Long time lurker, first time poster.

I want to start out by thanking everyone that made this forum a goldmine of information. I have been scouring this site since I first brought her home and never had to register to ask a question, its all here.

Here's where I want some advice (maybe not, I think I know what I want to do but am curious to see if someone has anything that would change my mind) My first Z was/is an 82 2+2, N/A, with a 5 speed. I bought her for a song from a guy who had her sitting in a garage the previous 10 years but never got around to "fixing it up". 140k miles. It was completely untouched mechanically, but was a total wreck in how she looked. Badly done paint job with fish eyes all through it. Typical wiring disaster from poor "sound system" installs. Any piece of interior trim that could be removed, had been and then painted varying shades of red, white, or blue. Even the T-top glass had been painted over. Atrocious tint job. So many stickers, inside and out, that I ran through a whole package of razor blades and a whole bottle of goo gone.

It may be a good time to add that I really like spending time in my garage. Tunes, beer fridge, and most of the goodies/tools that you would want to make it fun and not a chore. Did all the usual things for a vehicle that had been sitting and she ran like a champ.

Stripped her down to bare metal and no rust except for a tennis ball sized spot on one rocker panel and then a spot above the windshield. Took the glass out and fixed it properly. New seats, dash cover, and a whole lot of cleaning/stripping and the interior is in pretty good shape. Not beautiful, but I'm not embarrassed to take anyone for a ride.
MSA type II body kit, tokicos, headlight covers, 4bbl conversion, MSA headers and exhaust, and a 10 foot paint job that I did myself. That's a whole other story, but it boils down to a bonehead move on the final clear coat and then not having time to get it corrected because I sold my house and was moving to another state.

She is a hoot to drive and I have no worries about taking off on a 200 mile fun ride. I live in Montana and its pretty easy to find yourself really far away from an auto parts store, so you have to be confident in how she runs. This is the rational behind the 4bbl conversion, for those of you that are thinking about flaming me for it. I have been nothing but happy with how that carb has worked out, it was set it and forget it.

So now the crux of the matter:

I have a new love. Early 74 260. Found her sitting in a barn and hadn't been turned over in years. Straight body and everything there. But...automatic and the dreaded flat tops SU's. I am going to take my time on her and do a very thorough job on the resto. If it breaks, it won't be because I didn't pay any attention to it.

I want the drive train out of my 82 in the 260, all the way back to the r-200. The problem, this means that the 82 will probably end up in the junk yard after I have cannibalized her and then parted out everything else that I don't need. I am struggling with the thought that a very drivable and solid 82 will be taken off the road forever. I'm sure somebody would love to have her, but I don't want to track down another donor when I know that this one is good. Remember that I live a long way from anywhere and if I have to drive hundreds of miles to just look at a donor, my gas and time gets eaten up pretty quick.

Anybody out there have a convincing argument why I shouldn't sacrifice the 82 2+2?

I have pics on my other computer and will post a few later on today.

 

if you take all the parts off of your car, im sure there is someone out there that wants a good condition shell. if priced right someone will take it. if you really wanna make someone happy post it for 500 ish. an east coast guy would love to have no rust. you could just source out another donor for 500 bux and drive it home. then you would have 2 cars you love. that is if space and time permit. you may think finding a donor car is hard but it really is not if your willing to take a greyhound ride to the next state over or so. bet you find something here or on craigslist for cheap.

 

Thanks Shady,

The big issue is that I don't want to see it crushed. I would make somebody a really good deal on the shell just to see it have a new life. Assuming someone wants a 2+2. I have pics of her all shiny like a Delorean.

Last time I was looking for another donor (last month, but I have been checking off on on for 9 months now), I couldn't find anything suitable within 500 miles. I want an N/A for the flat top pistons, and need a 5 speed for the pedal box, and want the 3:90 rear end. Basically, the one I have is the perfect donor and I know that the bottom end is tight.

 

It would be a shame to take apart a perfectly good running S130 for parts (even if it is a 2+2). A solid car is hard to find.

Seriously consider tracking down a turbo car and doing a turbo swap into the 260Z. Run an after market ECU like Mega Squirt and you've got a super reliable car. You like wrenching so that would be a great build for you.

I know it can seem like there isn't anything available but get hooked up with local and not-so-local clubs and you'll be able to track down what you need. If it's not local get it loaded on a pallet and shipped to you. Shipping is cheap cheap in the USA compared to the rest of the world....

 

there has got to be cars that are in half driveable shape rusted out around there in some guys driveway you could grab im assuming. it would suck to see a good car get dismatled. put out some wanted ads on craigslist, i bet someone would send an email. up here i sold my project car with good shell and parts for 1800. it went north and the guy was using my engine to put in a 240z. he was gonna store the shell and build it later. ive had 2 cars crushed but they were really screwed with rust. i saved mine and i dont have the energy to fully save the others. pm a guy named borina on here, he has engines and parts and is a good seller. see how much shipping an engine costs.

 

 

Thanks for the lead on a reputable seller. A big concern for me has been letting good components go and then taking a risk on buying something unseen and paying ungodly shipping to my end of the world only to find out that I just bought junk.

You can see from the pics above that this is a solid car. The other issue is garage space. The missus might have me in a sling if I don't clean out some space before bringing another one home. I've already got the 260 in the garage.

 

To add more context, I've got $3500 into her if you assume that all of my labor was free.

So if I could get that out of it I would be at a complete break even. This is where it really starts to boil down to nuts and bolts. I won't put her up for sale until I know that I have a solid donor to replace it with. From my house, it is a 12 hour drive to Denver, 14to Minneapolis, 14 to Seattle/Portland, and only 9 hours to Salt Lake. There isn't a whole lot between here and there besides sagebrush.

A CL search 5 minutes ago only showed one hit for a zx within 500 miles of me and it is a turbo and they want way too much for it to be a donor.

 

Anybody care to help me with some of the cost assumptions that I am working off of?

This assumes that I can't find a donor that is both reasonably priced and local.

The cost below include shipping:
500 running motor, 82-82 N/A
200 5 speed tranny
150 R-200 rear end geared 3.90
200 late zx rear brake calipers and master cylinder
100 clutch MC, pedal assembly, and collar to match tranny
400 4 bbl intake, air cleaner, and cable kit
400 Carb
100 Holley Red fuel pump
300 MSA coated header
200 seats
50 steering wheel
200 wheels and tires

Gives me a grand total of $2800 in value I get out of the 82. That leaves me needing 700 out of a rust free body with the MSA kit blended and the tokicos.

Seem reasonable?