boodlefoof Posted March 13, 2005 Share Posted March 13, 2005 Hi all, I'm new here. My name is John and I've been a fan of older Z cars for years. I have never had one though! Currently I have a 1990 TT 5 speed daily driver and a '68 Camaro project car. Well, the Camaro is almost "finished" and I've been poking around for a 240-280Z to be my next project car. So, my first question... I've been considering doing some cosmetic work to a Z and I came across a very nice looking one on Ebay the other day. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6187&item=4534370454&rd=1 Anybody know if this is a kit front end or a custom job? I think it looks pretty sharp. On another note... my second question. I'm interested in fitting some fatter tires out back. I don't like the look of big fender flares, but rather a quarter panel that has a gradual bulge across its entire length. For example, I saw Nick's car in Sport Z magazine and think it looks great! See pics at... http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5357&sort=1&cat=500&page=1 That is the kind of rear flare I'm talking about... I recently found something similar in a kit form... it is called the "YZ" kit from Reaction Research. See pics at... http://www.reactionresearch.com/280yzgallery.html So, anybody have opinions on rear quarter options? Any other kits I missed? I was thinking about custom forming some with sheetmetal... but if there is a nice one that I can simply buy it would save a lot of labor! Thanks for any help or comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted March 13, 2005 Share Posted March 13, 2005 Welcome John! I'm pretty sure those first two cars are one-offs. As far as the 280YZ's I like 'em! I may be biased though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted March 13, 2005 Share Posted March 13, 2005 As Dan stated, the first one on ebay is a one-off "custom." Actually it appears as if he smoothed the front end and filled all seams with the spoiler and headlight buckets. Also, he used some seriously small (motorcycle?) signal lights. A good body shop can do the same, and so can you if you like body work... Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rick458 Posted March 13, 2005 Share Posted March 13, 2005 It looks a bit like Pete's front end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boodlefoof Posted March 13, 2005 Author Share Posted March 13, 2005 Thanks for the info guys. I figured that front piece was a one-off. Dan, your YZ looks great! If I may ask, how difficult is it to attach the 'glass to the surrounding sheet metal? I'm not very well versed with fiberglass... I'm worried about cracks at the seam where it was attached. Also, do you happen to have a pic that is straight on from the rear so I can see precisely how wide these bulge out? My idea for the rear fenders had been to make wooden templates and simply beat some 20 ga. to shape over it with a metal-shrinking hammer and cutting and welding at a few stress relief points if necessary. But, the YZ might be an option. I'm not sure that it might be a little too wide for my taste. As for the front end, I suppose I could weld up the seams in the sheetmetal easily enough. Then it would just be a matter of finding or fabricating a similar air dam and attaching it. Again, thanks! If anyone has anything else to add I'm all ears (or eyes I suppose...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boodlefoof Posted March 15, 2005 Author Share Posted March 15, 2005 Anybody have more pictures of rear fender flares of various styles? Always open to more ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awd92gsx Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I like these flares...Anybody know who makes 'em? I like how the sides are "flatter" than the YZ http://www.zparts.com/showcase/engines/images/q45zpower_13rw1.jpg http://www.zparts.com/showcase/engines/images/q45zpowers_11rw.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks280zt Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 boodlefoof, both of your cars are sweet! I love that camaro and that is my favorite color on a 300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karay240 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Hey Dan Juday, I was wondering what size wheel/tire combo you were running? I'm also curious asto how wide the front and rear track are on your car. I'm expecting to do a similar kind of widebody, and I need to know before I buy. I'm expecting to do the IRS swap, so the track info would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm trying to keep everything balanced. I'd rather not have to run 265s in the rear and 225 in the front (just as an example). Thanks for your help -Kenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boodlefoof Posted March 16, 2005 Author Share Posted March 16, 2005 awd92gsx, I like those fenders too! Very nice looking. If you find out who makes 'em (if anyone does), please post back. sparks280zt, Thanks for the compliment! The pearl white is my favorite for the Z32 as well. The Camaro is just about done (for now). I'm planning on building a killer early Z and then completely re-doing the Camaro. With all that I learned the first time, there are a few things I would like to do just a little differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilRufusKay Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I like these flares...Anybody know who makes 'em? I like how the sides are "flatter" than the YZ http://www.zparts.com/showcase/engines/images/q45zpower_13rw1.jpg http://www.zparts.com/showcase/engines/images/q45zpowers_11rw.jpg Yeh...the guy that made them...from scratch...with his hands...like the rest of the car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awd92gsx Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 mmmkay... Well, are there any that look even close? Blue? Did you build your Flares from scratch, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Yep, with my hands too!. My wife likes rough hands (old school girl), so before our first date I went out to the garage, sanded on the fiberglass quarter, bare handed, with 36 grit sandpaper folded over so the grit was exposed on both sides, and made her a set of "perfect" hands. That was 11 years ago and she's still my sweetie, and I her's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank280zx Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 well i like the YZ flares, and blue ovals... well you have to be very skilled, though for all these flares some skills or deep pockets for bodyshops are a must! I since im a student, and broke welded on z31 Flares ( 86 and up) they dont add that much 'meat' like 3 " most, but as im running 10 J rims, i did not need more, however they visually add much more! as they start to widen smoother look at my website.. Anyway it is possible to fit a whole lot of cars flares, as long as you are skilled upto a certian level, you can make anything fit everything .BTW i like the r32 GTR lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boodlefoof Posted March 16, 2005 Author Share Posted March 16, 2005 Wow! Great information! Thank you guys! Blue Oval, I checked out your website and the pics are awesome! Question... how difficult is it working with fiberglass? Did you make a mold or template of the shape and then lay the fiberglass on it? Did you bond each section together (say the raised part of the quarter panel to the sail panel and tail panel) or are they attached in some other way? I think I mentioned above that I was considering fabbing something out of sheetmetal (as I've never worked with fiberglass). But, if it is comparably difficult... perhaps 'glass is an option. Sorry for the abundance of questions. I'm really excited with what I've seen posted back on this thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Terry, WHEN we ever meet... I'm buying you a bath tub full of beer. You make me grin more and more! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Hey Dan Juday' date=' I was wondering what size wheel/tire combo you were running? I'm also curious asto how wide the front and rear track are on your car. ... Thanks for your help -Kenny[/quote'] 265-50-15 front and 305-50-15 rear. Backspacing is 4 1/2" front and rear. I don't know what the track is, I'll have to measure. The front flares add about 1 1/2" to 2", the rears about 4". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Question... how difficult is it working with fiberglass? Did you make a mold or template of the shape and then lay the fiberglass on it? Did you bond each section together (say the raised part of the quarter panel to the sail panel and tail panel) or are they attached in some other way? I think I mentioned above that I was considering fabbing something out of sheetmetal (as I've never worked with fiberglass). But, if it is comparably difficult... perhaps 'glass is an option. It's not hard to work with as long as you've got some patience and accept that problems do pop up from time to time. Email me (not PM, that way I can reply with a Word document attachment) and I'll send you a very brief summation of what I did to lay the body out, and some other "tips" I use whenever I "glass it." The glass is attached to the steel body via pop-rivets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boodlefoof Posted March 17, 2005 Author Share Posted March 17, 2005 blueovalz, You've got an email (I filled out the online form on your website to email you). Thanks a bunch! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.