TomoHawk

Hey! I actually managed to get a new mast on my motor! I bought a lot of old Z antennas off eBay for cheap, and I got a good antenna mast off of one. The original antenna motor from my car was still working (all 3 eBay antennas were quirky) I managed to get the good mast onto my motor and all I need to do now is to test/fix the antena power wiring in my car, and install the antenna unit, and a control switch. Too bad those rockers that Enrique found at Radio Junk are all NLA. BTW, I have a questionable 240Z antenna unit for free; just pay the shipping.

If anybody is interested, there's a 240Z antenna switch on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240-260Z-280Z-Early-240Z-Electric-Antenna-Switch_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50459QQihZ001QQitemZ110063713682QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW HTH

OK, I got my "fully-automatic" antenna off eBay (AntennaX brand) and I looked inside the control box. There's a relay, and a geared switch for the ground leg. With the voltmeter, I poked around what's inside while the motor was on to see what the deal is, and still haven't figured that part out (yet.) It's a plain old DC motor, so maybe you can rewire the relay to make it work differently. It is possible to hook up a full-auto antenna to go up & down as you want, like an oem antenna does. You need a DPDT, center off, momentary switch to do it. Power chart: . . . . . Up . Dn . Off Sens. ..X . . O . . O +12V. . X . . X . . O Sens: antenna sensor wire +12V: constant power ( from Ign or ACC circuit) So, with some fancy jumpers on a DPDT switch, and the stock wires, you can control your antenna, just not with the oem SPDT switch. eBay has some nice antenna switches from Mercedes, et al, but since I don't know what the pin-outs are, I don't really want to waste money on that. HTH

The A-pillars are at the front corners of the roof (to the body), B-pillars are at the middles (on a 4-door sedan/coupe) and the C-pillars are at the back corners of the roof.

I was thinking that some 'expert' had convinced you that those were the rear speakers, cleverly hidden in those covers.

Maybe it's a little late, but what made you think those were speaker boxes??

The 240z had the best-sounding audio clip. It was the 'raw' sound of an free-breathing engine, the kind of a real sports car from an era of real sports cars. The others were obviously sounds of the newer engines, with the too-smooth sound you get with the modern balancing, and choked with all the modern emmissions and other strange constricting stuff. TYVM, Dave!

Which audio clip was it?

On a 78 280Z- Does anybody have some good pictures of the way the vinyl and carpeting are applied to the floor & sides on a 280Z? I have the seats & front carpet out, and I'm going to see if I can do the carpets right this time: PO had the carpet wall-to-wall, and stuffed under the scuff plates. Also, it might help to have a pic of how the carpet lays under the seats. Mine were cut and just laid in between the seat rails. thx

What Will said--- In a country where people put value on things solely based on the price of the item (for example, a $5000 home A/V system, or my $2500 bicycle) you shoulda charged them a bundle. They might pay more attention to somebody's million-dollar opinion, as compared to a $100 one...

I think the "graphics" are dumb. And the same for the steering wheel- dumb.

Will- That's a new definition to Fugly: Frog-ugly

We have the same problem with scale boat & ship models: You can scale down the ship, but you can't sdcale down the water. In the same way, you can scale down a car, but the effects of the wind, air, etc., won't exactly be the same, so you'll probably have to exaggerate some things on the car.

Be carefull you guys don't turn the new Z into a tinfoil machine! :surprised Be realisatic in your weight goal, but remember you have safety standards and emmissions stuff to add a little weight. What's your price goal? iIf you do a bunch of things to lighten ( GRP/CF/kevlar floorpan, wheelwells, hood, doors, roof, hatch) you could be adding thousands to the price. Who'd be able to afford one then?

I already ordered a few of those. I guess I'll get a note or a phone call, sooner or later. So then I'll have to ocate some regular grommets to fit the hole.

If the car really is what I think it is, it also has a clutch & transmission. You'll need one soophisticated robot for that!

But since it's so small, too small to sit in or on, it'll only sit on the shelf. how would you operate it, hamster?

I always wondered if some guy could build "real Ferraris" in his home-made Factory, somewhere out in the country. Full-size cars; Actually casting & machining the engine block, pistons, Forming the body, everything. Just like Enzo's people did 50 yers ago.

The local dealer told me that part is NLA. I will try courtesy Nissan or nissanparts. thx

The 'teardrop' sryle headlights like on old Jag, or the newer Taurus would be fine. You could design those into the scoop- style headlight buckets and still keep the older lines of the nose.

Another reason why I'm thinking of using a (generic) switch is so I can use that one unused plate next to the hazard switch. Maybe there's a rocker switch that will fit in one of the outlines, like Enrique mentioned. Too bad Radio Shack doesn't cary them tho. Maybe some other place. Suggestion (style D or F): http://www.mouser.com/catalog/628/1350.PDF

I'm glad my ashtray cover is black paint... Caswell Pating sells a kit that comes with a fine-tipped plating wand. Maybe you could use that to 'fill in' scratches? Nickel plating kit eBay auction

I usually drive an Escort, with very little in terms of amenities: no leather, no A/C. And after driving a 'basic' car since the 80s, and my 280Z for three years, I'm used to having only the radio to play with, so I can comcentrate on my driving. Power door locks doesn't seem too much bling, and since it's only a 2-seater, you shouldn't need power windows either. Having the rear area more open is a perfect feature for a sports/touring car: you want room for your bag, and/or a tub of stuff. Maybe you could even move the battery & other stuff back there for better weight balance, a bigger fuel tank, and a full-size spare... thx

Get yourself a copy of the 280Z Fuel Injection Bible:]Click here It explains a lot of the stuff you might need to know about the fuel injection system

You are just too enthusiastic, Stephen. :cheeky: