Dude believe me, I know how you feel man. I feel deprived for not driving one, for almost 2 years or so. But it will be worth it in the end, trust me on that one bro'. I am getting close I am sure of it. And you will get there, just keep at it. And I will tell you this. Driving a Z, especially a 280zx, that and since I have never driven any other bodystyle or type. Is like nothing else, you have ever driven. Of course my opinion. But ever since I drove my first Z, (my '81) I haven't been the same since. And have had a new addiction, and it is lifetime. So I will warn you on that one.LOL Anyway it is great, that you keep pushing on. Even after all the hang-ups, and obstacles, you have come across. You are determined like I am, and you will get there. Patience, perseverance, dedication, motivation, determination etcc.. You get the idea, just keep thinking positive, and chugging onward. And you will get there.

Okay I am sorry for the rambling, just need to let out some stuff. And it feels good to encourage, inspire, and keep somebody else going. For them to strive to their goal. Rock on man!

 

Hampster????? Confused me

 

Wildman, you are a big insperation to me and others. Thank you.

Just played around tonight with the Aircraft Remover stuff. Cleaned a lot of little things, the water housing, the bolts, the throttle body bolts, all the little bolts that casically hold stuff on to the mani, that plate on the front of the head, and the 3 little bolts, the 3 little hard vacumn lines and alot of little bolts, for like the light and stuff. Removed the cruise control thing, think the passenger side firewall looks so clean now, with out all that crap there, removed that blue bottle bracket by the front passenger side headlight, no idea what is is for, since it was just a bottle like bracket that was there, whatever it held is gone from both of my cars, so it probably was not important anyways. That aircraft remover stuff is really cool, anything old and dirty, comes out pretty shiny and clean, also used a little wire brush to get the years of crap from the top of the bolts. Also took the time to find matching bolts for things, it is kinda a pet peeve of mine, to see 1 bolt with a phillips scredriver head holding something really small and right next to it, holding the same thing down is a bolt that is a flat bolt with no phillips. Or a 10mm right next to a 12mm, it annoyes me especially when I see it being used on a beautiful polished or super clean engine. Spend hours on cleaning and polishing and then use old dirty mismatched bolts. So got no really meaningful work done tonight. Hopefully tommorow

 

I saw a guy on cops yesterday, he overdosed on heroin and was sitting in the middle of the gas station with his car running.

His car was a 280zx...



It reminded me of this thread..

 

What a disgrace! And that reminds me of this:

http://www.cuda-z.com/~photos/tn/896...8562146000.jpg

DAMMIT! STUPID IMG TAGS TURNED OFF!

 

I remember that epesode of cops it was a mexican guy man. not that it matters what race or anything.his car looked exactly like mine exept the rims. now my car dosn't look like that any more cause all the sanding and primering.

 

typical 280ZX Forum thread... Started out being about motor swaps, wound up talking about HOA's Hamsters, Junkies, and Cops... Nice

Rod.

 

So, how's that motor swap comin'?!

 

It's comin along. slowly but surely. I don't have a exact picture to work from though. Everything is just kinda figuring out, where it goes. Neither one of my cars were intact. So alot of trips to the junk yard to look and get everything that goes on the intake. Only thing is that it just takes time. Got the fuel rail on and getting the thermostat housing on and them everything else. Still fiberglassing the dash and doing all the rest of the stuff. Still need to finish changing the old dented atacked hood. And everything else. I hope to try and get her to actually start this week or next.

 

Right on man, good to hear. I should be starting my Z tomorrow. I hope anyway, I need to go out and do a little more tonight. So I have less to do tomorrow.

Anyway keep at it man, it will be worth it, I promise.

 

Do you need a cold start valve?? I was putting everything back on my intake and it is starting to get very clutered, Vacumn lines here and other lines there. They are starting to run everywhere. What is the absolute minumun you need for the car to run normal?? I like my engines to look a little cleaner. So if I don't need certain things, what can I delete?? Thank you

 

Not really, if you don't want it. I have heard, that most of the time they don't work properly anyway. Mostly in warm climates, like yours and mine. I put mine on, but I painted it blue. So it looks pretty cool. Anyway you can delete things, just be careful what you take off. Emissions wise, keep the EGR, PCV, charcoal cannister. Well I am sure you are well aware of the routine.

 

What's the scoop WildmaN? You get to drive that car yet or what? We're all anxious to hear the latest (keeping my fingers crossed).

Rod.

 

Hey Lost Vegaz, You Still Interested In That Intake With The Webbing Removed, Before You Put It All Together?

 

Yes I am. I have another 1 laying around.

I was looking at the big throttle body from MSA, It looks like it has nothing that our stock ones have, so does that mean that I can basically remove everything except the fpr?? I don't have all those parts anyways, and it would make life a little simplier for me. Less stuff means less stuff to break.

