GongZ

Exterior Door Handles. I bought these from US eBay - seller 'designguu'. They were US$67.77 + US$17.00 for postage from Singapore. They turned up 13 days after ordering and cost me A$87.52 in total. Interestingly the same seller offers the same handles on the Australian eBay site for A$77.77 + A$19.50 = A$97.27 - about 10 bucks more.

Its tool time! A 10/11mm brake flare spanner to be specific. This came from UK eBay seller 'xpn1'. It was £1.99 + £0.99 postage. Delivered in 8 days, the total cost was A$7.04.

These ball joints came from US eBay seller 'worldsuspension'. They were US$17.99 (supposedly on special - usually US$23.99) and the postage cost was US$24.00. They took 11 days from ordering to arrival. The brand is DLZ (Guangzhou, China) and their part number is 02B201 (substitutes for K-9011). Looking at the prices from other suppliers, these seem to be very cheap - anyone else using them?

I bought a set of Stainless Steel Brake Hoses and a matching clutch hose from eBay USA seller gtautosports. They are sheathed with either clear, red, blue or black - I chose the black (stealth) option. The brake hoses were US$62.95 and the clutch hose was US$19.95 - total including postage was A$103. They arrived 7 days after I ordered them. I was surprised to find that the brake hoses are longer, and the outside diameter of the hoses is significantly smaller, than the factory rubber hoses. In the photo is a NOS rubber brake hose between the stainless brake hoses and the stainless clutch hose.

I have received a pair of Front Brake Backing Plates from Scoota G. Scoota (Mark) was generous enough to offer these for free. Unfortunately, I made a typo when giving Mark my address, so they travelled from Ballarat to Wollongong, back to Ballarat and back to Wollongong again. The plates therefore cost $0 + $23 postage ($11.50 X 2!) + $20 donation to AusZcar = $43 - still a bargain in my book. Thanks Mark.

Hi Gavin, I still have them on my wishlist of parts, but the lack of response here, Alan's comments above, and the scarcity of user reviews, has made me re-consider the stainless steel kit. I still like the idea of using them as a checklist. If you search for charger440rt's items on eBay (USA) you will see that you could buy all of the partial kits for the same total price as the full kit. In other words, there would be no cost penalty in trying one area such as the engine bay first (apart from some extra postage costs I suppose). This is my current preference. I have also found this thread regarding the full SS kit on ClassicZcars.com; http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40653 It has 7 photos showing the entire kit contents.

I have been doing lots of planning for my project and I have been searching eBay and the internet for the parts I need. I want to get the brakes working first - and I have received some parts for the upgrade/repair. The 280ZX Master Cylinder was from Rock Auto (USA) and cost A$221.64 delivered. This arrived 10 days after being ordered. The rebuilt Toyota s12+E callipers (to suit my original non-vented disc rotors) and ceramic pads cost $A276.32 delivered and were sourced from Silvermine Motors. Their original postage quote was US$160 but when I asked if a cheaper option was available, the seller found that USPS standard parcel rate would be US$65, which made the deal a 'goer'. These also arrived 10 days after being ordered. I was going to buy used callipers from a local wrecker, but I figured that the cost of used callipers, rebuild kits, brake pads and honing would be about the same as buying these rebuilt units and the seller's recommended pads.

I have received my Brake Master Cylinder from Rock Auto (A$221.64 delivered - as stated previously). It turns out to be made by Nabco and has 'square' reservoirs rather than cylindrical versions as shown in the photo on their website, and included in my earlier post. Ironically, it looks identical to the Dorman brand shown in my original post! Attached are some photos of what I received, including one of the label on the box - showing the part number details. The plastic bag that it was packed in bears a label stating "46010-P6500 Made in Japan".

Rock Auto just replied - Part Status: OUT OF STOCK (No ETA available) ! I am back to searching - grrrrr ** update - just ordered one of these from Rock Auto - A$221.64 shipped Centric 13042604 Bore size: 15/16" Push rod depth: 1.11"

I have taken Lurch's advice and ordered 2 of these - so expect to see one for sale soon.

Ok - thanks Lurch and NZeder. Is anybody else interested in buying one of these then? If you order one on your own, it will cost (all prices in US$) $97.89 + $55.90 postage = $153.79 If somebody wants to order with me, it will be = ($195.78 + $55.90)/ 2 = $125.84 + Australian postage from me to you. - similarly; 3 units = ($293.67 + $64.41)/ 3 = $119.36 + local postage 4 units = ($391.56 + $78.96)/ 4 = $117.63 + local postage 5 units = ($489.45 + $96.69)/ 5 = $117.23 + local postage Please reply here or pm me if you are interested. I don't want to drag this out too long - so please respond by this Saturday (8th Jan 2011). - Ian

Hi all, I have decided to make this a new topic rather than continuing to tack on to similar ones. Like many others, I want to carry out the infamous Toyota 4 spot front brake upgrade. I have read many, many posts here and on other sites which all recommend using the 15/16" Brake Master Cylinder for a 1979-1981 280ZX. I have also found however that these are not easy to find at what I consider a fair price. In my research I have discovered the (15/16") Dorman 39277 Brake Master Cylinder; http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-4829-m39277.aspx This is a new master cylinder and includes new reservoirs and caps, and is described as being suitable for a 2 seater or 2+2 1977-1978 280Z (Note: Z not ZX!). Rock Auto lists them at Aus$97.69 with postage being A$55.79; http://www.rockauto.com - search for Nissan>1978>280z>Brake/Wheel Hub>Master Cylinder They will actually send 2 for the same postage price of A$55.79 - mini-group buy anyone? Has anyone tried one of these in 240Z or 260Z (or 280ZX!), or know of any reason why this part and this car should not be joined together in... (you get the idea)? - Ian

Thanks Ray and Gareth - great responses!

