Hey everyone I'm new here, looking forward to sharing and learning from other z enthusiasts... So a little background my dad had a 79 2+2 growing up I always thought it was a cool car specially when he would bark the tires and pull the E brake lol. What kid doesn't right.. Well when i started driving it was long gone and I drove whatever we had and eventually bought my own truck and pretty much stayed with trucks ever since. Well when it came to the point I needed a good little commuter car the Z was the first thing I thought of so i started my research on them and my search for one.

After a few mnths seeing beat up old trashy z cars neglected, rusted out, and hardly running going for 1200-2000 or real nice ones out of my price range. I was getting a little disappointed then I came across a post that looked really promising so i went and checked it out..

1983 280zx n/a 5sp t-tops for $3000.. not only was the car in good condition both running and looking but was in the process of improvements too, bonus it also came with a parts car no engine or Trans, but filled with parts also another zx engine from another zx minis the afm, bell housing, fly wheel, and the oil sump as well an extra n42 head. He even left the sound system in it for me. Part of the deal. I join Zdriver so he can check in on it lol.. he's a member here but I don't remember what he's name is. "Sorry man"

The guy was really cool up front and honest. Told me all the info on the car, what he had done so far, what still needed to be done, and all the quarks that he could think of that would need to be addressed. So i decided to go for it I wasn't expecting on getting two cars but Ehhh why not!! We negotiated and settled on 2500 for everything. So I called a tow truck for the parts car and drove my new to me zx home. So far I've been very happy even with the quarks that still needs to be dealt with. BUT everything that is going on the guy did tell me about so i have no doubts about any of the improvements that he said he had done previously..

So over the past couple of weeks that I've had it I've been really busy!!! But ill save that for later this post is long enough that's for hanging in here. Now time for the best part pics!!!!! Although I have yet to take my own these are I think the best ones out of all that he sent me..

 

Damn looks like can't do it from my phone... sorry guys U'll have to wait

 

w00t! Welcome to ZDriver!

 

thank you Nismopick, good to be here!!

 

Cool got them up!! LOT'S more to come guys, I'll be on with updates as i finnish up what ive started in the next few days....

and YES I know the lights are left over 90's fast and furious fad but ehhh I kinda like them. I'll leave them on for just that reason lol plus when it gets up to full par it'd be a cool addition for car shows.

Feed back welcome!!

 

Nice car!

What kinda seats are those?

 

Sweet car man. And hey it's my Jade grey '83 280zx's twin!

 

Thanks guys she's far better then any others that have been available
They say BOMZ racing on the head rest. Pretty comfortable seat only thing is that the top shoulder pad rubs the door jam makes a little bit of noise, but hopefully after being mounted correctly that will go away.


Right on wild man how many do you have?? I started reading through your build haven't finished yet tho. Your thread is actually where I got the idea to do a single post. What body kit is that your running?? Looks awesome that wing is pretty wild!..

Speaking of which dose anyone know what. Front air damn and rear wing is on my car?? I've tried looking but haven't found them. The rear wing looks kinda like the street fighter on thezstore but its all metal not fiberglass??

 

nice whip

 

I got bombz seats as well. They are a Chinese off shoot of apc racing seats. Exactly the same manufacturing plant. Super comfy and I love them. I can road trip those seats for 16 hours and still want to drive. I think I have the same steering wheel but have never got it mounted. Having to make my own adapter has slowed me up some lol.

 

Yeah, for sure that thing's pretty nice. A lot better than my piece by far

Haha and I actually like the blue streetglow. It's over the top but so awesome at the same time. I may just do that to mine, I already have the big body kit to go with it, may as well hide some lights behind those side skirts

 

Ha ha, It's alot cleaner then mine. I bought my '79 280zx N/A for 600 non-running with a bit of rust but I'm swapping a running L28 into it right now. I'm hoping to clean it up and potentially do an RB25det swap. I don't have pics yet, my phone is gay, but will shortly.

