Zetsaz

Definitely seems like battery acid considering the condition on some of the other parts. I'll get more pics tomorrow. After talking to my brother I think I'm gonna use the parts on my 280z for now and get that moving and looking good sooner, then maybe spend the next several years learning some metal work and slowly fixing the chassis on the 240z You guys should have seen our adventure getting this thing into my carport though. No brakes, no transmission right now. Back door neighbor left his truck in the alley for some stupid reason, and I was nervous we'd hit that at first since the car was moving pretty quick once it was rolling off the trailer. There's a downhill slope into my carport which was extra scary. We set up 2x4s leading down the slope and on the pavement to slow it down, but even then I couldn't get the wheel straightened out and got about 3-4 inches from hitting the wall. No incidents, so fortunately it just turned into a fun story.

HLS-15518 Dash needs some serious cleaning, but other than that, the cracking is actually minimal Spedometer starting at 20 Both bumpers have some pitting, but other than the dent on the front one, are actually in better shape than most I've seen if I can polish them up. Fenders from both sides, as well as turn signal assemblies and headlight buckets are in great shape and don't really have more than just surface rust. Doors are untouched, all glass is there as well as interior panels. Locks work, they roll up and down too! Original mirrors still attached on both sides. Here's the craziness. Driver side has nothing more than some surface rust and minor pitting... passenger side is nonexistent. Old wood steering I can clean up.

Yeah! I feel like once I get the parts home it'll be a huge step in the right direction. If I don't that I'll basically just need to replace floors and rails and most of the body work will be finished, minus a few odd rust patches that aren't much bigger than a quarter. rturbo, you're comment is exactly what I've been thinking. The 280z I have is in way better shape and already has some decent upgrades and I've already poured so much into some metal. I can maybe save the shell on the 240z, but all the distinct series 1 parts that people usually think about are in great shape. Mine would only have the hood and rear quarter badges on it. Nothing else. No 240z markings.

Yeah, i would absolutely never call it a 240z haha. A while back though there was some thread where there was discussion over whether someday early 240 prices would be enough and they would become rare enough for someone to turn a 280z into a 240z "tribute" car. That trend might be starting I've definitely seen the value go up on them. Maybe things have changed but 7-8 years ago I would read people saying it was ridiculous to even call the early models a "series 1" because they were just slight changes throughout the years. That early models would only fetch marginally higher prices than later ones. To me it doesn't really matter, because I don't plan on selling. These have been my dream cars since I was a kid and they're purely for my enjoyment. Opinions may be swayed one direction or another when I get a chance to take pictures of the really great parts vs the conspicuously large hole in the passenger side haha.

AWESOME NEW I recently found an early 240z that I picked up for $100... It's mostly all there but the whole driveline is taken apart. It has a giant hole in the passenger floor and firewall, and the area under the battery nonexistent. Other than that, the rear quarters, and the entire driver side is almost rust free. LOTS of really good parts that I'd been looking for for my 280z. The fenders, headlight buckets, early turn signals, taillights, and both bumpers need to be buffed up, but they're in amazing shape. Will probably just be using all those parts available to make my 280z look more like an early model, but I'm still checking out how bad the structural damage is to see if it's worth saving the 240z. Purists will probably say keep the early model and restore it, but I think most of the experienced crowd around here agrees that it's all just metal and these cars will never exactly be like the old 911s. Either way, pictures to come when I get home tonight, and it'd be great to get everyone's opinion. For now I'm running a band camp. Got the car into my carport at around 1 am last night. Long day and very little sleep haha

If you weren't east coast I'd buy it haha

I was actually going to post this. Great video. I posted it on the DPAN facebook page, and it got deleted it seems... admins there clearly aren't "real" datsun guys haha

I've been looking into what to do about this as well. I replaced my tank with an '02 f-body tank and I'm still thinking of how to redo that section as well as what to do about the charcoal canister up front vs. the charcoal canister mounted on the new tank. Not completely the same, so I hope I'm not hijacking the thread.

Wow, awesome work? Wanna come finish patching up my car? haha

Looks worse than mine did, and I just from that I can assure you that thing is gonna be a nightmare. Not saying it wouldn't necessarily be worth it, I bought me car in okay shape with a running engine for dirt cheap, but I knew it was going to be a long term project that I would be learning from. The rear lower quarter panels look roasted, and the doglegs will have more than what you see at first glance (as with the rest of the car). If you're half decent with welding and have patience it's not too bad, but if you're looking for something with minimal rust you're miles ahead starting with a different car. Granted.... there are many Z's out there that look restored but are just covered in bondo.

The rockers and doglegs actually fit quite well. Dogleg really just needed a bit of trimming to line up against the rocker. I cut the corner and back completely off the rear lower quarter and even then it didn't end up quite right. Granted, I didn't quite line it up and really tacked it before I had some help welding. You'll be fine on what you need I think. I'm in town if you want to come check it out.

Wondering what a fair price is on early style corner turn signals in decent usable condition. I've been wanting to do a 240 style front end on my 280 but the biggest thing slowing me down is everyone asking outrageous prices for the turn signals. I don't want to be cheap, but I also don't want to overspend on little bits and pieces because it really adds up. What would be a fair price to offer someone who has a few extra sets?

Tiny update: been home for a bit, but not much has been done. I haven't had as much funds as I'd like since I had to replace my daily and went for a g37 on top of not having a roommate. Added some epoxy to the fuel gauge adapter to make it really sit well in the housing while still being able to unscrew it when it's out. Only complaint is that it's a little more recessed than the stock, but it's nitpicking considering it looks pretty good in there. Also spent some time redoing the hoses going from the tank to the hardlines since I had originally just thrown in whatever rubber tubing fit and they weren't rated for the higher pressure efi uses. Other than that I'm just rethinking strategy on this thing and what I want to do. In a few months when I'm back I might just finish up the rest of the major rust areas and start throwing things together to enjoy it whenever I'm in town. Just redo suspension/brakes and do a tune up, but leave it ratty looking until I'm back next summer.

Dave, I ordered mine from Black Dragon, and the fit was... okay. After cutting the old metal it required a bit of tinkering. They're all tabco panels like rturbo mentioned. Required less work than my rear lower quarters to fit properly though, which I might be totally redoing.

G37 (Although the Z is still the dream car and buying the Infiniti almost halted my plans)

I was wondering if someone had considered this. Definitely not easy. As far as the factory service manuals are concerned, the myG37 forums have them stickied somewhere or I can send you the one I have when I get home tomorrow. Hope to see this thing in action sometime!

Pretty sure I've said this before, but maybe by the time this is done I'll actually be able to afford it and maybe my Z will actually be presentable haha

That headlight area is EXACTLY what's up next to patch on my car. Thanks for the pics. They give me more clean idea of what I need to do.

I LIKE

Any more details on how you made the center gauge pods? I'm still trying to find a better stock-looking solution to what I did with my fuel gauge from speed hut. Yours look like the 2 5/8", is that right?

This build makes me happy

Cool stuff! I kept hanging around your car at NissanFest hoping to find you and meet since I'd bought that old hitch you made, shame I kept missing you. Maybe next time!

Said day. He was one of the first people I noticed throughout forums when I first got really into Z cars in my early teens. He was among a few in the forums I hoped to meet in person someday after first buying my Z and beginning the whole project. Prayers go out to his family. He made a big impact in the community.

Hadn't really considered a motorcycle helmet. Would one really be approved for a track use in a car? I didn't know that was even an option. If I could get away with buying a motorcycle helmet that would be great, both my brothers ride bikes, so I might in the future.

That's why I said reasonably priced and not cheap