76 and 77 interchangable?

[280z4me]

Thursday I am getting a 76 280z. He also has a 77 280z that I can take parts out of. Ive read that the 77 door panels wont fit the 76. Is this true? Anything else that wont switch over?

Could the door panels work with very little mod or is it a completely different setup?

[Jeff G 78]

So, what does the car look like? Do you have pics?

[280z4me]

I dont have pictures but I am getting it Thursday.

There is very minimum rust underneath the car with no areas eaten thru. All the body work was as described. Car starts and runs GREAT! Sounds like a fresh built motor. New radiator and brake system. The donor is the 77 with nice interior thats why im asking. This car is just to good a shape to pass up for $750.00. Will take some time to straighten up interior and put it back together but I was planning on doing that anyway no matter the z I got.

[Jeff G 78]

Cool. I assume all the bad areas were PROPERLY repaired? How bad WAS the rust before it was repaired?

Be sure to post pics when you pick up the car.

You can look at the door panels when you pick it up, but the lock pull moved forward by several inches in '77. Unless you cut a big hole in the panel, they won't do you any good. On the other hand, if the '77 panels are in good shape, take them and sell them to help pay for the correct panels.

[MEZZZ]

I do know that the door panels are different on the 77-78 models. THey moved the door locks closer to the front of the car, actually, right where I like to put my arm

You would have to swap the complete door to make them work.

Not sure of other changes, other than a possible catyltic converter if it was a California car. You should be able to tell that easy enough by looking at the warning lights on the dash, by the heater controls...one would say floor ot floor temp on it.

[280z4me]

The rust spots were properly repaired and they werent that bad to begin with. The rear, under the hatch rocker was replaced, a 1'x1' square around the fuel door was replaced. A few small holes in the floor board were replaced. and the bottem rear corner of the back(both sides) were replaced. The usual rusty spots that old cars get.

The door panels sounds great! I was planning on redoing them, re dying and new cloth so making new holes is no problem.

Ill post pics when I get it!

[Jeff G 78]

I do know that the door panels are different on the 77-78 models. THey moved the door locks closer to the front of the car, actually, right where I like to put my arm

You would have to swap the complete door to make them work.

Nope, the doors do NOT interchange. In '77 they changed the latch mechanism.

[MEZZZ]

Nope, the doors do NOT interchange. In '77 they changed the latch mechanism.

Thats nice to know, thanks for the correction! I guess I wont be looking to swap out the doors then, the repostioning of the door locks is one thing I dont like about the '77

[Jeff G 78]

I agree about the repositioned pulls, so now I lock the door if I want to put my arm on the window sill.

[280z4me]

While im at it. Have you guys ever changed out carpet without buying the molded carpets? Just going to a carpet store and buying it in sheets?

I dont like how the kits come in two different pieces and I would like a little thicker quality for the money.