'74 260z project

[morbias]

BZ3015 in the back and HZ3099 in the front. I would have liked to have gone for the illuminas in the front too but what with Tokico still having distribution problems the HZ3099s were all I could find at a reasonable price. Not enough budget for Konis or Bilsteins at the moment!

 

[morbias]

Put the rear window in yesterday, thought it would be easier than the front but boy, was I wrong. Didn't take any pics of that, I think we all know what one looks like.

Got my suspension sectioned and painted, also moved the spring seats further down the struts as I don't have the cash for threaded sleeves at the moment. Hopefully I got all my calculations right!

It's all back on the car now and I have realised the old wheels won't fit any more because the roll center adjusters I put on have put the tie rods just low enough to interfere. So now I have a set of used tyres on the way to put on the new wheels just so I can move the car...
Also put the handbrake cable back on after a good seeing to with lube and replaced all the old rotten fuel hoses under the car with braided ones.

Next mission was finding somewhere to put the fuel pump, really there was only one place for it to go.

And then the wiring had to be done, yet another day spent on routing all that through the car. I ran two feeds off the ignition barrel for the two separate circuits, the relay is out of the way behind the plastic of the centre console and the prime switch will be next to the hazard switch.

Final circuit diagram in case anyone wants to do the same thing:

 

[morbias]

So it turns out I didn't get my calculations right... It's sitting too low in the back so I will need to sort that out, forgot to take into account the missing fuel tank + fuel and the absent passenger seat.

Anyway, had to move house on Friday, only managed to get the engine started 3 hours before the recovery truck arrived, and back on the ground an hour later. Dear god, the noise is awesome! I also replaced the exhaust backbox with a cheapo cherry bomb style unit as when I went to put the exhaust on I found that it would no longer fit since I had replaced the rear valence with a properly shaped panel rather than the flat piece of armour plating that was bodged on there previously.

Haven't had time to sort out the front splitter yet either.

In its new home, no garage any more

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Stunning looking car. Are you sure you need to adjust the ride-height?

Yeh, a modified L series always sounds good IMO.

 

[morbias]

The engine is pretty much stock with a slight overbore, the carbs make it sound quite beastly though

I think I really need to raise the rear - I can just about fit a finger between the flare and tyre on each side, there's still 2" of travel on the shock shaft but the tyres will hit the flare before any of that gets used! And the only way to get the car on and off the drive is with carefully placed planks of wood, even then the fuel tank is only about an inch away from scraping the tarmac. I'm not really into the whole 'hellaflush' thing, I'd prefer the car was more usable at the expense of looking good

 

[datsun dave]

Looks great in white love the wheels and the ZG over fenders.

 

[jonbills]

Cut down urethane compression rod bushes make great strut top spacers to raise the height a smidge.

 

[morbias]

Cut down urethane compression rod bushes make great strut top spacers to raise the height a smidge.

That is genius, I was contemplating moving the spring seats again, but using a strut top spacer is way easier. I even had a spare set of spacers until recently, but sold them. damnit. I had a set of spare urethane compression rod bushes as well but sold those too. double damnit!

I assume the standard strut top mount will accomodate two standard spacers, or would it be better to just put in a set of late 260z strut top mounts as they are taller anyway?

 

[pmac]

or would it be better to just put in a set of late 260z strut top mounts as they are taller anyway?

Yes you would be better with that setup.
And you might be able to swap them on the car???
But I will need your new address

 

[jonbills]

I've got the standard spacer plus 5mm of compression rod bush spacer under my standard/early top mount, so yes, it works no prob for that kind of lift. Or you could make a single new
Not sure how much lift you need - I think the later top mount insulators are a couple of cm taller, so maybe about right. (I bet Mike'll be along in a mo with the facts).
On the other hand, I've got a couple of used spare compression rod bushes I could send you at the end of the week if you want!

 

[pmac]

Not sure how much lift you need - I think the later top mount insulators are a couple of cm taller

You win a prize for that.
A quick measure and subtract gave me a 22mm answer.
We cant both be wrong!!!

(I bet Mike'll be along in a mo with the facts)

he's probably off on a two week trip to the
Bahamas for Christmas and new year:lol:

 

[datsfun]

White looks lovely. Winner

 

[morbias]

22mm is probably just about right so Pete - you have pm!

jonbills - Thanks for suggesting the spacers (and the offer of the bushes), the thought hadn't even entered my mind. That said, my brain is fried after the hectic nature of the last two weeks so it's no surprise really - I tried to pour teabags on my cereal yesterday - time for a much needed break I think.

In fact, thanks everyone for the support, help, and suggestions offered over the last three years, the project would not be what it is right now if it weren't for the guys here. Special mentions for pmac, Mr. F and zbloke, and others I can't think of right at the moment (sorry!).

Oh, and happy xmas everybody

 

[Ian]

Looking Good

 

[Wyn]

I may have missed it but are you going to put bumpers back on ?

Deffo looks the part

 

[morbias]

yes, planning on the bumpers going back on, they are still at the old house so I have to pick them up. Also not too sure how the rear bumper fits on, I have a feeling the one that came with the car was either from a late 260z or a 240z with 260z brackets fitted, nothing lines up.

Actually Wyn, do you have any problems with ground clearance or rubbing arches at the back? We have almost identical rear wheel size and offset

 

[Wyn]

yes, planning on the bumpers going back on, they are still at the old house so I have to pick them up. Also not too sure how the rear bumper fits on, I have a feeling the one that came with the car was either from a late 260z or a 240z with 260z brackets fitted, nothing lines up.

Actually Wyn, do you have any problems with ground clearance or rubbing arches at the back? We have almost identical rear wheel size and offset

Sounds odd ?
Had a whole new rear end/ panel made for mine and the bumpers all still fitted fine?
What part doesn't fit ?

As for the lowered rear end - Yes if I hit a hard rut in mine it will touch or just bottom out on the osr arch, else is all good
But to be honest I put that down to my weight

 

[morbias]

Better lay off the mince pies this year then eh?

I mean the rear bumper wasn't fitted properly to start with; it was bolted onto the rear mounts but the side bits were hanging because, as I found out later, the side mounting points on the bumper don't line up with the holes in the lower rear corners of the quarter panels. They are too rearward if I remember right - haven't looked in a couple of years, will have to refresh my memory!

 

[Wyn]

Better lay off the mince pies this year then eh?

Just remembered in my defence I don't run a rear roll bar and have the shocks on the softest setting
Another job I hope to sort next yr

 

[jonbills]

Yes if I hit a hard rut in mine it will touch or just bottom out on the osr arch, else is all good

I bet if we did a poll of of folk with lowered suspension, we'd find nearly all that had contact problems have it on the off side, 'cos that's where the driver goes.

When I was scratching my head about this problem on my car, I read somewhere that BMW set their suspension higher on the drivers side to compensate for the drivers weight, which got me thinking.
I can't remember the maths I did precisely, but I was surprised to come to the conclusion that a 75kg driver (me) in my car with my suspension will cause the drivers side to be about 6 or 7 mm lower on the drivers side at rest.
so... I stuck a 5mm spacer in both strut tops on the off side to even it up. Haven't had any contact with the bodywork since.