~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) Here's what got me into the Z world..this was my dads 77 280z. This is the first car I ever drove and first learned to drive stick shift in. My dad and I would attend a lot of the Z shows back in the 90's. This car was super cool when I was a kid, loved the sound of it. It was eventually stolen and recovered missing the wheels and some other bits. My dad sold it to a guy who was going to ship it to Europe because the market value for Z's was bigger over there at that time. Anyway, this was the car that put the Z bug in me.. In May 2008 I was able to buy my first Z. A 71 240z. It was a great car. I came across a local guy here on the forum selling his N/A rb25 motor swap complete with everything needed, motor mounts, driveshaft, wiring harness ready to go in. I paid something crazy like $800 for the whole thing. Loved the motor, decent power and sounded amazing. I wound up getting busy with life, traveling for work and didn't have time for the Z at that point. I made a poor decision to sell it rather than have it sitting in the garage. Not long after I realized that modifying a newer car wasn't any fun and I missed my loud stinky old car! So began the search for another 240z. This time around I wanted it to have some more attitude, a little wilder. Well I bought my second 240z yesterday, 7/30/2012. My last 71 240z w/ RB25DE was sadly sold and Ive been regretting it ever since. So I just picked up this 1973 240z, made 12/72. Here's what had me interested when I saw it a Fresno Craigslist Ad.. Color: Black metallic Engine: N42 Longblock with STOCK 280ZX Turbo Transmission: 4 speed ECU: '79 280z Suspension: Stock Wheels: Gold DR20's w/ 0 offset, 2 inch spacers, Key Lugs all around Exhaust: HKS Hi-Power exhaust, 3 inch piping from down-pipe and back Other modifications: -JDMSport Intercooler and piping -SSQ Blow off valve -New spark plugs -Upgraded to H4 headlight bulbs -Carbon Fiber spoiler -Carbon fiber mirrors -'72 Bumpers -Fender Flares -Custom Fog Lights -Clear Side Markers -FairladyZ Emblems -Quick release steering wheel -Slim fan Cons: -Car Idles high at 1,500 rpm -Little oil leak from oil pan -Car overheats quickly -interior needs help So I drove 4 and a half hours up to Fresno with a pile of cash to check it out. When I arrived I realized that it needed a lot more work than expected, which seems to always be the case doesn't it? I could tell it had some real potential. I drove the car from there to my buddy's house 15 min away and parked it to later be towed home to southern California. Here's some pictures I snapped at my friends house right after I bought her. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8/1/2012 Got the first of many mods to come, Great shape 73 seats & a black turbo valve cover Edited July 27, 2021 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) "Some say that it is Japanese superstition that black is a bad-luck color, associated with sorrow and somber times, and perhaps this is why, initially, you couldn't find a black Japanese car on American shores for love or money. They were happy cars, painted happy colors. Think back, and chances are a candy-colored parade of Japanese iron is driving through your memory, with whites and oranges and yellows and greens and blues leading the field. The occasional brown would crop up, but c'mon, it was the '70's. Everything was brown. But there is plenty of evidence to refute the idea of black. When you make a profit, you're said to be in the black. In karate, the untimate rank one can attain is a black belt. Didn't Chuck Norris himself insist that good guys wore black? Still, no early Z-car was available in the hard to photograph, harder to keep clean hue." -Jeff Koch Edited August 4, 2012 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfect240z Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I think your car looks pretty clean. How much did you pay for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) On 8/1/2012 at 10:21 PM, Alex731 said: I think your car looks pretty clean. How much did you pay for it? Thanks! Edited September 18, 2018 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sq_creations Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Its so glossy. Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motomanmike Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Nice Z. Thats a pretty good buy for not having to do the work, or source the parts. The car looks pretty clean. How is it holding up underneath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Nice Z. Thats a pretty good buy for not having to do the work, or source the parts. The car looks pretty clean. How is it holding up underneath? The underside is pretty good overall. Just some minor surface rust in one small area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) New parts!Aluminum RadiatorNew Amber Side MarkersTension Rod BushingsPoly Steering Coupler(not shown)Hatch Weather Strip (inner)Glove box - inner box83' Turbo Wiring Harness to match up with the Turbo ECU*Just ordered!*Rota RBR's 17x8.5 +4 17X9 -13 Edited July 11, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) 8/27/2012 Rota RBR's arrived today. 17x9 -13 on all four, Hyper Gunmetal w/ polished lip. Edited July 11, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamo3 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Isn't that radiator for automatic tranny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) Isn't that radiator for automatic tranny? Nope, designed for both. Edited July 29, 2016 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super X Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Welcome back to the S30's! I know you'll have it as clean as the other red one and your old B13 in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) Welcome back to the S30's! I know you'll have it as clean as the other red one and your old B13 in no time. Thanks I bought this misc. parts lot for $60 bucks with all sorts of good stuff. Now Ill be able to fix up my doors a bit and get rid of those painted door handles. Edited July 11, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) First set of pictures with the good camera after it's first wash! Edited July 11, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernandoz Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Very nice! where can i see some pictures of your old 240z? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Very nice! where can i see some pictures of your old 240z? Thanks Heres my old 71 build thread: http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/66816-my-71-240z-project/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted September 8, 2012 Author Share Posted September 8, 2012 (edited) Since Z's sound so danm good I decide not to install an aftermarket cd player. I picked up a working oem Hitachi radio from the same year 72-73 Z. Edited July 23, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 (edited) Heres a cool shot my buddy Nathan took, his TT z32 on the left Edited July 23, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamo3 Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Nice! Looks good on your car! Since Z's sound so danm good I decide not to install an aftermarket cd player and all that nonsense. I picked up a working oem Hitachi radio from the same year 73 Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KnuckleDuster~ Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 (edited) Suspension just in courtesy of cockerstar. Struts are Tokico Illumina's and springs are Ground Control 175/200. Edited July 23, 2017 by ~KnuckleDuster~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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