ThatOneZ Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Im planning on buying a 280z to swap a rb25 in it. I have find two 280z one is 7 hours away and the other one is 11 i was planning on flyin there and then driving back.. i have two questions. One has some rust what do you guys think about the rust problem? Also if the rust isnt that bad how hard is it to repair, ive never dealt with rust before so i was wondering heres a video of the first one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEkXUHa0iaM&feature=youtu.be Edited September 12, 2013 by ThatOneZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOneZ Posted September 12, 2013 Author Share Posted September 12, 2013 Here is the second it i much cleaner but further away and its $4,600 from a member on the fourm http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/112585-1978-datsun-280z-all-original-and-runs-great-460000/?do=findComment&comment=1073717 I need help deciding if its cheaper to buy the first one in fix it or buy this one thats in really good shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Its never cheaper to start with a car that has rust. It would be an investment of you're time to start with the cleaner, less rusty z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOneZ Posted September 12, 2013 Author Share Posted September 12, 2013 Its never cheaper to start with a car that has rust. It would be an investment of you're time to start with the cleaner, less rusty z. Thanks for the advice thats what i was thinking too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 If you are going to hop on a plane...there are MUCH better candidates than that available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chavo Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Time is money, so if you have time and skill buy the rust one. If you have money, buy the restored one. You also have to realize he is charging for the turbo engine. If you are going to swap, that is additional money spent. Total swap cost would be around $4k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOneZ Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Does anyone know if any 280z with little to no rust for around 3k. It dosnt matter where the car is as long is its east coast or central us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone028 Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 My best unsolicited advice, be patient and wait for a clean, minimal rust Z to pop up in your budget...I wouldnt even necessarily be worried if it were a 240/260/280Z if I were putting in a RB but thats just me (plus, you would be surprised how often plans change)...I would be rewiring and redoing fuel lines regardless if it were my project, and a 240 chassis can always be strengthened with frame rails from Bad Dog if thats what you're concerned about. Another option if you really have to travel a far way away...borrow/beg/steal a truck with a trailer hitch and rent a trailer from u-haul that is local to the Z you want to purchase. Drive to the location, check out the car, rent the trailer if warranted, and trailer it back to NoVA. Drop the trailer off at the local u-haul once you're done. Nothing would make me more nervous than driving a 40 year old car 7-10 hours that I'm unfamiliar with (i.e. BRAKES). I did what I described when I picked up my Z in Norfolk VA. Best of luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Bummer on the location restriction, East Coast means higher prices and more rust... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Does anyone know if any 280z with little to no rust for around 3k. It dosnt matter where the car is as long is its east coast or central us. Bummer on the location restriction, East Coast means higher prices and more rust... Serious bummer. And what really makes me concerned is that I'm betting his location restriction has to do with costs of flying out and getting one home... But if he can't afford that, then do you really think he'll pull off a RB swap? If you can't fly to the west coast to find your clean S30, then odds are you should start with a cheap project, as a whole. Buy something that doen't need to be swapped and have fun with that for a while. Very few end up with a nice, clean, rust free hybridZ for under 10k, if not 15k. And those that do are extremely handy and do 90% of the work themselves, and that includes rust repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Buy something that doen't need to be swapped and have fun with that for a while. Very few end up with a nice, clean, rust free hybridZ for under 10k, if not 15k. And those that do are extremely handy and do 90% of the work themselves, and that includes rust repair. AMEN! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 And just because I'm a nice guy, I did a little digging and found some cars that I'd be interested in, if I was in the market for a budget project. Now, none of these might have the sex appeal of the S30 with a mad JDM yo! swap done, but they're contenders in may ways in their own right. I even searched Virginia's clist in case you actually wanted to call these people... http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/3953791613.html http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/3981634894.html http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/4004986505.html http://smd.craigslist.org/cto/3975063214.html and for some food for thought, probably one of the most viral articles on cheap speed of late: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/dirty-dozen/ Of that list I'd rock the bimmer, the CRX (and have rocked), the fox, the miata, the volvo, and questionably the S13. There's lots of cheap build options out there, just got to be creative and think outside the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I said someplace "if I wanted to pay $15,000 for a Z with a V8 in it, I'd go buy a Vette, you get a lotta Vette for $15 Large!" Just turned up a white with saddle tan 72 Corvette, 454 Big Block, Four Speed LSD... The ONLY difference between this one and the one I stupidly passed on in 90 for $4,500 was that one was a Roadster, and this one has T-Tops... I wouldn't pass it again! Big Block Vettes are a hoot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLOZ UP Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 With my lack of impulse control I went through 2 240Zs with serious rust problems. I tore both of them down, realized how bad it was, got disheartened, and sold them. Luckily I made my money back on them plus a little extra for the 240Z bumpers. So a couple years later I happened upon a 77 ZZZAP with no real rust on it, I was giddy after taking a peek at the frame rails and noticing not only a lack of rust, but they weren't crushed to hell either. In the meantime I bought a $500 88 300ZX Turbo though and drove it 2 hours home, that was scary. Totally worth it for the CLSD though. Then I got the genius idea to put that worn out VG30ET in my 280Z. But that was TX so my odds were better there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOneZ Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 I have more than 10k to spend on the build im just trying to find a Z for 3k so i have more money to spend on parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Out here in the SW there's a ton of cars around, w/ little rust for usually around $1000. Check craigslist/ebay etc. Ask for pictures and a ride from the airport, then get a shipper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOneZ Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 OK guys I find a really nice Z no rust at all but the only problem is its auto. If I do get it I'm planning to switch it to manual of course but would I run into any problems when swapping the rb25 in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Well Every swap has it's issues. but as for swapping from Auto to manual, it's EASY. Nothing in the auto tranny is going to keep you from putting in a 5 speed. Though you may have to change the speedo Gearing so it'll ready correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatOneZ Posted September 30, 2013 Author Share Posted September 30, 2013 Thanks for all the responses. okay so good news guys I found a Z and im calling the guy tomorrow to pay for it and get it shipped over to VA so i should have it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Cool, Well depending on where it's coming from, First thing you should do REGARDLESS OF THE PAINT CONDITION is throw a coat of wax on it, because in coastal areas original paint will not keep salt air out of the pores and the metal underneath from rusting. That then get it on a lift with a couple cans of undercoating and touch up everywhere you can see needing some. This way your body should stay in it's as purchased condition until you can get your swap underway. in doing both these operations, you'll also be going over the whole car so you can note anywhere there's dings and rust spots. As for how to do the swap, well there's a ton of threads on it. But you might dish out the cash to McKinney (not cheap) and get the RB mounting kit. it'll save you a lot of headache over building your own. There's a ton of info on suspensions, brake swaps and every other part you can figure to upgrade so, congrats on the car. I hope you'll keep posting pictures. We love pictures. We are happy to answer any questions you can't find an answer for. I highly recommend downloading the FSM and EFI bible, and also the manual for whatever RB donor you're getting. Looking forward to seeing it. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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