Jmark, I consult with PDK on a regular basis. And your response above is my response to them. There are some minor differences between the 240Z and 280Z that we have not been able to fully research, so the answer above is a fair one. However I am reaonably confident that the PDK bar will fit your car without modification.

I would suggest contacting Mark at PDK, they are good guys that want to help you.

Ron

Thanks Ron. If PDK needs a good test car my '78 280Z is a good example of a pretty much stock car! So far the PDK brace looks like the best option.

Thanks Ron. If PDK needs a good test car my '78 280Z is a good example of a pretty much stock car!

And doesn't the owner of the test car get his bar free? Remember, I live closer. :devious:

And doesn't the owner of the test car get his bar free? Remember, I live closer. :devious:

Not sure I want to be the one to shut the hood the first time.

sorry guys no freebie's...If you want to bring the car down to San Diego, I can see what we can do on installation to check clearances.

Ron

Ron,

I think that would be a great idea. Stephen how close are you to PDK? I'd feel alot better if the brace was tested on a '78 280Z before I order.

I actually think we have sold one to someone with a 280Z, and it was not an issue. But I am just not sure.

Anybody here installed the PDK brace on a '78 280Z?

It is posible to make the MSA front bar work, as long as you know just how to adjust it. Taking a hand file to the very top of the bar ends and a tiny area of the hood bracing is the easiest thing to do, and then shut the hood slowly. Then lightly press on the hood in the spot where the bar would touch the hood. If you can feel the hood flex and touch the bar, you're fine. If it wont move, it needs to be filed down a little more.

Only after I bought both bars did I realize that, because the bars have flexable ends, the car isn't stiffened as much as it could be. Instead of keeping the car completely rigid, the ball-joint-esque ends on the bars allow the car to "parallelagram" around corners. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

I did the same thing, instead I put some chalk on the top of the strut bar, and closed the hood lightly, and I could tell where it was hitting the hood, and what part of the strut bar was hitting.

I eventually sanded it down soo far, it wasn't even practical to use, and was probably really weak.

I wonder if it has to do with whether the MSA strut braces are the newest design vs. a several year old design. I think they have updated the design to three hole supports vs. the old two holer. I wonder if they latest design works on the 280Z?