tips for buying a Z

[WeirdKid]

New here, lurked a bit

even though this seems to be a lot about the newer models this sunday i am going to look at a 1975 280z. The guy who is selling had intentions of restoring when he parked it 15 years ago but he said up until then it ran great and was fast. He said all of the front rubber steering bushings need replacement and that the motor turns over. Otherwise the body is straight and rustless, it is a 4-speed. how much should i offer/good price range? Thanks all

[grimm199]

Check out 300zxclub.com
They can help you with tips on buying a Z and give you really good things to look out for. I think there is a sticky there about it also.

[ayuaddict]

Why a 280z?

[Darren]

Why a 280z?

Apparently he's a WeirdKid

seriously, though, i love the look of those cars!! why not a 280z!

[DreamN]

because the 240z is better.

[Hellother]

What makes a 240z better...

[silviaguy240]

lighter/less crash stuff, more desirable/valuable, no smog in cali. i sold my 78 2+2 5spd with 84k original miles that ran perfect with very minimal rust for $1500. i'd say anywhere under that would be a good price.

[Hellother]

first things first Bruce Campbell is hilarious
second the lighter vs rigid argument is just a back and forth mess
no smog = upside
more desirable = eh i think thats up to personal preference
unfortunately for op he's gonna be hard pressed finding a clean s30 for your price
you hooked the buyer up i was looking for any 70s z for a while and prices skyrocketed
iv seen beat to shit rust clouds going for like 3k not running

[WeirdKid]

thanks for the positive response guys! And yes, i am a strange guy. The reason for a 280z is because beggars cant be choosers! i saw the car sitting next to the guys garage and had to ask about it. Totally awesome looking car though! I will look at that link grimm199. if it doesnt run i dont think i will offer much more than 800. any cost estimates on the rubber bushings? any info is helpful!

[Hellother]

offer 800 then go to the junkyard and strip the l28et outta a 280zx at the junkyard, rebuild, viola

[Hellother]

ps "hybridz" is gonna be your new best friend they already have an answer to eveeeeeeeeerrrrythhhhing you can even think about, and answers to shit you haven't even thought of yet

[silviaguy240]

first things first Bruce Campbell is hilarious
second the lighter vs rigid argument is just a back and forth mess
no smog = upside
more desirable = eh i think thats up to personal preference
unfortunately for op he's gonna be hard pressed finding a clean s30 for your price
you hooked the buyer up i was looking for any 70s z for a while and prices skyrocketed
iv seen beat to shit rust clouds going for like 3k not running

No 240z's have a curb weight around 2200lbs and 280's are in the 26-2700 range. There was a lot of smog/crash stuff that went on in 75 especially California cars. That's why 240z's pull a premium, they're a lot more basic. Plus hes in Wisconsin, not sure what the market is there but a lot of the time there is not as big of a demand in places like that.

For someone just looking for a Z car that has a limited market and wants one theres nothing wrong with a 280 since he'll probably be smog exempt anyways in Wisconsin, so hes got no worries.

But these are two good links as well.

http://www.zcarparts.com
http://www.blackdragonauto.com/

[Hellother]

i know how much they weigh man.. as i said before the weight vs rigidity argument is nothing new, and for op just wanting to buy a Z i think he'll be ok with a 280
as for the wisconsin point your right he might get lucky california tends to inflate things randomly

[WeirdKid]

plus this will be my "first" car, at least the first one signed to my name. i dont really need a collectors item i just want a fairly quick daily driver that is something out of the ordinary. I can always strip things, do some go-fast work.

If there is an issue with the fuel injection (this one is apparently injected) could i switch it back over to carbs relatively simply?

[Hellother]

don't do that, your taking steps backwards, and 280z are classic cars it's gonna be a project man remember its like 20 years old, shit is gonna go wrong make sure you can handle downtime or at least have the wrenching skills to keep up with the car

[WeirdKid]

allright i will stay away from that. Ive grown up restoring and racing vintage snowmobiles and in shop class a friend and i brought life back into a tired '69 ford galaxie so im hoping if i snag this it will be fun and a learning experience

im plenty used to shit going wrong hahaha

[Hellother]

Well there you go man, you'll be ok, I'm not sure if 280s still had drum brakes but that'd be the first thing is get rid of, some guy was selling a nice brake upgrade for an s30 not long ago, and I'm pretty sure you can modify s13 coils to work with a z, that takes care of a lot of the scarier old shit

[SoulAmazing]

dont do it for your first car.
i love my z but take your time and dont jump on the first one you find. and away from the 280....

