ragefear Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 So I went down to Georgia some 6-8 years ago to get a 1978 280z 2+2 that had a perfect frame. On the way down I blew the tranny in my pickup, had to get that fixed. I finally get there and pickup the car. On the way back up I blow out a tire, and the condition of the other tire looked about the same so I bought new tires for the truck and some for the Datsun while I was at it. I get lost in DC and the tow ball breaks on the highway. I had to find another one at 1130 at night. I drove over the GW bridge just to come back over the Tapanzee which cost me 40 bucks! "Car in tow" she says! Anyway, I've been broke ever since. Tranny $800 - I didn't mention that they fixed it wrong and when i got back up here my step dad fixed it again! hotel rooms $400 gas $350 tires $400 tow ball $20 uhaul trailer $110 a 1978 Datsun 280z 2+2 with no frame rot - priceless no, not really $700 Expensive trip Then I realized that if I am going to continue going to school my 89 chevy blazer (fullsize) getting 8 MPG isn't going to cut it. New car 2000 z24 cavalier $8000. I get into that, motor swaps, nitrous, supercharging, suspension, stereo, blah blah blah..... Bought a house $207,000 So recently I realize to myself that I am dealing with the wrong platform, and I decide, what the hell, I have some cash saved up, why not play a lil bit. This is what I got about a week ago on ebay, funny enough its in Georgia, but this time they can ship the fuckin thing! I have the same truck but I am not going thru all that again! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190144430509&indexURL=4#ebayphotohosting 1999 LS1 and Tremec T56 6spd tranny, comes with wiring harness, ecu, pedals, master cylinder, and a hefty shipping bill but totally worth every penny! It comes with a ported TB, LS6 intake mani, spec stage 3 clutch, short shifter, headers, and an aftermarket cam shaft (i have no idea what the specs are nor do the yard that is selling it). I'm totally excited! Now I gotta get the poor Z out of my parent's barn in NY and into my garage in CT. Here she sits, in the same place she has sat for the last 5 years... My bro's project thats been sitting next to it for the last year and hasn't moved either, yup, its a golf... well.... it was.... I love my step dad and his many many toys that made this soooooo much easier! Its finally out of the garage Upon her chariot she waits to head off to her new home It looks as if I just unearthed some buried treasure! The motor and tranny are to be here on Monday! thanks Guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackhammer Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Looks like you have your work cut for you. Good Luck. Update the progress with pics from time to tme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragefear Posted September 16, 2007 Author Share Posted September 16, 2007 absolutely! This is going to be one hell of a learning experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackhammer Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 You bet.... an expensive learning experience. My Z learning experience cost way more than my college learning experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragefear Posted September 17, 2007 Author Share Posted September 17, 2007 You bet.... an expensive learning experience. My Z learning experience cost way more than my college learning experience. I spent 50K on college! Yea..... I wouldn't doubt this getting that high or more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragefear Posted September 17, 2007 Author Share Posted September 17, 2007 So I got the sucker home She really needed a nice bath... Me being home by myself with a car with no means of coming or going on its own, not to mention the lack of brakes, I had to let it off the trailer using ratchet straps! Now to get that blown motor and tranny out of it Two of my good friends doing the dirty work while I play photographer! Thanks guys! You definitely made life easier! Motor out, and she wants out of the garage! Who can blame her? She has been stuck in the garage for waaaaay too long! So with the weight of the iron straight 6 and the transmission gone, she has this 50's gasser look, you know, the nose pointed up towards the sky... It makes me wonder... maybe I should build her like that... it would be different, thats for sure! Damn you Hotrod magazine for putting ideas in my head! So..... any takers? Cause I really have no idea what I am gonna do with it! LS1 and T56 come tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buZy Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 LS1 and Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragefear Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 So as I was chipping away at the 30 year old sound deadening last night I realized this is entirely wayyy too stupid. I need to have it done for me. The car is covered in chipped paint, its been painted multiple times. Rust is pretty controlled but still there in quite a few places. It has undercoating that is chipping and peeling away. Lots of surface rust is present. It really needs a good smack down. So I called around and I think I am going to have the entire shell sandblasted. Its probably going to take me a couple weeks to get everything off the car. Especially being that I am a work-a-holic, and my girlfriend craves constant attention.... I think I am going to try to build my own rotisserie for the project to make my life "that" much easier. I got the new motor two days ago. Of course my work-a-holic ass had to work that nite so I parked it and waited for last night to pull the motor out of the back of my truck, it was like Christmas! My buddy Rob came over with his son to give me a hand! I had to fight Kevin for it! It was a merciless battle! In the end we agreed that he could help unwrap it and all was well The beast! Out with the old and in with the new! 76mm ported throttlebody My first mod, that shift knob has been waiting for 3 years to go on... More to come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayolives Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Nice pics.........I REALLY enjoyed them! Please keep them coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheney119 Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I wish I had documented my recent 78z restoration as well as you did. The body was in pieces, no windows or windsheild. I had a clutch welded to the flywheel with rust, rust in the gas tank, bad air flow meter; now it's running as of September 17. All I need now is a title. Nothing shows you progress quite so well as these excellent pictures. It looks like you had a pretty good rig to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dudeboy Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 ragefear, Great photos and keep the photo documenting coming as you progress, I need the motivation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragefear Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 thanks guys! I actually was thinking that I was being a little dorky with all the pics I was taking (i only post like half of them) but you guys made me feel better about it! HAHAHAH! Today I am goin to look for engine stands that I can lengthen and use as rotisseries. I got a tip on a place that can acid bath the beast! WOOT! Anyone know how to take the windshields out? The beast is pretty good looking. I traveled 1000 miles to get it cause of the frame's overall condition. It does have the typical rust, behind the rear tires, where the emblems were bolted down, and then some random spots on the roof but overall it does look awesome! It does however need a totally differentinterior! That is tore up! It had house rugs in it! BAH! thanks again guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregFarz78 Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Nice project at least the body appears to be in pretty good shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gokiburix Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 awesome! come join the 2+2 thead in the misc tech section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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