I have a 79 280zx manual with the badging long since gone. I am trying to figure out what trim level it was from the factory because I am curious what diff is in back. If it is the GL, then I have the 3.7 and that would make me very happy.

I checked the VIN with the Haynes repair manual and there is no J anywhere in the number. According to what they say that means it isn't a GL. However, I have power steering, air conditioning, and cruise control. Maybe they were just the chosen options, I don't know. I googled to see if I could find what trim levels were offered but I can't find jack.

Should I get under the car and see if it's an R200 or not? Even if it is an R200 it could be the DX model and be 3.364 instead of the GL 3.7.

Ideas?

 

According to this site: http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/ the 79 GL had the 3.7 R200

 

Yeah, I understand that the 79 GL has the 3.7 R200. I have a 79 and I am trying to figure out if it is a GL. Did the cruise control only come on GL? Or are there other indicators I can look for that just the GL had?

I am lazy and don't want to pull the cover off the diff to count the gearing.

 

Power windows, rear wiper, check light on cluster. Those are other things installed on a GL model. My '81 & '82 are GL models, they have pretty much almost everything. Anyway hope this helps you out.

 

Because all these trim options were available as seperate selectable options, the only way you will know is either, take the VIN to the Nissan dealer and see if they can pull the factory spec sheet or crawl under it and check the diff yourself. The easiests way to get into the ball park would be to lift the rear on jack stands, put the tranny in neutral and mark the drive shaft and one tire with chalk. Spin the tire and count the number of times the driveshaft turns to one revolution of the tire. The only other way to get the number is to pull the cover and check the numbers on the ring gear.

 

Wildman - I have all of those other options as well.

naviathan - I will do the tire spin to check the ratio, thats a pretty good idea. Thanks.

 

the easiest way to tell other than that is if you have the rear wiper arm, aparantly it only came on a gl model car and was not an orderable option

 

Hey bud, I already mentioned the rear wiper LOL. That option was only put on the GL models.

 

hahaha sorry dude, thats what happens when i skim the posts.

 

Don't sweat it man, nobody's perfect. LOL. Anyway I'm glad you didn't take it the wrong way. I learned a lot about the different models, and options mainly from the Victoria British catalog. (which is now Black Dragon automotive) All the info, from '70 all the way up to '06. From the 240- 350z's. But they have each year listed, and tell about the different things they added, changed etcc..

 

The Victoria British catalogue is an excellent source for reference material. The exploded parts views are worth the cost of the catalogue alone.

 

yes yes very true

 

Oh yeah, for the free price of the catalog. It is really worth it LOL Just messing with you man. I am trying to get my mind off other things. But seriously though. I think they are still no charge to order them. And also if you go to www.blackdragonauto.com, you can see the catalog on their website as well.

 

Yeah, but it's not as easy for me to get my computer out in the garage while I'm under the car and you can't 'dog ear' the pages on a monitor...

 

Sweet, am checking out the catalog.