Z Driver

LOL, yeah, it doesn't have the exhaust fumes, but I just tell myself they add character. It is just misssing something. I get more looks in the Z too. When I step on the gas in the ZX, the engine just screams and it's so loud. The suspension and tires in the ZX are upgraded enough that it could possible hang with the stock M3, but the Z does it so much more harshly and feels more connected. In the M3, it's so smooth, the engine hardly makes any nosie, and it revs so quickly through the range. The M3 steering is so much lighter and quicker and the ride is so much tamer, yet is still handles as well or better. The M3 gearing is also so short, the fifth gear ratio is 1:1. Modern cars just drive so differently than my older cars. It's definately an M, I have the window sticker in the glove box to prove it. I'll post an engine pic in a bit too since I did post about the car being an inline 6, lol.

Right, Gulf Blvd., next to the Sand Key park.

ON3GO- Aren't you from the Clearwater region? Do you recongize the location? Thanks for the comments.

Here's my second inline six car in my stable. It's a 1996 BMW M3 5 speed. The car was my stepmom's and was given to me as my graduation present. It only has 40K and was purchased new by my family. It's never been abused which is rare for an M. It drives so nicely, but just doesn't have something that my Z has...

That looks great. I'm not a fan of white cars or 2+2's but yours is an exception. I really like those wheels.

Do you have any larger pics? I can't really see it, but from what I see, it looks pretty decent. Does it actually mount on the hatch?

Yeah, the clock doesn't start until you break the beam. Reaction times can be helpful in bracket racing because they can give you room to play with the guy if you're the faster car. (Which I'm usually not)

Well made video. You've got to leave on that last yellow light if you want good reaction times. Nice run.

What color is the interior?

Oh, the suspension consists of Tokico HP's and Tokico lowering springs.

Thanks for the comments. spdsk8r- I really like the look of the 17's you have, and the SBC. I did not know that the Enkei 92's were so rare. I guess I need to pick up some wheel locks. I picked them up for $435 and that included shipping. The tires are 215/50/16 VR Kuhmo Escta 712's. They are a very good tire for the money. Yasin- I'm the one who bought that black interior from you a few months ago. It's coming along pretty good. Thanks

I got my new wheels in about a week ago. They're Enkei mesh 16X7's with 0mm offset. I really like them and they are fairly light at 15 lbs. The handling and grip is so much better than my old tires I had on my 14" iron crosses. The car's color is much brighter in the sun. When I took these pictures, it was in the evening and just about to storm. Thanks

I saw one at the drag strip last weekend. It was a pretty impressive machine but the driver sucked. He rolled thourgh the water box and never spun them. He ended up launching sideways. He ran a few mid 14's. If only I had that truck...

I ordered a fibergalss 240 bumper and some various interior parts. Two weeks later the box comes with only the bumper. I called MSA and at first they didn't really believe me, but I assured them they screwed up. They told me they would ship my parts out. A few days later my parts came in as promised. My experience was pretty hit and miss. They didn't include my order, but corrected their mistake.

Would I need fender flares to use this wheel and tire combination? The car is a 1980 280ZX with a Tokico HP suspension all around. The seller says in his ad that the rear fender lip would need to be rolled for these to find on a stock Z. I don't know if I would have to do the same for a ZX. I am looking a 15X7 wheels with a -9mm offset and 225 tires all around. I know this question comes up very much, but I wasn't sure about how the offset would affect my situation and other variables. Thanks.

I love that color and I love those wheels. I've always wondered how a dark metallic green would look on a ZX, now I know. I've never really liked the smoked headlight covers, I think the clear ones are pretty nice though, but I'm still not going to put them on my car. I think if you got some clear ones and somehow figured out a way to have a chrome seal, like on the glass ones, that would look very good. Nice car!

I solved my problem, I slotted out the hole the bolts go through so I could move it back. I have no idea why that bumper fit so poorly. Here's the final result after much work. Thanks for the help.

I finally tried the advice I received on the bumpers, and I'm still having the same problem. I let all the compressed gas out of the absorbers and pushed the shocks back about an inch. They still need to go back another inch before they will mount properly. I can't get them to move back any more. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the comments. I got the car painted and a TON of bodywork including welding in new rockers for $2257.89 . The guy that worked on it (Alpha Omega Body and Frame) did an excellent job and did more than I ever expected. He even painted the hood vents and other small parts black for me. I'm going to have this guy help me on my black interior conversion too. His helper said his dad made a 280ZX turbo into a roadster with no top back in the 80's. I never knew that anyone did that to a 280ZX. I just got back from taking the car out in public for the first time since the paint job. I stopped at a gas station and a cop comment on how nice my car was. Everyone that I drove by was looking because it's the only Z in town. I even saw some little kids pointing and saying how cool it was in the parking lot. Owning a Z(X) is so great. Thanks

Well, I spent all of last week putting the car back together. The color is Prowler Orange from the Plymoth Prowler. It's a two stage paint. I removed the weatherstripping and much of the interior around the jambs. The hood was painted off the car. These pics don't do the car justice, I had to reduce the quality so much. The car hasn't been washed yet and I still have to correct those bumpers when I get time. I'm getting the windows tinted this week too. Thanks for the comments.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to try it out tomorrow and see how it goes. I'll update on my results.

I just got my car painted and this bumper problem is bothering me now that the car looks good. I've never been able to get the sides of the bumpers to fit in the slots. It needs to be moved back an inch or two. The red dots in the pictures show were the mounting hardware is located. Any suggestions about how to move the bumpers back would be appreciated. Thanks.

This is my 1980 280ZX that I bought in April. I bought a rust bucket because I didn't know any better at the time. I spent the whole summer stripping the primer that one of the PO's sprayed on over the rust. I brought it over to a local body shop in November to finish what I couldn't do. Here the car when I purchased it: The door jambs and hatch were just painted. (I didn't want the engine compartment painted) The car will have paint on it Monday. I just thought I'd share these pics with you because I enjoy it when others post pics of their cars.

Yes, but you have to use POR-15's thinning agent. The company strongly recommends proper ventilation for spraying it. ecp48, did the paint hold on that vehicle after 18+ years? I am most concerned with the paint and primer being able to stick to POR-15. Thanks

I have some rust on my ZX and some POR-15. I am in the process of repainting it. I was wonder if I can use POR-15 on the exterior surfaces that will get paint. I do not have the POR15 tie coat primer. I know I will have to scuff the POR-15 very much before the primer. POR-15 claims that one can paint over it, but I do not know if they are just trying to move product. I do not want to get my car painted and have the paint peeling because it could not attach to the POR-15. Has anyone painted over POR-15 on the exterior of his or her car? What were your results? Thanks