hey man...

did you ever get that ZXR wing on??? Pics???

 

Yes, I got it on. I'm just working on taillights right now. I'll try and take a pic by/on this weekend. ^^ I also did a dash mod that people might find interesting/useful.

 

Ok, as promised, here's a pic of my rear end.

 

Holy **** that looks good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wow . .
Um, way to be original dude. Thats exactly what I did to mine in May 2005....remember? Where did your inspiration come from?

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/775253/3
https://www.zdriver.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12122

 

Looking good HeatRave R. I never really liked the ZXR wing that much, but Doctoring up the rear end of the car a little bit makes it look a whole lot better. Very Nice!

Oh, and I guess yours is OK too Apollo

Rod.

 

Yes, I remember your taillights were finished months ago. There's no need to be defensive, I first got the inspiration even earlier than that from seeing it done to 1st gen Z's at the MSA show in Socal and other pics posted online (same goes for the roll-under rear end), though seeing yours first showed me how well it would look on an S130. At first I tried using C3 Corvette taillights, but couldn't get them to fit/seal right. So then I happened across some $8 taillights from Autozone that worked, so it's just cost and fitment that dictated the choice of taillight. .

 

Just kinda funny how your setup looks EXACTLY like mine. The least you could do is give credit where it is due, Stephen.

 

And maybe be a little more original? But that is just my opinion . . .

 

Ok, dude, I don't know why you're having such a fit over this. You're a cool guy, so I have no desire to get into an arguement over some kind of who-did-it-first thing. I mean, neither you or I were the first to ever do round taillights on a ZX, though I do acknowledge that you did it before me. But so what? I never laid claim to having been the first, nor expect to be the last, to do it. A good idea is a good idea.

I simply did the easiest way of doing it, namely having a flat plate with a pair of holes welded up over the stock taillight holes. If I had a choice of using a pair of round amber lights for the 2 centermost lights, I'd consider em, but no local auto store has them in a matching type. I used what parts were readily available, and if it happens to coincide with what you also used, then I can't help that, unless you can point me to some other taillights that are equally inexpensive and easy to install. Does it not make some sense that if we live near each other, then I'm limited to the same availability of taillights as you? Heck, since you work in the auto biz, you should have more access to different lights than I would. If you're concerned about uniqueness, don't use lights that can be picked up at any Pepboys or Autozone for $8 a pop.

Yes, the timing and our proximity to each other is unfortunate. But I'm not really sure what more "original" way you expect I should do such a straightforward install. Also, the last time I saw your car, you had a factory rear bumper and no spoiler, whereas my car has a rolled-under rear and a large spoiler. Is that not different enough?

 

Heat I think it looks amazing. I really like the rolled rear with the spoiler and I think the tailights look awesome. Apollo, I thought the same thing when I saw your tailights too a while back. Don't get so upset that he did a similar design, we all know you both put a lot of hard work into you car to get that look and we all respect that no matter who did it first.

 

You and I both know thats not the case, Stephen. During the Freakmont and Black Hawk events you inquired detail for detail on how I had set up my tail lights.

My position is not who-did-it-first, but rather who this particular design idea came from.

 

that looks really nice i've always wondered how a roll pan would look on a ZX. i love the way the older model Zs look with rollpan in the back but i'd never seen it done on an S130



apollo, i'm sure you know that people have been doing the round tailight swap to Z cars for years, so i don't think you're justified in asking for credit there. no-one here is trying to discredit your work, but you know you weren't the first to do it either

 

You are right, I did ask details on how you did your taillights. Isn't that usually what people do at car meets? Ask about each others' mods? If you'll also recall, I told you right there that it was something I had been planning to do too. Y'know, if you had some beef with the way I posted my car (even though I didn't even say anything about it), then you really should have PMed me first about it, instead of punking me out like this.

Did you ever see me anywhere in this thread, elsewhere in this forum, or any other forum claim that this "design" was my idea? Heck, I didn't even post a picture of it anywhere until someone asked for it. FYI, I didn't even do the work (other than the wiring); I just brought the taillights to the body shop and told them to install them when they repainted and did the other body stuff. And what you see is what they came up with when I came back a month later. For Pete's sake, it's just a pair of metal plates welded over the taillight holes. I could go into any body shop and they would all come up with the same thing! Just what is it about this design that you consider intrisically "yours"? Cuz the idea of welding up metal plates over the taillight holes to install new round lights has been done by dozens of Z owners long before us. So if you got beef with the way the install looks, I suggest you take it up Alfa Body & Paint.

On a side note, I am just noticing in a difference in our light units: mine are all red, while yours are 2-red, 2-amber from a different company.

 

Hey HeatRave and Apollo, it doesn't matter who did what, and it happens to look the same. I am impressed with both of your Z's. I mean both of your cars are creative, and sweet looking. Why bicker over something so friggin' pointless? Life is too short guys, why don't you bury the hatchet? I hate to come on here, and see my fellow Z guys argueing, and throwing punches, and also pointing fingers. It is just a waste of time. We are all brothers on here.

So all that said, Apollo, your Z is verry unique with how you did it. And HeatRave, so is yours especially the whole Mach 5 thing. That is one of my favorite cartoons. And when my Z is done, he will look like the Diaclone Bluestreak. So is Hasbro or Takara, going to accuse me of stealing their design? No I don't think so, I can do whatever I want. This is my idea, since not many people have made their car look like a Transformer. I like to be different, that is the whole idea. And you both are different, I can definately tell your Z's apart. And not in a bad way, but a creative way. Also in a artistic way. Okay I have said my peace, now please move on. And think happy thoughts.

 

I don't know how I missed Appollo's post that is pretty clean guys..

You guys should start a car club for Z's with tail lights like that

 

Forget the turbo swap, I'm going to install round tail lights in my car so I can join in the rediculous argument with Apollo!

 

whoa, this has turned into a very interesting thread...

 

Hey guys! Check out my new tail light mod. I thought of it all on my own and fabbed it up in the garage. Pretty sweet huh?! Pretty soon I'll bet everybody will want to do the same thing!

Rod.

 

HAHA good stuff

 

Wow HeatRave, that does look good. I especially like the way the taillight look with a white car. And as far as all this bickering is concerned WTF? First of all if Apollo was the first to to do this mod (which he's not) then it would only be common sense to expect a dozen more people to do the EXACT SAME THING. I'm sure someone out there could point the finger at your car and say copy cat just as easily as you can point the finger at HeatRave. I'm pretty sure a large percentage of the 280zx community has atleast at some point contemplated doing exactly what the two of you have done. Unless you slapped a trademark on it it aint nobodys design and anybody can do it.Plus to be original, you have to be original And then if you want to assume that he DID copy YOUR idea, good. You should feel proud that your work inspired a FELLOW Zer to do the same thing. You cant stay original forever. Alls that shows is that your level of craftsmanship is high enough to inspire other to follow in your footsteps. Lets all get along and SHARE our ideas. Not horde them.

And besides, you all wish your taillights could look as good as Rod's

 

Heat and I have settled settled this. Everything is cool. Lets move on, shall we?

 

LOL.. We shall

 

Yes, the issue is closed. Just remember, Apollo made his look that good with his own 2 hands, whereas I had to pay someone to do it for me.