base? A genuine GT-R ( even without engine.... ) would probably sell for enough money to cover the purchase of an excellent GT or GT-X and an RB20 or RB25 to drop into it. As olie05 has pointed out, an L28et engine will be a bolt-in replacement for an L20 - but not an S20. And as mjfawke suggests, perhaps the closest like-for-like replacement for an S20 would be an RB20 ( how about a carbed n/a setup? ). But I'm still intrigued to hear what it is you have actually got, and where you are located........ ( ? ).

Can you clarify your situation a little more? To me - from what you have written - it sounds as though you have a Skyline that was originally fitted with an S20 ( and would therefore be either a PGC10, KPGC10 or KPGC110 ) and you are looking to put another engine in its place. Surely this can't be the case? Two things: First, if you do actually have a 'P' coded C10 or C110 Skyline, then why on earth would you want to lose potential value on it by fitting something other than an S20 engine? Surely a GT would suffice for such a swap? Secondly, if you don't have a 'P' coded Skyline, then what has the S20 engine got to do with anything? Maybe rephrase the question?

OK Jamie, I went to my garages this evening and dug out the pair of plastic 432 emblems I have. Part number is: F3807-E4225 - 'Mark Body Side'. I see one of the boxes has the Japanese retail price still marked on it. Looks like I paid 4,640 Yen each for these ( more than 10 years ago now ). I'd be happy to lend one to you if you want to take a shot at replicating it for your car. If you want me to send it to you, drop me a PM with your full postal address. Cheers, Alan T.

Hi Jamie, There's no way for me to personally 'lock' my Gallery section on classiczcars.com - features like that are Admin-controlled, and we have had long ( and heated! ) discussions about it. Suffice to say, if you want to use any of my Gallery images then there is no harm in asking me. I can send a higher-resolution version direct to your e-mail address if you PM it to me. On the subject of the 432 emblems, I have a couple of the later plastic versions in my parts stash and they have the part number labels still attached to them ( I don't think they are the same as the original pot-metal emblem part numbers from memory ). I'll dig them out and give you the part number, and you should be able to order them from your friendly local Nissan dealer. The plastic emblems show up on Yahoo Japan auctions every now and then. You'll need to use "432" or "PS30" to search for them. I could always let you borrow one of the plastic ones to copy. The original metal border finish is not all that shiny and the red and black paint predominates, so you could cast some from model-making material if you used an original to make the mould from, and then just paint them. I'll go and dig one out of the parts stash later tonight. Cheers, Alan T.

Just to clear up a common misconception: The grille fitted to the Fairlady Z432 was just the same mesh grille as fitted to the Fairlady Z, Fairlady Z-L, Fairlady 240Z and Fairlady 240Z-L. Same part number even. The Fairlady 432R grille is the rare one. It had a finer mesh, and a different part number.

Jamie, The later-production plastic emblems were still available from Nissan in Japan the last time I checked. They are not all that expensive, and it would certainly be cheaper than replicating them. I have three original metal emblems for my 432R replica project car, and you can see a fairly direct and straight-on photo here: http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6751&sort=2&cat=3069&page=6 If you need dimensions etc let me know. Cheers, Alan T.

Well, I certainly did not think you were completely ignorant - but coming up with a post like the one below may have influenced my judgement: Sorry, but that made it sound like Japan and the Japanese never came up with an original thought in the whole of their existence. I am glad if I simply misunderstood your sentiments. But hearing that you have a fair amount of personal experience in Japan, I am all the more surprised at what you wrote. I didn't get even a slight hint of respect for Japanese culture and history from it. Maybe its just a difference in language and style that I don't fully understand, but all too often on sites like this I see the Japanese being slated as stealers / copyists, when the truth is a lot more complex and interesting than that.

1918? I think you are referring to the Stutz DV32 engine, which was introduced in 1931. It was a straight eight. Why mention Stutz in relation to DOHC pioneers, unless you are trying to infer that the USA was in some way 'first'? Messrs George Boillot, Jules Goux, Ernest Henry and Paulo Zuccarelli are no doubt spinning in their graves at the very thought of it.........

I've seen a few RBs converted to triple sidedraught carbs in Japan, usually performed by ROCKY AUTO down in Kyushu. With modern electronics controlling sparks, as long as the carbs are jetted correctly they seem to run just fine. When installed in an early body ( usually S30-series Z, and C10 or C110-series Skylines ) these carbed RB conversions have something that is often forgotten with all the talk of high horsepower etc - and that's flavour. It doesn't need to be hugely powered to be fun, and the donor engines can be had for a song in Japan - so why not? Its fun. Here's a couple of pics of carbed RBs in an S30-series Z and a C10-series Skyline that I took last year: http://alan-t.fotopic.net/p9592248.html http://alan-t.fotopic.net/p9592249.html

ER, I presume this is not the Irish Republican Army you are talking about here.....? Unless the USA still makes exceptions for certain types of terrorism.

I know what you mean by that, but I'd still like to make the point that this was a project dreamed up by a national newspaper here in the United Kingdom. They are not 'representing' the British public, nor - I believe - do they imply such a thing. When you write "you" I expect that you must mean The Guardian newspaper, and not the British public, the British Government, or anybody else. Certainly not *me*. Many of the respondents quoted in the web page I linked to seem to have overlooked this point. As though a British newspaper ( and one with a marginal view at that ) is representative of the British public.

If he made the comment or wrote the article here in the UK, does it still qualify as a "Federal offense"? I think you might find that anyone coming from the USA to arrest this journalist would have to comply with English law. Personally, I find your response just as 'interesting'. In my experience I don't think that British people ( not just the citizens of "Jolly Old England" ) have such a bad grasp of "past history". Its actually all around us. I wonder how you figure that these "bleeding heart Liberal Europeans" have forgotten "what the USA has done for them"? We have memorials ALL OVER Europe to the men who made the ultimate sacrifice during the two World Wars. I think very few people over here are likely to "forget".

I see quite a lot of 'politics' on this site recently ( and no, I'm not talking about 'Hybrids' vs 'Purists'), so I wondered what some of you guys think about this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1329858,00.html I have to say that myself and some of my friends and colleagues over here in "Limey Land" have been quite amused at almost all of the responses. Actually, I think I have received PMs on this forum from some of the respondents who typed in caps lock! So, was The Guardian overstepping the mark?