LHD 280z console used in RHD 260z

[fly-s30]

Hey everyone, as promised this thread is to see the visual similarities and differences between an RHD ADM 260z center console and a LHD USDM 280z center console.

Right off the bat the differences are obvious.

There is a ~10mm flare added right around the lower section of the console, presumably to add a bit of necessary rigidity to the console, as most now show signs of warping due to heat, time, sunlight, so on.

260z

280z

 

260z no arm rest

280z With arm rest

 

260z Choke slot

280Z Choke slot with blanking plate: This is a poor fit, but can be massaged into place. This is good for those running Auto choke or EFI systems as the lever becomes redundant

 

Ill let the rest of the pics speak for themselves

Ashtray area:

If you look closely the mounting points on the body forward of the shifter under the defogger switches/ radio fascia are are pretty much in line. The rear mounting holes were aligned in roughly their correct position to give this location. I couldnt find the bracket im supposing will be here to confirm that.

 

Final location:

 

Just a word of caution if you were to purchase a new one of these.

The only parts that come with the console are the blanking plate for the choke, and the arm rest. Everything else needs to be brought over from your old console

 

The last price for this was $US 164 with $US 60 postage to Victoria from ebay seller:

http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/nissanofchesapeake?_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2754

The seller was really good to deal with, and allowed for combined postage.

I had checked with other ebay sellers and none were happy to ship to aus.

 

Please do your research to make sure it fits in your car 100% as i hadnt mounted it in any of those pics.

In saying that, I have checked with local nissan dealer and this is NLA to Australia since the Jap tsunami; so this really looks like our only option if you going to replace the tired and twisted examples us aussies have.

 

Kudos

 

Darius

 

 

 

 

[Zedman240®]

My 77 260 had an original arm rest / lid. Most break and are removed.

[fly-s30]

My 77 260 had an original arm rest / lid. Most break and are removed.

Could that be an early vs late 260 change or even an option? The old console in the pics actually came with a lid but the locking tabs aren't existent like the 280z images, so I figured it was an aftermarket add-on and so wasn't worth mentioning.

The car this old console came from was a 12/75.

 

 

[Ledge]

Here is the same USDM console,

But ive converted the lid to open the correct way for RHD

 

Sorry about the poor pic quality

 

[fly-s30]

Here is the same USDM console,

But ive converted the lid to open the correct way for RHD

 

Nice! Can you get close up of what you have done?

Soooooooo....then console fits fine then? Woot!

[Zedman240®]

Could that be an early vs late 260 change or even an option? The old console in the pics actually came with a lid but the locking tabs aren't existent like the 280z images, so I figured it was an aftermarket add-on and so wasn't worth mentioning.

The car this old console came from was a 12/75.

Seems like I've only seen them on late Oct 76 cars and on; if anyone else can correct me please..

[gilltech]

The early 260s like mine didn't have lids on the consoles & no provision for fitting them.

I don't know when lids were added as standard equipment.

The later 260 console I also have which I obtained from a parted-out JDM car ('76 IIRC) has slots both sides to enable hinging for LHD or RHD and push-in plastic blanking pieces for the redundant slots. Looks very similar to the 280z one in the pictures.

There were (are?) aftermarket lids available in the US for non-lid consoles which attach differently.

[Ledge]

Its pretty simple. even the latch setup in the lid swaps over.

The only issue will be the catch you need to cut and reglue the correct way and the

spring you need to carefully bend the other way.

 

 

[74zzz]

So these bolt straight up with only change to lid hinges? correct? I have a 74 260 2 seater and am needing a new console.......all mounting is in the same locations etc?

 

Cheers

 

Lawrence

[peter t]

They work fine M8.I have one in my car which I bought from a Nissan dealer in USA and haven't even changed the lid opening to RHD. You get used to it after a while.

[gilltech]

Exactly. The lid can hinge open either way & you just get used to it.

[74zzz]

bloody brilliant!