TomoHawk

Don't forget the dirty yellow turtleneck sweater... Can you resize the darn images?

That's good, but you should think if them as being functional in stead of stylish, like a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Driving gloves are purposely made of very thin leather so you have the extra dexterity and sensation you need to drive, especially a sports car. I'm just surprised that people will spend loads of money on a sporty car, but don't even get a pair of $25 gloves? They probably spend more at the Starbucks's on a Saturday.... Then if they see an 'average person' like you or me wearing gloves in some vintage car, like a Zed, and think we are "posing as a sportscar driver." I liked using the full-fingered gloves for the winter, but I don't think I would really benefit from those for warm summer driving, agreed? That is, unless you specifically have a need for it. Mine are actually men's dress gloves (Xtra-Large size) that were labelled as driving gloves at the local men's leather store, so the fingers are a little long and makes operating some small buttons (rear window defroster) difficult, and you have to either take off a glove or operate the switch before you start the engine. I think I would benefit from the shorty gloves because the steering wheel (on the Zed) feels a little thin for my hands, and I'd rather not wrap the steering wheel with anything, and still have the ability to operate the tiny buttons on the radio or CB radio

Do you wear driving gloves whilst driving your Zed, or other vehicle? I got a pair last fall and I used them over the winter, and It made driving nicer on those cold days. Yes, they were cold when you first put them on, but the thin leather warms quickly, and the grip of the cold PU steering wheel was more comfortable and you were assured of no slippage. But the Zed has a wood steering wheel, and I'm interested in getting some opinions from those who wear driving gloves. If you order now, you can get them in time for the summer (especially if you live north of I-70) And I think I can even dig up my old cycling gloves, which obviously fit my hands perfectly and only need some cleaning & oiling. But they are old and worn. Also, is there any advantage to the full-fingered gloves? The cycling gloves, or "shorty" style leave your fingertips free to operate a touchscreen or radio buttons, etc., but I can't really think of an advantage for the full-fingered gloves for the summer besides a classic look, or for your topless Zed, or some protection from the metal steering wheel spokes or racing-type situations. Right now, I'm considering some tan deerskin, shorty gloves.

I think you are right. the head rotates on that point and I think there is a rivet there. Most other scissor jacks I've seen have a non-rotating head, which is welded on, so the rivet is unnecessary on those jacks. So you can turn the head and use your Zed jack on more than just the lift points under the rockers.

You know how the jack has the slot on the lifting plate? It has not only a slot, but a round hole as if a large pin is supposed to fit in there. Picture A) I haven't looked, but is there supposed to be some kind of a bulge in the pinch welded area where the jack point is? It would be useful for safety, as as bulge would help keep the jack from slipping sideways while lifting. BTW- Is the floor at the same level as the outer part of the rocker? I think I might get a newer scissor jack, but not all are the same design as the Zed jack: one side is higher than the other. (Picture b

Thanks, I will look into it. I think I will cut a disk of aluminium and see how it works out.

Do you know exactly what would be needed, like a DXF or a 2-colour line drawing?

I suppose they would need some kind of graphic to use as a pattern?

If you have some hubs or knock-offs you want to put on your Zed wheels, can you get them engraved? Is there anything special you need to do or a certain kind of place to look for?

Photos will take 4- 6 weeks or whenever Spring gets here.

The 2WD 1979 pickup had 2-piston calipers, and it looks like the 4WD pickup has 4 piston calipers.

1979 Toyota pickup calipers. That was one of the 'upgrade' options for the calipers. IFAIK, the Datsun pickup calipers were not an upgrade option.

