Replacing the chassis

[dfr867]

I was wondering if anyone out there has replaced the chassis in their Z car. Mine is a 1975 280z. She has some damage but not a lot. I'm trying to restore her for show. If anyone has some pointers, or has measurments (wonderful), let me know! Thanks in advance!

[Ed]

The Z has no chassis. It's a unibody design.

[TomoHawk]

Ed-

Why don't you ask him to clarify things? Maybe he said chassis, but meant something else.

You probably gave him a big jolt with that negative answer.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by TomoHawk

You probably gave him a big jolt with that negative answer.

Ed gave a positive answer to the question posed. The entire body of the car IS the chassis.

If dfr867 meant something else, he does need to clarify his question.

[26th-Z]

It must be Memorial day or something and everyone is sunburned ( at least I am ) or something because this is the second new thread I have opened with snappy comments. Hey TomoHawk - go over to the "build date" thread and slap TexasZ around!!!!

The chassis for a 1975 280 Z commonly refered to as the S30 type chassis incorporates the body with the traditional frame. It is all one piece. Of course it can be replaced, but you are not going to go down to your local Datsun dealer and buy one. We have kicked around a couple of famous chassis replacements - Big Sam the race car in England had a chassis replacement and then there was the Italian job that claimed Monte Carlo notoriety, except the chassis had been replaced.

Toss out your ideas to the group, dfr867. How bad is your current car? What are your plans for your "show car"?

[Bambikiller240]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but if you "replace the chassis" on a unibody car; don't you end up with a different car? (i.e. a different VIN, etc.) Essentially what is being done is you are replacing everything atached to your "donor chassis" with those parts from the car you had originally, and tossing away the original chassis/unibody.

[Mr Camouflage]

Come on guy's give the guy a break, its only his second post here, and he's probably not up to speed with all the "correct" terminology.

the easies way to replace the chassis, it to buy another car. But what he probably means is repairing, or replacing the frame rails.

On a side note, I've have wondered how difficult it would be to weld up a full space frame chassis, and bolt on all the z bits.

[Mr Camouflage]

Also There is a PDF image of all the chassis alignmnet measurements floating around on the 'net somewhere. I have a copy at home.

Dont know why its not up in the downloads section. I'll have to find it and upload it.

[Bambikiller240]

Mr. C:

I think we are trying to help him, but without understanding his question (and not being able to "guess" what he really means), all we can do is answer the question as posed.

I (for one) couldn't and won't make the leap from "chassis" to "frame rails" from what he posted.

I do welcome him and encourage him to post again with more detail of what he is trying to accomplish.

[Ed]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come of all jolty:classic: . I was just getting straight to the point. I too wish dfr867 would clarify this way we could help him.

26th, I wish I was sunburnt, except I'm cold & wet. Gotta love NY (not:tapemouth).

[dfr867]

Ok. Here is some clarification. I intend to REMOVE what would be called the chassis. I know this will include taking a plasma torch to it after welding support bars so the body will not cave in on itself.

I'm doing this for two reasons. One, like I said there was some damage to the "chassis" in the engine well. Two, I plan on dropping a little power in it; a viper motor. I'm pretty sure I will need to stiffen the "chassis" like a son of a bitch before she wraps sheet metal around me and cooks me like a burrito!

Having said all that, if anyone out there has done this type of surgery before ( and I know it has been done) I would greatly appreciate the response.

Thanks for the time!!

[Mr Camouflage]

Hey dfr867

Youll probably find more information on modifying these old cars on www.hybridz.org