1976 280Z Restoration Project

[wheee!]

this one might work...

 

[wheee!]

I have been chatting with Charlie from ZeddFindings. He has not had anyone else mention the 280Z frame rails being different than the 240Z before... strange! However, he also mentioned that he was considering manufacturing and selling the reinforcement plates like I made along with the frame rails. He hasn't had any requests for them though.
What do you people think? Would you be interested in a prefabbed set of replacement reinforcement plates from Charlie? Let him know!

[Patcon]

Be careful of the height on a replacement radiator. If it sticks up too high it will contact the hood. If it hangs down too low, it can take a rock if you don't run an airdam...

[wheee!]

Good points...

[disepyon]

You still planning on using a narrower radiator or fix the frame rail up front?  The 240z rails also notch in about the same.  

Picture of my 240z Frame rail removed from the car. kind of hard to see the indention at the front for the radiator clearance.

A while back I swapped the stock 240z rad for a 280zx N/A (year unknown) and the length was pretty close to same. 

Comparasion, 280zx left, 240z right.

Clearance on each side of the frame rails.

Cleared the hood.

Hanged down a little, but wasnt bad at all.

Not sure if any of this information helps or not.  

You may have to notch the frame rail up front though, to fit in the radiator support. Or maybe not, I dont have your replacement rail to really determine that. If you can get away without notching it, I would just find a aftermarket rad that will fit, like your were doing.

 

Edited November 26, 2016 by disepyon

[wheee!]

Great info and thanks for the pics!

[Patcon]

The last picture showing the radiator hanging down is behind the air dam, with the stock valence a lot more is exposed...

[wheee!]

With the 280, all the rads are within the same height as a stock 280 rad. Nothing should go lower or higher if I go with a 240 style rad. Right?

[disepyon]

Should be safe using a 240z rad as it isnt as tall and will allow for the bottom to hide behind the lower rad support and still have plenty room on top to clear the hood. Reason I went with the zx radiator, I needed something cheap and in the moment, It was the only good conditioned z radiator at a local salvage yard that somewhat fit and worked for the time being.  Im not sure but, are the 280z's bottom radiator supports lower than the 240z's?

[wheee!]

Son in law did the finish welds on the reinforcement plates. I did more spot weld removal on the frame rails...

[grannyknot]

It's a shame those pretty welds are going to be painted over.  Are you going to replace the sheet metal that was originally behind that strengthening plate or just weld in the new plate, it looks much thicker than stock.

[wheee!]

New metal where needed for sure. Can never be too strong