Thanks for the reply Ray - and a photo would be great if you don't mind. By the way - did you remove or cut off the fluid level sensor wires fitted to the reservoir caps or swap them for 240Z/260Z caps? I was thinking of buying new 240Z caps, assuming they fit.

Hi all - I am still looking to buy a 1979-1981 280ZX (15/16") brake master cylinder for my 240Z (1973). As others have said - new ones only seem to be available from the US. I have done lots of searching on the web and Black Dragon seem to have the best price at US$139. The only hesitation I have is that the bleed valves are on the right hand side of the cylinder (I assume they were the same on Australian 280ZX's?), which would make the bleed valves quite close to the inner guard. Can someone with a 280ZX master cylinder in a 240Z or 260Z tell me if this is an issue when bleeding the cylinder? Happy New Year Ian

Oh! That means I have to ask; Is a 1" JB1419 going to be "too much" for the Hi-Lux callipers on solid rotors at the front and the standard rear drums? I don't foresee myself doing any further brake upgrades than this. I note that your car (Scott's) has; "Front brakes LN105 Hilux 4 piston calipers with DBA slotted rotors Rear disk brake conversion, R31 callipers" - so when you say its "SOLID!!", should I assume that it will be TOO SOLID in my car? - Ian *edit 21/1/2011* - My solution was to buy a new Nabco reproduction 79-81 280ZX Brake Master Cylinder from Rock Auto USA for A$221.64 delivered. Photos can be found in reply #2 on this page; http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,8158.0.html

Just to update this thread for others looking for 280ZX Brake Master Cylinders. I have just phoned Autobarn at Albion Park NSW and confirmed that the JB1419 is still available. (*edit - JB1419 is the 1" - not the the 15/16" 280ZX MC) Their list price is $159.00. I have one ordered and I will post a pic or two when I get it. Thanks for the lead Scott! -Ian

Hi Kobes, I am looking for a new after-market 280ZX Master Cylinder as part of a Toyota 4-spot front brake upgrade to my 240Z. Are you offering to sell these to members at the prices shown or do you have a source that you can provide details for? Can you comment on the differences between, or merits of, the 3 different brands you have listed? Regards Ian

Hi again Brad, Your plans sound good to me. As far as wheel choice is concerned - here is my suggestion - From what I have seen - a large proportion of the local (and for that matter, British and US 240Zs) cars were fitted with 'kidney bean' aka 'Jellybean' mags by the Datsun dealers. So much so - that I see them as default factory wheels. My car stills runs the wheels it had in the showroom (according to the original owner), and they are Magnum brand 14" X 6(?)" as shown. Some of the other 'period' alloys can look very out of place on a Zed. I look forward to seeing more pictures and news of your progress. - Ian

This thread looks like a great idea and I hereby revive it. I assume that this US eBay listing is from the seller that Sushi recalled; DATSUN 240Z, 260Z, 280Z FASTENER KITS STAINLESS http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350418792644&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1143wt_1166 eBay item Number = 350418792644 eBay seller = charger440rt Their direct website address is - http://www.zcarcreations.com/ Their home page contains the logos of 4 the US Z clubs, implying some level of approval I guess. They also offer Z club discounts and group buys it seems. Note that everything is said to be - "- GRADE 18-8, TYPE 304 STAINLESS STEEL" and I assume should therefore be used with an appropriate jointing compound such as 'Duralac' to counteract galvanic action between the stainless nuts/bolts and the steel of the car? As Sushi mentioned they have full kits and sub-kits, eg.; Full 240, 260, 280Z DATSUN FASTENER KITS - TOTAL OF 1,836 PCS US$500 + US$43 postage As you can see in the pic below - each kit is sorted into groups such as 'Lower alternator bracket' fasteners and supplied in individually labelled plastic bags. I am tempted to buy a full kit because; - They look nice - They should remain looking nice - They would be corrosion resistant, and with jointing compound hopefully no seized nuts in the future (no puns please) - They would serve as a checklist as to what has been removed/replaced/fixed etc. - The old fasteners could be put back into the appropriate labelled bag for eternal storage/reference I have done a search or two to see what people in the US think of them - and the only caveat I recall was not to use them on the radiator fan (higher strength bolts were recommended). Comments? - Ian

Welcome Brad, Your car looks great and I hope you are quietly pleased with the price you paid for it. (I am not prying - honestly!) I saw that $95K 240Z somewhere too - so I have re-valued mine at $94,500. May I ask what you plan to do with the car? It is just so original!! - are you going to keep it that way or start modding? Cheers - Ian

I have gratefully accepted Scoota's offer (postage cost + $0.00) and contributed $20 to the site in his honour. - vale 260Z 2+2 - we will miss you :'(

Thanks Paul!

Apologies if I have made a newbie faux pas by reviving this thread (I just got the "Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 365 days" message); - but my question is specific to this topic and it seemed appropriate to me. I read right through this thread and a few others and did not find the answer as to which Series is the 'bolt-on' version. Which one is it please "Series I (79-82) or a Series II (82-83)"? Thanks and further apologies in advance as required - Ian

Hi again Gareth, My car is now showing up in the wazregister as the latest HS30 - so come on, put yours up and beat me! http://wazregister.com/zindex.php?action=viewdetails I think it is in the interests of all Z owners to help populate the register and the moderators here seem to want us to do so too. How about it people? - Ian