So now the path for the car was set - T&C, original L Gata engine, running correct sport option Mikuni triple 44phh carbs now I had to revisit the brakes....again.....this time I tried to source 100% period calipers.
I wanted a caliper that was available in period - no exception or a new caliper that was cast using the original period foundry. All my research lead to just two suppliers that could produce new stock. AP Racing that reproduce the Historic range of calipers which were the same spec/design as those offered by Datsun Competition USA on their options list. However at $1500 a caliper per corner they were out of my budget. I thought I managed to track down a set second hand in the UK and I was planning to collect and pay for them when I was in Europe on business at the beginning of this year - but that was not to be never heard from him once my travel plans were set.
I decided Wilwoods were off the table for the following reasons.
1. The current Superlites are made from new foundries and including newer technologies that make them stiffer than the early Superlite II calipers that were available from 1977/78 onwards once Wilwood came to be. I believe these original superlite II foundries were acquired by Wilwood from another company that was around pre 77/78 so that makes that style period correct.
2. I could not find anywhere that Wilwood still supply these calipers from the original foundries.
3. I am lead to believe that Wilwood GN III are still the same design as pre 77/78/pre Wilwood brand however 6 pots were never fitted to the Datsun Z cars so they were off the table also.
AirHeart/Hurst were off the table also as their calipers today are completely different design and again made using modern foundries/forging techniques
So with AP Racing Historic range out of my budget and Wilwood out due to foundry changes like the AirHeart/Hurst that lead me to the old JFZ calipers which I know were fitted to all manner of cars in the early 70's. I knew JFZ sold to another company in the 90's but I could not recall who it was.
So after a few google searches I found the answer I was looking for - JFZ was purchased by Sierra Racing Products. A few emails and a phone call to the owner of Sierra Racing products confirmed he still had the original foundries for the original JFZ mini GN (mini Grand National) and XL Series. The only difference was when he purchased the JFZ business it did not include the branding rights so he had to alter the branding on the castings. But I found what I was after - a period caliper that was originally manufactured pre 1975 to match the period the car is to now represent 1975 as I will install a L28 which was not homologated or sold to the general public until 1975 (however Nissan did sell a piston kit for the L26 engines from mid 73 to make them into L28)
The good thing is these calipers were in my budget. Here are some pics of what will be going on the car as they are 100% period correct having been cast from the original foundry.
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