Leaderboard

The type 1 can be fitted without dismantling the 280Z turn indicator brackets. You drill the holes through the brackets using the white cardboard template supplied with the brackets. When you go to the skillard or 240Z grill and 240Z turn indicators it's a simple job to remove the bracket. The brackets are spot welded in place. The easiest way to remove them is to drill through the spot weld with a 1/16" drill and them use a 1/2" drill to drill the top section out of all the spot welds. Don't drill all the way through. Gently wobble the bracket and it will break loose. The grill brackets fit to the hood hinges, but still allow full adjustment of the hood. No drilling need to fit the grill brackets.

Hatch alignment can be a pain in the glass... sorry. I would suggest removing the main weather stripping and getting the hatch to fit without it. Not an easy decision, but it will remove the main impediment to adjusting things and being able to tell if your adjustment is doing what you think. The hinges do have a L and and R stamped in them somewhere. Do make sure you have them on the right side, though I’m not sure why them being wrong would cause one side to be higher than the other. You never know.

I would encourage you to change the exhaust manifold studs to higher grade ones. I would also encourage you to use anti-sieze on the new studs when installing them. The studs do have a tendency to break, especially the outer ones at the end of the manifold. Higher grade studs will avoid this problem and changing them is worthwhile since they have a tendency to corrode and lock to the aluminum head. When I had head work done on my 280ZX, one of those studs had to be removed using a laser in a submersible bath. It's a cheap and easy update to make, and this is the perfect time to do it.

Thank you for your service Mike. Your generation inspired mine to serve in your honour and footsteps. My combat tour with the Taliban in panjwaii will never compare to the hardship and loss you endured in Vietnam. I lived in a concrete bunker on a reinforced mountain with internet, hot food and showers. Yes we were surrounded by enemy at all times and were attacked daily, but were supplied and defended by incredible modern weapons. As a current Warrant Officer, I remind my troops daily of the sacrifices of previous generations and the current “day care” mentality of the military. Again, hats off to you and your generation.

Mark, As a Vietnam veteran Marine I thought you hit this one out of the park. "Ours is not to question why. Ours is but to do or die." Once the s*** starts to fly it comes down to you and your buddies. Politics are a long way away. If you survive then you can take the time to think about it. Cheers, Mike

I understand that you see this in a way that might hurt some people's feelings. I understand that there are some who may feel upset at seeing a flag from an "enemy" country on our soil being displayed as a point of pride. As a soldier, I bear no malice towards the enemy soldier. No hate or love. He is merely doing his duty same as I am. If we meet on a field of battle, our lives are of no consequence to the meaning or reason for war. We are responding to the call for duty from our leaders, in their job of guiding our country and making these types of decisions. We are but meat in the machine. Therefore, I have no ill will towards the Japanese people or their symbols of a bygone era. The symbolism of the "Rising Sun" is an honourable tribute to the birth and creation of a nation with hopes and dreams of creating a better place for their people. What I draw from this, is that I have created a "rebirth" of my car in tribute to the original nation that invented this incredible machine. And in that rebirth, my hopes and dreams of where this car will take me (physically and spiritually) are represented for the world to see every time it sits at a car show for others to admire (and criticize!). I hope that no one is offended in the way that you describe, but I am pretty sure I will not be displaying my car at car shows hosted by WWII veterans of the Pacific. If so, I will gladly close my hood and offer my apologies along with an offer to buy them a beer (or two).