Just bought a $900 73' 240Z
04-14-2011, 11:18 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California
Posts: 101
Just bought a $900 73' 240Z
Hello folks on the Z Driver site, I am back with a Z again, been some times.
Here the story, I post an ad on Craigslist for a Datsun project car in the wanted section, I was sure that I wasn't going to get any reply on the ad but I was wrong, this guy replied to the ad and said he have a running 73' 240z for sale for $900, with extra parts. I was just shocked on his pricing since it runs, clean title, good dmv records, load of parts... I just had to go over there and look at it, a 45 miles trip from where I live... worth it..... Seen the car, drove it, loved it, bought it. Out of all the Z I looked at, they were.. ok.. crazy pricing, smog cars.... But a 73' smog exempt for $900, that is just wow...
Here the parts I got included with the car, a 280zx motor, louvers (the real deal, not some plastic stuff), suspension parts from the 280zx cars (thick front sway bar, springs, etc), glass, original trims, couple valve covers, thats about it.
It has been driven daily from this guy I bought it from, he stop driving it because it over heated on him one time, got freaked out and scared to drive the Z again.... Probably why he selling it cheap.. or maybe, its too fast and loud for him.
This Z does need alot of work, the steering wheel wiggle at higher speeds, bald tires on the 280zx 14" rim, worn out springs, brushing, mystery oil leak on the engine (have no idea where the leak coming from, kept cleaning the motor after every time I stop), dual webers are out of snyc (no idea how to tune these), and hoses are old. Oh man, how can I forget this one.... The rear end always got this banging sound, everytime I shift the 4 speed, big clunk, down shift, clunk, accelerate from a stop, clunk... Could it be a differential mount? I done some research on it. They got some stock rubber stuff, and a soild mount. I am not really interested in the rubber stuff failing on me in the future, and not interested in the solid mount giving me a harsh ride, but can't find any poly mounts. Anyone know where to get them? But I did found these on ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_891wt_1167
They look ok... but kinda expensive, but are these worth it? Are the better ones out?
I think the differential mount need to be changed bad, since it could break the drive shaft or something, and its kinda hard to move the car with out the rear end bouncing out of the line.... and I know how to drive a stick.
Also, should I keep the 240z engine, or swap it in with the 280zx motor? I think the 280z have more power, bigger bore and longer stroke, but I could be wrong. The main reason I thought of this is because the 240z engine is always leaking oil somewhere. The 240z motor is pretty fast enough, good sound, good power. The guy I bought it from said it has a 280z head on it, for higher compression reasons, it has about 150 compression on all cylinders. If this 240z engine is worth keeping, should I swap in the 280zx head on it? Or just leave the 280zx engine alone and sell it.
Those probably the only questions I have for my awesome Z. Let me know whatcha guys think of it, what mods should be done on this 38 years old car, suggestions?
Have a great one.
Here the story, I post an ad on Craigslist for a Datsun project car in the wanted section, I was sure that I wasn't going to get any reply on the ad but I was wrong, this guy replied to the ad and said he have a running 73' 240z for sale for $900, with extra parts. I was just shocked on his pricing since it runs, clean title, good dmv records, load of parts... I just had to go over there and look at it, a 45 miles trip from where I live... worth it..... Seen the car, drove it, loved it, bought it. Out of all the Z I looked at, they were.. ok.. crazy pricing, smog cars.... But a 73' smog exempt for $900, that is just wow...
Here the parts I got included with the car, a 280zx motor, louvers (the real deal, not some plastic stuff), suspension parts from the 280zx cars (thick front sway bar, springs, etc), glass, original trims, couple valve covers, thats about it.
It has been driven daily from this guy I bought it from, he stop driving it because it over heated on him one time, got freaked out and scared to drive the Z again.... Probably why he selling it cheap.. or maybe, its too fast and loud for him.
This Z does need alot of work, the steering wheel wiggle at higher speeds, bald tires on the 280zx 14" rim, worn out springs, brushing, mystery oil leak on the engine (have no idea where the leak coming from, kept cleaning the motor after every time I stop), dual webers are out of snyc (no idea how to tune these), and hoses are old. Oh man, how can I forget this one.... The rear end always got this banging sound, everytime I shift the 4 speed, big clunk, down shift, clunk, accelerate from a stop, clunk... Could it be a differential mount? I done some research on it. They got some stock rubber stuff, and a soild mount. I am not really interested in the rubber stuff failing on me in the future, and not interested in the solid mount giving me a harsh ride, but can't find any poly mounts. Anyone know where to get them? But I did found these on ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_891wt_1167
They look ok... but kinda expensive, but are these worth it? Are the better ones out?
I think the differential mount need to be changed bad, since it could break the drive shaft or something, and its kinda hard to move the car with out the rear end bouncing out of the line.... and I know how to drive a stick.
Also, should I keep the 240z engine, or swap it in with the 280zx motor? I think the 280z have more power, bigger bore and longer stroke, but I could be wrong. The main reason I thought of this is because the 240z engine is always leaking oil somewhere. The 240z motor is pretty fast enough, good sound, good power. The guy I bought it from said it has a 280z head on it, for higher compression reasons, it has about 150 compression on all cylinders. If this 240z engine is worth keeping, should I swap in the 280zx head on it? Or just leave the 280zx engine alone and sell it.
Those probably the only questions I have for my awesome Z. Let me know whatcha guys think of it, what mods should be done on this 38 years old car, suggestions?
Have a great one.
04-15-2011, 09:59 AM
#2
Wow! That's a smokin deal! The body looks very clean!
If you are going for a solid mount diff, you should definitely refresh / replace / upgrade the rest of the rear suspension as well (sounds like you had that in mind anyway).
And for the motor... it's all up to you. If you are going to tear out the motor to find the leak, then you might as well use the L28 block. Tear down everything, clean, rebuild, slap back in.
If you are going for a solid mount diff, you should definitely refresh / replace / upgrade the rest of the rear suspension as well (sounds like you had that in mind anyway).
And for the motor... it's all up to you. If you are going to tear out the motor to find the leak, then you might as well use the L28 block. Tear down everything, clean, rebuild, slap back in.
04-21-2011, 12:57 PM
#6
More Than Meets The Eye
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 5,120
Smoking deal man, good score! I would love to find a Z like that for that price. If I got rid of one of my Z cars. I could get another Z, which would be an S30. I just want one to mess with. Anyway keep us updated, and good luck bro'.
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