I've been trying to get my car titled and on the road eve since I bought it and no luck so far. You can read all about that in my other threads. I was just down to look over my car this last monday and I'm finding that this car may acctually be beyond help. I'm starting to think that it may be a better plan to part out this car and then take my life savings south to pick up another ZX. If I do this I'll end up with a car that has a title, has less rust which means less repair and less money spent in the long run. I'm not sure what to do anymore, so I'd like for you to help with my decision. Maybe it's just my now lack of job talking, but that's why I'm asking, I need help reorienting my reality.

Follow the link for pics of my car, and BE HONEST! Dont just tell me to press on. I've run the vin and there isn't anything special about this car at all so just keep that in mind. Thanks.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v11/ch...280ZX/?start=0

 

hey man, I'm gonna shoot ya straight. if my eyes arent playing tricks on me, I would say this thing is a disaster. a money pit. There are WAY nicer Z's out there for little... I got mine (no rust, good engine/tranny, new paint, and came with another L28E + 5spd. tranny {not tested}) for 3,000. Together with my sbc swap thats 6k for a bad *** Z, that's body is in great shape and interior looks even better than the body... IMO ditch that Z man. come to the south and buy one... there are literally TONS here for sale for cheeeeap.

later,

jabo

 

I SEEN YOUR CAR SAD SAD SAD SITE..... THIS IS WHAT I WOUD DO. DUMP IT .................................................. ... GO LOOK ABOUT... YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER ZX
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET TO IT.... TAKE ALOOK AT THESE. HE HAS TWO LISTED NOT MUCH CASH AND SHES YOURS AND NO ONE BIDDING


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MakeTrack=true

 

Yeah Chewi ... sounds like this one's a casualty. Now, if you do part it out, I call dibs on the wheels [do I see a Shelby logo on them?] and headlight buckets.

And damn ... if I had $300, that EBay 2+2 would be mine. I want that airdam!

 

KEEP your existing car, because you can never say you will never use a part or twenty off it. That car is a little bit too rusty for a future. There's some good parts on it, though, I'm sure. But you'd be better off buying a decent looking ZX and having this car as a parter to fill in the gaps. Then you'd be "oh so much closer" to hittin' the highway and seein' what it's all about!!

Enjoy the ride!!

PS: I didn't vote because I think this would be a great parts car for your next adventure!!

 

Honestly man, I think differently, my '81 was wrecked a year ago. Terrible sight, the whole front end is mangled up. I actually thought about giving up, and parting him out. But then I realized that he was my first sportscar! And it would kill me to get rid of him, and chop him up. Despite what my family said, they told me to get another one. But I want to fix him, because of sentimental reasons. That is the problem with me . I get really attached to my cars. I own 5 of them. Anyway it up to you to keep it or not. But if you really want to save this car, and money isn't an object. Go for it, and give that Z the chance to be born again. It hurts me to see them chopped up, and parted out. Anyway it's all up to you!

 

I am going to say keep it! KEEP IT!.. for 300 you could replace all those seals and gaskets and do a decent rebuild yourself.. and then you could also do your own bodywork and for about 3000 you can have your Z lookin rather spiffy.. and theylle go for a long time so all ya gotta do is give em some love..
personally.. i dont mind that mine looks like crap on the outside.. the fact is my car runs damn good and people are gonna be alot less inclined to mess my car up or steal it..

 

Well, since you don't have a title, might as well build it up for track racing. Don't need it registered, and you can do anything to it so long as it is within regulation of the events you would run at.

 

Save it for parts and go find a better condition car. That one could be salvaged but you will save yourself a lot of headaches to just buy one in good condition.

 

Well, I'm pretty close to making a decision about this car. I originally wanted the car so I could have a sports car to tomcat around in during the summer. but since it's becoming such a headache to get the thing titled, I think I'm going to take Dorifto's advice and build a racer out of it! I'm still going to have to trailer it everywhere, but its better that just loading it up and sending it to the scrapper. I'm going to have to look into racing it some more.

If the above is the case, then I'm going to be making a road trip to the great expance of the south to find another ZX to drive.

 

Are you in southern CA?

 

Don't give up chewie! Go to www.recycler.com and search for a 280zx within 50 miles of zip 93510. I saw a sweet '82 coupe for $1700 or best offer. Drive there (L.A), hop on a plane, whatever, plunk down some cash and drive that biatch home.

 

Nope, "Lower Left Side of your Right Palm..." Refers to a Michigan Joke, If you dont get it compare your right palm to a map of michigan and it will become clear. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

Yeh, I would just about kill for a two seat coupe, we only got the plus two in Oz, but that car in the snow looks like a donor. What I would do is keep it for parts and buy a good one

Either that or flick the Z ownership idea altogether.........nooooooooooooooooooooo

 

I get it now!

 

YAY!! See, now that wasn't so hard now was it??

and YES those are Shelby Wheels... I'm going to be restoring them before I sell them. For one, I'll get more money for them and two, I dont want the next owner to do a crappy resto on them.

 

mine was worse...i could do flinstones run trough the floor...my fender weels were eaten out...rocker panels eaten out....everything trashed...but i kept it and slowly got it looking almost like a z

 

What would you sell those wheels for Chewie?

 

Check this out guys, got my 83 280zx NA, w/ ONE rust spot, there's literally no rust on the entire car(Fender is messed up though), 5spd, black, t tops...For 300$..Ran rough, replaced plugs and it hauls! Then got an entire new(Well kind of) interior at junk yard for 35$..So far less then 350$..I've allready had tons of compliments, I'm in florida and you RARELY see these cars around! Inless you're at the junk yard! I wanna post pictures! No rust in any of the normal places..Just a spot under where the spare tire goes. I even thing the motor has a cam in it..I mean I never knew these cars were so much fun. Best 300$ EVER spent.

 

Congrats man, on your new Z. Wow awesome price too. Plus the fact it runs great! Keep us up on the Z, as you slowly restore it and fix it up. And welcome to the Z family!

 

A rust free body with a title attached?!?!? I spent some more time going over my car and as far as I can tell the body is the only major problem, all the mechanicals are fine ...minor issues at worst. So if you've got a less rust shell, I've got Shelby Wheels and I'll give you first go at whatever you need off my car. There aren't many parts I'm keeping around. Need a good running L28? I got one of those that I dont need!

 

Hmmm ... I was going to offer you my surfece-rusted shell, but then I realized: one, that IS my Zed sled, and two, its rusty. Hahaha ...

If I had the cash, I'd say $250 for the set. I'll take the good-running L28 off your hands ...

 

Gee, Your Cruel...
I can deal with surface rust, it's this other crap (or lack of) that I dont want.

As far as I've found the only thing wrong with the engine is the exhaust gasket is blown, but I have the replacement and would replace it at the buyer's request.
$250 sounds very reasonable for those rims, I'd even clean them up a bit for the new owner.

 

I remember you (Chewie) talking about designing and making a complete new bodykit for the 280zx. Have you given up on that or do you have any plans in the near to distant future to complete the project? I was interested then, and I still am.

 

I will be fabbing my own body kit as soon as my car is ready for it. Still working on it, just have to get the ducks lined up first.