andyzed

following on from previous post, here is the new lever with the slot widenedlever 7.JPG[/attachment]

I decided to swap my OEM plastic/rubber handbrake lever for a Titanium one and change the gaiter to a Red leather one as I already had the Gaiter as it came as a pair with the Gearknob gaiter which I had already fitted. I looked around for a direct replacement lever but couldn't find any, but I found a Richbrook lever which fitted the Micra and it already had a cutout on the bottom of the lever which I knew looking at previous mods would be required to fit on the OEM internals. Richbrook do various colours in the lever I was going to mod, I opted for Titanium to match the gearknob, right hand pic below:

I was lucky enough to get one of e-bay for £17.50 plus P&P in the colour I wanted. I didn't know how much I would have to mod the lever or if it would fit at all, however my wife has a Micra so if all else failed I could fit it to that as it is a direct fit for this model

Anyway I looked a previous post on another forum for instructions before I started and it looked straight forward enough

Well first job was to use a stanley knife to cut down one of the seams on the OEM lever cover, handy these seams as it guides the knife while you cut, I cut it down as far as possible to just before the rubber insert attached to the centre console, be careful you don't cut too far as you don't want to cut into this insert and damage it, as this doesn't get removed. Once the cover is cut down one seam just ease it off over the handbrake internals, it is just stuck on in a couple of places with some glue, mine came off really easy, this is the end resultLever 3.JPG[/attachment][attachment=0]lever 4.JPG[/attachment]

Once the cover was off I tried sliding the new handle over the top of the mechanism but the slot at the bottom of the handle was just too small approx 1/2 " you need 5/8" to slide over the web on the OEM internals, I therefore widened the slot by using a junior hacksaw and dressed it up using some small needle files, you could use a dremel instead but I prefer using handtools if possible as you can't mess up as easy I like it to be neat but to be honest the finish doesn't need to be that good as long as it fits over the web, as you wont see this once the gaiter retaining ring and gaiter are in place. I used a workmate to hold the handle whilst I sawed it as the flat sides of the replacement lever allow it to be held nicely in the workmate vice, I wrapped the handle in some towelling just to prevent it getting marked, see next post for how it looked when finished.

Looks how much and where can you get them please?

Hi,

I got mine from here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWNX%3AIT

Arrived in aprox 5 days and no custom charges due to the low price $12,95 plus $21.95 postage total $34.90 = approx £22 at current exchange rate, great value for money IMO as a Nismo Titanium knob is over £100. Finish is superb and you get a locking nut to ensure the shift pattern lines up when the knob is fitted. If you need any info on fitting PM me and I'll help if required, took me around 1/2 hour but some OEM knobs are difficult to unscrew

That stainless one looks great and should be nice and heavy too. This might sound like a strange question but there does the 350z logo end up when the gearknob is fully screwed on? Does it differ from car to car?

Well i'm working on the theory that the oem gearknobs probably aren't made for a specific car so i think the thread starts at the same place on each gearshaft. So after i make one i screw it tight onto my car, mark the centerline and then engrave there so the 350Z (and gear selector on top) aligns with the middle of the car.

If the logo doesn't end up where you want it, you can thread a thin 10mm nut onto the shaft first before you screw the knob on then adjust the nut so the knob locks against it with the logo exactly where you want it. I recently fitted a new knob and put a locking nut under the gaiter so it can't be seen once you screw the new knob and adjusted it so the shift pattern was in the correct orientation, see pic for detail

Fitted a new Billet Aluminium Gear Knob anodised to look like Titanium difficult to tell the difference from the Titanium one except it was about 1/4 of the price managed to screw off the OEM knob with my hands without too much difficulty.

Changed the gaiter to a red Leather one while I was at it.

Feels a lot better than the leather one that was fitted as it has a bit of weight to it.

Sorry I couldn't make the meet, it was my wife's 50th Birthday yesterday and my son and daughter had organised a party for her on Saturday night, so we had a few peeps round until early Sunday morning, didn't want to take a chance driving early Sunday.

Looks like you all had a great time hopefully I'll get the chance to meet up with some of you at the Jockland Hoon

I would have a guess the pics are the Esplanade at Greenock

How did you manage to fit the leds into the eyes of the dog in the first pic, that could catch on

Probably see you around as I'm also a fellow Greenockian and Ton supporter

Had these nismo mats made for my Red Zed, Can get the borders in various colours and customised embroidered logos any colour put on the mats wherever you want them. Good quality material just slightly less thicker than the OEM mats. They are the exact size and fit as the OEM mats. I paid £24.99 plus an extra £8 for the nismo logos as they didn't have the design in stock. plus £8.50 postage total £ 41.49 Arrived in 3 days very pleased with the quality for the money

Here is the link to the guy I bought them from:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0331872500

Bought these Carbon Fibre struts from the US for $49.99 plus $30 postage 4 months ago from here

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissan-3 ... ccessories

They have went up in price since but can be fitted in around 1/2 hour and no Mods required, here is a pic of them fitted

Should be able to make the 31st as I'm based in Greenock

Been up to Loch katrine area a few times fantastic scenery and roads, might be able to persuade the wife to come if the weathers nice [attachment=0]Nismo3.jpg[/attachment]

I'll be there ! for the

AndyZed

14th April

53 plate sunset orange coupe

Coulport car park

Spotted Sunday 1st Feb Azure Blue Coupe Inverkip Road Greenock.

Reg. ***GAY

to the club

 

Car looks really clean.

 

Not many red ones about and all the mods have been done for you.

Have been looking for one for a while as I wanted something different, as you say don't see many red ones about. The guy I bought it from was a real enthusiast and the motor is minted, he got it treated with Diamondbrite from new. It has never been waxed just washed and rinsed with the Diamondbrite conserver, definitely seems to work as it always looks shiny

Andy

Hi and welcome to the forum. The car looks great

 

Get yourself out on the Scottish meet in September and meet a few of us

Hi,

Where do you normally meet and I will come along

Hi,

Just purchased a Chilli red 350Z yesterday with factory fitted Nismo Body Kit

Drove it up from Leeds to Greenock in Scotland. Couldn't be more pleased with my purchase, absolutely brilliant to drive.

I still have a 1995 300ZX non-turbo convertible stored in my Son's garage but not used it for some while, only done 19,000 miles, scary to drive as it has no driver assists and is prone to scuttle shake because of the soft-top.