Challenger

Thats really cool, I saw a rat rod at a good guys show that kind looked like yours it was just a frame wheels and a motor but it had like 25 inch wide tires. Id love to make something like yours and use a rotary. The car would be light enough that there wouldnt be much bad low rpm acceleration like the rotarys are common for. Your project looks nice, Im amazed at what people can do, My hats off to you and your dad. Good luck!

Wouldnt a 500 caddy be way to heavy to put in a Z? I'm guessing your not going for autocross more a drag car? From what I know does a front heavy car make it understeer in the corners? Might not be a good autoX car but I bet itll fly in the quarter mile!! Good luck

I agree with 81280zx Id go with a V8. And also is your Probe stock cause I know a guy eit a probe gt and it doesnt do 14's. mabey different year if yours is stock.

Looks like a nice project, its nice to have someone that you admire and are able to learn from. Some of the neatest people are people in their 60's or 70's that have worked on their cars for theyre entire life. Good Luck, so your gonna have in done in a month or so... jk Kim (owner) at Idaho Z car in Boise has a 280z with a nicely built V8 4bbl that runs 10's, pretty good considering a 1000 hp Hennessy Viper does it in high 9's. Yours might not be a ten second car but I bet it hauls and will beat nearly anything a ricer and there Hyndai can dish out.

Hi Proboner lol, theyres a TON of info on this website at your disposal, Im trying to restore a 280 2+2 and not having alot of cash (cant get a job at 15) I have depended alot on getting on hybridz and getting info on how I can do stuff myself, THANK YOU everyone. Aaannnyways Id really watch out for rust in the lower rear fender, rocker panels front fenders, repairs on the front valance (alot get crunched) and battery tray, frame rails and the ridge below the deck lid. If theyres others I dont know about someone should respond soon and add on. I know a guy with a probe gt. I dont know much about the motor but I dont know if theyd be any better then a somewhat built L28 or L28et which are nearly like a direct replacment motor.(kinda) But whatever you feel comfortable with is your decision. I think you want to drag and run atleast 14's and not spend a ton get a V8 and for autox a stock motor or other L motor should be fine. If you dont know already Black Dragon and Motorsport Auto are two good suppliers of Z parts. Hope I was some help. Good Luck

Just get a rusty z and practice on the panels. Not meaning to destroy a Z for no reason, you can find a really cheap Z with bad panels and use them and then use the mechanical/interior/etc for parts. You could practice on exactly what youll be working on.

I was thinking of trying to find some 500-1000 cc motorcycle TB and mount them to some kind of flange and put on the z's fuel rail? Then attach a tube to it to a afm and filter. Im not sure what all would be needed probably a different programmable computer and alot of tuning. Thanks for the feedback.

Hi a friend of mine has a 67 mustang with a 250 strait six and has been looking into performance parts and he showed me this efi manifold. I was wondering If anyone has seen this design or has one like it. It looks simple but effective. I know that alot of Z owners dont like the stock efi and so if some people like it Im gonna try to email Motorsport Auto and mabey if they see enough demand from people on the forum mabey they could build it. Just throwing around ideas.Tell me if you dont like it or you think it wouldnt be worth messing with, all critisizm is welcome. Thanks

They look nice where did you buy them from?

That does look nice! So youll have like a built in laptop in the dash that will continually run so you get instant tuning? Will you be able to go from different modes, economy, race, drag, etc. Pretty neat I dont think I could get all the fancy equipment working, and the maintain it. Will it be wired to the speakers?---- "Danger Manifold, Danger Manifold!!!" "Shut up!!" JK

Color doesnt matter but large stickers and decals atleast add 50 hp then color of the sticker may a several more... If you guys didnt know that, i just dont know where youve been for the last few years? I think the reflective panels are just for heat dissipation/reflection?

Dont know if you need this or not but I thought id draw a picture.

