Lesnocker

Ok I'm doing this since a local guy stopped by with a z fresh out of the barn. This is not for owners that just bought a clean low mile z. This is for the owners that found a restore project that's been off the road for a few years. Once you get home Jack the car up to where you can get all four tires a foot off the ground. Jack locations best for a rusty z are the engine crossmember infront and the pumpkin in the rear. Otherwise your going to put the jack through the body.

First take a wire brush and clean off all loose undercoating inspect :

Where rear subframe bolts into car behind the seats
Prone rust out

Where the steering box bolts in the frame rail and all front end bolting areas

Inner wheel wells floor supports and floor pans. Minor holes fill with bondo for now I perfer chassis saver napa 50.00 re undercoat entire car. If there is severe rust in the subframe to body consider shop work or useing the car for parts! Rarely a z is worth the expense of frame repairs if you can't do it yourself.

Start with all fuel lines if you bought this car after several years of sitting all rubber lines should be inspected. Go over fuel and vacume lines replace fuel filter and consider draining old gas. . Disconnect fuel line from hard line to intake get a gas can and turn key to on and pump it out =) some people like to drop tanks to do this however this works best. If the fuel pump fails to run give it a few raps of a wrench they tend to get stuck after sitting.

Replace all dry rotted lines and rusty clamps.

Next go over every electrical connection to the engine mind you the plastic tends to be brittle take your time disconnecting. Clean electrodes and reconnect useing die electric grease replace any obvious broken sensors and broken wires. Also consider buying new ground and positive wires for the battery saves funky problems that could come up these cars need all 12 volts to run.

Check front to rear exhaust repair as needed or go new. . . They are prone to manifold leaks if it is leaking by the loud tapping from the manifold break down and buy the gasket you can't tighten this problem away note all these bolts with the exhaust will be prone to breaking be easy on them.

Brakes honestly change the pads my past three z's seems the rusty rotors just eat them up calipers like to get stuck I bleed them and compress them a few times. Also read up on the back calipers they are a lil weird for first time owners. If you have the know how. Pull front rotors inspect wheel bearings and spindles repack with new grease.

Check all struts for rust and dry rotted mounts

Go over front end replace all dryrotted bushings check tie rods ball joints ripped boots replace

Check mount bolts on steering box snug them up a bit guy came in today with 5/8 of movement in the box bolts backed out.

Re place thremostat rad hoses and belts. . . Trust me cars that sat will need this sooner than later z's don't like heat!

Oh you say got great almost new tread? The date will be stamped in the tire over 5 years get new moron they will be cracking and untrustworthy on the highway. Once again guy came in today tire had started de lamanteing lol can't spell! Be good with tires go good brand for fronts my z threw me all over the road when my front right blew at 30 mph now 70 on the high way well could of been nasty.

So here's a few things and may save a lot of issues. Covers a lot of repeated posts I've seen. The classic asian car culture is with upgrades exhausts stereos rims turbos ect ect here is the daily nuts and bolts of getting you home with out a tow truck=) anyone like to add to my list. Be free to do so. And don't drive an unfit car take a few weeks get it up to snuff. Unlike the moron that stopped over today

NismoPick

Should this be added to Bleach's checklist?

https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-280zxt-s30-s130-tech-tips-275/280zx-common-problems-checklist-purchase-inspection-16386/

Lesnocker

If there is something existing this could be deleted noticed a lot more z cars comeing back on the road I posted on craigslist my parts and had a few side jobs . This guy made me cringe last safety inspection 11/91 tires had the date code 3/89 and was saying how quick the car was. Have to replace a lot for the car to be put into service like to pass the mesg because it works dosent mean its safe or reliable and you got to start by checking total shape of the car =)

FricFrac

Please don't use dielectric grease on any electrical contact. Dielectric means it doesn't conduct electricity whereas you want your connector to conduct! The only place electrical you should use dielectric grease is on the inside boot of your spark plug boots - just try not to get it on the actual electrical contacts inside. It might help to keep water out but it also causes poor connections by adding an insulating layer between electrical contacts.

march17green

This is my first post/reply to this forum. I just bought a 82 280zx turbo, and I know how annoying people can be with their question asking. They do not use the search engine or Google. What you just wrote up is very good and has answer many questions that I have not found an answer to. Thank you and I am looking forward to getting help. I've spent the past 4 days searching and reading the problems some z owners are having and hope I will never have the same problems, but if I did I know I can find help here. If anyone is in the Spokane, WA area, I would love to have some help with any problems I might face. I'm not very mechanical and do not have many tools to work with ( just married my wife and she bought me the car and moved from Wyoming to Spokane so I have nothing here for a while). If there is someone that could help me learn and teach me I would also pay for your time.

