I cannot wait to get pictures of this thing up.
1k for less than 90k miles original and nothing that I could use to argue it was not worth every penny.

It needs a tune up.
It needs seats. (The driver's seat is unable to lock in an upright position)
It needs paint.
I believe it needs a radio.
Oh and a dashboard.
Little touches but...I mean...this car must have side-stepped time.

I failed to find any real body issues(read as...I did not find a dent). I failed to find any significant rust outside of a handful of spots(read as the only rust on the underside of the car were spots to protect when bottomed out over the years and the exhaust).

The car ran like a champ (that needs a tune up =P )
Shifted flawlessly. Not well, not okay...the stick fell into place.

Sorry if this is a bit long winded. I have been looking at Zs for awhile and to find one in this condition is just...awesome.

 

Wahoo and welcome to ZDriver!

Nice find.

 

It is still sitting in the guy's driveway because...ya know...cops tend to get mad when you drive a car with no plates, not insured and not registered but tonight it gets a real test 60 miles home.


I better bring something to prop that seat up

 

I wanted to update because...I am still pretty amazed.

Dead cold last night...started right up.
Dead cold this morning...started right up.

Drove the 60 miles home like a champ.
At 70 it got a little unhappy so probably going to do some suspension work which...was totally planned anyway 28 years anything is going to rattle at 70+

Hose came off of the slave...so...that'll be fun

The power mirrors work...STILL...My freaking 92 cougar had no power mirrors after 3 years...

 

for the shakes check the alignment and wheel balance before you haul off and redo the suspension

good luck and WELCOME TO ZDRIVER home of the $10 oil change and stock broking and if you have any structured anuities and want cash fast in one lump some....were here

 

I still don't get what you mean by that......

 

I have been trying to make sense of it too...

Oh I have another general question for you guys...

Brake light stayed on this morning after I took the ebrake off...
This did not happen when the prev owner drove it, or I drove it that night or the ride home last night...but totally this morning...common problem for zs?

 

ahhh, jiggle the ebrake a little and move it up and down

if still no cookies check the brake pedals/pedal assembly and if you see some clear yellow pieces of plastic laying on the floor then get back to me cause its alot of explaining to do....it has to do with the little button the depresses to turn on the brake light... took me a week and like 6 fuses to fix that problem

 

I figured it was something minor since there was no difference...

But the suspense she is killing me...What did you mean $10 oil change???

 

ahhh, its just like, well...when you see these small tire shops that say oh come in and get your $10 oil change and then they tell you that you really need some new tires then you need a new idler arm and well...

zdriver is like that but better z cars grow on you

 

Gotcha =D

I have plenty of experience with that. I worked for one of (if not the) largest fleet management companies on the planet.
My day was 7.5 hours of arguing with those shops.

The Z is my Bonsai tree. I know it is going to need constant work but I do not want some 99.9% computer controlled piece of metal that is built to last the term of a lease then break and cost thousands in repairs for what I could do myself on this Z for 20 bucks.

America is reflected in our cars and I do not want to be part of the illusion that we have going on now. "I can get a new car ever five years and it changes who I am."

 

let me clear the tears out of my eyes and try to muster an exuberant applause.... well said

i like the bonsai tree part too

 

You can think of it this way as well:

If you end up putting 5k into it you are raising its value.
Z's will only become more and more scarce. (I am thinking of 69 GTOs and Cougars that are going for absurd amounts right now.)

 

Do you still have the brake lights staying on? I suggest doing a search for that one since it happened to me and several others on here. (that is if you haven't fixed it yet)

You didn't happen to find strange orange see-through plastic pieces by your feet recently did you?

 

Nah, I think it is ebrake related. Last night when I popped it off the light stayed on for an extra second...I think something is sticking.

Thanks though =D

 

oh right right, I thought you mean brake lights, not the little warning one on the dash!
cool

 

Congrats on a great find. Sounds similar to mine. Lets see a pic.
rootbeerZ

 

Nice pick-up! Eager to see pics also...

 

There she is...
Notice the HORRIBLE paint job...that appears to be right over the original paint.

Well, now it is off to my local guy to have the oil changed.
Then to autozone to pick up a few things.

 

Looks pretty good!

 

Yeah...It looked better until I opened the reservoir for the clutch and the liquid was black...

 

Welcome to owning the "mechanically goofiest" of all the 280ZX's!!!

You too are now the proud owner of a 1980 "Federal Model" S130. With lot's of weird parts, that none of the others had! Congrats!








And... Welcome to ZDriver.

 

I have to agree with what you said about new cars. Person I work with has a Honda that's relatively new. After a few years and fairly low mileage struts are shot. Honda dealer is trying to tell him that it's due to the Cleveland weather and that it's harder on cars. I'll believe that to an extent, but even the quality of some of the rebuilt parts that I've put on my Z is a far shot from the original 83' parts. Plus there's a good amount of older cars with struts that are still in decent shape.

 

Welcome to Zdriver bro'. And you picked the right place. Lots of friendly and helpful people on here. Pretty much..like an online family. And nice Z there man...looks great. Would like to see more pics of your sweet ride man.

And Rod...I can't get over how sweet and tight your Z is. I have always envied how nice your car is. And strive to get my Z to a showroom condition. Props to you..for keeping it so kicka$$!!!!

 

Rod's Z is awesome.