April 21, 201510 yr Author comment_468168 Thanks guys! Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468168 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr Author comment_468170 Been busy the last couple days working on getting the front end done. Finally finished tonight and I think it turned out pretty good. I have the Xenon uerethane air dam with the 240Z parking lights, 240Z fiberglass bumpers, and a modified 240Z grill.  I had some help from my dogs.   First I attached the air dam using some plastic rivets and 10mm bolts   I ended up cutting out a couple inches of the center area that is always wavy. This made it a little more flimsy so I fabbed up some brackets out of 1/4"x3/4" steel strips I got at Lowes. I painted them flat black.   I used a factory mounting point and the bracket goes down to the bottom lip of the air dam where I riveted it to the dam.   From underneath   Riveted the bottom    I then realized that my factory turn signal mounts were very white and would show through the grill so I masked off the car and sprayed them flat black. I should've done this a long time ago but oh well, now I know.      With my air dam nice and secure I started on the bumper brackets. I purchased a set online from somewhere when I got the bumpers and they were complete garbage. I then tried using some factory 240z brackets but they were going to be way too much to make them work, So I decided to make my own.  I recommend attaching the bumper on the sides first then taping it up where you want it. Then carefully measure for the brackets and make them fit to the bumper not the other way around (if that makes sense)  I used 1/4"x1 1/4' steel strip and simply made an L bracket.   Cut off the excess   Put a slight twist in  the bracket side that attaches to the bumper   Drilled my holes   I removed my horns for better access   Test fit    Painted flat black as well   Then mounted. They're attached to the bumper by a 10mm bolt and nut      Now for the grill  I bought a 240Z grill and basically just swapped the top bar with the one off of my 280Z grill, that way I can use the 2 factory mounting points up top.    Sanded it down and painted it a semi gloss black.    Installed the grill. The front end is done!               Edited April 21, 201510 yr by HaZmatt Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468170 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468171 Really nice work on the bumper and grill mod. Thanks for the tip on swapping the top bar. I have a 240 grill and was wondering how to attach it. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468171 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468182 I have a xenon air dam I will be using. I had figured I would have to reinforce it too, as they flex a lot a speed. I had thought I would fab a bar all the way across the bottom on the inside lip and attach that to bracket in a similar way to what you did. That way the bottom edge couldn't flex and would hold its shape. All your work looks great. You are getting closeCharles Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468182 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468183 I like the custom brackets! Nice work. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468183 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr Author comment_468192 Really nice work on the bumper and grill mod. Thanks for the tip on swapping the top bar. I have a 240 grill and was wondering how to attach it.Thanks! You also need to remove a small bracket on each side of the 240 grille thats riveted on. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468192 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr Author comment_468193 I have a xenon air dam I will be using. I had figured I would have to reinforce it too, as they flex a lot a speed. I had thought I would fab a bar all the way across the bottom on the inside lip and attach that to bracket in a similar way to what you did. That way the bottom edge couldn't flex and would hold its shape. All your work looks great. You are getting closeCharles Thanks Charles, yeah if I were to do it again I would've gone with the fiberglass dam. But it is nice to have a little flexibility. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468193 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468204 Nice dogs Matt! I knew we had a lot in common. I've owned Bostons and bulls for years too. Sadly they're all gone now. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468204 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468231 Matt, I had the fiberglass air dam on an earlier Z. It doesn't take curbs or parking strips well and a chicken in the road at 55 mph made a mess out of it. Charles Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468231 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468235 Matt, I had the fiberglass air dam on an earlier Z. It doesn't take curbs or parking strips well and a chicken in the road at 55 mph made a mess out of it. Charles    If you aimed higher you could have had Grilled Chicken...... groan. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468235 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468236 Matt, I had the fiberglass air dam on an earlier Z. It doesn't take curbs or parking strips well and a chicken in the road at 55 mph made a mess out of it. Charles   Words of wisdom. You will always lose if you play Chicken with a chicken. X2 Groan Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468236 Share on other sites More sharing options...
April 21, 201510 yr comment_468245 That's funny, I don't care who you are... C Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/49193-my-datsun-280z-rustoration/?&page=34#findComment-468245 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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