m4xwellmurd3r Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I can't imagine that taking off the bumper will net a 2-3mpg increase. Not with the aero the Z has. The Z isn't weight limited, it's brick wall limited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280znoob Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 I can't imagine that taking off the bumper will net a 2-3mpg increase. Not with the aero the Z has. The Z isn't weight limited, it's brick wall limited. yea, like i said. not much.This coming from a car that gets 17-18 mpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daeron Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I can't imagine that taking off the bumper will net a 2-3mpg increase. Not with the aero the Z has. The Z isn't weight limited, it's brick wall limited. yea, like i said. not much.This coming from a car that gets 17-18 mpg First off, if you are only getting 17-18 mpg in any stock S30, you need to tune up your car and quit running so rich. That is NOT what your Datsun should be giving you unless you've built some musckles into her. 17-18 oughta have some pretty significant musckles, at that. Secondly, I believe the quote on mpg reduction through bumper removal was not intended to mean a gain through decrease of drag; rather of decrease in mass. Both bumpers and all four brackets certainly weigh well over 100 pounds, and even if it comes in at 120 pounds out of 2500, that is still almost five percent reduction in weight. 2-3 mpg is possibly an exaggeration... but I suppose it depends on how grandma-like you drive. I could certainly see somebody hypermiling a vehicle with similar weight and aerodynamic features and achieving a 3 mpg improvement below, say, 55mph through a 5-10 percent weight reduction. Of course, saying you gained 3 mpg in your Z by dropping the bumpers is, realistically, almost ALWAYS going to be an exaggeration, but it was one of mass not drag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slammed68 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 (edited) At first I had these hideous units.. After I took off my bumpers, I figured I would get a couple more MPG... And shaved the rear for superior airflow.. And wah-lah, 26 mpg @ 70mph in 6th gear.. along with that, it felt like I gained approx 300hp!!! ~WOW~ See, the guy must not be lying! Edited January 7, 2010 by Slammed68 lol'ing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4xwellmurd3r Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I know my Z gets roughly 18mpg with spirited city driving, but cruising on the freeways at 65 it'll get something like 24-25 if i remember right. that's with and without the bumpers as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsun723 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 My front and rear bumpers are gone too along with the spare tire and a gutted interior. I do have the msa type 2 bumper on the front but have no idea how much that thing weighs. Probably not much. I notice a power difference though between this Z and my completely stock '78 with full interior. I like the look better too. Compared to: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daeron Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 My front and rear bumpers are gone too along with the spare tire and a gutted interior. I notice a power difference though between this Z and my completely stock '78 with full interior. 16x6.2 pounds per gallon = 99.2 pounds. Your stocker with a full tank weighs the same as your "lightened" car on empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8wannabe2 Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 My car is a 1976. I modified mine by moving the mounts back (slotted the holes) and cutting out the inner structure on the bumper and rebuilding a recessed mount. Welded some new ends on and smoothed out any mounts/bolt holes. It's painted black in the last pic, I'll eventually get them powder coated. Here's what I ended up with.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two80z4me Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 thats a very clever idea. I've always wondered why people haven't done that more often. In my opinion, a 240z front bumper and a shaved rear end with a spoiler looks very clean, if done right. my front end is so haggard right now, can't wait to get a front air dam and re-enforce it so it doesnt fold under the car on my airforce runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModernS30 Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Well, I realized tonight when I went to take out the rear strut on the drivers side. I don't even know what to unbolt. I think the 2 nuts on the inside of the car, then 2 bolts from under the car? and it should come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatherion Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 There are 3 bolts under the car and you don't need to remove the whole tank to do the job right, but you need to remove the 2 gas tank brackets to droop it just a little. Also yesterday I got pulled over by the cops and they didn't tell me anything about my shaved rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmonster76 Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Decided to go with tube bumpers front and rear. I filled under the headlights but decided not to go with a full flush look. Grille was made by hand as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two80z4me Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 do you even have to take off any fuel lines to lower the tank and get the last bolt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatherion Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I didn't remove any fuel line because all those hoses are on the right side of the car, but I disconected the fuel gauge lines from the inside of the car (the ones connected to the fuel tank) because they're pretty short and then I just dropped the left side of the tank to remove the bolts and shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModernS30 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I didn't remove any fuel line because all those hoses are on the right side of the car, but I disconected the fuel gauge lines from the inside of the car (the ones connected to the fuel tank) because they're pretty short and then I just dropped the left side of the tank to remove the bolts and shock. I will do that one later I guess. I took the driver side out today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daeron Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 My car is a 1976. I modified mine by moving the mounts back (slotted the holes) and cutting out the inner structure on the bumper and rebuilding a recessed mount. Welded some new ends on and smoothed out any mounts/bolt holes. It's painted black in the last pic, I'll eventually get them powder coated. Here's what I ended up with.... I really like the way this looks!! Too bad the bumpers are still such hefty brutes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280znoob Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 16x6.2 pounds per gallon = 99.2 pounds. Your stocker with a full tank weighs the same as your "lightened" car on empty. too right. hope you race on "E" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74260Z Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 OFF TOPIC somewhat! Sir, did you buy that car in Pendleton Oregon?! if so, I ALMOST BOUGHT THAT CAR!!! lucky you, i wish i had the cash at the time to get it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280znoob Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 OFF TOPIC somewhat!Sir, did you buy that car in Pendleton Oregon?! if so, I ALMOST BOUGHT THAT CAR!!! lucky you, i wish i had the cash at the time to get it! Yup:mrgreen: we almost didnt tho, and to be honest im glad he didnt sucker you.. he did us( in a way). he told us that every thing dorve and ran fine all electrical was fine, that it had gas, and that everything was fine.... with the exception that it was ugly... and he said to go ahead and make the drive (all the way from washington) so we did and we figured out that most of what he said was lies..... so we offered him less cash and got it to run long enought to get home. since he knew we had to drive a long distance he knew we wouldnt wanna come home empty handed... the sheister... but now that i got everything sorted out i might turn around and sell it....cheap i kinda got some bills, so if your interested let me know... maybe $900? but yea that was the one in pendleton haha it had some of the ugliest exterior( worse than the picture you saw in craigslist lol) i have ever seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74260Z Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Oh, i live in the city and it is pretty ugly lol I'll actually ask my father (we share this user account) if he's interested, he was planing on getting a RHD 280ZX we located in PDX, but if its gone we might be interested, i want myself a Z aswell. all i have is a Daytona, rather have myself a Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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