RacerX and other guru's.....paint color question

[dat240zg]

E:

 

You've always been knowledgable before concerning factory colors and so I have my newest question for you. On the factory G-nose, was the entire nose body colored, or was the lower half of the nose the same charcoal color as the zg flairs and rear spoiler/tail light panel? I'm getting ready to start the long road to paint and want to plan correctly.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Bryan

Dat240zg

[HS30-H]

I looked in my archives and found a couple of early 1970 ZG photos. The entire G-nose is painted body color with the exception that the bumper is a satin black finish.

 

"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

[Z-Gad]

HS30-H

Thanks for the interesting info...

[dat240zg]

Thanks again for the color insight(s). I appreciate that you are both willing to share the wisdom. I guess that I have never seen an actual factory ZG or G-nose.

 

Alan, the orginal g-nose was fiberglass, right? How was the urethane "bumper" mounted? Is that a part that is still available anywhere?

 

Just to double check, the charcoal color that was used, was it the same as the tail light panel? Is there a paint code for that? What are the FRP "overriders" that you refer to?

 

Also, I believe that you use your ZG for trackday events. Do you ever have any issues with overheating? I will be running a larger intercooler and want to head any overheating issues off before they bite me.

 

Thanks again for the information

 

Bryan

Dat240zg

[HS30-H]

Alan, the orginal g-nose was fiberglass, right? How was the urethane "bumper" mounted? Is that a part that is still available anywhere?

 

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........

 

Just to double check, the charcoal color that was used, was it the same as the tail light panel? Is there a paint code for that?

 

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?

 

What are the FRP "overriders" that you refer to?

 

That's 'Overfenders'. I usually see these described as "flairs" ( flares? ) in the USA, but the Factory term was "Overfender".

 

Also, I believe that you use your ZG for trackday events. Do you ever have any issues with overheating? I will be running a larger intercooler and want to head any overheating issues off before they bite me.

 

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.

[260DET]

Thanks Alan, just did a search and this turned up. Wanted info on the 'over fender' colour which as you said is what they call the ZG flares in Japan.

 

All I need now are some good close up pics so mine can be installed correctly.