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New member from RI
http://forums.ctzcc.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8433		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  BFG [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:46 pm ]
Post subject:  New member from RI
Hey guys,
I've had my Z for a couple years now. I made an account on here a while back but had issues logging in and never made the effort to resolve it until now.
You can see what I've done on HybridZ:
http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/110273- ... ld-thread/

It's a 75' 280z. I finished rebuilding the suspension this past spring and have been driving around ever since.
I look forward to speaking with you guys.
Thanks,
Ryan

Image

Image
Author:  Frank T [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Welcome, Ryan! Your Z looks inviting. The 5-slot wheels are what I think belong on an S-30. :thumbs_up: Gotta ask where you got that 1970/71 hatch? Is there anything else left off that old car?

Looking fwd to meeting you and zeeing the car in person. We have a Z car show this coming Saturday and we'd love to have you and your family attend. Several other RI members will be driving in, so maybe you can caravan along with them.

What did you do to the suspension?

Frank T
Author:  SurferD [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Nice write up Ryan.
I bet you had to check your trousers after the tow hook broke.
I'm also intrigued by your new hatch and the car it was once attached to.
BTW I have access to a "correct" hatch if you want one.
PLease try to make it Saturday.
I'll be in the yellow hooptie with rust and bondo all over it.
Author:  BFG [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Thanks for all the welcomes!
The hatch:
A while back I got in touch (purely by a lucky connection) with a mechanic near Boston who dealt primarily with 280z's back in the day. After speaking with him I acquired what was left of their z stash. They're just a regular shop now.
I had the hatch replaced after the "cliff fall" incident with a regular hatch. The series 1 hatch came with the stuff from the shop and I liked the uniqueness of it so I put it on and sold the regular one. College doesn't pay for itself ;)

As for the car the hatch came off of: The shell and the majority of it's parts are a mystery. The parts I do have:
A hood (was in the same color as the hatch)
possibly the differential (could be any old R180 though)
Complete E31 engine minus the carbs. Still had the manifolds and everything on it.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the engine. I took it apart to see what condition it was in and it looks pretty nice. Needs a rebuild but everything is fine component-wise. I originally wanted to use the E31 head but I have a spare E88 and I'm leaning towards keeping my N42 components instead. We'll see what happens.

Unfortunately I'm going up to maine for an anniversary/ end of the summer party so I won't be able to make it this weekend. Perhaps the next one? I finally have driveway access at my apartment in RI so I feel much more comfortable bringing the Z down.
Author:  BFG [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Oh yeah, for the suspension I broke everything down, sand blasted, and painted everything. I also installed new KYB struts, new ball joints, new tie rods, lowering springs, energy suspension bushings, MSA Swaybars, and changed out the rear strut tops for the shorter 240z ones.

Heres a more current view of the back of my Z. I casted new hatch vents out of aluminum with a home made casting furnace.

Image

Image
Author:  Frank T [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
["I casted new hatch vents out of aluminum with a home made casting furnace"].

:shock:

(We gotta get this guy to move closer to us!)

Are you by any chance studying Engineering in college?

Those 1970/71 hatch vents will let exhaust fumes into your cabin. Since you already have the later-model side vents on the B pillars, you can block those hatch vents off to prevent hypoxia. They look cool but will really confuse a lot of Z owners when they zee you with both types of vent! :lol:

And I'm really, really glad to zee you replaced those 'park bench' bumpers with the early 240 units. :thumbs_up:
Author:  BFG [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
I studied Industrial Design. I enjoy making things and it's a large part of what I do now.

fortunately those castings are acting as block off plates! When I first tried casting them they were too thin and the aluminum wouldn't flow through the whole mold. I had to thicken them and the easiest way to do that was to block the vents.

I painted the inside of the "holes" black to give the appearance of them being functional haha

Image

Image

In theory I could mill the backside until the holes appeared but I never got around to doing it.
Author:  BFG [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
here's the interior if anyone is interested. Only thing that's different since this picture is the series 1 steering wheel I installed.

Image

My z is essentially a representation of the entire 1st generation Z (240-280)

77' seats
70' steering wheel and hatch
75' body and dash
240z tail lights
both styles of turn signals

I should start calling it FrankenZ
Author:  Frank T [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Thanks for the tour of your "business office".

You don't happen to have a spare 240Z driver's side front signal lamp, do you? 8)
Author:  BFG [ Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
unfortunately I don't. I only have the two that are on my car
Author:  Frank T [ Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Those'll do..... 8)

( :lol: )

I notice that you actually have parking lamps from both the 240Z AND the 280Z on your front end. Now THAT's original and I can't wait to zee how that looks at night.
Author:  SurferD [ Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Outstanding work on the castings. Would you be willing to make a few more for us?
I have access to all sorts of milling machines and would like to see of it will hold up after machining.
Author:  BFG [ Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
Next time I have the furnace up and running I'll see if I can make a few. I'm pretty sure I still have the mold.
Author:  BFG [ Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
I found the molds for the hatch vents. I'll be sure to run a few next time I'm casting things.
Author:  SurferD [ Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New member from RI
AweZome
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