1976 280Z Restoration Project

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Front frame rail strengthening plate over the steering rack.
Rough cuts and welds...

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Finished the rough work on the other side strengthening plate. I was just starting the cutting etc when my bench vise snapped in half! lol, I had to go buy a new one to finish the work....

Luckily for me, the Canadian Tire store is 5 minutes away and they were on sale for 65% off... Unluckily for me, I didn't realize the one I broke and threw out had a lifetime warranty.... ha! Oh well, I got a better one anyways....

Still need to do the finish welds on the front of the plates, grind them pretty and get them shaped just right for the frame rail installation. I will need to replace a lot of the metal above the frame rails too. Feeling better about this part of the job as I wasn't sure how I was going to make the replacement pieces.

[grannyknot]

Wheee, I'm going to steal your method when I make my frame rail/ X member strengthening plates if that is okay.

Have you noticed that the rusty area just above that plate you built and just below the shock tower is only 20ga sheet metal? I know the stresses on that inner fender coming from the X member and the shock tower above it are spread through out the connecting structure but it has always seemed strange that they left those 2-3" of 20ga inner fender without joining that X member plate to the shock tower. Maybe the shock towers wouldn't flex so much if they had.

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I know. I plan on replacing a lot of the metal with thicker stock where you see the corrosion here.

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ZeddFindings front frame rails with my supports in place...

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Still need the finish welding on the front for the seamless edges.
Have to replace a lot of metal on the passenger side still.

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Hmmmm
Just noticed the front frame rails are not the same as factory...


The factory rails bow away from the rad near the support... hope this is not going to be an issue...

[Patcon]

The 280z radiator is bigger if I remember correctly. You will need to make your new rails match the shape of the old rails

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Crap. The 280 rad is too wide for the new frame rails. I wonder if an aluminum 240 or 280 rad is narrower? I was going to go aluminum anyways..
25" between frame rails in the centre, 26.25 at the rad support.

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Charles, do you think I could install a 240 rad instead?

There is a lot of weld work already done to the front of these rails...

[Patcon]

I don't know off the top of my head. An aluminum 240 radiator might fit. Best idea is to get some dimensions from a vendor and see if you think it will fit

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I agree. Small issue in the scheme of things I guess.