Diffrence between doors?

Paul Henley

Club Member
Hi All
I have a collections of doors that I've aquired over the years from LHD and RHD Z.s. Before I select the best pair for prep, paint and fit to my RHD 73 240z, I need to be sure that I am using 240z and not 260z door shells (they are all door shells) I would hate to waste the time and expense restoring the door shells only to find my original door glass trim etc won't fit or that they won't align to my 240z body shell or hinges. Can anyone tell me how to identify that I have selected the correct 240z doors? (I assume it doesn't matter that they maybe LHD other than a missing mirror).
Thanks in advance for any help.
Paul

P.S I'm looking for a rust/filler free tail gate if anyone has one and possibly a scuttle panel?
 

Mr.F

Inactive
Early 260Z 2 seater (1973/1974) has same lock arrangement as 240Z, but window winder mechanism and attachment bolt pattern is slightly different and (I think), holes for door card clips will be in different arrangement.
 

slaphead

Club Member
Early 260Z 2 seater (1973/1974) has same lock arrangement as 240Z, but window winder mechanism and attachment bolt pattern is slightly different and (I think), holes for door card clips will be in different arrangement.

Mr F is quite correct as usual :bow:

- I will add that the bolt holes and fitments for the door latch are different along with cut out pattern - I am currently rebuilding both an early 260z and 240z door if you would like photos I can punt then up on this thread for you to compare.

late 260z 2 seater door

2012-09-28161557.jpg


late 240z door (73)

2012-09-28161605.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Paul Henley

Club Member
Great response thanks all, thanks for the links moggy, don't think I have a 260 door unless it is an early one as per Mikes response. Thanks for the pics slaphead if you can post?
 

ZPARTS

Forum User
I am unfamiliar about how the door changes evolved on European S30 models vs that of those in the US, but as a caution to what's been stated in this thread, let me note that in the US, 70-78 Z car models had a total of 5 unique door shell changes for the coupes alone.

Unknownst to some, in the USA there were 2 distinctly different shell designs for the 240Z models, one for the 70 thru 11/72 240Z models and a different design for the 73 240Z models with production dates of 12-72 thru 7-73.

What would be of concern to the original poster would be that the door regulators and possibly some other critical internal hdwe, would not be interchangable between the two different 240Z door shell designs, so if he sent one type to the body shop for repairs, but only had the hdwe from the other type, he'd not be able to install the hdwe to finish the car.

The next shell design, starting with the early (USA) 260Z coupe model, spanned 8-73 thru 6-75, the ending date being for US 280Z models, which, if I understand correctly, were not sold in Europe?

Continuing into the somewhat unique US 1976 280Z 280Z model there was another shell change . This shell is unique in many ways, Not all hdwe changed internally, but the frame, glass, glass channel and the regulator, of this shell will not interchange into any other S30 model door shell. This was the last year with the exterior rotating latching mechanism.

Just to be thorough, at the risk of being irrelevant to this forum, the last door shell change was for the US 77-78 280Z models. At this point Nissan introduced the internal latching mechanism, adding the latch post on the door jamb, which from some comments here, I getting the impression that possibly Nissan added this change to European 260Z models prior to US change. Can anyone fill in that blank for me.

In addition, from 70-78 S30 window glass frames changed 4 times, door hinges and regulator designs 3 times.


So you see, not knowing whats what amongst all those misc door parts laying about your garage could lead to some real frustration and anguish at time of reassembly.

Hope it all works out OK for you.

Eric Neyerlin
 

Mr.F

Inactive
The situation in the UK is much simplified!

We had only less than a handful of the earliest 240Zs officially imported, so for most purposes one size fits all in the door and trim department. However, buyers of USA import panels need to beware.

The UK imported the coupe 260Z for the 1973-1974 model year and then dropped it in favour of the 2+2 for 1975 and 1976 so again, one set of internals fits all. The 2+2 received the lock / regulator / window change in 08/76, so I guess the coupe would have followed this pattern if they were being imported.

The coupe made a welcome return in 1977 and 1978 by which time all the changes were in place and consistent for that period.

Effectively we have three coupe door styles (and a handful of early 240Z versions) which are distinctly different.
 

slaphead

Club Member
Great response thanks all, thanks for the links moggy, don't think I have a 260 door unless it is an early one as per Mikes response. Thanks for the pics slaphead if you can post?

Pictures added in my original post chap let me know if you need any different views :thumbs:
 

Paul Henley

Club Member
Pics

Thanks Slaphead. I decided from the pic's that mine were 240z doors, however I was concerned by Eric's post regarding the diffrences in US 240z doors. Having checked them against my original doors I did find some minor diffrences such as the spacing between the screws that hold the side impact bar, but they did seem identical where it would matter.

