I noticed there is a stainless steel bolt kit on courtisy parts, however they say it will only work on production models after 12/2002, anyone have any idea why this is..why would the bolts be different for the earlier models?

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchan...Code=SSPOL-Z33

 

That's interesting - when I bought mine, there was no such warning. They must have discovered some change between the initial '03s and the later ones. Actually, the kit was designed for the '03s and when I tried it on my 04, there were a couple of bolts that had to be swapped out because of some minor differences between the model years.

There's nothing on their website http://www.maxground.com/ssbolt.htm about the 12/2002 build date.

Email the guy who makes the kits and ask him (Warren) at z327@comcast.net
He can tell you what's up with that!

Dave

 

It could be because the early production cars used different bolts for mounting the strut tower brace.

 

The very early 2003 350Zs have M8 bolts for the strut bar and all later models have M10 bolts.

If you let Courtesy know you have an early production car they can alter the kit for the M8 bolts.