280znoob Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 hey guys. i finnaly found a z forum of ppl that know what they are talkin about... and i had a few questions, if you could help me. tommorow i am going to look at a 1976 280z and i plan on purchasing it, if it is everything that the seller tells me it is so... i know its an inline six.. but not much else (any general info or stuff i should know?) it is a four speed(why not 5?) is there any thing i should check in particular before buying? (common problems, typical rust areas, telltale signs of abuse,"fudging"?) he tells me that the interior is trashed,slashed, and battered (not too concerned, plan on working with interior) and the paint (or lack of) is mismatched or bondo (from what i can see) or primer...accident? but he says the engine and drive train is solid and reliable. he tells me that it has been his dailydriver for six months but he recently bought a truck(his supposed reason for selling) i am looking for a project car that is relaible and i have heard great things about these cars and their engines. (im guessing mine is an s30) plus i love primering and paintin cars, and stripping interior. the main reason i am buying this car is my DD is too expensive and performs VERY poorly in wet conditions...and its uninsured... i figure this will be a safer alternative that i wont have to worry about wrecking as much (not that i plan to). and i see alot(ALOT) of vids of ppl having fun in their Zs in snow,and however immature it may be, i live for good times like that. i would post a pic but its not mine yet so i dont wanna cross any lines with the owner or his potential other buyers. another thing i keep hearing about these cars is ridiculous tall stories of 280z stock performance (like lightning fastness,outrageous top speed,and stuff) i would just like this cleared up cause i keep hearin alot of conflicting stories. any info you can think of that you can throw in would help a bunch. really would like to join the Z family tomorrow thanks friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackice280zxt Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I shall answer your questions in a nut shell welcome to hybridz by the way hey guys. i finally found a z forum of people that know what they are talking about...and i had a few questions, if you could help me. tomorrow am going to look at a 1976 280z and i plan on purchasing it, if it is everything that the seller tells me it is so... i know its an inline six.. but not much else (any general info or stuff i should know?) 2.8 liter it is a four speed(why not 5?) was not available at that time see datsun 280zx is there any thing i should check in particular before buying? (common problems, typical rust areas, telltale signs of abuse,"fudging"?) check for things you normally look for in a car and look farther he tells me that the interior is trashed,slashed, and battered (not too concerned, plan on working with interior) and the paint (or lack of) is mismatched or bondo (from what i can see) or primer...accident? Use your head look for bondo knock and if it sounds like metal it must be but he says the engine and drive train is solid and reliable. he tells me that it has been his daily driver for six months but he recently bought a truck(his supposed reason for selling) i am looking for a project car that is reliable and i have heard great things about these cars and their engines. (im guessing mine is an s30) yes plus i love primering and painting cars, and stripping interior. the main reason i am buying this car is my DD is too expensive and performs VERY poorly in wet conditions...and its uninsured... i figure this will be a safer alternative that i wont have to worry about wrecking as much (not that i plan to). haha you will be in for a big surprise they hate the rain and i see a lot(A LOT) of videos of people having fun in their Zs in snow,and however immature it may be, Sounds like you don't need a z you need a civic i live for good times like that. NOS!!!! i would post a pic but its not mine yet so i don't wanna cross any lines with the owner or his potential other buyers. another thing i keep hearing about these cars is ridiculous tall stories of 280z stock performance (like lightning fastness,outrageous top speed,and stuff) i would just like this cleared up cause i keep hearing a lot of conflicting stories. Take the most extreme story and the worst story and meet in the middle any info you can think of that you can throw in would help a bunch. really would like to join the Z family tomorrow thanks friends post pics of the car people do it all the time to get input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan5138 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Well grats ahead of time on the Z, and welcome to the best Z forum imho... probably one of the best forums to go to for even general automotive knowledge. +1 to using the search engine, but browse through each individual section and check out all the stickies in them, those are chocked full of helpful info. And the truth about performance on a stock 280Z... you have roughly 100 RWHP for a 2800-3000 LB. car. They can get up and go, just don't expect to be thrown back into your seat, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I shall answer your questions in a nut shell welcome to hybridz by the way You're incorrect about the transmission, 5 speeds were available on the late 280zs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempered Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 whatever you do, don't rush it. I made that mistake, seem to make it all the time. A better Z always pops up, and for cheaper (in my case). Don't be hasty and good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 DO NOT be set on buying the car before youve seen