BWRex

I suppose it really boils down to how attached you are to your Z. ANYTHING can be fixed,it just depends on the level of dedication you have as an individual.I agree with the guys on this thread,the shell is not the greatest,the prior craftmanship is a little shoddy,and there are Z shells out there that may be a little rusty,but haven't been in a frame tweaking wreck.So I'm with them on that,but on the other hand,with hard work,careful planning,triple checking measurements,and the ability to tackle such a big project,(just look at Mull's video collection)the gratification of building a car literally from the ground up,IMO would outweigh tenfold. Plus, I'd rather see someone bringing a Z back from the dead,than a junkyard car crusher squeezing the life out of it.................

I'm going with the TPI for a couple of reasons.I was an 11 year owner of an '87 GTA,just plain love the cars,The TPI from around 2200-4200 RPM gives quite a kick in the pants(when dialed in,and running cool),and IMO,one of the coolest looking engines out there.My GTA weighed in at a hair over 3700 lbs.,can't wait to hit the mid powerband in my Z that's probably 1300 lbs. lighter! :burnout:

If possible,I would start with taking some precise measurements,and making certain your frame isn't out of alignment.(The last thing you want is your Z doglegging down the road!)Most good body shops have frame racks that they use for fixing,aligning,etc. damaged frames.Yours took a pretty hard hit to take that kind of damage,so IMO,that's where I would start.I'd then add some 'Pete Paraska' style subframe connectors,straighten all of your floor pan steel,etc.the best you can,and weld them to the subframe connectors.A bit of work,the 'right' way to do it(depending on who you ask)with the strength added and the piece of mind, you can't lose.

I'd like to know myself.The Tilton compact 3/4,correct?What was the price on that unit?I should search,but I noticed you owned a 280Z,just wondering if it'll fit a 71' 240Z.Same bolt pattern,I'm pretty sure.......

looks to me like a full-sized Hot Wheels car for some reason......

I dig the taillights.I think it would blend nicer if the housing were painted to match the green instead of the matte black,IMO.It's all about the flow,ya know? Nice job!

Thanks for the vid.Those hillbillies are a bunch of tools.Props to HybridZ!Good showing fellas!Wouldn't want that sh*tbox Monte anyway......

Very nice.What is bolted just inside the trans tunnel?Metal plate?Exaust clearance ok?

JMortensen,I like that idea,I noticed 240Hoke 'grooved' the front rear wheelwell to possibly add strength to the mainbar.I like how the mainbar is 1/2 'sunk' into the rocker.I wanted my mainbar pad to tie in the SFC,rear frame,and rocker and box in from underneath.Does your pad tie into the perpendicular rear frame?BTW,What dia. is your mainbar?Thickness? Tube,Did you fab box steel to the inner rocker?Along the lines of what I was thinking.I'm digging that idea,so post a couple more photos if you have them of front and rear mounting,steel thickness,etc....

I didn't realize how small those photos are!I'll have to figure that out.Members galleries have full size ones.Good luck with the project!

In reguards to the front,I strengthened the swaybar mounts(there's a good thread on swaybar reinforcement:search: )and I'm going to fab some strut tower braces once I test fit the 350TPI setup I've got going in.Hopefully a triangluated setup attaching to the firewall as well.That should stiffen up the front well. I used 2x3 .125 tubing for the SFC and the inside hump is about 1/2"of that.I was thinking the same about foot placement,but w/insulation and carpeting,you'll barely notice it.Plus,it actually fits your foot pretty good.Here's a pic.passenger side. The under side hangs about 1 1/2" below the floor,and will be perfect for running the brake/fuel lines to the sides too,as stated above. heres a pic of the main rollbar perch behind the passenger seat.I welded it to the SFC,top of the rear main frame,and boxed it in below.Should work out awesome.Hope these help!

I did Pete's style,and IMO,they look the toughest,I fabbed my rollcage main bar pads to them(rigid),you can use them to mount new fuel/brake lines to the sides of them(underside,which I'm planning to do),just an all around strong,thought out way to add strength and to tie the front and the rear together.A little added weight,yes.But added safety,yes.Thoughts on torque frame twist,gone.It's a big project,but in the long run,I'm certain you'll be glad you made this part of the Z as strong as possible.IMO,of course.I'd like to see some more posts on this topic,esp.from people who came up with their own ideas,and/or added or deviated from this premise.

Even with the 240 bumpers,I wouldn't want to get hit anywhere in the car.Although something is better than nothing.I like the cell wraparound idea....

Good lord!I was waiting for Spock and Capt.Kirk to get farted out of the exaust!Unbelievable.

Grand.Maybe 2?$$$

Me too.No disrespect.IMO,I'm leaning towards the xenon 240Z front airdam from MSA,or the Type III.Looks good,seems to flow with the lines of the Z quite nicely.Take a look.Anyway,for any of your plans for your Z,use the search,and try the members galleries. HUGE amounts of info.Kinda like that bumper/airdam......J/K!

Sorry to offend anyone,as I am a BIG fan of any Z in any condition(just take a look at mine!)I should have stayed with my initial thought of that airdam and front bumper,and said they were just HUGE.....Point taken,better than the stock valence....

If I was the passenger with the camera,you'd know I was there by the sh*t stain on the seat!......Crazy....

Very cool.Big GTi fan.My Z is gonna stay the hell away from Tampa!

That's the thing about Z's.Chances are,the owner of some of those cars are probably thinking the same thing when they see a nice one...Gotta respect them...

Of course those front bumpers aren't no skinny minnies either......

You're not kidding....Big and burly....Reminds me of the girlies at the local pub...

I gotta mention that that grey Z on the left is quite possibly the coolest looking Z out there.That color w/ all the black trim,mirrors,airdam,etc is so trick it's sick.Those dished wheels under the flairs,oh man.That's how I want my Z to look.Very inspirational.