inmocean

went with the type 3 skirt, http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/7RS/50-1450G after some bodywork on the damaged steel. it required some trimming to fit, and I built an Aluminum bracket behind the license plate to support the back portion. used a few screws and finish washers where i could, but the the pro-set two part epoxy is what is really holding it to the car, and a bead around the upper edge helps blend it into the body. also had to modify exhaust cutouts. the overall look is a little too honda racer for me, but its growing on me, especially after paint. i've kept my car bone-stock for a long time and its fun to play around with it a little, and seeing as how i will own my z the rest of my life, i can always return it to factory... there are some pics in my member gallery, more on the way along with door panel and carpet projects.

"Using those covers, I didnt need to trim anything, they actually went on a little loose IMO, I stuffed the tops of the covers with fill from a foam pillow to fill it out a bit." mine are also just a little loose...has anyone used a heat gun with any success, or failure, to shrink the vinyl? wick humble's "how to restore your z-car" mentions doing this...sorry to thread-jack but this could still be relevant...

Mine went right together...I don't remember that note being on the ad when I ordered my foam...(just doublechecked the ad...) Perhaps they've changed their foam since last summer, or I missed something...:stupid:

I recovered my 280 seats with msa covers, and replaced the driver's side foams. I was blown away by the foam when i opened the box, the install was really straight-forward, and while pricey, the improvement in comfort made it a bargain.

I can't speak for all l28's, but mine doesn't have a spray bar either, the cam is (and always was) drilled for internal/direct lobe lubrication.

Thanks for the update, my projects are progressing with Golden Gardens as a good goal...

thanks. Knew it would be here somewhere.

quick question, did a search but couldn't find an answer(first time the data wasn't here...) As I was reinstalling my intake manifold and fuel rail I noticed a lot of my fuel injector connections were broken. I just received all new connections from motorsport, and my sunday project will involve replacing them one at a time. The new plugs have two white wires, does it matter how i connect these to the two wires in my FI harness? (positive/negative?) Thanks, I'd rather ask a question and sound stupid than not, and watch my car burn or something...

Alright, should be good...motorsport shipped my parts today...hopefully I'll have them by the weekend and I can get to work getting the car presentable again...(I was rear-ended a week ago)

Awesome. I'm in. I kinda live right there though, so could i just sit on market street and pull in behind the line of Z's as you go by? I've gotta go...work to do...

Howdy all, I've been hunting around the internet looking for more details on this year's Nissan meet at Golden Gardens. I believe it's on March 28th, and from what I can tell there's no formal registration or fees, but if I'm wrong on that let me know. I live about 5 minutes from the park, and if I can get some last-minute body-work sorted out I'll be there early, with a smoky joe grill and cooler of cokes... So Northwest Z's, who else is in?

You found the right spot for info... My first Z was an 81 ZX as well, although mine was an NA...that car took me away from MG's and I've had at least one Z ever since... Good luck

I went with Rewinds last month, 15x7, with Goodyear 205/60/15's, after 8 years of stock wheels and 195/70/14 uniroyals...My Z is also lowered and I've had no issues with fit. The ride of my car improved dramatically, and even though they are a popular wheel amongst Z's, the fact that there are fewer Z's out there every day still lets the wheels stand out... I was going to go through MSA, but I found the wheels for $99 apiece at discount tire(even though they also had to ship them from California.) The stock acorn lug nuts can be re-used, and after $10 for a set of Z logos from MSA for the konig center caps I saved around $200...the spindle caps on my front axle had to be 'tweaked' for the center caps to clear, per MSA's advice... Sorry I can't comment on the 16x7's, but I'm pretty happy with the Konigs as a brand. I learned that going through a company like discount tire let's you change your mind if the wheels don't fit, which is pretty convenient. That being said if the price difference had only been $50 or so I would have gone through MSA...Nothing but good things to say about them...

