Kevin McSweeney

I hate to start a new thread over something so (seemingly) trivial, but I've search all over and cannot find anything. I'm replacing most/all of the bushings in my 280z. Some I'm doing urethane, some I'm retaining rubber. It's a street car and I don't want it to be unbearable. Anyway, I cannot find a rubber transmission crossmember bushing anywhere. Only polyurethane - and this is one area I definitely want to avoid urethane. Any help is appreciated.

Has anybody installed this 80 amp alternator from Zcardepot in their Z? I was planning to go down the 100 amp route but I don't see myself installing a big stereo any time soon and I'm planning to convert most/all external bulbs to LED to lower the power draw. Also trying to keep costs from getting out of hand ? so this seems like a good happy medium - if it's a direct bolt on as they suggest: https://zcardepot.com/collections/charging-starting/products/alternator-high-amp-80-240z-260z-280z

Finally got new wheels and tires. Rota RKR 15x8 0 et in Bronze, and got them mounted with Toyo Proxes R1R's 205/50R15's. I needed to get these so I have wheels to put back on once I do the brake upgrade (wheels on the car now are 14" so too small to fit over the stage 4 kit) but I also need to get the extended wheel studs in order to fit them!

Also gave the brake booster a quick paint to clean it up. Forgot to take photos when finished but looks decent. I was planning to go with stainless hard lines but I can't really justify spending the $350, so gave them a clean, primer and some rustoleum flat black to get them looking good again. Also ordered the stage 4 big brake kit from Silvermine Motors which should be here this week. Planning to start taking apart the front suspension to blast and powder coat the crossmember and sway bar, and do some work to the steering rack.

A few more photographs of the engine bay. Starting putting back some parts such as hood hinges, etc., so I don't have so many boxes of parts lying around everywhere! These photographs are a little blurry in spots and the engine bay is covered in dust but still, looking good! Finished the metalwork on the rear arches and valance and things are looking pretty good, will get some decent photographs during the week.

Thanks, very good advice, appreciate it!

Gents, please see photo below. The door jamb VIN plate got some overspray on it while applying primer to the body. I had planned on popping the rivets holding this plate anyway - both to protect the metal underneath, and to clean up the plate - my question is is there an easy way to get this primer off without damaging what's underneath, and also, how do I go about reinstalling the plate after the body is painted? I know nothing about riveting. Thanks again. Car is progressing well. Hoping to up the pace and have it running by July.

Also a quick picture of the underside showing the replacement floor panels and frame rails all sealed and undercoated. There's an area of rot around the fuel filler that we're also working on right now, and once it is done and protected, the plan is to start running the fuel and brake lines.

It's been a while since I posted - paid work and other things seem to keep getting in the way - but I've been getting things done slowly, a lot of parts have been plated and powder coated, but I'm back into the metal work now for (hopefully) the final stretch. The only other trouble area that I've found are around the rear arches and bumper area. I've already done some shaving (trim holes, side markers, etc.) and once the replacement sheet metal arrives for the arches, hopefully I can get the remaining metal work done in the next week. I've also started converting the rear end to 240z taillights with carbon panels and fitted the ducktail wing.

Got it, thanks - sounds like a good upgrade. Does anybody know if there is a write-up of how to install the MSA short-throw shifter? Planning to order soon but I've never installed one before, and can't find a 'how-to' on this forum..

Thanks for the advice. Had not necessarily planned on taking the head off but I may reconsider. I might also swap out the alternator while I'm at it. As it happens I ordered the engine SS bolt kit yesterday just before posting.

OK, time to revive this thread. I'm back in California and ready to get back to work on the Z. It's going back to the body shop next week to have some work done, but in the mean time, I want to talk about the engine: Right now, I have the stock L28 out of the car. It ran well when it was pulled, but I'm going to use the opportunity to do some work on it while it's out. Right now, I don't have the time and/or budget to think about a swap/upgrade to more power. Hopefully a year or two down the road that will be an option. For now, i just want to have the L28 running as well as possible. With that in mind, the work I have planned while the motor and trans are out of the car is: - Replace clutch - Replace flywheel with slightly lighter weight version. - Replace timing chain, tensioner, etc., and probably the water pump. - A general tune up and clean up. - Clean up of transmission and installation of short throw shifter. My question is, is there any other maintenance or upgrades I should be considering while I have easy access to all areas of the motor? I hope everybody's well and thanks in advance.

Not sure about yellow, but they offered gold zinc - is that the same? I'm certainly no expert but in my experience zinc offers pretty good corrosion resistance.

It's all clear zinc.

One more really small update but got some parts back from zinc plating yesterday, looking great. Unfortunately all of my ziplock bagging and organizing work has been undone by the platers so I'm in for a treat when it comes to reassembly...

I've seen that car before, looks great! Unfortunately the RB or any engine swaps will have to wait!

Does anybody have any experience with the brake kits from Silvermine Motors? Looking at the stage 3 or stage 4 front: https://www.silverminemotors.com/datsun/datsun-280z/brake-upgrades/front-big-brake-kit-stage-3 https://www.silverminemotors.com/datsun/datsun-280z/brake-upgrades/front-big-brake-kit-stage-4 Planning to leave the rear as is for the time being.

Thanks! I'm not 100% decided, but as I'm powder coating all of the trim black and going with dark wheels, the interior will more than likely be black. I am planning to keep the sides of the trans tunnel, the rear strut towers, and the roof bare as a contrast.

Excellent! Is yours an original Datsun green or what’s it off?

Base/clear - it’s a PPG Envirobase High Performance Waterborne paint. It looks amazing in the sun, and got a lot of compliments even in its current state!. It will be a few months until the exterior is anywhere near ready for paint, but definitely happy with progress!

So this got delayed a bit by a few days in Vegas for LDW, but I picked up the Z this morning. Looking forward to hearing thoughts and opinions. The color is probably not for everybody but it's even nicer than I imagined.

Probably the final update of 2018 (or at least major update) will be coming tonight or tomorrow morning. The car has been painted on the interior and engine bay. I haven't seen it in person yet (will be picking it up Tuesday after LDW) but the photographs, which I will share later, look incredible. The paint is expensive but it looks better than I could have imagined. The vehicle is now fully undercoated also.

Color of choice: Verde Ermes. Wheels will be 15x8 Atara Racing Pisang Bronze.

Some more pictures of the car in primer, showing some areas of rust that need to be addressed later when we do final bodywork. FYI we used SPI 2K Epoxy Primer, and will be using Transtar Quick Dry Rubberized Undercoating.

Roof skin replacement finished and car in epoxy primer. Progress will be much slower between now and the beginning of 2019 as I'm going to be out of the country for a couple of months, but before I go I'm planning to get the underside protected, and the interior and engine bay painted. I was planning on getting the BC Racing Coilovers installed but that may or may not happen before I go.