Master cylinder

[Willy G]

I heard a rumor that I might be able to use a 280Z master cylinder in place of my current master cylinder, (I have a 1968 2000). Has anyone heard of this or know which cylinder fits and whether there is anything else I need to change during a swap? Currently my pedal is soft and goes almost to the floor and I have changed the brakelines, pads and shoes (still looking for a spring kit). Thanks

[Guest]

Willy:

My '68 1600 uses the same MC that you have. I replaced it with a remanufactured 260Z (I believe it is for 1974-76) that they sell at Kragens for about $50.00 It has identical fit as they rethread the remanufactured ones to fit your brakeline's fittings.

I know that a while ago there was a discussion in the forum about this, and some very knowledgeable members are skeptical about this....but at least mine had the correct thread and perfect fit.

Jorge

[SLOroadster]

Clutch masters you can use, if you swap the actuator rod from your old one to the new one. Brake master you can't the threads are different.

Will

[FergO2k]

I managed to use a 510 brake m/c as a replacement, so I'd bet the Z m/c would be the same. It takes some swapping.
SLO is right, the newer m/c's are metric threaded, so the lines won't screw in, or they do but are kinda loose and leaky, which is dangerous. The thing is, what they are threading into is removeable (~1-1/8 wrench size screw in fitting) So, remove these from your old m/c and swap them into the new one, and you're good to go. In removing these, it is tough. I clamped the m/c in a vise with a towel protector, then had to "impact" the nut to break it loose, especially from the old one. (dissimilar metal binding)
Fergus O, 69 2000, HB, CA

[DatsunBoy77]

Very easy fix changing from SAE to metric. Measure what the total length of the line, go to advance auto, ask for a 8 inch peiceof SAE line in 3/16th's and then ask for a SAE to metric coupler and then get the the metric line in the closest length to add up to the original line. I work at Advance so I can tell you they carry all these parts in the back. I could even go collect all the part numbers if you want. I happen to have all my stuff there right now as i am conteplating doing this as my rebuild kit for my stock MC still hasnt come in yet. the best part of working at a parts store is all the custom stuff you can come up with that you would have never imagined if you didn't.

[csedatsun]

I had the same spongy feeling, check your firewall for cracking around the master cylinder. There are fix kits available, or have a good shop weld it when the part is out to be replaced.

[TR]

Instead of the metric to standard couplings, buy a flare tool and the tube nuts and you can make a hard line with a metric on one end and a standard on the other...You can't tell the difference between stock...TR