it. If you do you will most likely buy it regardless of your better judgement. Anyways welcome to the forum. As far as rust problems, check the areas around the wheels, under the battery and around the rear hatch seals. Also check floorboards and rocker panels, basically check everywhere. Dont be suprised what you find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAG58 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 DO NOT be set on buying the car before youve seen it. If you do you will most likely buy it regardless of your better judgement. Anyways welcome to the forum. As far as rust problems, check the areas around the wheels, under the battery and around the rear hatch seals. Also check floorboards and rocker panels, basically check everywhere. Dont be suprised what you find. This man is 100% correct. Speaking from experience, even going into it negatively would be alright. There are a good number of 280's still floating around and as such it is definitely OK to shop around. And My Z doesn't hate rain! It hates all mannerisms of meteorological phenomena, let's not restrict it down to just rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffer949 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 If/when i do it again i honestly could care less how the drivetrain is. I care about one thing and one thing only RUST and how straight the body is. If he has been driving this car for a while with bondo primer showing and its been his daily that means that it has seen rain. Your going to need to strip the whole car of all the bondo that saw water. Stock engines are cheap for these cars. Its the rust removal and repainting that is expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackice280zxt Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 You're incorrect about the transmission, 5 speeds were available on the late 280zs. Oh why yes you are correct I see that now(I searched). And here I was under the understanding all s30's had 4speeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackice280zxt Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 This man is 100% correct. Speaking from experience, even going into it negatively would be alright. There are a good number of 280's still floating around and as such it is definitely OK to shop around. And My Z doesn't hate rain! It hates all mannerisms of meteorological phenomena, let's not restrict it down to just rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzofsak Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Always know what you are getting into, don't get burned. And, like Murphy's law, even though I knew I was buying a parts car, for a great deal, the 280ZXT I wanted became available shortly after I bought the parts car; short on funds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoKidd Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 You don't say what the asking price is. Based on what you have said, it should be very cheap. It won't stay that way however................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team_infidel Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 i made the mistake of buying a z car off of craigslist, the floors, and trunk, and bottom of the doors was rusted out. wanted to put in a ls1. i paid 700 for a piece of ♥♥♥♥, now it has become my parts car for a clean, minimal rust 240z. I paid 1900 for a solid 240 with extra sparco seats, a crack free dash, extra tranny, rip free stock seats, and it runs( albeit like crap), and drives, just doesnt stop so well. I found it on ebay two weeks ago. bought it in tennesse. sorry if any of you guys were bidding. just to make it sting a little, if you had gone 100 more, you would have won. and matt if you read this, thanks for the car, nothing but good words for you man. basically i am just saying, dont spend more than 2 k on a car that is going to need 3 k just to be half way decent. get educated before you buy, look at this site, and classic z car. a wealth of knowledge. i have used these guys to help me decide exactly what i want out of my car, and what i need to put in it. dont put the cart before the horse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280znoob Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 got er' 500 cash after some hagglin 120k on engine, drove from east oregon to mid washington no prob REALLY spunky engine runs great needs a little work on signals(contacts need to be brushed he said) has some surface rust and sanded paint new tires new batteries new headlights he was second owner, knew first owner a simple case o negligence:frown: what ya think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckolander Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 not a bad deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280znoob Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 yea i have bought alot of cars and, to date, this is probably the best "score" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd1105 Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 looks like a lot of work but 500 bucks aint bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempered Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 looks like fun, my favorite part is the first clean up, thats where you find the good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd1105 Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 LOL that can be true i found lots of tools and change. looks like fun, my favorite part is the first clean up, thats where you find the good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempered Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 LOL that can be true i found lots of tools and change. haha I am pretty sure I found some cigarette butts from the 70's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.