Alternative e-brake lever

[TomoHawk]

1978 280Z

Most cars have the e-brake handle in the center of the (hump) so I was thinking that you could probably replace the on on there with something like from a Mustang or Camaro, etc?

You could probably then use a center console from the same car.

[Zedrally]

If you want to replace it with "something" out of a Mustang etc, just save yourself $$$$ and time and buy a Mustang or whatever to begin with.

Honestly, if you don't like the zed as it was designed then may I suggest that a complete re-design isn't warrented, it's much simpler to buy what you want in the first place!

[seerex]

I am sure its possible but you would reduce the arm room in that area , I think is their reasoning ust like what they do on the corvettes and other mininal room cars , I am 6-3 and think i would be too cramped if there was say 3-4 inches added to the center console in height, good luck

[TomoHawk]

Hey Zedrally,

If the Z was designed so well, why are LOTS of people putting V8s in there!?

Independent rear suspension?

Different rims/tires/coil overs?

rear disk?

air dam, CF hood/ hood scoops?

CD stereos?

differrent seats?

Hmmmmm??

You got to lighten up.

Zed is spelled with a capital 'Z'

[Z Kid]

"Independent rear suspension? "

The Z had that to start with surely?

People put in different things because they lack taste, here people are just trying to guide you in the right direction.

Good luck, and let u s know how it goes, it wont be easy to mount a handbrake in the centre if you get under you car and actually have a look at how the Z system works.

Cheers Chris

[Bambikiller240]

Questions about MAJOR re-design of a car (any Z car) might get better answers if asked at HybridZ.com. The folks there do some pretty radical stuff and could probably answer questions like this.

[HS30-H]

Hi Tomohawk,

I find it interesting that you might want to re-position the lever. Are you finding it difficult or awkward to use, or is the main thought to do with using different consoles? I have always ( personally ) found that the lever positioning on the LHD cars was most inconvenient and unergonomic, as its much too far away from the natural and comfortable position that would suit the wrist / elbow / shoulder joint combination.

I would have thought that a lever mounted on TOP of the trans tunnel would be pretty difficult to use? The tunnel is already pretty high, and sitting down nice and low in the Z ( as nature and good posture intended ) would leave the lever a bit too high up to use ergonomically in my opinion.

A centrally-positioned lever would have made the layout more suitable to use in both LHD and RHD versions, but as we know the designers did actually bias the layout of some features of the car towards RHD ( see the "Interior Ergonomics" thread for more discussion on this ).

Actually, putting it down on the floor towards the OUTSIDE of the vehicle might make it a bit easier to use and would free up the choice of centre consoles completely. However, there is almost certainly not enough space between the seat and the inner sill / rocker panel to do this. It would also mean getting in and out of the car would need a little more care to avoid a sudden surprise!

As for your comments regarding the design of the original Z, I would have to point out that there are plenty of cars that people are always trying to 'improve' or re-engineer in retrospect. In fact, name me one that nobody has ever messed with. Frankly I think its human nature, and people like us always want to improve or personalise a product so that it suits us better ( or so we think! ).

Before dissing the original design of the Z car, we have to take into consideration that it was designed, engineered and built DOWN to a price. Any product is always compromised by many factors, and the designers have to compromise and make concessions for it to be a sales success. A true carte-blanche design with no concession to market-needs would probably be a sales failure even if it were a critical success. The masses need to be pleased, and that is why things change to suit the market that they are aimed at.

Mr Yoshihiko Matsuo and his team made many concessions when the Z was being designed and productionised, and they were not allowed to do some of the things that they wanted to do. The accountants even made them re-design some parts of the car to keep the production costs down. Perhaps this was a good thing, and perhaps not. Its all quite subjective.

You might not have realised it, but many of the items and ideas that you mentioned WERE available as options in the Japanese market ( er, except the CD - which had not been invented - but an 8-track stereo was. Remember 8-tracks?! ). Unfortunately for us, many of those parts were not very well known in the "Export" markets - but they did exist, and the design team had a good handle on what was needed in the race and street-tuning worlds.

I certainly don't think that installing a V8 necessarily 'improves' the Z - but people can do what they like can't they? Its all just a matter of taste. But please don't put down the design just because people want to re-engineer or 'improve' it in some way. This does NOT mean that the original design was as bad as you make it sound, especially as you are looking back at it with just about 34 years of retrospect and acquired wisdom.

I noticed that you have asked the same question over at Zcar.com and HybridZ. Personally speaking, I don't expect you to get much of an answer at Zcar.com ( if you get one at all..... ) but - as has been suggested - you might well get a more engineering-led response at HybridZ, as there are some very educated engineering minds over there.

I don't think Zedrally or anyone else was taking a swipe at you personally, and you have to make allowances for some of the 'foreigners' on this site ( yeah - that includes me :classic:). We sometimes have a different perspective on things and I know that I myself have to stop and think twice and make allowances for the fact that this is a US-based site - even if it is floating around in cyberspace.

Debate without argument is a fast-dying art. Let's try to keep that in focus.

Sincerely,

Alan T.

[billcapp]

Alan,

Yes, yes, yes and yes. Very well spoken. That is what it's all about after all...personal preference. Buy what you like and fix the rest.

[TomoHawk]

Hi Alan,

I accept your point of view, and I need to say that I don't really see any problems with the Zeds except for the lack of power steering. I've driven other cars (MG, small fords) and the steering felt much lighter. Maybe it was because I had 2 good arms back then.

Yes, I remember 8-track.

Zedrally's point seems to be a personal one, telling me to go spend anothe $5k - 10k for another car, when the one I have is fine for the purpose. If He was just being sarcastic, I wish he would've said so; it's impossible to see facial language through the text.

I haven't had time to look, but I suspect that the 280Z had provisions for both right and left handed brake levers. I also know the lever axle goes straight to the other side and the arm pulling the cable is centered in the trans tunnel. That is why I had the idea of putting the alternative lever on there. Another reason would be to use an alternative console, which for me would be no problem, spacially.

A reason against the whole idea, which I will porobably drop any way, is that the lever woiuld be in the way of the fire extinguisher!

I would definitely like to see more debate/discussion on all things Zed, instead of somebody telling you that you bought the wrong car.

Cheers

[260DET]

Would there be space for you left hand drivers to relocate the brake lever on the left side of the transmission tunnel? Further forward than stock with the lever around vertical?

It must be a bit awkward where it is for you wrong side of the roaders, I'd be looking at changing it too.