zcarnut

I’ve had the Datsun Competition Parts “quick steering knuckles†(which are 10mm shorter than stock) on my 260Z for over twenty years and they are definitely a worthwhile improvement.

Only the first 500 or so 240Z’s actually used a real wood steering wheel. The later 240Z’s all had a “wood simulated†hard plastic steering wheel.

The 240Z's and early 260Z's did not have them, whereas the later 260Z's and all the 280Z's did.

That is incorrect. There were lots of 2+2 early 260Z's produced.

What is the part number of the Maxima bracket you are trying to use? It should be 44155-N3202. The "early" (1979-81) 280ZX caliper will bolt up to it. Use the early rotor as well. For more info see: http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=126031 The 44155-04S10 Maxima caliper requires use of the "late" (1982-83) 280ZX caliper and rotor.

1982-83 280ZX rear.

From what I have read and been told by knowledgeable individuals, only the first 1,000 (or so) 240Z’s had the 8.0 kilogram (17.6lb) flywheel. The change to the heavier flywheel (the 11 kilogram, or the 24.2 lb one) occurred when Nissan experienced breakage issues with the early crankshafts that had only six counterweights. This resulted in serious harmonic vibrations at engine speeds over 6000 rpm which lead to the failure of dampers and flywheels. Nissan “fixed†the problem by replacing the crankshaft with one that used eight counterweights. They also changed the flywheel to the heavier one and I believe that even the damper was replaced with a re-designed one. If you have seen a copy of the very early printing of the 240Z parts manual, it does indeed have different part numbers for the associated (the crankshaft, the damper and the flywheel) parts. The above part changes occurred beginning with engine serial number L24-3606, which would have been around mid-January in 1970. Later on, during the “second life†of the L24 engine in the Datsun 810 and the later Nissan Maxima, the usage of lighter flywheel was re-introduced. BTW, the fact that some of the 240Z used the 17.6 lb flywheel has been used by some of the more clever ITS racers to justify using the Y70 flywheel as a performance advantage.

Yes. The Z31 axle shafts are approx. 1 and 1/8 inches longer than the 280ZXT axle shafts.

Not true. Nissan used the same diameter studs on all Z cars from 1970 to 1987.

Just count how many turns it takes for the lug nut to bottom out. 12mm x 1.25mm studs require a minimum of 8 turns of engagement. I prefer to have 10 turns on my Nissans. If you do not have at least 8 turns, then it's time to install longer wheel studs. http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=107

Yes.

FYI, the LD28 diesel main bearing cap bolts are one grade stronger than the stock L28 ones.

Some info I've found useful (and accurate): http://z31.com/repairs/tbelt.shtml http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=122218 http://www.xenonz31.com/timingbelt.html

The first year of the Datsun 810 (1977) used a manual (non-power assist) re-circulating steering box. It bolts into the 280ZX. Check the junkyards in your area. You might get lucky.

Check out this page (address courtesy of Tony D): http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvillecar/construction%20page-23.html

If you buy one then definitely get one that folds up when not in use. Otherwise they take up a lot of valuable garage floor space. I recently got one of the foldable two-ton hoists at Harbor Freight. It was on sale and I had a $25 off coupon so it only cost me around $125. Before I bought it I would always just bum a "cherry picker" from one of my car buddies.

Since the threads on the Maxima (and all other Nissan) calipers is 10mm x 1.0mm you must use a 10mm banjo bolt and therefore a banjo hose end with a 10mm hole. I used Earl’s Performance Products when I assembled my stainless steel flex lines with a banjo fitting at one end: You can download the Earl’s catalogs at http://www.earls.co.uk/

The front pinion bearing is available through Nissan as a 38335-N3220. It is the correct original OEM bearing. I just got one last month from my local dealer.

FYI, my parts catalog shows 43083-35F00 for the rear Quest stud.