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BQR280Z

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Posts posted by BQR280Z

  1. ZFAN - no they are not Mustang tails, they are actually truck/trailer lights. They are LED versions, with that wonderful crisp on/off but they came with flat lenses that I didn't like. So I cut them apart and molded on the lenses from the regular (convex) truck/trailer lights. All six are tail-lights, the inside four are brake lights and the outside two are turns.

    Bill

  2. Here's some shots of my "Baby" - 1976 280Z It has been a fun build and is a real riot to drive. The head turning ability of Z30's is amazing considering all the other big buck, high tech iron running out there these days. Just finishing up my Nitrous system, built it totally stand-alone. It has it's own fuel supply and inter-locks on fuel pressure, WOT, and clutch engaged only. I love it but I think I would like to build a Z32 next. Tell me what you think, I always value the opinion of fellow Zer's.

     

    Bill

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  3. I picked up a Turbo Thunderbird fan set. The fan motors have older long shaft motors, but the shroud was interesting because it had two "flappers" in the closed area. They would blow open at speed and then be sucked closed when the fans were on at around town speeds. How about that - Ford actually did have a better idea.

     

    Billthumb_Zdone-rightside.jpg

  4. I have an 83 ZX motor in my 76 - I used a Clifford manifold, a straight bolt-on. And YES you can trash all of the EFI crap, I pulled all the wiring harness out, ECU and the high pressure fuel pump. I am using a Mallory Uni-lite distributor and it runs super.

    Bill

     

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  5. After the article in the last SportZ mag on stock aging Datsun temp guages, I would hook up a good aftermarket guage and see what you have. I took the fan off the motor and went electric, when I built my new motor. I connected one to a an automatic thermal switch and a second to a console mounted switch. With a 180 degree thermastat, I have never had to click on the extra fan, even in 90+ temps. The water pump and radiator are new, but stock Datsun.

    Billnormal_Zdone-leftside%5B1%5D.JPG

  6. I started with a 6" chrome air cleaner, threw out the filter and bent-up a piece of 2.5" band iron into a circle that would fit inside the chrome top and bottom. Then took a peice of 3" exhaust pipe and ovalized it to fit on the side, some grinding, drilling, welding, and you have a snout for cold air intake. The rubber sections are 3" radiator hose from a Mack truck, some 3" tube, and cone filter.

    Bill

  7. Thanks Guys,

    My son and I have had a great time building the Z. The hood is all steel and needed to clear the 390 Holley and the 1" thermal spacer and the 1/2" Nitrous block. The tail lights are trailer lights, available at Fleet Farm or any Automotive store. The surrounds are built-up stock Datsun, because I liked the look of the stock reverse lights. The tails are also LED's which came stock with flat lenses. I cut the flat lenses off and bonded on convex lenses from standard oval trailer lights. I agree the look is 67-68 Mustang, but I used to have a 67 Mustang GT-390 and always liked the rear end. If people don't notice the DATSUN on the windsheild they won't know what it is from the backend.

     

    Hey Mat73GNZ, the temp plates suck, I got my new ones but I'm going to leave the temps till they expire. Because there is only ONE and the "man" won't give me any crap about no front plate.

    Bill

  8. I have built several big block Fords and you will certianly have plenty of torque, but just remember the BBF are NO rev'ers so run your gearing accordingly. The weight of a 428 and a C6 trans are going to load the Z chasis hard to the front, do everything possible to remove front weight. Battery relocation, light weight front bumper. The stock R200 in 3.54 or taller gearing should hold up, so long as you use traction as your relief valve. There are many excellent tires out there these days, so tire it so you can break it loose at will, result instant chasis unloading. Strut brace it to death, and hang on tight.

    Bill

  9. Can one of you Z experts tell me if a 5-speed from a 85 300ZX will bolt to a L28 motor??? I just picked up an 85 300ZX for a parter and if the trans will fit my 76 280, I'll keep it.

    Thanks Bill

  10. I'm running 2 fans one on each side of the radiator. The puller is from a Ford Super Coupe T-bird (cut apart from the pair) 7 blade and hooked to a Flex-a-lite adjustable sensor, for full automatic operation. This one fits down in the lower left part of the radiator, under the distributor. It is a long shaft motor. The other is from a Ford Taurus, pancake motor, and mounted in front as a pusher, and wired to a switch on the dash. I have a yellow indicator light to let me know when the auto one comes online, then I just keep an eye on the temp in traffic and if it starts to climb, click on the aux fan.

    Bill

  11. Tomahawk: Your project sounds like its is coming along nicely. I just got some new headlights from "H4lights" - super lights, with Euro style "city lights" in the reflector also. My car is yellow so I painted the city light bulbs yellow - looks good with yellow headlights.

  12. Took the Z down the road for the first time with the new motor/trans combo. The trans is a 5-speed from a 83ZX - ratios seem good, but the trans jumps out of reverse. Anyone know whats up?? If I hold it firmly in reverse, I can feel something every revolution of the gears. Broken gear? or bad bearing?? Is the trans worth rebuilding or is just finding another the way to go??

    Thanks for your help.

    Bill

  13. I recently cowled my stock steel hood and I think it came out pretty well. Since the under hood reinforcement on a Z is all on the perimeter, the center is free to move where you want it. I measured 4" down each side and 4" across the back and then sliced it open down to about 2-3" from the front edge. Now the "cowl" flap can be put where ever you want it. I welded 1/8 rod along both openings and then used 3/16" rod for lift supports. 2" at the back, forced 2" supports 16" forward, then just let the hood flow back. The nice thing is the lines stay Datsun. You will need a little bondo to fill the slight dimples at the front, from raising rear, but all in all it looks nasty. I will email a pix of mine.

    Bill

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