But with what?
I've been thinking a USB hub. I prefer not to modify the outside at all, so the ports need to line up with the hole where the zip drive is (unless someone has a better idea), and it would need to be powered by the computer, as the only USB 2.0 cards for Mac that I've found have only one internal usb port.

Has anyone done a mod like this here, and could they point me in the right direction for parts? I remember a while back there was a hub that could be placed in there, specifically made to replace the zip drive, but I can't find it anywhere (it would help to know the name).

Man, Google is an amazing thing. I dug this up my typing "zip drive usb hub" http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/index/Belkin_Hi-Speed_USB_2.0_Drive_Bay_Hub.htm But you'll want to read this too, just so you're aware. I trust Belkin products anyway. http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/internal_firewire_usb_hub/internal_firewire_usb_hub.html#storytop
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/usb_internal_hub/usb_internal_hub.html#storytop

Its a 3.5" floppy bay usb hub, I have one I forget the brand, but it does have the four USB ports in a single line, which is more in keeping with what you are after in not modifying the face plate.

That's pretty much what I'm planning, although I plan to use a pci card with an internal port. I want the front ports to be usb 2.0, as the back ones are 1.0. The pci card would also give me a few 2.0 ports in the back.

Although, I am curious to see how the first one, with the modified bezel, was done. 

Thanks!

I have a "Sweet Multiport" by Gee Three which fits all models of G4 & G3 smurfs. It has firewire 400, USB and memory card (SD, CF, memory stick) ports on the front. The PCI card it comes with is USB 1.1 so I use a newer USB 2 card with an internal port to power it. The kit sold for about $50 new. They're hard to find now, try the LEM swap list (Google Group).

Know what would be fun and different? Put in a fan controller or get a LED strip and build a circuit and make the LEDs pulse when there is harddrive activity and such.

That's what I was looking for.

But what does it do for the bezel in the front?

It comes with several bezels in the package, one for a Sawtooth/Gig-e/DA, one for a quicksilver, one for MDD.

Kinda funny a lot of people seem to get rid of the zip drive on the g3 tower macintosh and even on the g4 i perfer to use it for additional storage o photo's and word documents

I agree