WTB Z with RB or LS swap

[Guest crossfittn]

Mods please delete

[mxs666]

Not mine and not actually an LS1 but for the $$$ this conversion looks like a sweet deal...

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-280z-1978-DATSUN-280-Z-with-V8_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQihZ002QQitemZ120300207908QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

The odds of finding an rb conversion are pretty slim. There are a few sr20 conversions out there for sale now. One on this board (silver although you would have to scrutinize the body integrity of that one) and another on ebay (if you check the completed auctions you can see it).

 

If you want black, the link i sent you is one of the nicest looking black cars i have seen in a long time.

 

Good luck and regards - Michael

[Guest crossfittn]

Thank you!!!!! I wish it was a manual transmission though... How hard would it be to switch it to manual and what tranny do you recommend?

[mxs666]

I recommend leaving it an automatic and running the hell out of that car. For 8gs thats a 6g paint job on the car. Throw in another few gs for that motor and you are getting the rest for free from what i can see. That is a nice ride and if you are looking for a hybrid you should think of hopping on that one.

 

If you cant get to where that car is, try and locate someone on this board or on ZCar.com who would be willing to go check it out. Offer $100 or something for someone to send you a bunch of pics. Odds are someone will do it for nothing.

 

If you want to spend any $$ on that car in improvements, swap the rear half shafts from u-joints to CV joints, and swap the rear brakes. It looks nice and low, but it may need to be lowered just a little more.

 

After that, you can probably run the heck out of that car.

 

Good luck.

[Guest crossfittn]

thank you! man i love how educated and helpful everyone is here... refreshing change from the idiots at my350z.com

[mxs666]

I am a moron too, but since you dont know it and since you complemented me, i will give you the best advice i have for buying a classic z. Check where the front fender meets the door. If that corner is not dead on square the body is shot. These are unibody cars and they bend over time for a variety of reasons. Once they bend, the front fender will never fit right and the door will never close properly and the lower line from the front of the fender to the back wheel arch wont be strait.

 

To me that is the give away on these cars.

 

And for some reason, people spend a lot of money rebuilding cars that are not sound to begin with. That is one of the reason that body kits are so popular on these cars too - - people use them to hide the fact that the body is sagging, but if you know what to look at you can always tell.

 

Also, look at the front fender to door gap, especially from like 10 feet in a dead on perpendicular photo.

 

Whether you take the black car or not, its a good example of what a strait car looks like and you will be much better off in the long run.

 

Peace and good luck.

[WizardBlack]

Check where the front fender meets the door. If that corner is not dead on square the body is shot. These are unibody cars and they bend over time for a variety of reasons. Once they bend, the front fender will never fit right and the door will never close properly and the lower line from the front of the fender to the back wheel arch wont be strait.