RP975

Yes, it is having hopefully its last engineer inspection tomorrow, then a few more tests.

Hi Guys, I copied these pics from classicz forum about 10 years ago maybe from one of the zcar annual conventions. You are right very nice craftmanship in making them, I also like that they are facing the right direction, ie not effected by luggage or stuff in the back of the car.

Has anyone seen these , are they speaker enclosures?

Not at this stage, it is still in my garage waitng for me to work on it again. Maybe next year? Rob:)

Hi guys, Please forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question, quite a few people have mentioned that the stock 240-260z wheel had a 15mm offset but they do not mention if it was +15mm or -15mm? Could somebody clear this up for me please. Thanks Rob

Man your car is "far out", the spoiler looks "spunky", the indicators are "wild" ands you must be some "cool cat" driving down the road in those "wheels".

Here is the shroud polished and with the fans fitted.

I thought that I should show you some pics of the fan shroud that I made from 2mm thick aluminium sheet. I started by making a male die out of 7 ply the size of the radiator openning but made a radius on the corners so that the metal would form more easily. Then I cut out templates of the fans and their mounting points and screwed them onto the base. I then had to make a frame that was strong enough to handle the pressure of pressing the metal. I made it from timber that I had lying around, although I should have used hardwood. The timber was 2" x 8" with steel angle brackets making the corner joints as strong as poss. You need to aneal the metal as best you can before pressing, and part way through if need be.

My DD is a '99 E55 AMG Merc, before that a 93 Z32

Hi Guys, Today we took the z down to the muffler shop to have the exhaust and manifolds made. I wiil post some pics when they are done. Rob

More Photos, This time showing the rear diff brace, front and rear discs and calipers fitted but not plumbed. the rear of the car showing the handbrake linkage for all to see until the exhaust goes in. Also the Recaros are in and the car had it's first wash since I have owned it now that it is back on the ground with 5 stud hubs and wheels. In the next few weeks it is going on holidays to have custom exhaust manifolds and exhaust made. So I am making some progress again.... Cheers Rob

Me again here are some pics of the new tailshaft that has a slider in it because the trans doesn't. Also the handbrake linkage fitted and some axle spacers that I machined when I had my axles shortened to much..... Rob

Hi guys, Here are some photos of my handbrake linkage, it clears the lower control arm when at full down travel and uses stock hanbrake cable. Rob

Thanks guys for your input with this, now I can work out what I am going to do about wheels.I have a ford 5 stud pattern now and want to find some 16x7" mags. I can only increase the track by 25mm, and the front hubs that I have have already taken up 9mm each side. I am in NSW , Australia and the rules are fairly strict for mods. Rob

Hi Guys, I have searched and have found differing answers to the original S30 wheel offset, some say -15, some say +15 and others say 0 offset. I have a 1974 260Z with dealer fitted slot mags that are 14' x 6" with 0 offset. When I look at the Datsun workshop manual for a US 280Z, it states that the offset is 15, but it doesn't say if it is + or -. Does anyone know what the standard offset is, or can somebody with a standard wheel measure the backspace and width for me please? Cheers Rob

Hi guys, I haven't progressed a great deal. I have the diff mounted with a new brac behind the diff because the rear cover is longer. The axles have been shortened and a new tailshaft has been made. The transmission used to have a large rubber coupling on the back which we have removed then we welded on a flange to suit a universal joint and the new tailshaft. The tailshaft has a slider in the front section because the trans doesn't. I have been making new benches and shelves in the garage in an attempt to be better organized before I get back into my project. In the next few weeks I will get the Z back on it's wheels so that I can take it down to have custom exhaust manifolds and exhaust made. Cheers Rob

Hi Jon, Templates might be difficult.... When the engine is out next time I will see if it is possible. It might be better to measure up as you go, I could talk you through at each stage. My engineer told me what he wanted as far as the mounting x-member and mounts went.I have some pics over at HybridZ as well which might be helpful. Are you going to do a VQ swap? Where are you and what Z do you have?

Hi Jon, I have been busy with work for quite a while, so not a lot of progress. I have a set of late model AU3 Falcon front vented rotors and calipers on custom 5 stud front hubs from Hoppers Stoppers in Aust. The rears I have modified alloy XF Falcon rear brackets and calipers and I am using XD Falcon rear vented rotors.My Rear hubs have been redrilled to 5 stud and have a reinforcing girdle I suppose you would call it that sits behind the hub and has longer studs that locate into both. I will try to post some pics. I have mounted my Recaro seats as well. I also have an R200 Vlsd with a nismo rear cover installed.

Hey Brycey, Your car is looking GREAT!!!! I too like your cold air box, looks very cool. You have been very busy, what colour will your car be? What are you going to do about wheels? Cheers Rob

Hi, here are some pictures of what I thought that the seat belt covers were. I really like these, the contours and the angle at which the speakers are facing. Does anyone know about these? Rob

Hi Tomohawk, We didn't get the 280z here in Australia, I had only seen photos on the web and assumed (which I shouldn't have, bum out of me) that they were speaker boxes. Obviously the photos that I posted all were from the back, but I do vaguely remember seeing a photo from the front showing speaker boxes in that position years ago. I thought that it was a great place to have the speakers as it is basicaly useless space at the moment. Rob

Hey Dave, That is looking very cool!!! And great drawing. Rob

I imagine the largest poss within reason, maybe some one has a better idea on speaker size... Rob

Hey Zs-ondabrain, That looks great, how would you construct them? I think that they would look almost factory. Rob

Thanks, you guys are great, I do appreciate your responses and feel like a real dummy, it's not the first time.... I will have to think about how I can make some. Back in the 80's when I had Z's I made a speaker enclosure that sat on the flat section forward of the rear strut towers and went all the way across. It was made from two pieces of wood that were hinged and when sat down formed a triangular cross section, it had four speakers in it that faced up toward the seats and was padded. It had a good capacity as an enclosure and when needed could be just lifted up, folded up because of the hinges and moved forward when I had to carry something larger in the back. Any way I will think about the strut top enclosures. Cheers Rob Rob