TomoHawk

I was going to paint that dash cap a flat (or satin) black color. Something that won't reflect the sun. Would you also paint the old dash to match?

Nope. Obviously, you don't know any upholstery guys in my area. I stopped by today to see if they could mount t he cap for me, and maybe cover it with the headliner material. Thgey guy showed me a sample. Airy foam backing with a thin cloth face. Obviously what the new cars are using, and not what you described. Plus, the guy says they use a "permanent" glue. I will ask for soft silicone blobs (dots) along the bottom edge only. Sooo... I ordered a full cap from Too Intense. Good decision? About the same price as MSA, and VB didn't have it in the catalog. thx

I just found some on Too Intense restoration. $48 for a pair, which is a good price (Compare to $160 for OEM). These should be the correct ones you'll need.

New squeegees cost you $75. I was also going to try to use the squeegees from a car with long door, like an old Monte Carlo. So what about the felt channel stuff? They keep the windopws from rattling when you drive. Just gut the OEM type stuff? I don't think those are too rxpensive.

The L28 engine also takes about 5.5 litres of engine oil, depending on how you measure it.

I think I will try the headliner material then. I could have the uphostery guy put some on when he puts on the dash cap. thx

The old cover I had looked like leather-grained plastic, and was shiny. I will assume the newer ones are something like that, and so don't match the oem cover in terms of look & feel. I have heard that "mousehair" material is no longer available, so what would you suggest covering the dash cover with to give it a more appropriate look & feel? Flocking can be applied to the surface, but would look furry and tacky. the only thing left is a layer of vinyl. thx

No thanks, I already have a half cap from someplace. I think I had a half-cap on my car because the bottom went across the dash just below the center gauges. Only it's a light color and I'd have to paint it or cover it before glueing it in. But from what Will says, you only need a few spots to glue it on. Mine had gobs and drizzles of clear silicone stuff (rubs off easily) and blue adhesive ( don't come off easily). thx

I had to cut up my dash cap to get the tacho and speedo out to put in new bulbs. It was glued on with blue RTV stuff that didn't come off without a knife. The top was very brittle, but the front wasn't. It's the part that doesn't get much or any sunlight. So right now, I either need to recover the top or get a new dash cap. Is there a place that makes a dash cap that allows you to get the tach and speedo out? thx

the muffler shop has a machine that can stretch or shrink the end of the tube, about 1/8 inch or so.

try a pneumatic nibbler or cutoff wheel.

You can get just the Dayglo pigment, you know...

I don't think a bracket that's expoxied to the ABS tubing would hold very long. And instead of using a round clamp, I would suggest cutting a thin slot on opposite sides of the tube, and passing a flat strip through to support the tube. Yeah, it's in the airstream, but it only creates a little drag. Yuo might even twist it a little to give the air some swirl effect.

How about James Bond and Axel foley?

Right, ATABCO makes some repair panels. It looks likethis is your chance to learn how to hammer metal. Get yourself a side of a refrigerator or electric stove, and learn yourself to hammer & bend metal

Steel( or stainless) exhaust tubing can be heavy too. I try not to add weight on the front of the car. I agree that there must be a source for 60mm steel ( or aluminum?) tubing. I think you need to start thinking metric instead of SAE. If it's 60mm, then get 60mm tubing, unless there is an EXACT equivalent in ASAE.

I believer there are( or were) some companies that make repair panels for the Z. One made repair panels for the fenders. They might have a replacement for ther battery area. Before cutting up a (good) car, check this out first. Maybe somebody knows the name of that repair panel Company. You might search for 'fender repair'

The muffler shops have a machine that can stretch and shrink the ends. Did you consider that if the tube is close?

Don't you just hate it when the American companies get this stuff that was "translated" into english from Japanese? I would think that somebody at VB would inspect this product and notice the Instructions SUCK! And then work out with whomever printed the instructions, something understandable in English. They probably had engineers faxing back & forth over the pacific, but nobody bothered to proofread the stuff, and notice it doesn't make sense to those in the U.S. It's understandable if the product was being sold by a Japanese company, and shipped to the U.S., but VB is in KANSAS! :devious:

OK. Those are good pairs, but what if you split them up and put them with somebody else, like Speed Racer & Daisy Duke? (Catherine Bach) But then again, Bill likes fast girls & fast cars...

Doesn't have to be superheros. Originally, I was thinking of just Crime-fighters or secret agent types. Superheros was the first name that came to mind. thx

He'd be better off with Barbara Bach (from "The Spy who Loved Me"), although she was a russian spy.

Bill must be an undercover superhero, and he needs Paris Hilton to give him cover as an idiot? j/k

What would you have to do with her? What sleuthing would you do?

On the center console for a 280Z, does your lid fit flush all around? On mine, the lid sticks out a little on the side over the brake handle. thx