SSSEXXX

I'll give you more details and pictures as I get them my friend. Yes, you do need a caliper adapter for the front and rear. I was looking at big brake options and I liked that I got a big Wilwood caliper up front and a matching 2 piston out back, but could still get a 15" rim over them. I didn't want to go any larger. Also, instead of buying a specialty rotor, I can just pick up a replacement from almost anywhere. (Al's idea). I'm excited to see the end result.

Took the day off work today to run some dato errands. Finally got the title transferred to me after being lazy for so long. Then had it registered. Was going to go non-op, but I figure this way I put pressure on myself to get it done sooner. So I registered it active. Then stopped by to meet Al at Datsun Parts, LLC. Good dude filled with massive amounts of datsun knowledge. Getting my 280zx hubs machines down to accept Sentra rotors and picked up a Wilwood 4 piston kit for the front and 2 piston for the rear. Full rotor conversion. Also getting the calipers powder coated red. The color will pop behind what I hope will be 15" Watanabe RS8s with a black face and a polished lip. :) Need to get this thing to paint soon. Still looking for someone good in SoCal to work in my baby's body.

Congratulations!! I know that sight makes you feel really good. You're in the home run stretch to getting that bad boy fired up. Really looking forward to the rest of the build. :)

Got started on the 280zx strut rehab last night. Going to go coilovers, but no plans on shortening them. Here is what I started with... Back side view. They are not perfect, but they will be when I am done... Brake caliper and top seal off. This was when I noted that the hub was mounted in front of the rotor. Why the hell was this the design methodology back in 1968?? It is insane to think you have to take off the wheel, hub, and then replace the rotor. Unless of course, I am a dumbass that simply didn't know what I was doing during disassembly... Up and personal shot of my rusty hubs.... Need to get these machined so that they can work with an OEM Sentra rotor and a big old 4 piston Wilwood caliper... In the homerun stretch of the 1st 280zx strut assembly. Still needed to remove the dust shield (which proved to be a huge pain in the @ss) and then seperate the hub from the rotor (which proved to be an even larger pain in the @ss)... Wound up tearing the $hit out of the dust shield and dremeling out the rusted bolts and using vice grips to get them each out. Took WAY too long, but it got done and no midgets were kicked in the process. Now, the rotor seperating from the caliper just seemed impossible until I started whacking it with my old trust rubber mallet. Once I noticed it was starting to split I just pounded in a screwdriver and went back and forth to each side until it popped off... Just when you thought the fun was over, it was time for round two. Which, obviously went much faster. But I did have to drill out the bolts on the dust shield once again. Anyone have any good tips on how to clean these things up??

YES!!! Looks good... Good to know I am not the only one aggravated by bolts snapping these days. 6 of them last night!!! If someone doesn't have one, I have an exploded transmission pic at my office. I can't shoot it to you first thing on Monday.

BUMP!!! Still looking??!!! Anyone???

I'll take that off your hands sir. Also in Cali.

Yes sir! PM sent. :)

Take your time, nothing sucks more than coming home from work to rummage through the shed. Wish the '68 had a JDM round gauge option like the '69. :(

Hit me with photos of that '68 sir.

Lol correct sir. Sent him a text message too and got no response. Open to suggestions at this point....

I want to learn to weld, but to be honest am still a bit afraid of the idea. I took metal shop, way, way, WAY back in the day and did some welding in high school. But like many of us, that was a lifetime ago. I am going to have to research and think about that one. The other problem is, I am not exactly sure how or what to weld to make the core support sit right. I removed as little material as possible. Thinking it is better to let the pros handle this particular problem and maybe learn to weld small things here and there with time. I really hope that the s13 sr20det engine I have built does not prevent me from using the wipers. I really like them and have every intention of keeping them...

Wow, makes me wish I actually did know how to weld. A great project waiting to happen...

Looking good my friend... Started to do your wiring homework yet? What are your plans? CAN/AM, Painless, or good ol' fashion DIY wiring?

Pictures would be awesome my friend...