 

You Just Swap Over The Tb And Remove Most Of The Cold Start Stuff. If You Want The Intake Port Matched I Can Do That Too, All I Need Is The Gasket. That Is If You Want The Webbing Removed

 

Yes I would like a intake with the webbing removed. Reply here or pm me the price where to ship the manifold and any thing else I need to get this. Thank you

 

Just a small update, got the windshield track all cleaned out and primered. Now I am finally ready to install it. I still want to try and start this beast before I go any further. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this engine is actually a running engine. I'll finish hooking up my injectors and stuff, put my ecu in and try to set the dizzy and and put my 80 ingnition in. Still need a coil and to check my oil levels and some other stuff. Anyone in Vegas that knows about these engines, would be very helpful. Like I said before I've never owned one before and everything is still new to me.

 

i live in vegas for now when I get back there from being deployed i might be able to help you out... also try www.sincityz.org thats the local z club. i have a 79 280zx and a 72 240z which i will be putting in an LT1. I'm thinking about getting rid of the 280zx though... it runs but it needs to be rebuild and tuned...

 

Hey Skittle, you are in Vegas now?? If so, is there anyway I could get you to stop over and maybe give me a few pointers. A couple of little hints or what I need to get to run. I don't have an intact Z, so just kinda winging it right now.

 

I Live On The Air Force Base... But Right Now I'm Deployed To Iraq And Wont Be Back Till Early June I'm Hoping... I Know A Guy That Lives Buy The Base He Might Be Able To Help You Out... Whats Your Email? I'll Send It To Him So He Can Try To Help You Out. I'm Buying The 240z From Him

 

Got some work done this weekend. I swapped the hoods. Now the car doesn't look so battered up. I still need a windshield installed. I am waiting for this guy to come over and do it. I removed the dash from the 80 and will start swapping heating controls and vents and stuff. I had no idea how stripped the 79' really was. Stupid tweakers!!! I will take everything off the dash so I can fiberglass it and make it look really good. Since my dash vents, the little ones in the middle of the dash are cracked and missing, I'll just fiberglass over them and make my dash look really clean. Got the headliner out, it is in really good shape so I'll just swap it over, picked up some really nice black door panells, the only ones I've ever seen besides my red ones, that are for manual windows. I cut some black carpet up and layed it in the car so I have carpet now. I started putting in the seatbelts and the interior panels and other little stuff. I decided to leave the engine till last. I am concentrating on getting the car to look like a car rather than a pile of ****. Mechanics are not that hard to figure out. I found a manual for my car, from a friend, it is a Chilton's, but still has the info I need. Another kinda funny thing,, when I removed the dash from the 80 about 4 pounds of sand and dirt came with it. I started wingling it and dirt was just pouring from it. Made me laugh. If you ever leave a car sit for a couple years, roll the windows up.

How do I get the steering wheel off. I got it all apart except for the aluminum hub thing. No matter how much I pull it won't come off. And I can't take off the steering wheel controlls till I get that thing off.

Oh another thing when I was under the 79 today I noticed that the frame rail thing has a good sized dent in it. Either from being jacked up or running over something. Is that something I should be concerned with?? And can someone host pics for me?? I have some of the 80 to show you, not the best quality but atleast a idea of what I am dealing with.

 

When I removed the dash from my 82 I pulled out the blower motor and the cage was filled half way up with stick, rocks, bugs and even cigarette butts It's no wonder the heater would hardly blow at all in that car.

But anyways, For the steering wheel: You're talking about the actual wheel right? IF so, did you remove the retainer nut that secures the wheel to the steering column. It's right there in the center. If so, then just start yanking. If you dont feel like taking a whack in the nose like I did, then you can go get a steering wheel puller that will pop it loose for you. They can be on there pretty tight.

As for the frame rails being dented. Is it just a dent of is the entire frame rail pushed up? If it's just an identation then it's nothing to worry about. If the entire frame rail pushed up though then that could be a structural problem. If you jack the car up by the fram rails then inevitably they will dent in like that. I look at the underside of my car and it's all dented up. I was in a hurry to jack up my 82 the other day and the jack pushed the frame rail right through the floor. I had to cut out a chunk of the car to get the jack out. Good thing I'm only using that car for parts You can tell if it's the entire frame rail by looking at the floor of the car. Feel or look for a hump where the fram rail may have pushed up. If the floor is still flat then dont sweat it.

 

I took the wheel apart, thinking there was something locking it on. Now, there is a big alluminum ring that the steering wheel bolts to. It all most looks like a adapter but it's not, it's what the steering wheel itself attaches to.

 

Oh yeah, you just pop off the rubber cover. Remove the horn plates and then unbolt the center nut and pull it off. Dont mess with those other bolts on there or your wheel will just flop when you try to pull it off.