Maloney

Hey everyone

Ive always loved the s30 body styles and wish i could buy one but the real reason im here is because im seriously considering on purchasing a 81 280zx and would like to hear what some of you think.

I like the body of the 280zx and like the fact that its newer with a 5 speed manual trans. so i think i might be an owner of one in the near future...

should i buy it?

i would post a link to the ad but it expired yesterday. however i talked to the guy and am looking at it tomarrow.
Its a 19981 NA 240zx, 5 speed manual, non t-top. its white and the paint looks to be very clean from the pictures.

description says:
1981 280 z parts car no title. good strong engine, in line 6 cyl. fuel injected no smoke no leaks. 5 speed manual trans. in good condition. interior has no passenger seat and no carpetbody in good condition and all glass in tact. call...

when i called the guy said it starts and sounds good but you have to us starter fluid to start it... because it has no fuel pump.
ask why it has no fuel pump and he says he took it out because it wasnt giving enough pressure to run the car.
he said he went to a junk yard and got another one, but when he installed that pump it sill didnt "give enough pressure for the car to run"
he said he blew through the fuel line with a air compressor and it didnt fix it.
I asked if it where the injectors and he says he never got that far into it...

hes only asking $300 BUT it has no title...

i wanted it anyways, but now im kinda upset i cant drive it before buying, let alone drive it home after i buy it.

think its just a clogged fuel filter? maybe the injectors or fuel pressure regulator?

im a weekend warrior mechanic myself and do all my own work. all 2jz & 1jz stuff. from engine builds to oil changes.

what do you guys think? something simple and i should buy it? or sketchy and it has a bad trans and he doesnt want me to drive it?

WildmaN

Welcome to Zdriver man.

It sounds like it might be a good deal. If you could post some pictures, and some more information. We could help you further. A fuel pump is less than $100. And injectors aren't terribly expensive. ($40 and up) All aside, good luck with looking at it.

WanganDevilZ

If it were clean, and were the injectors, and/or the fuel pump, I'd go through the **** of getting the title to it for $300.

Just me tho. We're always here for additional troubleshooting if you hit a wall.

Maloney

thanks for the warm welcome. i hope the car checks out. im excited about becoming a Z owner!!

i'll be sure to take plenty pictures when i go look at it later today. hoping its just a clogged fuel filter. i'll try and take it off and blow through it. i think thats how you tell if its clogged aint it? lol

besides that anything else i should be aware or when im looking at it?

thanks guys

ZCHondaCRX91

Look for rust, it will be hidden. I thought I had a very clean ZX, but after I started taking parts off and looking closer it was very rusty. Rust takes a long time to fix. Check the oil and filler for signs of water/coolant like milky looking, I would say $300 is a great deal. You can call the department of licensing to make sure it's not stolen and also get the title situation squared away. It just takes a few minutes and you get the registration and the title in a month or so.

Maloney

heres some pictures i took really quick. no pics of the interior but i dont really care about that anyways. it was ruff with no passangers seat.

the fuel filter that was in it was not clogged so i didnt put the new one in. when you turn the key you can here the pump working so its not the pump... guy said he blew through the lines and they wherent clogged. so it must be the injectors. spark plugs and spark plug wires where new...we tried to start it with starting fluid and it just back fired and burned all my arm hair off lol. it tried to start and seemed like it was idling. it knock really bad and then back fired shortly after.
ran through the gears and it goes into all the gears... clutch feels like the softest clutch i ever felt but im pretty sure thats how they are huh?
so idk what im gonna do yet... i just wish it was running before i buy it. anybody in the las vegas area with injectors i can barrow? lol

what do you guys think?


this is the only rust i really saw. was more concerned about the motor, clutch and trans that was all a mystery cuz i cant drive it...



its not a turbo someone just put that on it