Lesnocker

Hey no prob. . . . I'm from the east coast . . . Well pittsburgh and out here the z's are beat to hell or are perfect but sat since Ronald Reagan was in office. . . .so I started this thread to help poor to crappy condition z's. This car will require basic working knowledge of automobiles. . . . . They are similer to a toyota as far as dependable is questioned. . . . How ever Jimmy carter was pres . . . . . Poision was a new group and I was floating around in my dads you know when this car was new. So your going to have minor issues come up mostly due to age. . . . So welcome step one check rust this is the decision maker don't spend everything on a rotted z like I did. Next basic tune up belts hoses pulgs wires dist cap and rotor. Avg garage 150 to 225. . . =)

march17green

This is my first Turbo car. My wife believes I love this car more then her because I spend hours and hours searching this forum and future parts. I have no idea what she means. I can do the basic oil change, spark plugs, wires, possible transmission fluid change. But as far as brakes, engine swaps, throttle bodies and switching out and hooking up gauges, you have more chances of hearing a mouse fart. Sorry I don't mean to high Jack your post.

FricFrac

Lesknocker - for sure rust is the show stopper on these cars and on the Wet Coast they are near impossible to find in decent shape.

March17green - www.xenons130.com is your friend! Download the FSM and 90% of the questions you have if not 95% are answered there. Heck most people's questions can be answered 100% of the time with the handy dandy FSM!

Not having tools or a place to work on the car is a bit of a show stopper but if you have some simple tools and a place to work on the car you can do a LOT of stuff especially if you are interested and research like you seem to like to do. Three years ago I hadn't even taken a tire off a vehicle. I think an oil change was my most advance automotive experience. Now I'm ripping into the car messing around with stuff and having a blast! It really isn't rocket science and when I got over the fear of screwing stuff up it let me dig in further and start to enjoy wrenching on the car. Go for it!

Lesnocker

Hmmmm. . . . . . Wonder why they always make a big deal about a car from cali??? But honestly I'm a bit old school yea you can make it into a fire breather. But me Id keep it simple enjoy the car.

Lesnocker

Best advice here is if it ain't broke don't dick with it. You get to wrenching to put something stupid on and sometimes you will break a bolt or something else I haved owned 3 zx's and they each carry their own personality. Get the car dependable first and build your trust! As Frick said basic tools. . . . Become freinds with the 12 and 14 mm sockets you can pretty much take the car apart with these two. I kept my z's Pretty much stock and I'm proud to say I have enough faith to say mine is safe and reliable as our 2009 subaru outback. Start playing with after market turbos and do dads well now your changeing the car and will them upgrades burn your engine out??? Way I see it they only warrent the part not the engine its being bolted to

march17green

Lol I hear you. First thing I want to do is get the car dependable and safe. Brakes, suspension, possibly tires, and tune up all that good stuff. I'm going to pretty much keep it stock besides the fact of the common upgrades (exhausted, blah blah blah etc. You've heard it all so I wont bother) its the 2 tone blue and white/silver color. Its beautiful. First time I laid eyes on her I fell in love. I dream about her day and nigin....Hehe. ill get pics very soon.

Lesnocker

My obsession started in 07 me and the guys I work in the steel mill with compeat with work beaters. . . . So I had a $400 89 ford probe turbo then a 84 toyota cresseda and lastly a 79 fiat X 1/9 when the clutch failed I went on craigslist and found a 81 zx for 600.00 new engine body well my *** was dragging then found my 79 got it compleatly done then found a 600. . T top with a blown head mint condition 68k and heavly modded. . . . . Since your body is great your already head of the game!

Lesnocker

By the way who took the cake this year for shittiest in show . . . . Slowest . . . . . And rareity with our group was my buddy mark with a 1982 ford escort desiel

march17green

I will be honest, I have always been a nova, chevelle fan ( had a 72 SS nova) and about 2 weeks ago I was looking for a cheap run around car. I have a 07 Armada and it was getting 18 mpg, then I put on a CAI and it took it up to about 22-25. Then I put a 2" level kit, 35's toyo open country, bull bar, ultra wheels, and exhaust and my mpg went down to 11!!!!! So I looked on the famous C-list to find a cheap DD and I can't believe how cheap you can get these cars. I was really surprise. Do you know why these cars are cheap? I'm pretty stoke to restore mine.

