I'm wondering if the metal front/rear bumpers of a 240Z will fit on a 280Z, or if the side body indentations or mounting points make it impossible. I'm just trying to think of a better looking alternative to the huge heavy 280Z metal bumpers without completely sacrificing crash protection. Thanks.

 

I have a 240 rear bumber on my 77 280Z and it really doesn't look good. I plan on putting a new air dam on front and a rear, what do you call it, on back. I doupt the 240 front bumper will look good either.

 

I had 240 bumpers on my '77, and was very happy with them. I don't understand how the rear cannot look good since the earlier ones are the same with the exception of the indentations. Speaking of which, even though the 280's didn't have them, the bumper still fits pretty well.

You do have to fab up some kind of special brackets for them.

 

i was planning on putting 240 bumpers on my 75, and what i was gonna do involved trying to take the old bumper and weld up some heavy-duty angle iron as a bracket, so as to use the bumper as a "skin" over a substantial piece of metal.. i looked at it long and hard, and didnt ever think it would be too difficult, but i have yet to actually fabricate the thing together, so i still have my picnic-table benches (read: 5mph crash bumpers that stick out a country mile..) on my car, but i cannot see how it would look bad as long as you find a way to mount them close to the body like they were on the 240 in the first place. those little bumpers probably would look odd six inches away from the car though, so good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

I have a 73 240z. the front bumper was(I say was 'cause the car is all in parts now) about 2 inches from the body with a rubber spacer between the two and the rear bumper was mounted close to the body just like on the early 240's. Of course since I want the close mouted front bumper I bought brackets for the early model at my dealer (they were cheaper than I expected) only to find that half the holes to bolt them in the body line up with nothing. So I think I'll have to modify those brackets even though my car had a slim bumper nearly identical to the '70-'72 cars. If somebody has done this before and could give some advice it would be great !

 

Years ago I had a website called PlanetZ that explained how to do this.

As I recall, you remove your existing bumpers first. Next you remove the screw in the end of the bumper shock. I believe this releases a gas which is inert and will not hurt you. Probably CO2. Next, using a small drill bit you drill a hole in the membrane that holds the mineral oil inside the shock through the screw hole. Don't be surprized if it squirts out at you. Now with the compressibility gone you collapse the bumper shock toward the body. Now mount the 260Z bumper to the bumper strut. In the front you just mount it, push back on the struts to where you want it and tack weld the strut sliders. The sides of the front will bolt to the body. The rear is more complicated and this could be why one member says he doesn't like the way it works. Everything is the same except that you must remove the site sheild between the body and bumper by drilling out the spot welds. The drill holes must then be filled and the body repainted to match the rest of the car. The side of the bumper mounts will require some drilling through the body to mount.

Certainly other methods are used, this was just mine and it used the 260Z bumpers.

Good luck
Rob Sime
'73 240Z
'00 BMW R1100 RT-SE
'99 Toyota 4Runner Supercharged (Daily driver)
'99 Porsche Boxster
'80 MGB
'75 Porsche 914 2.0