 

Nice ride man

 

I have to agree I have No idea how much the cost but they are definitely comfortable I’m doing a 200 mile a day commute and I have no problem getting out and being sore at all great seats just need to get that noise gone. But with the system I can’t hear that noise anyway lol

Thanks I’m lovin it!! Yea im not to into the under glow but it is cool looking sitting in the driveway at night my son thinks we now have a fast n furious car and wants to race everyone we see at a stop light thinks it’s the fastest car in the world with them lights lol

Well im ok with the price I paid for mine its super clean the only rust I have is under the battery tray that’s eatin through the wheel well, I did get that all cleaned up and [painted over with rust stop. Other then that just surface rust nothing anywhere else, even the hatch and spare tire area is clean.

ThankS!!!

 

Ok guys finally getting the opportunity to get on the computer and post my progress. So the start I replaced the whole exhaust with the stock one from the parts car it got extremely loud my first week off driving it found that it totally burned through the Y just after the exhaust manifold. Then I did a Full Tune-up. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, adjusted the valves and set timing back to 8’ found it at all most 18’ advanced?? Fresh clutch, full bleed out all new fluid and adjusted properly. New front breaks full bleed out all the way around. Then I went on to order up a new radiator all aluminum welded 3 rows, sweet find 175 bux shipping included. Swapped out the stock air box with the o’reillys build your on set-up tubing’s with the K&N cone filter.

I’ve also dewebed the extra intake manifold and powdered it in wrinkle black semi-textured powder, and powdered one of the extra valve cover just to see how it would turn out and am running that. I have the 2nd extra valve cover at my old shop being done to match the color theme the p.o had already started along with the thermostat housing, water output fuel rail vac lines and mic other pieces. Once that’s all done my plan is to do a full rebuild on that side intake exhaust gaskets, injectors seals ect ect, prolly just go ahead and go all the way to the head gasket since ill already have it torn down that far.

I took off the rims off the parts car tossed those tires got some new rubber on them and put them on in place of the 6 spokes going to clean up the six spokes powder them add some paint to go along with the theme and reinstall the new tires on them and get them back on the Z yeahh.. Lots of work going on and have totally been bitten with Z FEVER LOL

 

pics!

 

Ok so what I need help with.. What are the stock settings for both the afm and the air fuel mixture screw?? Like turn it in all the way and turn it back out X # of turns for factory setting??? I’ve been getting some front fire ever since I’ve reset the timing. Other problem is I’ve go a major squeal coming from the engine had a couple of my mech guys take a listen. One says pilot bushing but there is no change in pitch clutch in or out? The other says vac leak in-between the intake mani and the heat shield above the exhaust mani. Just by my ear it seams its loudest at the bell housing... any ideas? Thanks in advance!!
p.s also having a problem with my temperature gauge reads hot while sitting at idle while on freeway reads correct replace coolant temperature switch with a used 1 also remove thermostat to eliminate stuck closed possibility??

 

hey that intake manifold. Where do you get it? ive seen them alot on modded Z's or do you just trim it?

 

It's not aftermarket, just "de-webbed". All you do is cut out the metal in-between the runners. May as well port the manifold while you're at it too.

 

sounds scary lol did you do it or have someone do it?

 

Its really easy I just drilled lots of holes all the way around tapped it out then used a rotary bur tip on a dreamal to take off the high spots then filed it all smooth took about 4-5 hrs to complete. Still need to port and considering opening the throat for a 60mm 240 TB for future performance , but need more info on that upgrade.

 

put the timing back!!! they get way better power and efficency that way. as long as it doesnt ping its great. what your looking for is 34-38 deg. total timing by 3000 rpm. if your gun can do that. i run mine at nearly 20 deg initial timing.

 

What!?!? Really.. holy *****.. I've got a really good gun, actually havent really learned how to use everything it can do.. so being at that state it'll actually have better power and mileage??

So set it back at 18' advanced then run rpms up to 3000 and set at 34-38'??

Can u give me a lil more info please... I think I may have tampered with it when it didn't need it.. damn old sayings don't fix what ain't broke.. damn

Thanks shady!

 

Yeah so am I is there a wright up on how to do it? Because I don't want to acsidently drill threw somthing important and is there anthing important inbetween the webs? Or useless metal?

 

I was looking into the 240s tb I found this Gray's [Datsun] Garage: How To Port Match the Intake