Gonna see a '77 280z...

[Speeder2000]

I'm going to go see a '77 280z on saturday, that's going to be the first datsun i'm going to look at (close to my house). Havn't driven one before, or sat in one. See one from afar though. hehe.

 

Guy said car doesn't run because of battery, and it was dumping a lot of fuel before he stopped using it. Engine condition doesn't really concern me but I guess it wouldn't be bad if it ran for a bit.

 

Where should I check for rust? What else should I look out for?

[auxilary]

http://www.zhome.com

 

has a good write up on what to look for when buying a Z

[innerware]

Certainly been covered here a lot. But to quickly recap: Insert picture of Z with the whole thing circled. Ha ha,

 

Anyway: Frame rails, floor boards, rear hatch area, battery tray area and around it. Lowest part of fenders tend to rot, Rocker panels, rear lower part of quarter panels, around drip rails, and bottom of the doors. I am sure I missed something. But these cars are old and rust. Bring a magnet to check for bondo fillers, don't be afraid to poke and knock on some panels to hear and feel how solid they are. Bring a battery with you if he says that is a reason it won't start. At least you can check guages, lights etc with it if it won't turn over.

 

Good luck and welcome.

[Speeder2000]

looked at the car

 

interior: seats are crap, dash is cracked in 3 places uptop, rest seems OK.

 

exterior: decent paint (probably repainted), 3 or 4 places where the paint chipped and rust underneath (body). The door bottoms are bubbly. Bubbly paint around weatherstrippings too.

 

under: frame rails "Seem" solid, a rust hole above the rail close to the front driver wheel well/fender, some rust in the back around the wheel wells. That's I think the worst of rust.

 

maybe i'll go tomorrow put it on a jack see underneath better, try starting it (he says fuel rails are leaking around the injector connectors, that's about it) and take some pics maybe?

[DavyZ]

looked at the car... 3 or 4 places where the paint chipped and rust underneath (body). The door bottoms are bubbly. Bubbly paint around weatherstrippings too... a rust hole above the rail close to the front driver wheel well/fender' date=' some rust in the back around the wheel wells. That's I think the worst of rust....

 

....maybe i'll go tomorrow put it on a jack see underneath better...[/quote']

 

 

....and you'll put that jack right through the floorboards if you are not careful. One thing is for sure, if you hear crunching sounds from the proper jack points, you know the rails are shot and so is the car. Be CAREFUL about buying a rusty car.

 

Davy

[Speeder2000]

is there a diagram of the proper jack points for the z?

[MusPuppis]

Be CAREFUL about buying a rusty car.

 

 

Quoted for truth. Rust also likes to hide, so where you see a little, theres likely alot.

 

Also check the toolboxes in the back, spare tire well and around the gas cap area.

 

If your worried about jacking on the front frame rails you could use the front crossmember. Not the best location for safety reasons, but it'll do in a pinch. Put something under the tires if you can for stability.

 

Personally, I would make it a point to jack the car up in several different spots on the front rails heh. If theres a problem you'll expose it right then and there before you end up buying it and finding out it needs very serious repair. Just jack real slow and watch the contact patch for bowing, bending, breaking or crunching. Any this likely indicates the rail is pretty much ruined.

[VRJoe]

If you need a second oppinion VinhZXT is in Philly and I'm just outside Philly. Feel free to contact us for help.

 

- Joe

[Speeder2000]

i probably won't be buying it actually. It's beginning of the winter, and I don't have a garage plus i'm 1/2 way into another project and i probably won't have enough money to put into the car right now. BUT if anybody around philly (it's NE philly suburbs actually) wants to see it, send me an email (kirill AT mokin DOT com)