[PeaceOnesxWai]

You want a daily car to fix go buy a civic.. not a rusty old datsun.

1. you spend more daily fixing then driving
2. You will forever be the annoying guy that asks people for tows.
3. chicks will stay away from that car, they wont push that heap of junk no matter what the curb weight is
4. money.. you need alot of this to keep the car going. You fix one problem another will come up.. thats how old cars is

[SinGarage]

You want a daily car to fix go buy a civic.. not a rusty old datsun.

1. you spend more daily fixing then driving
2. You will forever be the annoying guy that asks people for tows.
3. chicks will stay away from that car, they wont push that heap of junk no matter what the curb weight is
4. money.. you need alot of this to keep the car going. You fix one problem another will come up.. thats how old cars is


This person is a wise man...or have owned several Datsuns before hehe.

I've owned 6 240Z previously and he is pretty much on spot. Get it if it's not your DD.

[WeirdKid]

well in that case i suppose i will keep the 91 accord i am currently holding together but no doubt i am still going to go for the Z!

i dont think money will be too much of an issue with 2 jobs. i have been scanning for Zs and old VWs for a while and after 3 years this seems like "the one" haha. i will see how it goes, live and learn! as Han said from "Tokyo Drift", "life is simple: you make choices and you dont look back"

thanks again guys!

[LoneStarSilvia]

280Z's are ug's IMO. Even with the giant bumpers removed, I was just never a fan of the revised tail lights for some reason. Can be switched ofcourse, but it's whatever.

Like the guys have mentioned, this will not be a first-car friendly automobile. Everything is old as dirt, mostly everything will be worn, most needing to be replaced. And no offense, but if it's in "first" car territory, aka cheap, it'll be a fixxer uper.

Anyways! Not trying to be downer, I love these things to death, way more than my FD.

Stuff to look for though, RUST! Especially since you're up North, unless it's been garaged its whole life, it's gotta be rusty somewhere.

Places to check:

Both floorboards, battery tray, rear hatch (area above the taillights), spare tire well, and frame rails. That's all of the "hidden" rust areas to look for that I can think of, it's been forever since I've had the chance to touch my Z.

More things to look for, make sure the brakes actually work GOOD. My Z has this problem now, I have to put foot down pretty far to get good pressure. I've just about fixed it, but I think I didn't bleed my brakes properly.

That's all the "specific" Z things I can think of at the moment. Everything else is just like buying any other old car.

Post more details of the 280, but also like others say, don't jump on the first one, wait for the "right" one or you might regret it. Go register on HybridZ.org and get to reading, researching, and shopping.

[Mistah Mofro]

Look for rust on floor boards,battery tray, hatch area, and firewall for starters. Problems with cars that sit forever is the oil takes into a pudding form, ive taken lseries motors apart that were sitting for 5-25years and they all needed a rebuild. Unless she/he maintained while it was parked its gonna need a rebuild or at the very least cleaned out.

Check out Hybrid.org but be warned they arent as laid back as this forum, but for something less serious ratsun.net is your ticket.

[WeirdKid]

Worked out $900 for the Z, everything is there, engine turns over, got it to pop with some starter fluid! Interior totally needs to be redone, carpet is missing, seats ripped, but that can be done for super cheap (aunt owns a fabric store). Needs a clutch slave cylinder (how much should that be?)Only major rust is a penny sized rust hole in the passenger floorboards.

Making the final deal next weekend. Should i go for it or let it slide?


Need your opinion

[nismoracingsx]

got pics?

:drama::drama::drama:

[WeirdKid]

unfortunately no, was planning on bringing a camera but totally forgot at the last minute. If it would help i will stop back at the place this weekend to take pics

[LoneStarSilvia]

Please do take pics, try to be VERY detailed. For $900, you're either getting one hell of a deal, or one hell of a lemon.

[WeirdKid]

the guy really wants it out of his yard, i might be able to even work him down to 750 or 800. I will tell you right now, its not really the prettiest, there is a softball sized dent in the hood (hit a deer) but otherwise it is really straight. Everything on the underside hos only surface rust, all strut towers are clean. If everything still works would probably only take a few weeks to make the engine running again