Jasonmreiss Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I've been reading this forum for over a year now. Finally going to pick up a 78 280 tomorrow morning. It was a project car for my wife and her dad but they quit working on it ten years ago. All the glass is out already, and most body work is done. Her dad claims there's NO rust........lol! We'll see.... I'm wanting to do a full resto mod type deal. I'm already working on a 400+ hp vortec 350 for it. Wish me luck Ps. I'm going to bug the hell out of everyone on here for the next two years or so. I am good at searching first though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 I got the car today, it seems in pretty good shape, no rust in the spare tire well or battery tray. No rust on kick panels. Got to get the stuff off the floor boards to check there. And I'm too fat to get under to check frame rails. I'll jack it up later. Gonna take off the doors n dash tomorrow. And start removing the bumper brackets, I've heard that's a pretty fun job . I'll post pics when I learn how lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Took off the fenders, doors, and hatch today. Didn't have time for the dash, maybe tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Got the dash out today, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, took about an hour. I also dropped the tank. Tomorrow I'll take out the bumper brackets, unless they are required for a rotisserie mount, does everyone use those. Or are there other mounting points? I'll also start preparing for engine removal, I wanted to hear it run at least once before I gutted it, but I think the injectors are stuck, plugs were bone dry after I tried, the pump was running though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luseboy Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Looks like a clean car. Vortec 350 sounds awesome. Vortec as in a blower, correct? The bumper brackets are child's play. A little bit of heat and a breaker bar, they come off... With the heads of the bolts. 2 of the bolt heads sheared off when I tried to get the bolts undone. Anyways looks like a clean shell, you'll get to work on the fun stuff straight away since you don't have too much rust to take care of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 Not a vortec blower, a chevy 350 with vortec heads. They have limitations but are good heads. I might go rotisserie so may keep the bumper things for now. Gotta pull the l28 and tranny next. This is the first resto I've ever done, but have learned a lot on here. After I strip it, if it's as clean as I think it is, it should be so much easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luseboy Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Not a vortec blower, a chevy 350 with vortec heads. They have limitations but are good heads. I might go rotisserie so may keep the bumper things for now. Gotta pull the l28 and tranny next. This is the first resto I've ever done, but have learned a lot on here. After I strip it, if it's as clean as I think it is, it should be so much easier Ah I see haha. I got a little excited thinking about a blown 350 in a Z. V8's aren't my thing and I am not familiar with vortec heads, but it definitley sounds cool. And 400+ HP in a sub 3,000 lb car... talk about speed. Funny that you have to pull an L28 out of your car. I can't wait to drop mine in! You're really lucky to have a rotisserie... I wish I had one, that would make a lot of things so much easier. But alas, I am in highschool and I have no money for something like that haha. Anyways, looking forward to seeing how your car turns out! What does your wife think of the whole thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 Well....I don't have a rotisserie, yet. Or much money, so this may take a while. As far as the wife goes, she was pretty excited until she learned about the time and money part of it, lol. She actually gave me a 1 year time frame to get it done. Silly girl lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 I'll be pulling the motor and tranny this week though, so if anyone wants it let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 Got everything disconnected from the motor today, just have to disconnect the motor mounts, driveline, and tranny and the motor is ready to pull. Sorry if these updates are boring but I'm excited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 (edited) I'll be pulling the motor and tranny this week though, so if anyone wants it let me know I assume it's the original 1978 N47 head / N42 block engine and the original early-style 5 speed? If it has a later ZX 5 speed, I would be interested. I'm looking for a spare. That setup, even original, is still a nice swap for somebody, if the engine is in decent shape. It's a few more horses in a 240Z. Take car with the wiring harness and EFI parts and someone will take it. p.s. If you're giving them away I would take them just to add to my spare parts collection. Edited December 17, 2011 by NewZed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 Not sure of specifics. I tried to start it, it turned over good but no fire. I'd assume the injectors are clogged since it's sat for a few years. Not sure about the tranny, what's the shift pattern?I could figure out if it's a five speed. I think it's a four Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinpieces Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Check out rotisserie ideas and designs here and on the internet. Total investment in mine is under $ 300.00. Assuming you can weld or have a buddy who can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Not sure of specifics. I tried to start it, it turned over good but no fire. I'd assume the injectors are clogged since it's sat for a few years. Not sure about the tranny, what's the shift pattern?I could figure out if it's a five speed. I think it's a four The shift pattern is the typical 5 speed pattern, 5th is up and to the right, reverse is right below it. 5 speeds were standard equipment in 1978 if you got a manual transmission, although a 4 speed might have been a factory option. Keep them dry so they don't rust up and someone will find a use for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share Posted December 26, 2011 I got the motor/tranny out. Started cleaning up the engine bay. Then pulled all the wiring, kinda scary. It's almost completely stripped, I still have to get the sound deadening stuff off, then the undercoating. Then I can start on the body work. Hopefully have it painted by this summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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