The NewKid's 280z

[TheNewKid]

Hello All Z drvers! For my 16th birthday my parents handed me the keys to my moms old beater minivan and said I could do whatever I wanted to do with it. So of course I sold it the following day! I wanted a car that was sporty yet retained relativly good mpg. I also wanted a car that was rear wheel drive and also manual. The 280z fit this criteria perfectly and IMHO looks AMAZING! Anyways after a few days of looking I found a 280z for 3500$ It looked great in the pics and was very close to where I was at that time! After looking at it I talked the owner down to 2800$ because of the absolutly horrible fading paint! Well that was 2 weeks ago and I am ready to do some much needed work on the car!

 

Specs:

 

1978 280z

 

304 gold metallic paint job

 

2.8l fuel injected inline 6

 

Airconditioning

 

4 speed manual

 

Non-california model

 

To do list:

 

paint job/bodywork ASAP

 

trannsmision/clutch rebuild or replace

 

Carpet replacement

 

Sterio build

 

Performance wise I am keeping the stock engine and keeping it naturally asperated. My performance goal is to do 0-60 in 6 seconds. Acorrding to this calculator (http://www.060calculator.com/) I will need 173.34hp (flywheel) to go from 0-60 in 6 seconds if the car weighs 2400lbs. Stock specs 149hp with curb weight of 2800lbs (http://www.zshop.net.au/280Ztech.htm). This puts me at around 8 seconds 0-60 because Im probably making around 130hp.

 

Modifications so far:

 

Cherry bomb muffler (previous owner )

 

Spare tire/ jack delete probably 40-50 lbs

 

Modifications planned:

 

Cold air intake: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/76-78-80-82-83-Datsun-280ZX-280Z-Cold-Air-Intake-K-N-/370462177261?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56414437ed&vxp=mtr)

 

Msa header with fake dual exaust from the muffler (http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17653/10002/-1)

 

Electric Fan

 

Lots of headwork (we do this all the time in autotech! )

 

And alot more I cant think of right now...

 

One question I would really apriciate if you answer is about my tranny/clutch. When the clutch is engaged at a stand-still it makes a thumping sound in neutral. If I press down on the clutch the noise dissapears??? Also when going under 20-25mph the tranny/clutch makes the same noise?!? The car is also very very loud when downshifting and loud in general...I can barly hear my loud exhaust because the tranny is so loud! If anyone has any idea what this sound is I would really apriciate it!

 

Thanks, now for pictures!