d-phlip

I have a 240Z I'm working on and an 06 350Z. I love the seats on the 350. Very comfortable with good lateral support. So I found a set of power, heated leather seats from an '05 350Z on ebay for $500. They fit great after I trimmed the plastic storage trays off of of the door side of each seat. Left the bottom rail from the 240Z seats in place. Welded 2 3/16" transverse bars across the original 240 tracks and welded the 350Z bottom rails to the top of the 3/16" bars. You lose about 3/4" of height by leaving the lower 240Z rails, but I am six feet tall, and have about 4" of headroom. All in all, they are really comfortable and easy to install.

I talked to him today, and he didn't say he wouldn't do it, but he thinks (and I agree) that there is a pretty limited market for 240Z flares for 335/35-17 (or similar width) tires. If he decides he will consider it, I'll let you know and put you in touch with him.

I don't know. I should see Ralph sometime this week and will ask him. I'll let you know

I have a 72 240Z with 6 liter LS2 and T56 6 speed. After the engine/trans install (by Dave - (Viperredls1z), we did a 4 wheel Willwood disc brake setup from Arizona Z Car and while I was doing that, I opted for the package with 5 x 4.5" lugs which gave me the option for larger tires and wheels. I got a set of wheels (11x17 rear and 9x17 front) and mounted Michelin 335/35-17 rears and 275/40-17 fronts. The car originally had hand built flares, but they were poorly done and in any case did not cover the larger tires. This gave me the perfect opportunity to do some paint and bodywork that I have been putting off. The car is in Ralph Garza's Body shop in Roseburg, Oregon for complete body work and paint. Check my facebook page: Datsun V8Z. The old paint is almost all gone,body panels are being aligned and this weekend they started on the flares. I made templates out of 1/2 inch plywood that would be the outside opening of the flares. The template radius is 1 1/2 inches larger than the tire radius. I located the center of the template 1" above the center of the wheels/tires, allowing for a bit more suspension travel. This weekend, Ralph and his buddy John from Portland (who has done SEMA class winners) started mocking up the flares. They are using rigid styrofoam blocks and spray foam to construct a workable surface, then filing and sanding down to a final shape. Hopefully this will be done this weekend, and the fiberglassing can begin. The side marker lights go away, and I'm adding turn signals behind the front grill (yet to be fabricated). No front bumper. Thin black fiberglass bumper? in the rear. It will be painted with many layers of Kandy Tangerine over gold metalflake with a black stripe down the center. This is my preferred daily driver, so we are adding some comfort touches: Lots of sound insulation, Honda S2000 power mirrors, leather reupholstery on the existing 350Z power/heated seats. Also adding a small overhead console for rear-view camera. I've attached a photo of the car before bodywork and a few pictures of it as it sits in the shop. I'll try to post every few days to keep everyone updated.

You might just try building them yourself! I have a 72 240Z with 6 liter LS2 and T56 6 speed. After the engine/trans install (by Dave - (Viperredls1z), we did a 4 wheel Willwood disc brake setup from Arizona Z Car and while I was doing that, I opted for the package with 5 x 4.5" lugs which gave me the option for larger tires and wheels. I got a set of wheels (11x17 rear and 9x17 front) and mounted Michelin 335-35/17 rears and 275-40/17 fronts. The car originally had hand built flares, but they were poorly done and in any case did not cover the larger tires. This gave me the perfect opportunity to do some paint and bodywork that I have been putting off. The car is in Ralph Garza's Body shop in Roseburg, Oregon for complete body work and paint. Check my facebook page: Datsun V8Z. The first big project was fender flares. I made templates out of 1/2 inch plywood that would be the outside opening of the flares. The template radius is 1 1/2 inches larger than the tire radius. I located the center of the template 1" above the center of the wheels/tires, allowing for a bit more suspension travel. This weekend, Ralph and his buddy John from Portland (who has done SEMA class winners) started mocking up the flares. They are using rigid styrofoam blocks and spray foam to construct a workable surface, then filing and sanding down to a final shape. Hopefully this will be done this weekend, and the fiberglassing can begin. I have included a few pictures, and there are a lot more on the Datsun V8Z facebook page. Good luck!

I am looking to buy a new or very good used ring and pinion set in 4.10 or 4.36 ratio for a long nose R200. Will pay reasonable price.

Sorry - didn't know the rules (should have). What donation level is required? Thanks. Dave

I have done a lot of research on this and didn't find the answer (or found it but didn't understand it). I have a 72z with a 280Z long nose R200, 3.73 gears and a Quaife helical gear LSD that accepts 12mm or 10mm bolts. I want lower gearing for acceleration and have a T56 with 0.5 sixth gear, so cruising RPM will be no problem. I found a VLSD with 4.08 gears from a 91 300ZX (purchased in a short nose R200). It is on the way - I haven't seen it yet. Will the ring and pinion from the VLSD bolt into my long nose R200 with Quaife differential? Any help will be appreciated. If I missed the answer to this in my research, I apologize.

You might check with Ron Sessions at Streetrodengines.com. I bought a new LS2, complete w/ accessories (PS, AC, Alt, Computer, Painless wiring harness, etc. Also included was bell housing, clutch w/ slave cylinder, T56 and Corvette motor mounts, all new. Price delivered to Roseburg Oregon from Texas was just under $10,000. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=120795

No, the seat controls don't contact my thigh. They are recessed below the surface of the seat. My seats I think are 05, and and they are almost identical to 06 350Z seats. I'm 6'0 and 200 lbs. They fit me perfectly.

