Helping s friend with a 280z. We need to repair the battery holder and related panels. Are there patch panels available anywhere?

 

 

Don's iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

Not that I know of, your best bet is to find one in a junk yard and cut it out, there is a guy on hybrid Z who is parting out a 260z, should be the same.

Some people go in and match the curvature of the panel, but then just relocate the battery into rear of the car.

Tkz. Found one one on Zcardepot but still looking for others. Zcarsource shows they have used ones???


Don's iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

They might have them? They still asking for a grip for the panel?

Check out the following Ebay link...and made out of stainless steel as well...woo hoo

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-240Z-260Z-280Z-70-78-Battery-Tray-Area-Repair-Panel-Sheet-Metal-1391F/223164173569?hash=item33f59f0d01:g:~4EAAOSw4vJaqwdd

MSA now carries them.  Look under the new items.

3 hours ago, kunzma said:

MSA now carries them.  Look under the new items.

Appreciate that!  I think I'll have to get one.

https://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic01a/12-4251ki

Finally someone makes the actual battery tray replacement!!!! But you're gonna have to "pay to play"...

Now we need the stamping under the battery tray area that is always toast too.

6 minutes ago, Patcon said:

Now we need the stamping under the battery tray area that is always toast too.

https://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic01a/30-7211

5 minutes ago, siteunseen said:

https://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic01a/30-7211

I am referring to the section of the inner fender that is always toast and is a compound shape

I mentioned this recently in another thread, but no one came through to confirm/deny or expand on it:  There were reports some years ago that a section of a Z front fender has a contour that replicates the under-battery section of the inner fender.

Unfortunately, I don't recall that suggestion being accompanied by pictures to show how it was done (or whether it was done). Even if true, Z front fenders don't grow on trees these days, so it would probably amount to a difficult or expensive solution (or both).  However...

The general concept is interesting.  Perhaps a re-pop or scrap front fender from a more pedestrian donor vehicle would serve equally well?  It would need to be a vehicle (car or pickup truck) with a similar, rounded styling.  However, I think you'd only be able to size up the feasibility of this approach by cutting out the Z inner fender repair area and then eye-balling the shape, hoping that it would ring a bell:  'You know, that looks a lot like the crown of the front fender from a 1986 Ford Taurus'.

A DIY alternative would be to take a fibreglass cast from the repair area and then do some tree-stump/sandbag tin bashing, using the cast as a shape reference.