Pistolio

hey guys
just a couple of questions

first where do you get those headlight covers i keep seeing on the done up z's???

and also i was trying to think of a few areas where my z could ched a few pounds, any suggestions??

thanks pete

FastZ

You can get the headlight covers from motorsport for about $50.00. There website is www.zcarparts.com Check it out.

Bleach

Shed a few pounds: remove Air Conditioner unit and all associated tubing and wiring. Remove cruise control unit. Put on MSA body kit and remove crash bumpers underneath the fiberglass covering. Remove engine. (leave that one as a last resort)

Pistolio

well i was thinking about losing the engine but i thought i should probs hang on to it just in case i need to go somewhere

well iv got no air con or cruise control anyway, lol

but thanks neway!!

Z*Tech

What year and model car do you have?

Pistolio

i have a 1979 nissan 280zx, n/a, automatic

Z*Tech

You have a car designed for touring, road trips etc.

The 1979 ZX was never designed as a true sports car. The body flexs too much and the suspension and power steering is too mushy.

My advice would have been to keep the AC and cruise and spend time and money on the suspension, the car isn't that heavy to begin with and running well it will provide you with enough power.

Cruising in comfort has alot to be said for it.

Bleach

The '79 2-seater with manual steering, no AC, and no cruise was listed from Nissan as being lighter weight than the 1978 280Z. I dont' know how that could be...

Your car is probably as light as you'll get it without removing the bumpers. You can get close to 200lbs off by putting on fiberglass bumper covers. Replace your springs, struts, and put on some strut tower braces and it'll tighten up the handling of the ZX just fine.

and one more thing.... a 5-speed manual is lighter weight than an automatic.

Pistolio

yeh ill just stick to looking cool i think lol

my z has served me well, especially as a first car. im holing to get my hands on a 300zx by the end of the year so ill have to let her go soon it will b a sad day i think.

thanks heeps ppl

Bleach

It will be a sad day when changing spark plugs goes from a 20 min job to an all day affair. Good luck with the 300ZX. hehe

Pistolio

yeh true that haha

but u cant argue with the looks or the performance

nice cars

Bleach

Only if its a Z32...

CWHammer

Where does one find these elusive strut tower braces, and will they fit on a 2+2 as well as the coupe?

Bleach

Yes, the engine compartment is the same on botht he 2-seater and 2+2. I got mine at Top End Performance in CA. racetep.com

Mine is the triangular strut tower brace. It did not fit when I got it and I tried to contact Top End and got nothing from them. I then heard that they do this all the time. They don't support their own product. I was lucky enough to find someone to help me cut and re-weld the brace. It looked cheap anyway and was way overpriced at about $180 for just welded steel bars. However, the result was amazing. The 280ZX's strut towers are very far out from the firewall. There is a lot of flexing and vibrations that was eliminated, even on straight driving like on the freeway.

CrAzY_84na

I SAW THAT!

Bleach

Ooops!
Aren't you supposed to read the other part of the forum!?! hehe...

Pistolio

k by strut tower brace do u meen those things that go across the engine bay to just like tighten things up a bit???

would there b any cance od ne1 directing me to a pic of one?

thanks p

91zxtt

Me too.

Bleach

This is the triangular brace. Not as common as the straight bar across the middle. This is my car.

CWHammer

Sounds like a lot of work. I saw a few pics of front bars in use on IcIce9's pics page. Great photos by the way. Anyone reading should check them out, IcIce9 is a great resource for Z info. Anyhow, It doesn'tseem like it would be too hard to make a set out of some common marine/hardware store pieces.
Whata' ya' think.

Pistolio

do u think it would b too hard to just make a brace like that instead of buying it???
im sure if i got off my *** i could make 1 like that, does it weigh much and what is it made out of, just steel???

thanks p