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HybridZ

77 280Z story & build


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It all started when I found this 72' 240Z on craigslist. And as luck would have it I was flat broke. But the car was less than 1 mile from my house, so I figured Ill go look at it. Why not right? Turned out the guy selling it was cool as hell. We hit it off right away, I told him that at that moment I didnt have any money to put down  on the car and that id get back to him if I could come up with something. His reply was that " I will take the ad down, I know you will be back. I can see how badly you want this car"
I was stunned, I didnt know what to say. I shook his hand and thanked him over and over again.

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Well after 4 days of doing non stop side jobs before and after work and selling a beater motorcycle I had the money for the car!

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I was a bit over joyed haha
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The next couple of weekends basically just consisted of my going over every inch of the rust to see how bad it really was... After stripping the interior I came to realize I didnt have much of a car left....

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Not to mention it was going to need engine bay rails, battery tray, about half of the fire wall...I decided it was time to find another chassis.

Back to craigslist I go to find a cheap donor. I came across this 77' 280Z. The price was right, and it had floors... anything else I could swap from the 240Z and make a running car..

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So the front sheet metal was junk, it didnt run, had no brakes, but I knew I could make a bad ass car between the 2.

After about 4 weeks time this is where im at..
removed all the fuel injection
rebuilt and converted to SU carbs from the 240
installed a 6/2/1 header that came with the 280z
swapped all the front sheet metal from the 240
240Z tail lights
240Z bumpers ( I know they are very beat and bent and rusty but its legal)
rebuilt the brakes
fixed some non working gauges
fixed the factory clock! ( other datsun owners will understand)
all the lights, signals, ect all now work properly, that took forever
newer headunit

Thats where Im basically at. The car runs and drives great. Its now my daily driver. I have put about 300 trouble free miles on the car in the past 2 weeks.
It gets compliments anywhere it goes...

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I recently snagged a some goodies that will go on soon.. carbon fiber ZG flares!
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a little test fit
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The next things on the list are to lower the car, and make it 1 color.
other than that, Im ecstatic that im actually driving a Z for a change, and its not on jackstands like every other Z ive owned lol

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thanks everyone! I'll be sure to update this thread as often as possible. my next project is to patch up a few holes. I have 6 areas that need attention. both of the front strut towers need a patch about 3"x3", then the bottom of the battery tray, and the same spot on the drivers side.. shouldnt be too bad.

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