From: jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond)
Subject: Re: 240Z-280Z Problems
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 07:02:03 GMT
Organization: Dixie Communications Public Access.  The Mouth of the South.

erik@peewee.nwc.navy.mil (Erik van Bronkhorst       


One cannot talk of model years when trying to determine equipment lists
and performance for Z-cars.  Datsun was fond of changing in mid-year.

>73 was the smog-dog year for the 240.  

The changeover to square topped dog carbs was midyear.  The early 73
ran fine.  I had one.

>It is also the last year they were
>made.  The 260 was made in 74 with the same engine (+200cc whooopeee) as
>the 73 (smog-dog carbs).  The 75 260 had fuel injection.  Neither worked
>very well.  In 76 the first 280 came out with a brand new injection system,
>engine, and rear suspension.  Performance buffs prefer the lateral or
>"Chapman" rear struts of the 240 (&260) to the semi-trailing arms of
>the 280s.  All 280s including ZX have the same dumb semi-trailing rear susp.

Not any early 280 I've ever seen.  The 75 fuel injection worked pretty good.
Great with a bit of tuning.  I'm still driving mine.  The 75 and 76 systems
are essentially indentical.  I don't know much about 'em after 76 as I 
lost interest as they started plumping out.  The suspension through 76
was indistinguishable except for dimensions.  Again, I don't know about
subsequent years.


>>were awful from '72 (or was it 73?) right up until they started using EFI.  I
>>can't remember whether there were any Z's (as opposed to ZX's) that used EFI,
>>but I still think the best choice is a 70 or 71 (the 69's are VERY RARE).  
>>Even though the 280 accelerates a little faster, the 240 is so pleasant to
>>drive.  It handles better due to less weight and it's more fun to drive due
>>to razor-sharp throttle response.

>According to all published test results I have seen
>the Datsun Z cars *decreased* in acceleration linearly with time from their
>inception until the first 280ZX Turbo appeared.  In other words, any stock
>240 is quicker than any stock 260 or 280.  The ZX Turbo broke the cycle
>beating the early 240 by a tick.

My 75 was as fast stock as my 72 and 73 stock Zs.  The 72 & 73 handled
a bit better at low speeds because they are lighter.  The 75 handles 
much better at high (>>100 mph) speeds.  I consider the 75 to be the 
best all round driving car for at least the following reasons:

*	Still not too heavy
*	EFI that worked well while not yet being completely strangled with
	emission requirements.
*	The first factory air.  Vital in this area.
*	Better sound deadening.  Important unless you like your ears to ring and
	your stereo to be useless.
*	High wear items such as door hinges are a bit tougher.
*	The very tough R200 rear end that will comfortably handle 500 hp.


>True.  240s don't *make* any power below 3000 anyway so if you know how
>to drive this should not be a problem.  

Well, at least until you retard the cam timing a degree..

>Although I have not heard of (nor had) any head gasket problems, they
>are known to occur in engines with iron block and aluminum head as the
>Z cars have.  The difficulty is the difference in expansion rate and amount
>between the two materials.  I maintain that if the head and block are 
>sufficiently flat, the head torque is properly maintained, and the engine
>is properly warmed up and driven, there should not be anything to worry about.

There is a well known weak area between #5 & #6 cylinders where a water,
oil and bolt passage come together.  If the factory-recommended torqueing 
interval is not adhered to and/or the engine is ever overheated, expect
failure in that area.

Here's a table to aid in sorting out the different model production
runs.  Compliments of Nissan and Victoria British Columbia.

                      Model/production Date Decoding
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Model			Engine		Model year		Production Date		Serial ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

240Z Coupe		L24			1970			9/69-5/70			000013-021000
240Z Coupe		L24			1971			1/71-8/71			021001-046000
240Z Coupe		L24			1972			9/71-6/72			046001-120000
240Z Coupe		L24			1973			7/72-7/73			120001-172732
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Model			Engine		Model year		Production Date		Serial ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
260Z Coupe		L26			1974			8/73-8/74			000001-060000
260Z Coupe		L26			1974			9/74-11/74			060001-200000

260Z 2+2  		L26			1974			8/73-8/74			000001-015000
260Z 2+2  		L26			1975			9/74-11/74			015001-060000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Model			Engine		Model year		Production Date		Serial ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
280Z Coupe		L28E		1975			12/74-7/75			200001-270000
280Z Coupe		L28E		1976			8/75-7/76			270001-350000
280Z Coupe		L28E		1977			8/76-7/77			350001-420000
280Z Coupe		L28E		1978			7/77-10/78			420001-470009