Passenger side fender off. I determined that this was a necessary step in order to get the front valence off and asses the damage to the core support... but this was not the thing that drove me nuts.... this was only the beginning.... total time to take off the fender was about 20 minutes... Front valence off. It was definitely a 70+ variant that was bolted to the core support and holes (an excess amount) were drilled in to it in order to make it fit. Yet another warning sign of what was to come... Another shot of both of my last accomplishments.... So this is where my explitive filled rage began. The F#$&ING retard that did the world's shittiest bondo job decided that rather than weld the core support back on to the car correctly, he/she would just weld the driver's side fender to the core support in more than one place. WHY??? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD?!?!?!?! WHY?????? So in my frustration the photography stopped while I busted out the trusty dremel and went to work on slowly grinding out the weld seams. The one above and on the bolt holes on the fender behind the grill. The end result. Well, judge it for yourself. I am no talent when it comes to mechanical skill and experience. I did what I could... The core support will need to be correctly welded to the body, a skill I do not have. So when I take the body to the shop for prep and paint, this little gem is sure to cost me more than I want to know. Ah, the joys of our hobby... I wrapped here for the day. Partially because I was really pissed off and partially because it was getting late. Need to take apart my 280zx hubs and send them off to be machined. Gone to have them tweaked to accept a Sentra rotor and a Wilwood caliper. Thinking about powder coating them a nice red color. I want black centered 15" wheels, so I think the red will really make them pop.

Now, on to the Dime... Updates are slow only because I am moving incredibly slow. If you remember from my thread introduction, I have little to no experience and most of the knowledge comes from reading post on this forum and a few others. Guys like Dennis, Dislexicdime, quik510, Laecaon and a few others have been extremely patient and have helped me a lot. I know, I know, shut up and give you pictures... Hood latch and release cable out and pictures taken because we all know it is easier to remember than it is to read a manual.. Picture of how the hood release cable sits... You get the point... I unbolted the hood release from the interior and pulled the cable through the hole. Impressive automotive skill, I know. Next was on to removing the uber sexy suicide wipers that I cannot wait to restore and get looking fresh and factory again... Before... In between.... Wiper mech... All gone, and looking a little bare.... progress :)

Not to worry my friend, the '69 dash is for another project. For the time being, the '68 is staying bone stock on the inside. The interior, particularly the seats, is essentially new. I am focusing on a restoration and the sr20det build. Speaking of which.... New goodies have arrived.... Baz and T'racy over at Datsport hooked me up with this little gem.... Also had the fortune of getting my nubby little paws on a CAN/AM unit courtesy of Icehouse!!! Thanks buddy!! This thing looks awesome... And perhaps the most exciting of all..... drum roll please... PARTS ARE BACK FROM WPC TREATMENT!!!!! (Yes, I actually yelled that)

The whole thing, but I am open to piecing something together. Just testing the waters.

Just seeing if anyone out there has one in good condition.

Bump bump bump... Dash still available?

Dennis, your rock dude. You are like a plethora of helpful information. I really can't thank you enough. I did a ton of research and have decided to go with 2 piston Wilwood calipers in the rear, 4 piston calipers in the front. Going to have the front 280zx hubs machined to accept the stock Sentra rotors so I can always find easy replacements. Still researching MC options, but the 78/79 280zx is definitely the front runner. I have never seen a brake lock before, but that thing looks totally perfect. Doubt I will ever really need a hand brake. I saw those Wilwood ebrake pieces, but don't have the fab skill to make something like that happen. May be something I add after the build, but only if I don't like what the brake lock can do.

Quick question fellas! 4 pot wilwood calipers front and rear, but loss of ebrake functionality... Thoughts? I still really want z32 350 brakes, but I digress..

Thanks for the love Dennis. I have been using WD40 to get things moving along in the bolt department. I am not looking forward to drilling out the lodged in pieces. I almost went nuts with my rubber mallet after i snapped the third one of the day. I decided for my own sanity that I would warp it up for the evening after I got the driver's fender off. Then much to my delight I noted that it was welded in place. I have absolutely no body experience, or mechanical experience of any kind for that matter, and I know you don't do that. I digress... Plan to give the car a couple of days off and finish final assembly on the engine. Do you use a clear to coat the polished aluminum pieces you have done? How is your build going? The one thing I can tell you I am lacking most some days is the motivation.

I'm so pissed off right now I want to slap someone. I will upload pictures soon. But the @sshat that did the bondo work on the driver's side, where the core support bolts to the front of the fender, should be shot. This tard welded the top of the fender to the core support and welded the bolt holes on the front, behind the grill. Took me damn near half the day to dremel out the seams and get the driver's fender off. Now the driver's side core support needs to be reworked, if it is even possible. Plus the core support may need to be replaced. This sucks... Oh and PS, if one more rusty bolt snaps in half i swear I am going to kick a midget or something. I'm very frustrated obviously.