signal34 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I use a company car for back and forth to work, but for all of my other normal driving this year I'm using my 77 280Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S130Z Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I have a few questions here. 1- How many people have a secondary car that they drive when the Z is down? 2- If you do not have another car to drive, how do you find time to do any modifications to your Z with having a full time job? I am asking because I DD my ZX and am planning a turbo swap. I am working full time and I don't know when I will have time to swap and tune over half a Saturday and a full Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatBlack Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I keep seeing beater S130s on Craigslist for really cheap, maybe if it is in the budget pick up another ZX? I daily a Honda FWD and automatic. Makes me really appreciate the Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S130Z Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Or if I can find an engine dyno to tune the motor on, then I could probably swap it in a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garvice Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Currently 4 cars for 2 people. Z is not a DD. Having said that, I did have a day last year where 3 out of 3 cars where out of service. AE101 corolla had dead alternator AE82 corolla had distributor being rebuilt Z had no computer Even when you have other options things don't always go right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerAce Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I have a few questions here.1- How many people have a secondary car that they drive when the Z is down? 2- If you do not have another car to drive, how do you find time to do any modifications to your Z with having a full time job? I am asking because I DD my ZX and am planning a turbo swap. I am working full time and I don't know when I will have time to swap and tune over half a Saturday and a full Sunday. 1) No other car. Hopefully going to be getting a motorcycle soon to DD 2) I don't, beyond oil changes, filters, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybear Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I have a few questions here.1- How many people have a secondary car that they drive when the Z is down? 2- If you do not have another car to drive, how do you find time to do any modifications to your Z with having a full time job? I am asking because I DD my ZX and am planning a turbo swap. I am working full time and I don't know when I will have time to swap and tune over half a Saturday and a full Sunday. Yeah, DD'ing a car that you also work on for a project is no fun and not a simple task. It leads you to rush things that you normally wouldn't or forget that things that you shouldn't. With that being said, my Z doesn't run, but will be turning into daily driver material. Get a good solid daily driver before your Z goes down. You are still going to have to get around even with your car out of commission. Find a cheap beater car (I daily a 1996 ford taurus, $1600 bucks and almost 2 years later she still starts everyday, had to replace very basic things, not even brakes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 1) I have a 280ZX that was given to me from someone I didn't even know. So it gets me around when I need it to. Though it needs a little attention of it's own. 2) I don't have a full time job. I'm in school right now though, but I find time to work on it during the weekends. Pretty soon the weather is going to be amazing california standard again so I need to get er' back on the road because once the weather gets good somehow my weekend schedule doesn't let up for a good 6 months or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srbigbutt Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I've been daily driving my Z for a year now as I slowly upgrade it and maintain it. But now i'm actually looking to buy a new daily driver. I really need more time to work on the Z and having to rush jobs over a weekend really sucks! Had to miss work because I didn't finish my suspension upgrade!!! So now i'm looking for something cheap and reliable that I like so I can focus more time on the Z and possibly a turbo swap. I love driving my Z everyday, but I really want to do a lot more to it and need to let it sit for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duder280z Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I just got a truck (83 Nissan 4X4) to drive while I do some long overdue work on the Z. I've been DDing the truck for a few weeks, today I drove the Z for the first time since and WOW! Going from slow I4 with wide gear ratios to I6 turbo with low gears and closer ratios is drastic! My car really isn't that fast, but it feels like a rocket compared to the truck! Sure helps me appreciate it more when I drive it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatBlack Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Yeah, DD'ing a car that you also work on for a project is no fun and not a simple task. It leads you to rush things that you normally wouldn't or forget that things that you shouldn't. With that being said, my Z doesn't run, but will be turning into daily driver material. Get a good solid daily driver before your Z goes down. You are still going to have to get around even with your car out of commission. Find a cheap beater car (I daily a 1996 ford taurus, $1600 bucks and almost 2 years later she still starts everyday, had to replace very basic things, not even brakes) Hey there Smokey, didn't know you've been on here since '06! This Saturday I am going to drive 3 hours to go trade my DD Honda for an 86 Z31 Turbo 5 Speed. The alternator is dead and I will be doing an alt swap in his garage. This should be an interesting weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240ZNTX Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I had the exhaust problems too. Couldn't go anywhere without smelling like exhaust. I tried everything. I must have used five gallons of silicone sealing everything. I pulled every panel out of the car including the tail lights...pulled up all the carpet sealed all the plugs...the fuel tank vents replaced hoses and sealed all the firewall penetrations and replaced the rear hatch seals and drain plugs