2500lbs---'73 240z, 2.8, full tank of gas, spare, stock trim.
3060lbs---'82 280zx turbo, 4 spd auto, full tank of gas, stock trim.
cars only, no driver.
Check in your area for commercial hollow metal door and frame places. They will have a lot of door cut outs and door frame cut offs in a steel bin ready to go to scrap. The frame material is usually 16g, the door cut outs are usually 18g.
If you're using new seal, just cut the old one out, leaving the glass sitting there. Keep the metal trim for the new seal. That keep the corners straight for the glass.
Your choice on installing after paint, do it yourself or have the professionals do it.
The first thing you want to do is check the body over for rust and what it will take to fix that. It is a MN car afterall.
Then you can start doing something with the engine.
When I did mine, I knew i was going to have new exhaust. I made sure the driveline angle was correct (although I'm not convinced of that now). Then I had the exhaust done in 3".
When you get it done, I'm sure your wife will love it.
Ya just gotta build a better mouse trap dontcha?
When I went to Utah to pick up my transmission from Twheel, I checked out how he did his swap. About the only thing I made different were the brackets. Everything else was pretty much the same.
What did it look like with the other cross members?
With the orignal cross members they do turn up to allow for the exhaust.
The zx tunnel isn't as flat as you think it is. Go ahead and make the brackets with 2x3 square channel with one side cut out. Use which ever crossmember, straight or curved that will match closer to the tunnel. You can always shim it out. For the interior you will have matching plates to thru bolt to.
The straight or curved brace is proably about the best bet to use.
The joys of modification.