Hello, new member here. I bought a 79 280zx and I'm pickin it up tomorrow . It got some some rust spots on the body and some issues with dash and speedometer. The engine is stock and seem to run fine. The tanny seem to shift ok but I'm having troubles finding gears. I got 100% no experience in cars. One thing I know is that I love old Zs and I wanted to have one sense I was a child. Anyway, first thing I want to do Is to change engine oil. What is the best type of oil and filter for these cars? I know old cars require different type of oil than new ones.

What should I do next to make sure that the car is running good? Any advice would be helpful in my case. I'm in the first period of learning about cars and I might ask some stupid questions. Please bear with me.

Thank U and I'm gonna post pictures soon.

 

Ohh and I live in Pensacola,FL. If any one knows and good shops around the area that would help me with the rebuild it would be great.

 

Welcome ....Oil And Filter Pretty Much Depend On What u Prefer I Personally Use Mobil 1 High Mileage With And Mobil one filter Sometimes K&n U Might Wanna Change The Rest Of The Fluids Too And Spark Plugs And Fuel Filter Maybe Cap Rotor And Wireset If Needed
u Can Download a Factory Service Manual Here It Will Be Super Useful
XenonS130 - S130 Reference

 

WoW man!!! thanks what a helpful document you have provided me with. Now I'm even more exited to work on the car.

sparks and wires have been replaced by the car's previous owner. I don't know about the Distributor though. I will check it tomorrow.

I was thinking about a short throw shifter. I'm not that experienced in driving manual and the shifter that the car has wiggles around like crazy even when it's on gear, so I find it little irritating when finding gears. I did however shift to 1st instead of 3rd at a high speed while test driving it and the car released that burning smell. I don't wanna do that again and ruin the tranny. If you guys know a good shifter that I would be easy to install, let me know.

Thanks again Lupe.

 

yea My Shiffter Is Alil Wiggly Too But I Got Used To It Tho But I Bet Ull have Fun With Ur Z Ive Owned 3 Zx's And I Guarantee Ull Fall In Love With ur Z

 

welcome, and congrats on your first car being a zed
tbh,, search is your friend, not just here but google... dunno how newb to cars you are, but I'll bet there's how toos and vids on changing the oil and other work...

also, reading and the fsm(factory shop manual) are your biggest friends... if you fine something in there that you don't understand, search about it...

anyway, post up some pics of the beast

 

vg30_s12, I wish my first car would've been a Z. I own a auto 2012 mustang v6. It doesn't give you half the fun you have in a classic Z, but its a good daily driver

PIC

 

Hello guys, the day I drove the car home the temperature went crazy and looks like the water pump is leaking...here is a video http://ifile.it/s6r7k08/VID_20120531_134348.m4v. Click on request download ticket to download it. Is that just the water pump? what is the best water pump to get? I've found many kinds from $18 to $45.

 

Kinda Hard To Tell From the Vid But If That Knocking Sound Is Coming from the Water Pump Area And Theres Water Coming Out The hole Or Around It Id Replace It Its About $20 At Autozone

 

I Like that color man