US vers Euro Door picture by imustaveit - Photobucket

The only way to be sure was to strip everything off my original doors and fit it into my "US" doors. I did this at the weekend and I'm glad to say everything fitted, a massive relief :thumbs:
The doors will have to be stripped again for preping and painting, but at least I know I don't have a problem. Thanks to everyone for their help and advice.

By the way Eric, my Z is the one featured on your Zparts site featuring the rotisserie, it's been awhile but now the kids are older, I'll be able to get back on it. :)
 

morbias

Well-Known Forum User
I just started working on my doors and found out they are different, glad I stumbled into this thread. The weird thing is, although they look similar to the doors further up the page, there are several differences when it comes to the positions of some of the holes. A couple of pics for comparison's sake:

IMAG0701_zpsa77b98df.jpg


IMAG0700_zps95a254a0.jpg
 

Mr.F

Inactive
Top picture (black door) is early 260Z.
Bottom picture (grey primer door) is 240Z.

Providing you use the parts which came with each door they will assemble OK and all the differences will be hidden when back together...
 

morbias

Well-Known Forum User
Cheers for the info Mike, I have already worked out my 260Z arm rest won't bolt onto the 240Z door! Will have to get creative with some nuts and the welder I think.
 

Mr Tenno

Digital Officer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Unknownst to some, in the USA there were 2 distinctly different shell designs for the 240Z models, one for the 70 thru 11/72 240Z models and a different design for the 73 240Z models with production dates of 12-72 thru 7-73.

What would be of concern to the original poster would be that the door regulators and possibly some other critical internal hdwe, would not be interchangable between the two different 240Z door shell designs, so if he sent one type to the body shop for repairs, but only had the hdwe from the other type, he'd not be able to install the hdwe to finish the car.

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead - but would anyone know how to tell the the two versions of US 240z door shells apart?
 

ZPARTS

Forum User
Mr. Tenno:
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead - but would anyone know how to tell the the two versions of US 240z door shells apart?

One main visual difference is the size and shape of the horizontal sheet metal piece that runs across the inside surface of the door skin, half way up the height of the shell.

Earliest (70-72 US) 240Zs had a rather thin, flimsy looking piece of stamped sheet metal that mostly served to give modest protection to door skin being pushed in on light impact whereas 1973 US model had a much more substantial looking U-shapped channel piece that looks to me to be an ever so slight improvement to protect driver and passenger from modest speed side impact accidents.

The change over to this deeper U-shapped piece appears to have necessitated a change in the window regulator in 1973 door, visually recognizable by its longer (aprox. 1.5"/40mm length) splinned end post to which the window crank handle attaches.

Visually, there may be other differences/shell reinforcements I have forgotten. 6 years ago I took the time to photograph all 70-78 S30 door change detail differences to aide me in communicating with my parts customers. If critical to someone here, I might be able to find the time to locate and post one or two of these photos on my ZParts.com Blog at http://zparts.com/index.php/blog/

Hope this helps in some way

Eric Neyerlin - owner of ZPARTS.COM
 

Paul_S

Club Member
Out of interest, how much 'wiggle room' is there when you fit the doors? i.e. if I were to find a car and the doors weren't very well aligned, what are my chances of lining them back up again?
 

Mr Tenno

Digital Officer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Thanks Eric - that's really helpful. Pictures would definitely be useful!
 

toopy

Club Member
Out of interest, how much 'wiggle room' is there when you fit the doors? i.e. if I were to find a car and the doors weren't very well aligned, what are my chances of lining them back up again?

There is a reasonable amount of movement, the main issues are the sill and/or B pillar having been repaired incorrectly or the front wing also needing to be 'tweeked' to accomodate the door fit.
For some reason on the odd car, you will notice that the lower trailing edge of the door sometimes seems to stick out a bit, mine included on the drivers side!
this would seem to be a door frame issue though, as you see it on cars that have never been welded, maybe they twist some how! :confused:
 

Paul_S

Club Member
There is a reasonable amount of movement, the main issues are the sill and/or B pillar having been repaired incorrectly or the front wing also needing to be 'tweeked' to accomodate the door fit.
For some reason on the odd car, you will notice that the lower trailing edge of the door sometimes seems to stick out a bit, mine included on the drivers side!
this would seem to be a door frame issue though, as you see it on cars that have never been welded, maybe they twist some how! :confused:

Thanks for that. Good info :thumbs:
 
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