I got the title for the 280zx in the mail on Saturday. Some of you have heard my story on how difficult it was to get a hold of this. I'm stoked big time, but I'm stuck with a hell of a predicament. Should I go with performance first or redo the body? I'm not sure about doing the performance part because...well look at my driving record and you will know . The car needs alot of body work done to it. It needs new fenders, new door skins or the entire doors for both driver and passenger sides, and the passenger side needs a window, new rocker panels (how hard is it to replace these?), and I want to put on smoked headlight covers and a MSA style 2 body kit. I'll have about $1,400 to spend on the car I think. I'd appreciate some suggestions. Thank you.
P.S. I'm still friggin stoked !!!!!

 

are all these panels that bad they can't be fixed?
post pictures if you can


-josh

 

Sounds Like You Need A Parts Car To Put All The Good Stuff From That One Into!!!

 

haha we will see if you are still stoked after you start fixing this thing...lol...

what i would do is fix everything first...dont do any upgrades or "mods" (unless its common sense as in your shocks are shot...and you want something better then stock well then upgrade to something like tokico...but dont go getting cams and headers and exhaust with 17" rims.etc if you get what i mean...) untill you have fixed whats wrong frist (body or mechanical)...

have fun and welcome to wonderfull world of z...

 

i agree with skully, get everything mechanically solid, all new lines, anything rubber, replace, bushings, pumps, maybe even injectors...like the saying goes, "its nothing good if its all flower, and no power"...just thought i would put my 2 cents in....

 

haha.. I wanna go buy a nintendo and supermariobros. now..

 

actually i have an urge to play that game right now

 

I get exactly what you mean. With all of the **** that happened to my 300zx and all of the work i've put into that thing I've been to the point of pulling out hair or breaking 2x4's over **** (not the car ). Thank you for the welcome committee but I'll take this greeting as the 280zx world of Z's . Thanks guys

 

If you get the body looking good so people are paying you compliments you'll be more motivated to dumping money into making it as fast as it looks. Plus who's motivated to go out an make an ugly car go faster when you're embarassed to drive it down the street Unless of course this things got some serious issues mechanically, Then you should definitely take care of those first. My Z isn't going to take out any Vipers but its plenty fast for me to start getting her to look good. It looks beastly right now. I want her to look sexy

 

You don't know me to well do ya? I've got all of the motivation in the world to pump a crap load of money into my Z. Compliments are always nice to recieve but I don't need them for motivation. My 300zx didn't look that good but I drove that thing like I owned it, that's for sure. Last night these to other guys and I started a little convoy while cruising around town. I was driving my 300zx, one had a 300zx turbo, and one had a 280zx which he claimed to not be a turbo but it had the turbo hood so I don't know. I was just sitting in a parking lot and about 5 minutes of sitting there this guy in the 280zx pulls up and we start talking about Z's. Not too long after that the guy in the 300zxt pulls up and we started talking. We didn't even know each others names but we all respected eachother and we all got along just fine. I think it's amazing how easily we get along with other fellow Z'ers even when you don't get a proper introduction. After we left the parking lot we all drove around the town like we owned the place and decimated all of the compitition that wanted to verse us. I ended my losing streak of 2 and at the end of the night ended up with a winning streak of 7 . Long live Z's!

 

The '82-'83 280ZX all had turbo hoods even if they were N/A.

 

You Saved A Bunch Of Money On Car Insurance By Switching To Geico?!?!?

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist, with that title and everything. I"m surprised nobody's said that yet ...

 

Better late then never I guess D Seriously though, in my experience on car forums the only other forum type I've been on that wasn't constant bickering (other than this one of course) was a mustangs only site. Most every one seemed to get along fine there. Of coure it mostly old dudes cause it was for older 60's Mustangs, so the humor wasn't as prevalent as it is here, but it was a good time there.Every one got along. Just like here. Everyone gets along until someone comes along posting pics of Mr. Jones losing his head I think it's because there arent as many of us. I mean think about it. Theres probably what, like a billion civic owners in the world. That's a lot of room for severe difference of opinion. Where as most of the people who own a 280zx in this country and give a crap about it are probably members of this site. Plus ZX owners are a different breed. The fact that we picked the Z says that. Its not the fastest car. It's not the most comfortable car. It's not the best handling car. But it is quite possibly the best car for the money and possesses more character then most any car I can think of. Period. A Z demands attention, whether good or bad. Just a casual look or a full on oogle. People notice it, whether they know what it is or not. How many times do you give a Daewoo a second look? In my cars worst states people still looked and still wanted to talk about it. Long live the Z and may it grant eternal happiness to those who get to own AND drive them. ( i know misearble it is to have one and not be able to drive it )

 

J, I give Daewoos second looks all the time. I love playing "Guess The Fart-Cannon Brand!" with friends. It's really fun, you should try it sometime.

"APEX! APEX! Civic with an Apex'i can!"

"Naw, it's an RS Kakimoto fart tube."

"No way yo, it's a Borla muffler!"

Uhh, guys ... it's a glasspack.

 

I forgot, you live in Utah

 

Explains a lot, huh?

 

Yeah, you want rice? Come to Vegas. I think we are second only to Cali. Our street races are over populated by 16 second civics wearing every type of bad idea body kits. And ignorant people who don't know what a fast car is. I've seen people point and laugh at Supra's, and 99 3000 GT's because of there over sized wings. But someone forgot to tell then that they came stock, and who are they to talk about over sized wings. And I drive a Civic because it is stock and my fast cars are usually all ways breaking something. You need power to break things

 

I can attest to that. Some ricer in a decked-out Neon revved on my Dad, driving my entire family in a Grand Marquis full of junk, when we were visiting my sister last month.

Oh yeah, by the way, our Merc got 30.5 mpg on the 5-1/2 hour drive to Vegas. Not bad for a 4000-lb. 4.6 V8 sedan.

 

yeah the neon's have gotten out of hand around here. There is even one running around with the SRT-4 front end and hood. It will be the next big thing.

 

ROFL!

That's the one that revved on us. Orange one, right?

 

I don't know the color, I've never seen it. 1 of my friends told me about it. They were having lunch at the local Sonic's, standing by there SRT's, 3 of them. And they told me about the guy who rolled up. He was amazed that they had actual SRT's. They just stared in disbelieve and laughed. I guess the guy took off in a tire screeching fit. 1 wheel spinning with all 105 horses.

 

Not if it's a DSM, they break regardless

 

oh, tell me about it. I've owned 6. But the 4g63 is a great motor. Strong as a bull, and loves mods. The motor takes boost like a herione junky. Everything else is sh*t though. And for some reason the Honda guys hate them and talk so much sh*t about them.