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zjohnson1's 280z build (pic heavy)


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Figured I'd start a thread to track my progress and ask some questions along the way.

I just picked up a 76 280z a few weeks ago. I'm not new to Z's; I've had a Z32 and a G35 and my dad's had a few s30's over the yeas. I've learned enough at this point that I'm pretty comfortable doing a full teardown and resto/rebuild so it was finally time to get an s30.

I looked for months down here in the Southeast before I finally found something in the condition I wanted at a good price. The car I got is a fairly low rust car since it's been in Alabama it's whole life and at only $1400 it fit the bill; plus it met my requirement of being completely stock including the factory radio. Hasn't been started since around 2000 when it was parked in a garage, though 1 side was exposed to sun via windows so the car is sorta 2 faced. Decent paint on DS but PS is shot. It'll take some work but I should be able to get running again, plan is to just get it on the road with a few minor upgrades for now. Eventually doing ITB's then turbo and possibly an LS2 one day.

So far I've got brake master, clutch master, clutch slave, braided lines, plugs, wires, 240sx throttle body, new injectors, jeep fuel rail to modify, and a few other fuel system goodies. Been working on deleting all the unnecessary crap right now and I'm in cleaning mode. Fuel tank looks great on outside but inside is very rusty so I've got some work ahead of me. Trying to do all the basic safety stuff to get back on the road before I get the expensive fun bits. Coilovers are coming soon after it runs.

Just a warning, pics suck cause my phone camera is cracked at the moment and I've just been lazy fixing it. On to the good stuff

Past "Z's"

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Now the good stuff

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Lots of grime and dirt but should clean up nice

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Just a quick wipe down with windex and adding a little 303 Aerospace protectant. That stuff is the best

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Did the basic stuff to try and start it: fluids, turn motor by hand, check gas, etc. Also was missing some fusable links so I did some ghetto rigging to try and crank but no good. Electrical was totally shot so I'll have to rip the harness out and check every wire. Rats got in and had their way, also lots of missing grounds. Taking the opportunity to to the MAXI fuse swap correctly. Unfortunately I'm a freak and decided that was a good time to delete all the vacuum lines and anything that looked ugly. Oh well

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The pile is growing

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Yikes

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And just for good measure, in my filthy garage next to my very dirty Daily. This is right after getting back from the mountain. The truck is a work in progress too, dents and bumper should be getting fixed soon. She cleans up good though

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Edited by zjohnson1
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I'm always happy to see a project start, as we all know things can get out of hand right quick with a build with funds. Save money right now and cancel the coil overs....ur gonna need the money elsewhere. There are a lot of other chassis you can throw  in a LS1 in that will give you less grief than a S30, I would consider a L28et Turbo option instead in a S30.  Research these forums very closely they are a amazing wealth of info, and members will help if you do due diligence. Good Luck!

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  • 1 month later...

Been pretty slack with updating this thread... I have a ton of pics but I'll just post a few until things really get going.  Also if a mod wants to move this thread to the s30 member projects section that would be great!

 

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Almost done gasket matching

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There's a lot not pictured too: Fuel tank refinished and coated, upgraded alternator, tons of new gaskets, aluminum 3 core rad, heater core block off, all new fuel hardlines, brake lines and pads with rear drum refresh, etc.  I'll try to start using a better camera.  Should be on the road again within the month

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Finished up the car and was all good to crank but no go.  Got it to run on starting fluid so I know the motor is good which a relief.  That pushed me to keep moving forward and troubleshot the EFI system.  Pretty much all the relays were bad so I replaced that crap, cleaned up the wiring harness and rerouted it then got back to troubleshooting.  ECU was bad and there were multiple breaks in the EFI harness.  Didn't want to keep nickle and diming myself so I'm just replacing with a MS3 megasquirt and new harness.  Dumping the distributor for some LQ9 coil packs with magnecor wires to try to simplify the engine bay.  Sound deadening has been stripped and I picked up a welder to patch my floor pans.  Dash taken out to get the rest of the heater core and ac stuff as well as tuck all the wires and misc relay boxes.  I like being able to see at night too so I've got some new headlights in the works.  Hoping to have a base tune setup this weekend and as they say in the movie The Money Pit : It'll be done in 2 weeks

 

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