They are leather with power and heat (don't have the heat hooked up yet). Had to trim the plastic pockets off the outside of both seats, then they fit perfectly. About the same headroom and legroom as the stock 72 seats.

I have a 72Z that had a 350 with mild roller cam, aluminum "trick flow" heads, MSD ignition and Holley 750. I had a 3.73 rear and 700R4 trans. P295/50-15 rear tires (26.6" diameter) No matter how I drove it or tuned it, I seemed to get 10 - 12 mpg. I finally gave up. I bought an LS2 crate engine, along with new T56 trans. (ViperRedLS1Z did the install). Now I get 18 - 20 mpg. It is an expensive upgrade, but the economy, power and driveability are significant improvements. The trans has the 0.5 overdrive 6th gear, and I never use it with the tall tires and rear gearing. I am thinking of going to 4.11 rear gears which I don't think will hurt the gas mileage. Good luck with your project. Dave

Sorry this took so long. If you need any other views, let me know. Dave

I don't know what front spoiler was used - it was on the car when I got it. The turn signals are stock 72 Z. When I get around to body work and paint, I'm going to do some modifications on the front. I'll try to get some close-ups taken and post them. Dave Philippi

Mike: Here is a photo of the LS2 with all accessories. My description of the John's Cars AC. unit being high left (a replacement for the Corvette alternator) wasn't excactly right, now that we have actually received and installed the unit. It is more mid left, with the power steering unit being just inboard of the A.C. compressor. Attached is a photo I took today with all accessories attached. We would like to have more belt contact on the crankshaft pulley, but we will see what happens. Dave K should have some more pictures this week on his thread update. Dave Philippi

Mike: We're using the JTR ceramic coated headers made by Sanderson. It looks like everything will fit. Dave P.

The A.C. unit (John's Cars unit) will basically replace the Corvette alternator shown in this picture. The P.S unit on the Corvette is installed inboard of the alternator on the left side, and will remain in that position. The alternator moves to a low left position. The alternator is a little larger in diameter, and conflicted with the strut tower, but the A.C. unit will fit (we haven't received it yet, but John has done this install). Hope this helps. Dave P.

Mike: The original car had A.C. and Dave K. is going to great lengths to keep it for this LS2 install. The engine I bought from Regal Performance (Ron Sessions) was a Corvette crate motor, with Corvette accessories. The alternator on the Corvette is mounted in a high left position, which looked really good on paper, but conflicted with the left strut tower. The solution that Dave K. came up with was to convert to Camaro/Firebird accessories, and mount the alternator low left, with the A.C. compressor (Johns Car's unit) mounted high left. We haven't received the compressor yet, but John assures us it works with the LS engine and F body accessories. Since we are installing a Subaru power steering rack, we had to retain the P.S. unit. If any of this is incorrect, I'm sure Dave K. will correct it in his next weekly update to this thread. You are correct in assuming I am really anxious to give it a drive!

Bill: Thanks. I grew up in the late 60's and early 70's and loved the muscle cars, but my first "real" car was a 72 240Z. I think I'm going for that elusive "GT-Muscle Car-Luxury Car" which is probably a contradiction in terms. Dave

The Engine/trans are are part of my payment to Dave Kipperman. He has a Z shell outside of his shop that will soon become another V8Z. Dave

Gary: What exactly is the "Battle Royale". How many V8 Z's attend. I would at least like to attend to see what else is out there. And yes, Dave Kipperman is encouraging me to attend some competitions, which I might do, but the car is not being set up as a race car. No roll cage, 3-point seat belt, etc. So, depending on what your competitions are and what the requirements are, I would like to test the new "V8Z". Please keep me informed as to schedule of events. Thanks Dave Philippi

Mike: That is my car Dave Kipperman is working on. It sounds like your car is exactly what I am aiming for. I want a comfortable car, a daily driver. I have bought but not installed power windows and power mirrors. I also have the R200 lsd with CV axels. I have installed 350Z power heated seats, and it is getting close. Kipperman is a perfectionist. He has done the power steering install on his LS1 Z, and it works great. He is going to keep this thread updated on the whole project. Anything you could give me on how your installation works (driveability, gas mielage, etc.) would be greatly appreciated. Bythe way, my other car (which will become my wife's car when this is done) is an 06 350Z Grand Touring in Lemans Sunset. Dave Philippi

Terry: I recently bought an 06 Z, and love the seats. Lots of lateral support, reclines, power, heated, leather, etc. I am building a 72 Z as a daily driver. I fournd a set of leather 350 Z seats on e-bay for $500. Had to trim the plastic side pockets off both seats, but after that they fit great. Snug to the console, about an inch to the door panel. Approximately the same headroom and leg room as the stock seats. I'm very happy with them. By the way, the stock 72 seats are now extra an for sale. Newly upholstered and webbed. Excellent condition. $250. By the way, I love your car. Dave

Are you still doing this installation? I have a 700R4 transmission.72 w/ 350 and R180 open rear end. Would really like to get a r200 LSD. Would your installation include seals, etc? Please let me know if it is still available. Thanks. Dave Philippi d-phlip