Forrest

I didn't see anything in this forum, I guess this post should be in Misc Tech (feel free to move it). I only saw one post about 240sx seats. I like the Miata seats and everything but the s13 seats with the hole for harnesses looked ideal.

Hey guys, Just wondering if anyone has ever tried to stick s13 or s14 (240sx) seats in a first gen Z. I'd like to know if they'd fit. The ones I've seen are light, hold you in, and already have holes for a harness. What do you think? (I'd also be interested to hear about any other seats that will fit.) -Forrest

By all, you don't mean the airdam, do you? What I'm going to do is either buy or fabricate some fiberglass 240 bumpers. I think that will take care of the wounded look of all the missing hardware.

Actually I just noticed that, at first glance it looked like a part of the bumper. The guy did mention the bumperless air dam, which I personally am not a big fan of, but he was telling me that both of the other 2 air dams "had" to be mounted to the stock bumpers. Sheesh. So, it seems like the 75-78 is the right one, and apparently MSA just raised their prices on that one by 40$. Ouch, wasn't planning on paying almost 200$ for it. Anyone have good experience ordering Xenon parts from anywhere else? -Forrest

I'd always thought the Japanese cars had fender mirrors because they allowed for better viewing area, and I was thinking about getting some. Then I read an article that gave the real reason - fender mirrors reduce the overall width of the car, and that puts a car in a lower tax bracket. They are apparently less practical. A friend of mine took those off his car after he had them for a while, and sold them. He wasn't happy with the visibility. The upside is that they are extremely unique and pretty cool looking. So, if you want to sell them there are plenty of buyers, and if you want to keep them, just don't plan on switching lanes quickly. -Forrest

Hi guys, I would like to get an airdam for my 1977 280Z. (Also, I plan on taking my bumpers off and replacing them with fiberglass 240 bumpers, eventually, but short term, I am just planning on taking off my valence pieces, that bar that goes behind the bumper that holds the mounts, and the bumper itself, and putting the airdam on.) I like the way the xenon airdams looks, and when I've asked people what they had on their car, they've told me "the xenon airdam from MSA." So I'm thinking, ok, no problem, I just call MSA, tell them what I want to do, and get one that will work. They list two eurothane airdams for first gen Z cars, and it's hard to see much difference in the pictures, other than the fact that the models have their stock bumpers on. One is part 1411, listed for 70-74 years, and the other is 1412, listed for 75-78. Unfortunately, when I talked to the guy on the phone, he starts insisiting that these things mount to the bumper itself, and that if you take the bumper off, it won't mount any more "without modification". I tried to ask him where it mounted, but I didn't get a clear answer. That didn't sound right to me at all, as I have seen a good many 280's without bumpers that have the xenon airdam on there, and they certainly don't look like they mount to the bumper. So he couldn't tell me whether I needed the 1411, or 1412 (because according to him, NEITHER would work.) From the tiny picture in the catalogue, there is no way to tell if the 75-78 (1412) has some kind of cutaway for the larger bumper or the mount behind it that I wouldn't want, and clearly someone who is telling me that it mounts to the bumper itself won't be able to help me. So, my questions are: 1) Don't the airdams mount where the left and right valence pieces currently mount, or am I going insane, or both? 2) Will either airdam mount to my car, (without bumpers), ie, is there any difference at all in where the two airdams mount, and any difference as to where they can mount between the 70-74 and 75-78 Z's? 3) Does the 75-78 xenon airdam they list have a cutaway for the larger bumper, or places to mount to the bumper support (which I need to take off) on the 77? (because in this case I wouldn't want it) 4) Has anyone in my situation ordered from MSA and can tell me exactly which part number I need? Sorry if this is a little jumbled, I just couldn't believe what I was hearing on the phone, and I'm little frustrated. I wanted to have it ordered by now, dang it. Assuming I'm not out of my mind, and the guy was completely wrong, their people are actively driving away business with ignorance. :| -Forrest

That is installed, Ross doesn't offer a parts only option, but you can email him if you'd like. I have to go with an installed option, as I don't have anyone locally with quaife experience, and I want to make sure this is done correctly with the amount of money I am spending. From what I have heard it requires very specialized tools to do the install. Anyone who wants to get the internals only, you have a few options: 1) MSA has them for 1260$, after the IZCC discount. 2) This group buy guy on GroupBuyCenter.com (search for quaife) can get them, and he offered me a price of 1150$ each for 2, and 1100$ each for 4. That includes shipping, and that sounds good. I would strongly suggest you make sure you have someone to do this installation and differential rebuild before you get the unit, or your 1100$ may end up sitting in a box for a while (which is what one of the people who replied to my original IZCC message told me happened to him.) Other installed options: I called Taylor Racing and their price for install, rebuild, and parts cost was 1700, and there may be another 75-100$ in seals and bearings you have to add to that. Both Taylor Racing and MM have good reputations. MM has given us a pretty good deal, so at least for the handful of people I'm talking to, that's where our Quaife business is going.

Just an update - Ross has decided to go ahead and give a group discount for all orders placed during the next week (I assume that's between now and May 30th.) The price is 1550 + return shipping for the quaife setup and diff rebuild. That price is only good for mailed checks/money orders. His site is here: http://www.modern-motorsports.com

Hi guys, I'm exploring Quaife (automatic torque biasing differential internals) group buy options, for the R200, part number 44.309.150. For anyone who doesn't know about Quaife ATB's, read this: http://www.quaifeamerica.com/differentials/diffs.htm MSA has them for $1260 (after discount, before shipping) I'm talking to a guy who does group buys and he has quoted me 1150$ each for 2, 1100$ each for 4, shipped. (They can all be shipped to different locations, we just all have to pay at the same time.) I'd like to get that price down some more, so if any of you are seriously interested, please email me. Another option would be to talk to Ross at Modern Motorsports about a group buy, since he has the whole "installation" package. I've had a hard time finding someone to do the install locally. If several of you are interested in an "installed" group buy instead of internals only, please email me and I will contact him. I am open to either option, whatever saves the most cash. I know this is a lot of money even if we were getting wholesale prices, so please email me only if you're ready to do it soon. Thanks! -Forrest

Hey guys, I would like to do the 240mm flywheel upgrade to my 77 280. I've searched the archives and I found a post confirming something I'd heard before - turbo and 2+2 cars both have 240mm flywheels that will bolt up without a problem. I would like some more specifics, though, because I called and got part numbers for the 78 2+2 and the 83 turbo cars, and they're different part numbers. Does anyone know the differences between these flywheels? Also, will the 240mm flywheels from 84-89 300zx turbo cars fit? They have a different part number as well. And do the 84-89 300zx NA cars have 240mm flywheels? Would there be any problems using these? Thanks, -Forrest