The vehicle has the stock rotors but someone put on the '79 pickup calipers. Recently I noticed the braking problem in heavy rain, so I think some shields should go back on if they aren't on, which is not easy, or some different brake pads would help, which is easy. I have some 4-pot calipers, but that would not be easy to install, and probably not even needed. I haven't looked at the front brakes for several years, so I don't know what condition they are in, but the pads are definitely not worn out. The rear brakes are the stock drum brakes. And yes, I'm considering a lot of different things you could do. The stock calipers are not too expensive to buy and would be easiest to put on to get back to a know point of operation, and go from there. I don't see a real reason to keep the pickup calipers, because they don't seem any better, and aren't the same units as the stock calipers, and probably use different pads too, so you just can't go to a brake shop to ask for pads because they'll turn you down for not have a factory/stock vehicle (if you modify your vehicle, you are totally on y our own except for oil changes.) I haven't used the 4Runner calipers because they need to be rebuilt and you also need the larger master cylinder, which is more-or-less NLA, so the whole 4-pot thing isn't even necessary at all, because the stock calipers should be adequate anyway. So now I am back to the idea of putting on some kind of dust/water shield and/or different pads with stock calipers..

The 79 pickup calipers are already on the vehicle.

I think the brake pads are the Duralast ones (semi-metallic maybe)? While I'm at it, I could put on the 4-pot calipers too, huh? Has anyone tried adding some kind of squeegee to the pad or caliper? It probably wouldn't have to touch the rotor; just be close enough to direct or deflect some water away, or get a bit of vacuum action to suck out some water (or warm air when it's dry.)

I forget for sure, but the brake shields may still be on the car. I would borrow them to make some patterns for some nice made of an alloy. From the looks of it, you could hammer some out in a day, or weld together some bits. Too bad you can't just hook up a hose for cooling air (if you do track driving.) Otherwise, I think my pads could use a change-out, and I was looking around at what's available, so that would be the easiest thing to try- some semi-metallic pads.

Just in case, can you get some replacement or bigger brake shields? OTOH- do you need a special shop to drill or slot the rotor?

My brakes on the 280Z are fine with the stock discs and normal pads, but in a heavy rain, on the highway, it was sort of scary when I wanted to brake for slow traffic- it felt like the brakes weren't grabbing at all. For a second or two, it feels like there are no brakes, then they grab some, and get better.. So is there anything that you can do that isn't too involved to improve the wet-weather braking, like a certain kind of pads? I though of adding a shield over the disc.

I would start with a very light-colored Hawaiian-style shirt, like yellow or light gray, then order some bold-colored iron-ons of cars and such and add it to the shirt yourself. That way you can control exactly what cars or symbols are on the shirt. You could even add pictures of your own or the other guy's car if he has one. Embroidered stuff needs a stiff substrate, like leather or a strong backing pad, so embroidery doesn't work well wit the flexible silk or synthetic cloth.

I'll do that. I didn't think a leasure suit would work- can you fire-proof those? lol. Probably not, as they are made from petroleum byproducts... The decent turtlenecks are gone, because they are in-style again, and even Macy's is out of those.

Can you get a pipe that fires 45 cal? lol. (Just kidding.) Tweed jackets with patches are twice as much as the plain ones, but a nice comfortable cotton windbreaker isn't. I'd still like to find a plain jumpsuit.

I tend to go with just the turtleneck, gloves, and cap, as the scarf blocks the tailgunners view! A tweed jacket would do well on the cooler days.. BTW- you can't get stringback gloves any more. The only options lately are elasric cuffs with snap or velcro straps..So my goal is to get a light off-white turleneck, some deerskin drivong gloves. And light cotton slacks with elastic gloves, a body belt, and maybe a retro racer's jumpsuit (good for Hallowe'en.) I already have a couple berets and the helmet.

Only if you cn get a shirt with a clip a clip-on tie.

I've been checking tbe local second-hand stores for lightweight turlenecks with no luck, unless you would have more luck looking in the women's section, but my chest just isn't that "big". Does anyone have a source of lightweight light-coloured wool turtlenecks?

I tried the matching colour LED and it was not to my liking, beacause it was a deep colour, but not as bright as regular bulbs. I am using white LEDs for everything. You only need coloured LEDs if the lense is clear, which is usually jest the front turn signals.