Starting on a 280Z real soon

[Rob.Vegan]

My uncle has had a 78 or 79 280Z sitting in his drivway for about 10 years now and I have always wanted it. Now I am 19 and really want to get it running again.

I have an Altima Coupe that I got in late '07 and have ever since been dedicated to Nissan.My uncle offered the car to me after I showed some interest. He says I can take it as long as I have a place to work on it (which I do).

I have some funds that I will dedicate to this car but it won't be enough for a full rebuild.I just want this car running semi-decent for now and I'll be happy.

The engine needs a ton of work and I was thinking about just purchasing a used one if I can find it soon. I want to convert to the 5spd manual (it's automatic right now ) and I definitely need new tires.

After that I will attempt reupholstery myself with the help of my best friend who hasn't shown much interest in my car enthusiasm so far (with my Alti Coupe) but is super eager to help out with this project.

I originally wanted this to be a drag car but I am going to aim for it to be street legal.I will get pictures up either tomorrow or the next day. I don't have much engine or transmission experience at all so if anybody is in the SoCal area and looking to help out on a project car with me feel free to shoot me an email. I am planning on towing this car back to my house tomorrow and cleaning it out to find out what I will need and how much I will need.

Once again, just looking to get this car running for now. Coilovers, panels, paint, rims and of course boost will come in due time I am just so excited about picking up this car finally

Hood is not too bad it's just the hinge on the pass. side gets stuck

Rear Passenger

Kind of the same angle but more of the side

Some of the interior

Engine



Modified by Rob.Vegan at 11:53 PM 8/18/2009
Modified by Rob.Vegan at 11:54 PM 8/18/2009

[kelloggman]

congrats on the carthese things are a blastpics would definitely be niceare you gonna go with l28etor l28 with the triple webbersor all the endless possibilities

[Rob.Vegan]

I really have no idea right now, I start school in a few hours but I can't get off this darned website because I'm trying to research as much as possible as fast as possible.

For the past few years I've only looked into building my car (08 Altima Coupe) up and helping family members with their Volkswagens. My first time attempting a build on a Z so I want to invest a lot of time into this making sure I do it right from the get go

[kelloggman]

this is probably the best z websitehybriz has some good stuff but recommend asking qs on this sitehahah ive been blasted on the other ones

[evildky]

congrats ont he Z, there si a big difference between a 78 and a 79, the 78 is a 280Z, S130 chassis, no power anything, the 79 is a 280ZX S130 chassis with power steering, window, etc

[Rob.Vegan]

Well then it's a 78

No power windows, I haven't looked much under the hood so I don't know about the power steering. and I know for a fact it's a 280Z not ZX.

I am going to go visit the car again in a bit and I'll snap some pics

[Rob.Vegan]

I might be needing a new engine, and this seems like a steal, any opinions ???

http://orangecounty.craigslist....html

I don't know anything about mounting points, so not even sure if this will bolt in or how much fabbing I would have to do

TIA

[kelloggman]

that motor is a direct boltsounds good

[evildky]

looks liek a rpetty decent deal, exhaust manifolds only bring around $50 on ebay, and intake you can run any intake if you run stand alone, if you want to run stock electronic's the stock intake is ideal, and no turbo is the perfect setup for an upgrade

[Rob.Vegan]

Okay cool, thanks for the replies.Ya I'm not planning on boosting until the car is running decent and I get some more cash flow

[kelloggman]

haha picsi love the s30 cars

[evildky]

and the manual lifter head isn't easilly converted to hydraulic btut he mechanical head is more desirable for high hp builds

[Rob.Vegan]

haha picsi love the s30 cars

Sorry about no pics, I was planning on going to see the car again today but I got super sidetracked with trying to get my classes figured out.

Since I know almost nothing about engines I was planning on having the engine and trans swapped out by a shop. I know there is a very reputable shop down here in Orange or somewhere around there but I can't think of the name for the life of me.

Would you (kelloggman) happen to know of a decent shop in the Orange County area ???

[kelloggman]

no dont know that area that wellim sure there is a z specialty shop over theremy swap is going to be my first swapim excited for it.

[Rob.Vegan]

There is a specialty shop I just can't think of the name. I can find out tomorrow though, I am going to go visit my uncle and take some pics of the car (seriously this time) and find out where the shop is and ask them for a quote on a engine/transmission swap.

no dont know that area that wellim sure there is a z specialty shop over theremy swap is going to be my first swapim excited for it.

It sounds like a ton of fun, best of luck to you.

[kelloggman]

yeah it should bewiring is the thing thats scarin me

theres a z specialty shop in san jose that i was debating to go towhen its done i might have it tuned there

[Rob.Vegan]

Ya the wiring is intimidating to me too. I found the name of the specialty Z shop near me, it's called Mike's Z Shop and it's in Whittier,CA They quoted me about 3k if they supplied the manual transmission a used engine and for the labor of installing and swapping.

I am planning on picking up a 5 speed transmission from a guy on here, and there is an engine for sale near me pretty cheap so I might pick that up. Hopefully that brings the cost down. I have about 1k to get this thing running and then about 500 for tires and miscellaneous stuff, hopefully I can do it

Long awaited pics are posted in the Original Post

edit: btw, my brother said it was a 76 not a 78. I could have sworn it was a 78... More research for me
Modified by Rob.Vegan at 12:09 AM 8/19/2009

[kelloggman]

keep that head and rebuild iti believe that year has the n42 headsomeone will correct me if im wrongthats the head i plan on running with my turbo

[Rob.Vegan]

I will give the shop another call tomorrow, I'm not sure how much this engine needs. It's hard to get any real answers from them since they can't see the car and I can't explain it (still new to the Z's) More info coming tomorrow

[kelloggman]

i would just tear the whole thing out and gut the whole thingi would love to do that with my car unfortunately its my daily drivertear it down. learn it inside and out. find the rust.

[evildky]

nope, only 75 fot the N42

[Rob.Vegan]

So evildky, with that picture of the engine would you think it would be cheaper to rebuild or buy a new (used) motor. I know the picture doesn't show much, and I have little background on the car but I'd rather sound like a fool on here than at a shop where if they catch on that I don't know much then they can fleece me wicked

Thanks for your help guys, I'm hoping to get this thing running by the end of september

[evildky]

can't tel much aobut an engine fomr a pic, unless there si a rod hanging out the side

what do you want to do with the car?are you more confortable with carbs or injection?are you really comfortable with injection and computers?do you like cheese?does it burn when you pee?

[kelloggman]

haha someones feeling comedic today

[Rob.Vegan]

can't tel much aobut an engine fomr a pic, unless there si a rod hanging out the side

what do you want to do with the car?are you more confortable with carbs or injection?are you really comfortable with injection and computers?do you like cheese?does it burn when you pee?

Ya didn't think you would be able to tell anything I am more comfortable with carbs. I'm not really comfortable with injection and computers. I don't like cheese (hence the vegan in my name). It does not burn when I pee

[evildky]

lol, well if you are a fan of carbs, run carbs!

you have you choice, of dual SU's, dual DGV's single holley, or tripples (webber dcoe's, mikuni etc)

and a carb setup does clean upt he engine bay a bit

[bigred240sx]

my z is a 76 and it has an n42 head. good looking car though