First Datsun Buy ('75 280z or 260z)
 

I'm new to this forum and would be new to Datsuns and working on cars in general. I have enough income to deal with most of the costs (although I'm a cheap bastard) and hopefully enough friends with mechanical experience to help me through all of this. I'd like to get all of your opinion on this before I go ahead with this buy, though.

There are three pictures here from an add on craigslist. The owner claims that the transmission is good and the motor runs, but that the car needs wheels/tires and exterior/interior work before it's a good car. He's only asking $700 for it and it's not too far away from me (in Iowa). Does this look like a good buy? If I go check out this car, what sort of things should I look for?

This car would be used as a general project car and I hope to use it for SCCA sponsored time trial races.

Thanks for anyhelp.

Another choice for me would be to buy a 260z shell that someone has for sale at $900, then buy a wrecked '76 280z with motor and transmission intact for $500, and do some magic till I have a working car. I don't know if the L28e engine is compatible with the 260z, but I assume one of you would know.

The shell would be about 5 hours away from me, but the engine is in my town. This is not my first option because it costs more than the other option and seems to be a bit more work involved.

With these cars its more the body that's the big issue...Z's tend to have rusting problems and that would be the biggest decider....enginewise these are swap friendly cars as far as the first and second gens go. As in u could easily drop an L28 turbo from like an 82 into a 240Z with little issue since the the blocks were kept pretty much the same, Nissan only really changing bore and stroke to get more displacement between the 2.4, 2.6, and 2.8L engines....I know there are a lot more differences but for swapping sake...they drop right in :P...

That's what I've heard. So I should try to go down and see the body on these cars before I actually buy anything? Honestly, I think that first one looks like the body would be pretty bad. If I went against my better judgement and bought this relative heap, how much should I be expecting to pay for new wheels/tires?

Yes, you definitely need to go look at the cars in person. Just because the body looks good in the pics doesn't mean there aren't any hidden rust issues. Be sure to check the frame rails underneath, and also check the floor boards. The battery tray and also under the rear hatch are some other common problem areas for rust. Proceed with caution!

Door jams, under wheel wells, runner rails, around windshield, and rear quarters are troublesome too since these cars are unibody so any repair will involve cutting and welding.

I'd buy the nice shell and then a later generation (S130) z and do a driveline swap. Almost everything is interchangeable in regards to the trans/engine etc. and they make better power/mpg and are generally more stout. The late gen S130 trans is decently strong and generally better than the earlier 4-speed. (Since you're racing you would probably want the close ratio FS5W71B in the 81-83zx)

An S130 is cheap as dirt if it just "runs" well enough. Plus like GTR said you can get a turbo motor in there relatively easily (and the transmission too, though that might take a bit of driveshaft work.)

Plus you get EFI on a better block/head.

With these cars its really all about the body more than anything...you have a wide range of options engine and driveline wise, really...and mechanicals are are fairly easy to source depending on where you are and not really that difficult to tinker with ^_^

Thanks for all of your help, everyone. I'll keep this thread updated in what I end up doing (since I'm sure all of you are just dying to hear more about my life). I may also post on the WTB board, if any of you are looking to rid yourselves of a z car :003:.

https://www.zdriver.com/forums/wante...07/#post326426

Here's my post.

Now that I've let this thread stew for awhile without any new posts, I figure it's time for me to revive it.

I know I'm on the wrong forum for this next question, but what is the impression on getting a 300zx instead? There's one somewhat kinda near me that I can buy for fairly cheap. My worry is that it may be too unreliable and hard to work on compared to the first gens (as well as somewhat heavier and less attractive), especially for a novice to Datsuns like me.

Also, as a baseline, how much should I look to spend to get a running first gen? I've seen their prices vary wildly with very little variance in their assumed condition.

If you don't have many mechanical skills you don't have any tools. Before you finish one of those pos cars you won't have any friends left either. Be realistic and spend 3-5k and get a decent driver, then tinker with that. JMO

Well I have friends with tools who (at this moment) sound more than willing to help if I'm reasonable, and they have enough tools for anything I need (from construction work to mechanics to electronics). I also already have a Daily Driver, so if this car rusts in a storage shed, it'll be sad, but not devastating.

What did you mean I won't have friends? They'll get sick of helping me? Haha.

Ha ha, I mean you AND your friends might burn out on a vast project like that. If you can commit to a long build project more power to you. Everyone on this forum seems to be willing to help and a lot of us have done or are doing it. Good luck.

I think I can, especially if it's already running and just needs a few things here and there. I think I have enough income to pay for any non-ridiculous maintenance (eg. as long as I'm not doing an engine swap or needing to weld the body back together).

Well, I guess I'll just let everyone know how it goes.

Definitely keep us posted, k? I am curious where this goes.

A friend of mine bought a 280z for something around $700. It's kind of a hunk of junk, but I'll just be helping him get his together for the next few months. This puts me out of the S30 market, but I assume that you all may hear from me in during that time...