FricFrac

I honestly think enjoy this while they are cheap. For the first time in a long time the S130's are starting to get people's attention and the price will just start to go up. So many have rotted away or been stripped for parts for other Z cars they will start become less common and more desireable. The #1 key with these cars is getting one with a good body - the rest is easy

Lesnocker

Its a "Jap mobile". . . . . . Slow . . . . . Stupid and not made in detroit so the s130 doesn't fit with the classic rodder class. . . . . Its a slow peice of "jap" **** to the sports car groups. . . . And well tea and 150000.00 min price doesn't fit the touring car segment and well aftermarket turner companies have no desire to promote these sexy machines since the sales of their 87 to 2013 honda and mitsu are doing so well. . . . The reason I love the s130 is the fact they are dis-regarded forgotten and well the black sheep of the classic car market lol 600.00 cars that will smoke civics and celica's right out of the barn. . Add 500.00 they will fight mustangs that and park a 60,000 2012 shelby mustang next to my z I still get the look. But since "fast and the furious" the whole z line up has gained notice due to the fact its rear wheel drive. . . . . . You lock the wheel to one side. . . . . . Race the engine to 6500 rpm. . . . . . . Dump the clutch. . . . . The car "bad assed" goes side ways lmao posers really. . . . People forgot what a true sports car is 2 seats 5 speeds and rear wheel drive lol ok don't ranting

FricFrac

You realize the 280ZX Turbo was the fastest non-exotic sports car of it's time right? Even the NA was as fast as the Corvette in 1982...

KingDatsun1

Les where are you located? I'm in mars

Lesnocker

Lol ranting I know but these cars are so under valued its horriable. . . . I think its due in part that the s130 doesn't fit in the american collector markets. . . . Its not a belair. . . . Its not a corvette. . . . Nor a porche its very nich for folks like us. What makes me angry is the new intrest has nothing to do with what the car was ment for see people molesting what's left of the s130's they take a well kept clean car strip it down and tottal them by the new drifting fad. Or they are given to childern as their first car and they tottal them by getto suping stereos rims and junk. If the prices were set a lil higher. A lot more could be saved. I'm a lil sensitive. I run my hard but I don't set out to kill them. Wish there was more groups such as the guys with the corvettes that promote restoration more than wrecking the cars to hondafy them

Lesnocker

Oh and fric that was 1982. . . . The following died off . . . . How much dollar wise would it take to make a S130 reach 400 hp. . . The 1982 FIREBIRD has a much more collector value I think because of the small block V8 can reach the hp magic number of 400 out of any local shop. Wish there was a more organized group for national meets vendors that had more advertizeing. . You have whole books on step by step restorations for the "G" body with full parts lists and prices. The s130 you are forced to fish the net to find anything.

NismoPick

^^^ Either you've had too much to drink, or you live on another planet (as KingDatsun just said).

FricFrac

Lol - the Z cars are one of the easiest to work on and there is an insane amount of information on how to repair them, etc.

I don't know how it went down for you guys but this is what I saw. 70's - everyone was into Muscle cars but Japan starts to show that it can make the same performing car for half the price and that includes competition from Porsche (Nissan's target for their Z cars for a long time - the most recent being the 370Z/Cayman S). People are still in the American Muscle. 80's roll around and American Muscle is still the king but... but... Japan is starting to make a lasting impression and by the end of the '80's and early 90's most guys are messing around with the Datsun 510, Celicas, etc - cheap sporty cars that are out performing their overweight gas guzzling competition. Now adays the vast majority of the younger generation are full on Import junkies. Vintage Japanese stuff -including the crap that their gradma use to drive around like a POS Corolla or even the B210 (wasn't that the ugliest car Datsun ever made???) - is making it big. It's a huge trend. Once people who are looking for Vintage Japanese metal start to figure out what you can get an S130 for price wise and how they perform and look .... they are going to start getting pretty scarce....

Like I said - enjoy the el cheapo S130 while it lasts....

Lesnocker

Yea by then the. Grand pa holy grails will be gone here on the east coast its all about luck. . . Estate sales or super rare auctions. . . I happened to make friends with my supervisior who happened to be a former Datsun/Fiat dealer so if its a clean s130 in pittsburgh it came out of his collection or was shipped. STILL got around 30 packed in the old shop.

march17green

Thank you for all the info!

Lesnocker

Lol no probs. . . . The one frustrating thing about these cars unlike most collector rides. The average price for a mint cond z is 10k and that's near flawless. . . . So if you don't got the connections rust repair / Full high quality Paint job they wanted almost 5000.00 to do my 79. Add thee cost of new engine/tranny another 2K and restoreing the interior your quickly over total value of the car. . . . .if your in it to make money this car Is not for you. Me I love owning them so I'm throwing cash into the wind But this is my market in my location and Fric there is NOTHING left old school here. You rarely see even early 90S hondas. . . . . Rust through happens eh bout 8 years and the avg car is pretty gone.