I was using the maxima brackets that the part # was listed earlier in the thread, so I don't know if they were for an early or late maxima. The 81ZX rear calipers have smaller pads, and have an odd hanger that I think would make them hard to use in a conversion, they are very large overall, even though they are a smaller caliper. The 81's also had a problem with the e brake freezing up at the caliper. If you look at an 81 you will see that the caliper is something you would probably rather not use. The fitment problem I remember using the 81 rotors is that the offset was so large that it actually went over the bracket mounting area of the bearing housing.

I didn't pull my 83 calipers so I don't know how they mounted on the originial car but on the 81 the mounting bracket is offset towards the inside of the car moving the caliper inboard, the maxima brackets I used offset to the outside moving the caliper more into the wheel.

I pulled the discs and calipers off the rear of my 83 280zx last night as well as the handbrake cable ready to do the big swap. I have the knowledge in my head, now all I need is the brackets.

Time to find out if the skyline ones are the right stuff.

I will also need to get the drums off. They have been un-movable for a few years, so it may prove difficult. Lucky I'm in no hurry.

Don't know if the hand brake cable will fit, but the 240Z one snapped a few years ago, so it is worth a try. Otherwise will have to get a new one. Never know if you never try.

Also, once the discs were removed, I could still bolt the wheels on the 280zx, which makes it HEAPS easier to more around still. Beats skull dragging it.

Found a local wrecker with a 1985 R30 Skyline sedan. Went and checked it out. Drum Brakes. Turns out the sedans still had rear drums, but the hatches had rear discs.

Go figure?

The 82-85 GT R30 had rear disc's i'm pretty sure.

I have a photo of a R30 L20 turbo GT that was for sale for $1200. It was a 4 door sedan. I took some pics of it, and in a pic of the Diff you can see the back of the wheel with the mounting bracket and the caliper.

The photo aint the best, but that looks like a disc setup.

z creations has this link:

http://www.zcarcreations.com/howto/rearbrake.htm

and i have a link to this guy that has an actual size blueprint (for those of you that have access to a machine shop:

http://240z.jeromio.com/reardiscs.html

and as for the fact that someone got them from the dealer: i thought they were no longer available?? anyway, hope this 411 helps someone, i have been compiling info for myself to prepare for my conversion.

-jason

EDIT: update: i just got off the phone with mossy nissan (mossy nissan moves you!) amd their part department said that they can still get the maxima brackets: part# is 44155-04S10. they are $72 each and they can have them in 2-3 days