1979 280zx First time owner :D
01-17-2011, 02:47 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: California
Posts: 9
1979 280zx First time owner :D
Here's the story.
I found a red 1979 Nissan/Datsun 280z on Friday evening, and went to pick it up with my dad on Saturday morning, the car was advertised as $500, runs&drives come take a look. A 20 minute drive to Fremont and I was standing in front of a much cooler car than I remembered 280z's being. I used to own a 1985 Corvette, but it's long since been gone, (spun a bearing and sold it for $2,000.)
The seller was an awesome guy about my age, and he told me about the issues with the car...
-engine misfires
-Rust chunks in some areas of the paint
-slow leak in front right tire
-no battery
-needs a tune up
-??? miles because the odometer is 5 digits, and reads 31,000 miles
-cracked dash
-shoddy ignition cylinder
-heater core leaks (Was bypassed to prevent leaking)
-antifreeze puddle in passenger side floor
-window roller handles broken off
and some other misc. things, Anyways I went to buy a battery and had to drive to two different Wal-Marts to get the right one, I didn't have an old battery to turn in so my $67 battery was actually $87. I get the battery back to the guy and the fuel line hose under the hood (9" length) split, so I had to drive to the local Autozone and buy a $2 hose line (mind you, I haven't decided to buy the car yet, I needed to know it ran)
came back, he started it and when I drove it around the block I noticed the steering wheel squeaked, and the engine misfired a lot. Also, the spedemoeter and the fuel gage were twitchy (speedometer also shimmied) But I had a good time driving it, so I came back and we wrote up the bill of sale, he told me the pink slip was in the mail or tied up at DMV and that he would help me take care of the title issues.
I decided to buy the car and let the seller drive his U-haul away, I went to start the car and the ignition cylinder wouldn't turn....
I kept trying....
and trying....
Then my dad tried...
then again..
Finally it started!
I was off (worried the engine would stall, so we avoided the highway, and I didn't know if the gas gauge was accurate or not) Drove the car to his work, then had lunch, The next morning I called a locksmith to tear apart the ignition, $180 later he said he had to stop and order a new ignition cylinder.
I called AutoZone and found the part for $22, I finished the job myself a few hours later and when I went to finish the job I tried to find the cylinder cover but it was missing, I called the locksmith, and he had it 90 minutes and another trip to Autozone for plugs/wires later (he got lost along the way) He showed up and I finished the ignition, unfortunately it was too dark to do the wires and plugs so I'm finishing that up today after work.
So far my $500 car is up to $782, Without DMV registration. I was told the car was smogged about 4 months ago, and last registered around the same time. I'm looking forward to fixing the misfiring engine (the fun stuff is under the hood) If it's not the plugs/wires distributer cap, I found a place locally that will clean the fuel injection system for 50 bucks. So far I'm really enjoying the car.
I'll post pictures up after work. Thanks for taking the time to read my first Z story, I'm trying to think of a name for her...
-Shutdown
I found a red 1979 Nissan/Datsun 280z on Friday evening, and went to pick it up with my dad on Saturday morning, the car was advertised as $500, runs&drives come take a look. A 20 minute drive to Fremont and I was standing in front of a much cooler car than I remembered 280z's being. I used to own a 1985 Corvette, but it's long since been gone, (spun a bearing and sold it for $2,000.)
The seller was an awesome guy about my age, and he told me about the issues with the car...
-engine misfires
-Rust chunks in some areas of the paint
-slow leak in front right tire
-no battery
-needs a tune up
-??? miles because the odometer is 5 digits, and reads 31,000 miles
-cracked dash
-shoddy ignition cylinder
-heater core leaks (Was bypassed to prevent leaking)
-antifreeze puddle in passenger side floor
-window roller handles broken off
and some other misc. things, Anyways I went to buy a battery and had to drive to two different Wal-Marts to get the right one, I didn't have an old battery to turn in so my $67 battery was actually $87. I get the battery back to the guy and the fuel line hose under the hood (9" length) split, so I had to drive to the local Autozone and buy a $2 hose line (mind you, I haven't decided to buy the car yet, I needed to know it ran)
came back, he started it and when I drove it around the block I noticed the steering wheel squeaked, and the engine misfired a lot. Also, the spedemoeter and the fuel gage were twitchy (speedometer also shimmied) But I had a good time driving it, so I came back and we wrote up the bill of sale, he told me the pink slip was in the mail or tied up at DMV and that he would help me take care of the title issues.
I decided to buy the car and let the seller drive his U-haul away, I went to start the car and the ignition cylinder wouldn't turn....
I kept trying....
and trying....
Then my dad tried...
then again..
Finally it started!
I was off (worried the engine would stall, so we avoided the highway, and I didn't know if the gas gauge was accurate or not) Drove the car to his work, then had lunch, The next morning I called a locksmith to tear apart the ignition, $180 later he said he had to stop and order a new ignition cylinder.
I called AutoZone and found the part for $22, I finished the job myself a few hours later and when I went to finish the job I tried to find the cylinder cover but it was missing, I called the locksmith, and he had it 90 minutes and another trip to Autozone for plugs/wires later (he got lost along the way) He showed up and I finished the ignition, unfortunately it was too dark to do the wires and plugs so I'm finishing that up today after work.
So far my $500 car is up to $782, Without DMV registration. I was told the car was smogged about 4 months ago, and last registered around the same time. I'm looking forward to fixing the misfiring engine (the fun stuff is under the hood) If it's not the plugs/wires distributer cap, I found a place locally that will clean the fuel injection system for 50 bucks. So far I'm really enjoying the car.
I'll post pictures up after work. Thanks for taking the time to read my first Z story, I'm trying to think of a name for her...
-Shutdown
01-17-2011, 04:37 PM
#3
Super Siver & Black Stud
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hayward Ca
Posts: 1,526
welcome to ZDriver!! looks like we have another bay area 280ZX owner!!! ive got a good feeling that your heater core might still be good but your heater control choke valve might be bad... i just replaced mine not too long ago... but your Z looks great!!
01-20-2011, 03:32 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Modesto, Ca
Posts: 109
welcome!! alot of good guys and info here.. Awesome buy looks great! Sounds kinda like my zx story 600 bucks to buy 200 parts and reg and good to go, ur paints alot cleaner tho.. Engine bay and interior pis??. picked up my s30 the same way shes my daily now.
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