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280zx master cylinder and pedal box into a 260z


stevo_gj

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Hey guys, I have made a mistake once or twice that could easily have been avoided if I had just posted and said what I was doing so someone could tell me to stop!  :-[

 

I currently have a 280zx master cylinder and pedal box and a few associated parts and will be getting my mechanic to drop them into my car this weekend.

 

I have been informed that he will have to drill a couple extra holes into the firewall as the screws for the master cylinder and pedal box are slightly off centre in one place. I have also been informed that the pedal box will have to be lenghthened in one part as it is missing some bolt holes that hold the steering column in place.

 

the gearbox is a reco'd 260z gearbox with 0 kms on it.

 

Any serious problems I haven't accounted for?

 

Steve

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The master cylinder should just bolt straight onto the booster, there is no reason the MC should be bolted straight to the firewall!!!  I think this is what you are saying?  I cant comment on the pedal box, but i can tell you first hand the MC will bolt straight to a standard 240, 260, 280ZX booster...

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I'm not entirely sure what it means, but my mate Greg showed me that when you held up the 280 pedal box to a 260 pedal box, some of the holes are aligned and two of them are rotated around. The same is true for the corresponding bolt hoes on the master cylinder.

 

Well anyway, I take it that from the 40 views and no one saying anything that there is no reason I shouldn't go ahead and try it. I'll see if I can visit my mechanic and take some photos while he works.

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My mechanic already had it lying around. I couldn't find one easily and my car club mate and mechanic think it should be fine. If you know a place where I can get a master cylinder and pedal box for a 260 in Brisbane that would be sweet.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

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I know a place, zbits.com.au 

I just wouldnt be doing anything that wasnt bolt on unless you really dont care, i used to do it all the time, now my car is covered in small holes from drilling all over the place etc

But i hope it works out for ya

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Firstly, have you read this:

 

Secondly, if you've read that, you should realise you should only need the pedals, and not the pedal box itself - especially since your car is the same body style as mine was (later car).  If you stick your head up under the dash, and look at the pedal box you should see a spot where you could hang another pedal next to the brake pedal.  Its possible that Nissan had one or two different ones, but I got a manual pedal box with my auto car when I bought it, and compared the two - they were identical, so I just swapped the pedals themselves - much easier (Or cheaper if you are paying someone to do it)

 

Thirdly, I bought my 260 clutch master cylinder from the Z shop in Melbourne for about $60 when I did mine 2 or 3 years ago, and postage would be bugger all.  I also suspect they are available from Nissan still....

 

Further to that.... Do it yourself!  So much more fun, and it really is a bolt in conversion when you have the right bits.

 

 

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Bloody hell, I glossed over your post as I wasn't planning on doing it myself. Thanks mate you have just save me a butt ton of cash. I'll still buy the linkage, master cylinder and slave cylinder from Zbitz and I'll just use the pedals from the 280, since they should be the same.

 

thanks again!

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Me to Zbitz:

 

"I have just discovered that I do not in fact need to purchase a new pedal box after all, as I can use the manual pedals from my old 280zx box and bolt them into my current box without any kind of modification. In fact I don't even need to remove the box."

 

Zbitz reply to me:

 

"The 280zx pedal box will not fit in your 260z"

 

::)

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yes but you have an early r33 centre, they changed very quickly to a 31 spline in that model. they may not have known about the 2 variants, most pple se a black spider and assume all spiders are black, wrong!!!! especially alot of ppl on forums too, cmon guys be open minded, dont take what someone says as gospel, but dont write it off until you have proven it entirely wrong and be open to the fact that it may have been mod' in its of 30+ something years!!!!

nat0, (wasnt ranting but please be mindful of other findings.)

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Yeh, I know this, what I mean is, he said that he was 100% sure it wouldn't fit, not that there was a chance it might, be I doubt it.  Someone in that position shouldn't be saying that if they don't know.  I know what your saying though, maybe I should stop being so harsh on him. :P

 

Anyways, Nat0, you have mail.  Sorry to hijack thread.

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I went to my mechanic yesterday afternoon and there is good news and bad news. The good news is that now I have everything I need and he has trial fitted the pedals, gearbox and linkage and everything fits fine.

 

The bad news is that this fully reco'd gearbox with 0kms on it could end up being a dud box. My mechanic and I are very worried about the way the gearstick to return to the centre of its range of motion every time we put it into gear.

 

For example, if we put it into first we would push it left and up. Upon letting go the stick moves to the right, back to the centre position, but stays forwards. Has anyone ever experienced this?

 

My mechanic has also pointed out that the gearbox has had a hole cut into the bell housing for reasons unknown. He thinks this is not a serious problem but it doesn't say a lot for the seller who did not mention it to me. My mate recommended that I take it and get a strip and quote as the integrity of the box is in question.

 

To get this 'fully reco'd' box from perth I paid 600 for the box and 300 for shipping.

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Bad news about this box, apparently it has indeed be reconditioned however the rear housing where the selectors run through is completely buggered and must be replaced.

 

I am going to purchase another gearbox, a cheap one, and use this part from it. Does anyone have any lying around? I don't care if its a shit noisy box as generally the parts I need will still be ok.

 

Current manual conversion costs:

 

1300 + Labor + Cost of crap gearbox

 

This has been a pretty crap experience, I have learned that I must inspect before I buy just about anything...  :'(

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Thats a good idea Lurch, but probably not the simple solution I am looking for at the moment  :P

 

I doubt I'll be doing that SR conversion anytime soon so I have nothing to lose by getting an L series box.

 

Paul from Zbitz is suppling me with a box that he hasn't restored yet for $150, I'll use the bits I need and give him what is left over. I thought it was a decent price.

 

I'm gonna call the seller and ask him to pay for these extra costs incurred on his "rebuilt" box

 

cheers for your advice guys! I'll let you know how it goes

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Picked up the box from Paul today, was a 280zx box but that shouldn't be a problem as we are only using the rear part. It selects gears perfectly. Specialist is getting both boxes tomorrow and hopefully will have all the good parts in my 260 box by next weekend. If that can be done then theres a good chance this time next week the Z will be back in my driveway  ;D ;D

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