If you wanted or needed to replace interior or exterior pieces in your Z, would you use? Pick as many as you will explaine!

Post why-some of us aren't as sharp as you are, and want to know what you believe to be obvious!

Custom carbon fiber parts.

Anything I can get my hands on that's an improvement over what I have now. I would prefer to make my own whenever possible, but hey we don't all have a composites lab in our garage.

I voted for nos. 1, 2 & 10.

Why ?, because the car was complete and original when I became it's guardian and, while I've had to replace quite a few bits and pieces, I've gone to quite some lengths to ensure that the parts are RIGHT, as I intend to keep the old dear in as original condition as possible with only one exception. I've had 240Z carbies installed. I pick her up from the carbie specialist on friday.

Rick.

:devious: :devious:

Dor my purposes, I prefer either the f-ory look, or at least period correct. Back in '78, interiors were covered with plastic panels & structures, vinyl coverings (except the floor, which had carpet too), and chromed/polished stainless accents. Not much wood-grain or paint showing.

Carbon or GRP is Ok, as long as it gets covered with vinyl paint or vinyl or carpet.

I've been accused of blinging/rice-ing my car with a different shifter handle, but since most Zs had manual trans, I replaced my knob with one that looked so. Leather shifter boot reinforces some people's idea there's a 4Spd in there (e-check guy said "leave it in 1st & get out." ) but I like how clean it looks and how much less rusty chrome & broken/noisy plastic there is when you go down the road.

I wouldn't mind getting the front chin from a zxt for my little one. I think the original is lacking. Until then, I'll stick with the original body panels. All I need to do is pull the fenders and bumpers and tidy up the rust before it becomes a major issue.

Interior wise, and I realise this may not quite fit the poll since it wouldn't be seen, I would like to replace the rear pad with a solid deck (either plastic or plywood), hinged like the foam pad. Underneath, I would create partitions for storage of smaller items-tools & such. Keep them handy, keep them out of sight & organised, keep the interior less cluttered. Sound dampening be dammed.

Pipe dream wise, I would love to replace the engine with an RB26DETT. I think that more appropriate than dropping in a V8, at least it's still a Nissan powerplant, though to each their own.

Interior wise, and I realise this may not quite fit the poll since it wouldn't be seen, I would like to replace the rear pad with a solid deck (either plastic or plywood), hinged like the foam pad. Underneath, I would create partitions for storage of smaller items-tools & such. Keep them handy, keep them out of sight & organised, keep the interior less cluttered. Sound dampening be dammed..

You had me until the last sentance...

Make the area with sound dampening-fit the foam to the tools-no movement, perfect organization-and NO NOISE!

Will

Yeah-

Noise tool noises suck. :devious:

You might consider something other than wood to make your partitions, so you have some noise isolation straight away. then some foam in the bottom, or put everything in different sacks.

Or, as Will suggests, build your whole partition system with foam stuff, and a thin layer on the bottom...

I was far less fussy with the yellow car. For the red car parts are going to have to be factory, or darn good replacements. Not going to go far from stock on this one.

What about aluminum? Billet parts are cool.

I prefer factory sheetmetal when it is not NLA as seems to be the case with alarming frequency. For the interior I also prefer stock from the factory but this is also becoming a problem.

As for things like the shift knob: AMCO wood shift knobs are my favorite and they were featured in the factory accessories brochures.

Wheels: I am not a big stickler here as I like my Enkei 92's and the Konig rewinds are quite nice and not as expensive as the Panapsorts. I have a friend with 15x7 Panasports and within two years the clearcoat was pealing?

Exhuast: I always go a bit bigger (2.25" or 2.5") but one of the 280Z's will eventually get to wear the NOS Nissan exhaust at some point.

I'll replace my parts with whatever works (and of course, I get to decide exactly what "works" means to me). I'm not a purist, but nor am I a particularly skilled fabricator, so I'll be much more likely to take the easy way out and get parts that fit as delivered whether they be custom, factory, aftermarket. That being said, I do have fender mirrors from a 79 RX-7 and side skirts from an RSX Type-S on my 77.