240Z: New Hungarian floorpans vs Zeddfindings floorpans
One common rusty area of most S30 Z’s are the floors. The only supplier of floor pans i know is from zeddfindings (https://www.datsunzparts.com/ ). They look good at first sight, but upon closer inspection they don’t fit really well.
The main Problem beeing the longitudial Bump in the the middle which should be above the frame-rail isn’t aligned properly. So basically you have to cut it up and re-do most of the work. That’s what the bodyshop told me when i brought them my floorpans for repair, And some readers confirmed that. Allthough many say they haven’t had any problems with those pans too. Maybe it was just a bad batch?.
So a while ago i looked for another solution and came a cross datsun Club Hungary. They restore a few cars a year and make their own floorpans. while not officially for sale in a shop or so, they offered me one set when i asked them and they have them for sale on their facebook page every now and then. Not cheap, but well worth the Money. and they appear to be mostly hand-made too. The reason i trusted them to make good Quality stuff is mainly because they make their floorpans for their own concours-Level restaurations useage and not just for selling them to People with no clue…
Here’s a Little comparison. First difference you will immediately note is the size difference. with the Hungarian floorpans (left) there is some spare metal to Play with.
Another big difference is the “dent” on the Driver side seatrail which is there originally in early z-cars, but non-existant in the american floorpans from Zeddfindings.
last but most important: The longitudial rolled bead is perfectly aligned with the Frame rail and no additional cutting-up and welding needed aside from the usual fitment work…
I really hope with the increasing Prices of the Z that manufacturers start to build Quality sheet metal stuff. the parts available currently are sadly of terrible fitment and Quality…
Update 07.02.2020:
There’s a new player in town: KFVintagejdm.com offers now floor pans as well (And a range of other panels). They seem to be well known in the VW Community and the “funky green” Floor pans look pretty good from the pictures, but i can’t say anything about the fitment or quality. For completeness sake i wanted to post them here too:
For completeness sake too: Andys Auto panel solution (Search it on facebook) has now floorpans too. I’ve made good experience with Auto panel solutions so far. it’s a small business and it seems like the section (sides) is slightly smaller than what KF makes but i guess the fitment is pretty good from my experience (like all the panels the need a little adjustment here and there):
Update 20.02.2018:
Just came across the floorpans from CC-Nagoya (JP) and for completeness sake i wanted to add them here. However, never seen them in real life, so i cannot tell you how the fitment is. By the looks of them, they seem pretty basic with lots of additional work required.
4 Comments
Sean Dezart
Hi.
There are other (European) floor suppliers and I believe all have their positive and less positive points.
Having bought several of Charlies’ floors without any negative feedback from the end users, the last took 3x pairs, I’m wondering what Charlie had to say to your observations – did he feel that some improvements could be made or what ?
I certainly share your desire to see quality parts for our cars and more of them….and especially the 2+2 versions that have a bad deal !
Kind regards,
Sean
JDMjunkies.ch
Hi Sean, thanks for your reply.
It’s strange. a lot of People confirm what you say. Others confirm exactly my observations.
So maybe there was a bad Batch or something? I bought the floorpans a few years ago so i didn’t want to argue with zeddfindings and never got back to them. When i found the other solution this felt like the perfect thing to give it a try and they fit perfectly.
Also heard about some british floorpans which don’t fit perfect and some others. Like most of the sheet-metal Panels i guess it’s hard to find one currently that fits perfect.
It’s hard to get OEM Quality parts (or Quality parts generally) but i have the Feeling there will be a comeback soon with the raising Prices. I’m curious what future brings 🙂
Cheers – Nils
Charlie Osborne
I do not want to get into o a P888888 match, but we have been selling these floors for over 25 years, and I have yet to hear any of my customers complain. In fact from one very knowledge person who was also in the Datsun retail business made note that after installing one of my floors in their 240Z and comparing it to the other original side you could not tell the difference.
If my memory serves me correctly I have never trashed any other products others have made. We are providing a service and will continue to do so as long as z owners approve of my products.
Charlie Osborne
Owner / Operator of Zedd Findings
JDMjunkies.ch
Hi Charly,
I’m sorry if i bothered you, that was not the plan. I heard from several people that your Floor pans are indeed very good and i had the same feeling. My bodyshop guy is a bit of a perfectionist and he likes to complain all the time. so i looked for another solution and found those. they’re not a huge difference but have a few tiny areas that are slightly different. I’m sure that 99% of the people are totally fine with your floorpans and i allways recommand to buy from you when random people ask me for floor pans. so don’t worry about that. I didn’t want to trash your products at all i just wanted to make a comparison for the mainly european customers. I have bought other products from you which i’m happy with and i wil keep continuing recommending your parts whenever people ask me.
All the best and thanks for making those parts.
Cheers
– Nils