280Z 2+2  		L28E		1975			12/74-7/75			000001-030000
280Z 2+2  		L28E		1976			8/75-7/76			030001-060000
280Z 2+2  		L28E		1977			8/76-7/77			060001-110000
280Z 2+2  		L28E		1978			7/77-10/78			110001-124742
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Model			Engine		Model year		Production Date		Serial ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
280ZX Coupe		L28E		1979			11/78-7/79			100000-190023
280ZX Coupe		L28E		1980			8/79-06/80			190024-250020
280ZX Coupe		L28E		1981			7/80-8/81			250021-430013
280ZX Coupe		L28E		1982			9/81-7/82 			430014-550005
280ZX Coupe		L28E		1983			8/82-6/83 			550006-580000

280ZX 2+2  		L28E		1979			11/78-7/79			100000-150313
280ZX 2+2  		L28E		1980			8/79-06/80			150032-180039
280ZX 2+2  		L28E		1981			7/80-8/81			180040-420006
280ZX 2+2  		L28E		1982			9/81-7/82 			720007-500005
280ZX 2+2  		L28E		1983			8/82-6/83 			500006-510500

280ZX Coupe turbo L28ET		1979			10/79-6/80			     N/A     
280ZX Coupe turbo L28ET		1980			7/80-2/81 			     N/A     
280ZX Coupe turbo L28ET		1981			3/81-8/81			600001-620007 
280ZX Coupe turbo L28ET		1982			9/81-7/82			620008-750005 
280ZX Coupe turbo L28ET		1983			8/82-6/83			750006-759000 

280ZX 2+2   turbo L28ET		1981			7/80-2/81			      N/A      
280ZX 2+2   turbo L28ET		1981			3/81-8/81			      N/A
280ZX 2+2   turbo L28ET		1982			9/81-7/82			600015-700011 
280ZX 2+2   turbo L28ET		1983			8/82-6/83			700012-704500 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Model			Engine		Model year		Production Date		Serial ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
300ZX Coupe		VG30		1984			7/83-7/84 			000019-060004
300ZX Coupe		VG30		1985			8/84-8/85 			060005-130294
300ZX Coupe		VG30		1986			9/85-N/A  			130295-N/A   

300ZX 2+2  		VG30		1984			7/83-7/84 			000014-060009
300ZX 2+2  		VG30		1985			8/84-8/85 			060010-100029
300ZX 2+2  		VG30		1986			9/85-N/A  			100030-N/A   

300ZX Coupe	turbo VG30		1984			7/83-7/84 			000020-040003
300ZX Coupe turbo VG30		1985			8/84-8/85 			040004-080023
300ZX Coupe turbo VG30		1986			9/85-N/A  			080024-N/A   

300ZX 2+2  	turbo VG30		1984			7/83-7/84 			000019-010007
300ZX 2+2   turbo VG30		1985			8/84-8/85 			010008-020000
300ZX 2+2   turbo VG30		1986			9/85-N/A  			020001-N/A   
=============================================================================


							  VIN Decoding

These codes PRECEED the actual serial number on the VIN dash plate.

------------------
For 240, 260, 280Z
	
	Example:  	GHLS30FU000013
						^------- Serial number starts here.

	Parsed: 	G H L S30 F U

		G 			= 2+2
		Blank		= Coupe

		H			= L24 for 240
		R			= L26 for 246
		H			= L28E for 280

		L			= Left hand drive

		S30			= Car Model

		A			= Automatic
		F			= 5 speed
		Blank 		= 4 speed

		U			= Federal
		V			= California
		N			= Canada

----------------------
For 280ZX (Up to 2/81)

	Parsed:		K H L G S130 J F T U

		K			= T-top, blank = no-t-top

		H			= L28E
		G			= 2+2, Blank = Coupe

		S130		= Car Model

		J			= "J" specification

		T			= Turbo, Blank for non-turbo

		All other letters are the same as above.

-------------------------------
For 280ZX (from 3/81) and 300ZX

	Parsed:		JN1 C Z31 4 S 1 E X

		JN1			= Nissan
		H			= Non-turbo L28E or VG30
		C			= Turbo L28ET or VG30T

		Z0			= S130 Car model for 280ZX
		Z1			= Z31 Car model for 300ZX

		4			= 2+2
		6			= Coupe 2 seater

		S			= No meaning

		1			= Check Digit

		B			= 280ZX 81 model year
		C			= 280ZX 82 model year
		D			= 280ZX 83 model year
		E			= 300ZX 84 model year
		F			= 300ZX 85 model year
		G			= 300ZX 86 model year

		X			= NISSHA Plant
==========================================================================
-- 
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