Athrun

Hello,

I am going to look at a 280ZX '81 for €2000 tomorrow and planning on buying one.
What are the things i should be looking for?

My idea is that i buy it and this year it'll be stripped and the body will be cleaned from rust (budget € 3-5k). And after a little more then a year (budget 10k+) I would like to revise the engine and perhaps upgrade some parts so it's more reliable and has a some more power (aiming around 250WHP).
My experience in welding is slim, i did some MIG welding on thin plates (1-1.5mm cheat metal ) on automotive school (but not extensive). I do have some experience in working cars beside the body. So that won't be much of an issue. I'm also not scared to get my hands dirty.

Any extra advice is always welcome. I've already browsed this forum quite allot. Aldo, allot of info is spread out and hard to find.

NismoPick

Welcome to ZDriver!

Have you read through this?: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-...pection-16386/

10k (1€ = $1.37 today) is a fairly reasonable budget for a complete resto. I have about $17k into my 280zx... replaced rockers, fenders, quarter panels, roof, floor boards, body kit, etc. I also have a modified L28ET turbo engine putting out ~270whp.

The only way you'll get 250whp is by going turbo, or stroke the n/a L28E w/ a stand alone fuel management. Lots of info available, start your research. There's also a 280zx group on FB for convos: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/164690436882353/

Athrun

NismoPick thanks for the links must have read over it

Athrun

How about the 3k€ budget for the chassis repairs? Is this a realistic budget if i strip and sand it myself? I'm not planning on doing welding work myself yet as I have have no experience in welding on cars. (am planning on taking a welding course so that's for later)

Athrun

Well.. I went to look at the car and sadly.. I think this one is beyond my skills to fix.. When i opened the door, it smelled rather moist. And even the bonnet and the trunk where rusting on the edges out to about 5cm in on some spots. Under the carpet in the trunk i didn't see any rust and the engine bay looked rather good too. But the wheel arches where rusted so bad they started falling apart on the inside edges. Due to it not being able to drive outside I couldn't see it in daylight aldo it was nice and sunny. And i didn't really have the chance to look underneath it to good but considering the bonnet and seeing the edges of the car. I don't even want to know what the rest looks like.

It was parked in a dark garage together with 50+ old motorcycles. It was the only car remaining. It didn't look like the guy had it out of there the last 5-10 years. And he told me he owned it for about 25 years.
So sadly i think I'll have to let this one go and keep looking.

Donn144

I can smell the car all the way over here! Not fun!
You want to feel good about what you are getting into.

Athrun

yea true... I don't feel good about this one since the interiour is probably for the scrap yard... ,not that it's a real big deal... could go with better seats. But this means there is probably more trouble under the carpets etc...
I feel bad for this 280zx to be this... wasted... and ruined by carelesness. (same for those 50 or so bikes in there that are probably also worth nothing anymore)