1978 280z 2+2 Hi I am in the process of removing the rear bumper struts and will be when able putting back on msa euro style bumpers or fiberglass bumpers, anyways I've got two questions. Is they're anyway to get the right side bumper strut out without removing gas tank? Left side comes out easy because gas tank doesnt extend across entire car in back because of exhaust clearance. How to mount fiberglass bumpers on the back, I plan to smooth the rear end then mount the bumper. I have the front brackets and know how to change them but dont have any idea how to mount the rear bumper or what kind of brackets are needed. Thanks

I really dont think a 1st generation Z would beat a 350z in the quarter mile. Second, the guy in the 2+2 was a little over ambitious and left a little early. Or it might also just be that the 2+2 are just sooo fast... I like the show wish I could have seen that episode.

Not to burst anyone's bubble, just wondering why you'd want to convert to a right hand drive? I bet you could buy a car from Europe or asia and have it shipped over?? But what do I know.. 1978 280z 2+2 I wish restoration was cheaper.

Personally I dont think adding a roll cage fixes the problem of a bad weld. The frame will be only strong at the roll cage mounting points and it my put even more stress on a bad weld depending on where the weld is. For example if you have to plastic peices bolted together they wont break as easy (stress is spread out). Switch one to aluminum and the plastic will break (all stress is on plastic) . Works on Nitro(gas) R/C cars, guessing it would be same principle. AAAAnnnnyyyways, the cars looks really nice so far. Good Luck

Its hard enought to find a Z coupe with clean quarters, but a 2+2..... I've personally never seen another 2+2 in a junkyard other then at Idaho z car in Boise (great place) and they were terribly rusted. So Im kinda stuck with getting someone else to make them or attempt it myself with coupe replacement panels. (some sheet metal experience.) But thanks for the feedback.

What ever floats your boat Im fine with and Im all for making a car look nice but at some point its just to far. You dont have a Z any more. If you want something that looks one way buy a car closer to what you want . I like early bumpers on 280z's or a small body kit (MSA III is just is at the border) but puting huge wings or outrageous flares on street cars is out of the picture for me. Personally I think you should compliment not change the cars body lines. But like I said whatever floats your guys boats, and Im just glad people are involved in theyre car at all.

Hi I have a 78 280z 2+2 Im working on and it had pretty severe rust damage in the rockers and rear fenders, we fixed the rockers but still need work done on the rear fenders. Tabco sells a coupe rear fender and were hoping that we can buy several coupe panels to patch the 2+2 fenders which arent available. Most of the work is bondo work and some metal once we get the replacement panels. Im only 15 so I'm on a lower (very low) budget but would like to get proper work/help done for a reasonable price. Thanks On a different note Z owners need to get a night going that we meet somewhere to show off our Z's in Spokane, mines not in street legal condition but I'd be there whenever I could, and as soon as my cars is ready she'd be out there too. BTW Avatar isnt my car, that car doesnt have quite as much rust as mine...

Hmmm..... They all look interesting not into the ricer style body kit but to each its own, Im gonna try to work on a pic.

Hi I was wondering how you filled the seam between the headlight bucket and the fender it looks great. Cars coming along nice!! 78 280z 2+2 never ending project

Did you say the 60mm tb had better flow then stock, and is theyre anyway you could check flow with stock afm and boot that connects afm to the 60mm throttle body, I would like to know if overall the throttle body is an improvement in airflow. Thanks

I'll do the same. I have to think about that more. I've done some stupid stuff on my motorcycle.

Can you rent any SRT vehicles?

Hi I recently got a good 240sx TB and switched over the linkage. I've thought about and Im somewhat hesitant if it really works. Other then porting where the TB connects to the intake manifold wouldnt the runners and ports need to be larger or better flowing to provide any power increases? If anyone has proof of hp+, or better 1/4 mile times please respond. If Im gonna put it on I want it to actually work instead of me convincing myself that its faster because I put money and time in it. Thanks 78 280z 2+2 Project car.