as well but to no avail. It wasn't untill I was driving down the freeway one afternoon when a 77-78 280 passed me by and was burning oil like he had his own surplus. He slowed down as he passed me and he was obviously trying to get me to show him what I had under the hood. And that's when I saw the huge trail of white smoke circling the back of his car. It just sort of hung there circling the bumper and actually was being sucked back in under the car. It put out huge amounts of smoke on acceleration and deacelleration. So being the curious guy that I am...kept provoking him just to study how and where the fumes were being drawn back into the car. It was just like having my own wind tunnel with smoke and everything for a while. The whole back of the car obviously had a negative pressure zone that never allowed the exhaust to escape. Studing it for some time I came to the realization that I could have the whole car dipped in silicone and I would still never be able to stop the fumes from coming in. That's when it dawned on me...why not put an exhaust tip on the car that directs the flow out the side into the airstream flowing down the side of the car. It worked like a charm! Sure...it certainly changed the look of rear of my Z and I caught hell from all my friends asking me what the hell is that! ...but trust me...it was worth it! I wish I had some pics. I just took a stainless steel 90 degree elbo and cut it at a 45% angle and turned as to make sure it exited into the airstream on the drivers side. I've seen a video of Big Phil's car and he addresses this problem quite well by angeling the exhaust out in much the same fashion. Hope this helps. It certainly has helped me...now I can take a shower...jump in the Z and go out in public and not smell like exhaust...or worry about my health anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse OBrien Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I had the exhaust problems too. Couldn't go anywhere without smelling like exhaust. I tried everything. I must have used five gallons of silicone sealing everything. I pulled every panel out of the car including the tail lights...pulled up all the carpet sealed all the plugs...the fuel tank vents replaced hoses and sealed all the firewall penetrations and replaced the rear hatch seals and drain plugs as well but to no avail. It wasn't untill I was driving down the freeway one afternoon when a 77-78 280 passed me by and was burning oil like he had his own surplus. He slowed down as he passed me and he was obviously trying to get me to show him what I had under the hood. And that's when I saw the huge trail of white smoke circling the back of his car. It just sort of hung there circling the bumper and actually was being sucked back in under the car. It put out huge amounts of smoke on acceleration and deacelleration. So being the curious guy that I am...kept provoking him just to study how and where the fumes were being drawn back into the car. It was just like having my own wind tunnel with smoke and everything for a while. The whole back of the car obviously had a negative pressure zone that never allowed the exhaust to escape. Studing it for some time I came to the realization that I could have the whole car dipped in silicone and I would still never be able to stop the fumes from coming in. That's when it dawned on me...why not put an exhaust tip on the car that directs the flow out the side into the airstream flowing down the side of the car. It worked like a charm! Sure...it certainly changed the look of rear of my Z and I caught hell from all my friends asking me what the hell is that! ...but trust me...it was worth it! I wish I had some pics. I just took a stainless steel 90 degree elbo and cut it at a 45% angle and turned as to make sure it exited into the airstream on the drivers side. I've seen a video of Big Phil's car and he addresses this problem quite well by angeling the exhaust out in much the same fashion. Hope this helps. It certainly has helped me...now I can take a shower...jump in the Z and go out in public and not smell like exhaust...or worry about my health anymore. Pretty useful info. Got any pics of the exhaust? I'm curious to see what it's like. Also, welcome to hybridz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybear Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Hey there Smokey, didn't know you've been on here since '06! This Saturday I am going to drive 3 hours to go trade my DD Honda for an 86 Z31 Turbo 5 Speed. The alternator is dead and I will be doing an alt swap in his garage. This should be an interesting weekend. ha ha yeah, i registered when i first read about the ls1 240z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatBlack Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 The R/T mount is in... It's fantastic I'd strongly recommend it. The S30 is back to DD status! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McKaleJ Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Though an S130, I just had to post, because Ive been driving my zx for FOUR years as my DD. The only things Ive had to do were the alt & the brakes. But other than that, my zx runs like a champ. Gotta love Datsuns for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zdigg Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I probably have one of the crappiest z's on here, but she has been a faithful DD for almost a year... she's 35 years old and when I bought it I pulled the head to see what state the engine was in, smooth walls... it doesn't use any oil and still has plenty of power... I am so glad to hear that I'm not the only one with the gas smell... my girlfriend calls it my perfume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D83ZXT Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Z's are meant to be driven period. 1970 and I love her for my DD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsun723 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Z's are meant to be driven period. 1970 and I love her for my DD. agreed! I have a '78 and I trust it to get me through college and whatnot till I can get another car and make the Z my project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norstar Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I probably have one of the crappiest z's on here wanna bet?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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