darom

CamH, see attached. Hopefully this helps to pick the right carpet kit for your car (sorry guys, I am a newbie in Photoshop to make the pictures look smaller when you click on them).

I bought Chester and Herod 280z carpet kit 1.5 year ago and just this week started installing it. Overall, I am quite disappointed with its quality: 1. The back rear deck carpet is too big to fit, the edges are sewn which I don't feel like cutting unless I take care of these edges later myself. The luggage strap areas didn't align correctly. 2. The front section of the carpet should have had the back side 'skirts' included to cover the whole door sill area nicely, instead of having 2 separate pieces which overlap each other. 3. The same applies to the middle tunnel section. I will have to overlap the front with the middle section to get even look. It came with jute padding which wasn't glued on, I am in the process of gluing the jute padding to the back of the carpet (overkill, probably). The side skirts were included, but cut in such a rushed fashion, I am still scratching my head how to make it look clean. I also asked them to cut me rectangular pieces to put under the seats. For additional $22, I got two pieces, with one side which had edge sewn, the rest weren't. I am wondering why they couldn't get the other 3 sides to finish. Lazy? The cost was $325 shipped. I should have done better research. Sorry about venting here, but I also had a carpet installed years ago in my 67 Camaro, and that was a piece of modern marvel: it was molded, all edges were sewn creating a nice edge, thick with padding jute glued. It fit like a glove. It was one piece for the front and middle tunnel sections which hid the back seat carpet area overlap. It does make it more difficult to install, but it allows to create a smooth 'complete' look to it. This Datsun carpet seems to be too thin, I am afraid it will start disintegrating in a year or so. I think after I am done test fitting/cutting it, I will take it to the local upholstery shop to add the missing sewn edges to better reinforce it. Regards!

Hehe, i would go for 'blitz black' paint. Flat as it gets.

I installed struts part number 4777, the same as jhm's. I wish the vendors would come up with a system to designate their load capacity.

I replaced both on my 76 with these struts. Unfortunately they were so stiff that I couldn't close the hatch without considerable effort or breaking the mounts. I ended up keeping my old strut with a new one.

Check out your local John Deere store for some spray cans. You can get their paint in smaller/gallon cans as well. The stuff is very durable (they use that paint on their tractors). The color choice is limited though.

Good job on the whole restoration, Andy! A few comments if you allow: - I would have installed the electric oil pressure sending unit with the later year oil pressure gauge (or aftermarket). I never felt comfortable having oil/fuel lines running inside of the vehicle. If you decide to go that route, don't forget to order NPT to British NPT adaptor for the Datsun block. - To save time and money making your custom gauge panels, try finding a plastic shop in town which sells plexiglass panels. They are cheap, thick and can be bent when heated. They are easily cut and come in different colors. My favorite is the black finish with the same pattern as the Datsun interior panels. No need to sand and re-apply multiple layers of fiberglass . With best regards! Denis

John, Thanks for a helpful hint. The offset is 1". Without rolling the fenders, I guess I won't be able to fit them in the back. I will keep on looking for the right set.

I am seeking advice if I should buy these rims/tires for my 1" dropped 76 280z (Eibachs/HPs combo). The price is right, the tires are almost brand new. The seller mentioned that these rims used to be mounted on his brother's 2" dropped 1982 280zx turbo. 1" off-set. The tire size is 225 50/15. I'd like _not_ to roll the fenders. I have a MSA type2 in the front, but my biggest concern is the rears. The car is in the paint shop. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance, Denis '76 280z - under construction

Chrome is in a good condition, the middle 2 piece rubber bumperettes (sp?) on each bumper are in a decent shape as well. The edge rubber pieces are missing. You are welcome to stop by and pick them up. They are located in Bakersfield, CA 93313. The front bumper has a chrome bar. There is one simple condition: you take both bumpers. I don't have much storage room left in my garage. For faster response, please contact me at simzealot at gmail dot com. Thanks, Denis

I gave up on finding the right size plugs. A few trips to a local junk yard solved this problem. Nissan used the same plugs on a lot of models.

Hi John! I've just paypal'ed you the $$ for the puller tool. Thanks! Denis

Be careful about using chemical strippers. They will have to be completely neutralized before you can apply primer/paint to the body surface. If you need some good reading, go to www.hotrodders.com and read their 'exterior' forum 610 page section.

What model/year do you have? If you find a pin out diagram, you can make your own plugs. Here is a place that sells a lot of nice connectors: http://www.easternbeaver.com/ Some of them do look like original Datsun plugs. GL!

Thanks!

I've searched here and googled' for the metric bolt size for a 280z intake manifold (stock 1976) bolt sizes, but in vain. There is a guy selling the 4-bolt kit on ebay for $20 (unfortunately he doesn't mention what size they are), but I can find the same bolts at the local bolt place for a cheaper price. Anybody knows the size, length? It looks like a 12mm, fine thread, 60mm long? Is this right? I've got the exhaust stud kit and gasket for the exhaust/intake job already. Thanks!

I took my oil pan 4 times before I finally found the right combination (280z 76): 1. FelPro gasket, Permatex (Aviation) on both sides, pan and engine - sealed great until I decided to do the timing chain. 2. MSA competition gasket - dry, only grey Permatex in the corners (engine side) - leaked after the engine got hot and shut down. 3. MSA gasket - oil pan side Aviation Permatex, engine side - dry, corners (grey) - leaked. At this point I gave up on the MSA gasket. 4. FelPro, grey Permatex thin layer on both sides - no leaks. After each attempt, I straightened the oil pan. MSA gasket is back in its box. Like previous posters mentioned, I do clean surfaces with rubbing alcohol. Adhesion of the oil pan to the engine block with grey RTV is excellent. I think grey Permatex without gasket would have worked by itself.

I had the same problems on my 76 as you did, until I swapped the alternator: http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/alternatorswap/index.html If you have a later model alternator with built-in voltage regulator, then you won't need your stock one. After the upgrade, my voltage gauge is steady, the charging voltage is about 13.8-14V, the lights are brighter etc. I found the 79 alternator at the local junk yard. This fusible link upgrade followed: http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/fusiblelinks/index.html

Thanks!

Haha, yes I thought about it. Do you think I can just give it a nice bath or the design itself was flawed?

Guys, on my 76 the idle hunts between 800 and 1000 as well. If I remove the BCDD in the smog nazi Kalifornia, would I fail my next smog check? Thanks!

It looks like I found the speedometer lens. Here is the picture of the relay. Thanks!

Guys, I am looking for a lens for the 280z speedometer gauge (did various 280z years have different lenses?). Mine works, but it has an ugly hole drilled through it. If you have a non-working/working speedometer gauge with a good lens for cheap, I will buy the whole thing. Another part is a timer relay unit for a 1976 280z which is located on the passenger side, above the fuse panel that controls the seat belt light warning time-out. The part number is 28911 89910 ET 506. Yours might be different slightly. As long as it has a 4-prong electrical connector, I think I will be ok. I am in 93313. If you are looking for parts yourself, please let me know. I have a lot of relays/gauges from later years myself that I will be happy to trade with you. Thanks in advance, Denis '76 280z - work in progress

I've tried finding these lenses on dragon and MSA sites, but in vain. The ebay has some gauges for sale, but I can't justify to buy the whole gauge for the sake of one piece of plastic. Does anybody know where I can buy one? The P.O. of my 76 drilled an ugly hole through the speedometer's plastic lens and this hole in front of me just drives me nuts. Thanks in advance!

Great, thanks - that's exactly what I was looking for! I guess the PO just added the second o-ring to stop that annoying leak, lol.