Hello all, I began a 240 bumper swap last fall on my 78 280z, with the end result hopefully being a fiberglass font bumper painted body color, and a shaved rear. I decided that the shaved look would be impractical for seattle daily driving(we'll get to that) and built a rear bumper bar using the center from an old 240 and endcaps made from overriders. It was not a showpiece, but something, until I could make up my mind. I was rear-ended thursday, damage being limited to the steel panel below the taillights being destroyed, my bumper left dangling by a bolt, a great scuff on the tailgate, and my twice-pipe's tips being crumpled. The Blazer that hit me rode over the bumper, not into it...I think the old stock bumper would have been forced down and not compressed as intended, bending the shocks, unibody mounts, and maybe even into the fuel tank... The point of all this...I'm down to two options, repair panel for the steel with a fiberglass rear bumper, or a repair panel for the steel and one of MSA's rear skirts, the types with bumper detail...http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/7RS/50-1473 or http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/7RS/50-1450G does anyone have any photos of these installed? How is the fit? beyond the usual finessing do they hug close to the body, line up well? A side shot would be cool, I like the clean look of the rear end and don't want anything bulky back there(that's why the bumpers went...)

I think a car should be your own, although I would lean more to period and stock, over modern mods. I prefer stuff that no one notices, things that blend into the car(headlight covers, 240 bumpers over my 78's monsters, konig rewinds instead of the steel wheels.) A V-8 in a z makes me grin, but honestly for me the 6 cyl is perfect, I rebuilt mine as true to stock as I could, except for the twice pipes...

thanks for the info and the videos...I'll look into more info and if i can park next with some s30's i'm there...although now I'v really got some bodywork cut out for me...

Please keep us posted on the meet, any excuse to look at z's...

I'm also new to the site, but I'v found the info very useful. Also in Seattle, and I'm tired of the rain and ready for summer!

1. Finish Engine rebuild. DONE 2. Test Drive. DONE 3. Wheels and Tires. DONE 4. Break in Engine, Fluid change, final valve check, head torque. 5. Paint or polish brakes, now visible through the wheels... 6. Finish the 240 bumper swap-shave rear completely or improve current home-made bar, clean up current chrome front 240 bumper or replace with fiberglass from MSA. 7. Continue replacing rubber around/under/in car...bushings, seals, weatherstripping, etc. 8. Replace faded carpet. 9. Replace worn door panels. 10. Replace windshield. 30 years of chips... 11. bodywork...minor door dings around car. Daily drive to work and weekend cruises around all this!

Photo album is up, more to come, I'm sure.

I also have never had an issue with fram oil filters...i'm sure there are bad ones out there, but I've been lucky so far... The rebuild was very straight-forward, the engine mounts were tricky to re-align, and the MSA twin pipe kit required some finnessing, but all in all the project was a breeze. The new wheels have been delayed til wednesday...and I'll get on a photo album here soon. Thanks for the warm welcome, this forum seems a better fit than that other one...

having some issues making an album/uploading photos...here's my facebook album link, until I can get something on here. my album is up, deleted the facebook link...

Hello all. I've owned my 78 280z for 8 years now, and I still get a huge grin everytime I open the door. The car was in great shape when I bought it, and I've tried to maintain it over the years. Last spring I parked it with almost 200,000 on the odometer, and began the ultimate tune-up. I pulled the engine, which still ran strong but was obviously showing its age. Long story short, Everything in the engine that required replacement was done so with parts from Motorsport, rings, bearings, pumps, clutch, timing kit, etc. I had to send the head out to a machine shop, for surfacing, valves, and that broken exhaust stud that's so common...Assembly went well, again using Motorsport parts to replace everything that needed it...gaskets, seals, boots, mounts, ignition components, exhaust, belt, radiator, and hoses... With the car parked I took the opportunity to go through everything else, transmission, diff, drive-shafts, brakes, etc...servicing and replacing where necessary. It was a fun project. I'm still in the process of breaking in the engine, only at about 200 miles, but I can't believe how much stronger it is. I'm looking forward to the 500 mile-mark when I can retorque the head and do a final valve adjustment...then take the car out for a good drive. And of course the ongoing projects...My new seat covers and foams are putting the carpet and door panels to shame, the car must have a target on it somewhere...parking lot dings, so when the weather shapes up I'll launch into a little bodywork. I've also begun the 240 bumper swap, they just look so much better than those giant battering rams...I can easily bolt everything back to stock, so no harm...but what an improvement! And tomorrow...new wheels and tires! Those 15x7 Konig Rewinds have been calling my name...so the steels and hubcaps will go into storage... Sorry to ramble on, but I'm pretty into it...looking forward to this forum, keep 'em on the road...