Datsun 280Z -77 - Build thread

peter_s

Club Member
The risk I'm running here is a fine for running a car with fake plates. That's it.

I wouldn't dare go abroad like this.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Thanks Rob, not with this engine ;)

Should be fine though, I'm not running slicks. But it is a very good point and I'll look into it!


That's tyre smoke. Inside wheel lighting up. I need a diff! :D

Good question. I bought the car from a dealer in the UK. And I just haven't changed. The car is registered in Sweden and I have the plates in the car with me. It's just a bit of civil disobedience ;) It's great, I haven't paid a parking fee since I got the car, and I can park anywhere :D Funny story: Got one ticket one time, the evil parking guy (what do you call them in English?) took my VIN and ran it and found my Swedish reg number. After that I put a little bit of tape over the VIN plate and I haven't seen a ticket since!

Also, the Police don't seem to care, they just think it's an UK tourist. The police are very relaxed here, as long as you don-t do anything stupid. If you drink and drive, or speed outside a school you are dumb anyway. Use common sense and you'll get very far here.

But most important of all, I think they look fantastic on the car!


Thank you! Indeed, can't wait to get their rear suspension arms as well!
We call them evil parking guy too. :)
Sweden I think has very rational leaders & people.
 

peter_s

Club Member
We call them evil parking guy too. :)
Sweden I think has very rational leaders & people.
Ha! They are the same everywhere :D

Rational for the most part. I know we get a lot of shit right now, but the reasoning and actions around the Corona virus has been very well handled. But time will tell
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Here they are called Traffic Wardens. To be honest in many places we would have deadlock without them.

Also to be driving around in a car displaying wrong number plates is asking for trouble - what if everyone did that?
 

peter_s

Club Member
Traffic wardens! There we are. I was thinking meter maids, but isn't that an American name?

It wouldn't be a dead lock, they are just a nuisance. I'm living in a town with a party who HATES traffic, they are ruining the whole town. It's so bad that shops are closing down in the whole city center. Nobody can drive into town anymore, they have removed something like 40% of all the parking spots, so retail is dying. This is the second largest city of Sweden we are talking about. It's completely irrational, so I have no bad feelings. I'm childish, I know, or maybe juvenile is a better word...

Also, this is an enthusiast car we are talking about, it's not driven much. I've got regular plates on my other cars
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Yes, "meter maids" here in the States although the males who work the 3-wheeled units will take issue with that term and probably go riot and loot with the others who feel they have been wronged in some way.....

T3 is just down the street from me and where I purchased my Zed suspension....lovely bits for sure.

Mike
 

peter_s

Club Member
Car is still in the garage, the seized ignition lock will keep it there.

Engine will be here this week, so I'll just start the work pulling the one in the car now.

The stock seats has to go, I was all over the place on the track last thursday. I was also rubbing the helmet on the roof.

Ordered a set of these:
https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/shop...ogy-seat-frames/planted-datsun-280z-bracket/#

And a Sparco Sprint for the driver side. They are the smallest bucket seat I can find that I fit well into. Should work, I will also remove the sliders to gain an extra cm of clearance.
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Peter, Had to cut out my seat towers so my helmet would not rub the roof.

ljwdti7.jpg


h635bHb.jpg
 

peter_s

Club Member
Peter, Had to cut out my seat towers so my helmet would not rub the roof.
Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I have low expectations with my route.

Hopefully the sprints are a little lower being a bucket seat.

Are you running sliders there?
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I have low expectations with my route.

Hopefully the sprints are a little lower being a bucket seat.

Are you running sliders there?
No sliders, I needed the seat as low as possible and as far back as I could get it.
I am just over 6' so maybe a bit better if your under that height?
 

peter_s

Club Member
No sliders, I needed the seat as low as possible and as far back as I could get it.
I am just over 6' so maybe a bit better if your under that height?
I'm 185, I think it's going to be close without any structural mods. But we'll see. It's worth at least trying before.



On another note, I'm beginning to pull the engine :D
 

grb184

Club Member
Peter, Had to cut out my seat towers so my helmet would not rub the roof.

ljwdti7.jpg


h635bHb.jpg
Did you have to smooth out the hump in the transmission tunnel on the drivers side to fit these...I am trying to find a pair of seats that will take a 4 point harness that will fit my 77 260z without having to resort to a lump hammer or an angle grinder
 

peter_s

Club Member
Did you have to smooth out the hump in the transmission tunnel on the drivers side to fit these...I am trying to find a pair of seats that will take a 4 point harness that will fit my 77 260z without having to resort to a lump hammer or an angle grinder
That's a great question. I'm worried about this myself...
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Did you have to smooth out the hump in the transmission tunnel on the drivers side to fit these...I am trying to find a pair of seats that will take a 4 point harness that will fit my 77 260z without having to resort to a lump hammer or an angle grinder
No, the trans tunnel was not touched.

I did need to recess the rear inner arch to accept the roll bar tube and still get the seat position such that I could operate the clutch freely. Without getting the seat position far enough rearward, I was not able to fully release the clutch. Kinda depends on your legs i guess.

Just be sure to test fit everything with your shoes, helmets, fire suit etc before bringing out the welder and drilling mounting holes.

Mike
 
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