datsunfreak Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 So, we bought this '83 280ZX 2+2 Turbo last week because it was really cheap, and it had an LSD in it. My boss wanted the LSD for his V8 280Z, but we didn't really know what we wanted to do with the rest of it... Outside is trashed, inside is trashed, but it runs AWESOME... :thumbup: So today, we found this '78 280Z... Interior is in surprisingly good shape. Door panels are mint, other than being a bit dirty... Body is fairly straight. Looks like someone did a lot of body work, primed it, then abandoned it... Engine was partially disassembled, but will be removed completely in favor of the L28ET from the 280ZX... Thankfully, all the jambs are still sporting the original paint. And I love the color... :thumbup: May keep the iron crosses and get some nice wide 14" rubber for them, but we'll see... Definitely going back with the stock paint color, stock interior, stock (mostly) exterior, but all 280ZX Turbo drivetrain... :devil: Outside the only mods will likely be an MSA "Victory" rear spoiler, and either an MSA front bumper (since my lower valance is MIA), or get a fiberglass 240Z bumper and vintage style air dam... Quote Link to comment
Burabuda Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 what blue is that? don't recall seeing that as an oem z color Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 what blue is that? don't recall seeing that as an oem z color Me neither. But it's everywhere inside the car. Can't imagine someone did a complete respray on the car in it's past... In person, it looks very similar to the Laguna Seca Blue used on the M3... Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 #510 Sky Blue? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I'll check the paint code tomorrow, but that does look pretty close. And that may be the only non-metallic blue offered in '78... Quote Link to comment
Burabuda Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 yeah i have no recollection of a solid sky blue og color on any z, so my money is on respray Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 my money is on respray I'll dig deeper to be sure, but my money is on stock color... We shall see. B) Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I see the bolt heads are also painted over. Don't the doors get painted first before the hardware inside is bolted on???? 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I see the bolt heads are also painted over. Don't the doors get painted first before the hardware inside is bolted on???? My first time taking apart a 280Z, so tough for me to say. 510s and 1200s use phillips head screws that are not painted, so I'd assume the bolts wouldn't be either? I'm afraid it's a moot point at this juncture. Did some more digging today. The paint tag on the firewall indeed says #510 Sky Blue. But... This is #510 Sky Blue: I looked at the frame rails, and they are in fact that color. So apparently someone did a very thorough color change at some time in the past few years. Since the paint on the jambs and hood underside are in such good shape, it will be a lot easier to paint it the new color instead of the original #510 Sky Blue color. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Looks like they even masked off the paint code sticker when they resprayed it... :rofl: Quote Link to comment
Burabuda Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 that's great cause i still get to keep my money! 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Found a super cheap 240Z and got it for a parts donor. :thumbup: Need some parts off of it for my boss' 280Z project, and I'll be using a few things off of it for the turbo 280Z. Thinking about using the 240Z tail lights because they are in very good condition. Will give it a good once over on Monday to see what else we can use... Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Finally got the 280ZX donor in the shop for teardown. Trans and diff are out now, engine should be out tomorrow. :thumbup: I'm hoping I can unplug the ECU and pull the harness out through the engine bay so I don't have to unplug everything from the engine and pull it out through the dash. We shall see... Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Love me some Z cars.. Can't wait to see more. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I was able to snake the harness out through the hole in the firewall by snipping the connector that goes to the gauge cluster. Will have to figure out where those wires go later on... :rofl: Engine coming out... And ready to be scrubbed up and resealed. I love that valve cover... Got the 280ZX pushed out and the 280Z pushed in... Up on the lift, hood off, and teardown commences Monday... Going to pull the trans and swap out the stock fuel pump for the 280ZX turbo fuel pump Monday, then drop it down and pull the engine. :thumbup: Then bodywork and paint prep commences... B) Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Also think I'm going to go ahead and order an MSA front bumper so I can test fit it before paint... B) Trying to decide between sedate: Or more aggro: Any input is appreciated. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I like the aggro look but if you're going for sleeper you should do sedate. That aggro is nice though Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 That aggro is nice though Yeah, leaning that way pretty hard... ^_^ Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I would do the aggro, then find some round turn signals and relocate em down to where those fogs are in the pic :D would look pretty sick! 1 Quote Link to comment
Rhapakatui Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 Definitely the more "aggro" one. I'd rather see it with a bent piece of corrugated tin roofing than the first one. Also no side skirts. I know you didn't say anything about side skirts, but I just want to make it clear that those are gross. So with all these dattos to choose from, how many are you bringing to Nismo Fiesta? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 find some round turn signals and relocate em down to where those fogs are in the pic Early B210 turn signals would be a pretty good fit. And also plug right into the stock harness. B) Also no side skirts. I know you didn't say anything about side skirts, but I just want to make it clear that those are gross. DEFINITELY no side skirts. Those hideous things will never be on any Z we build. :thumbup: 2 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 So with all these dattos to choose from, how many are you bringing to Nismo Fiesta? There's a very good chance this car will be done by then. The 1200 should be done by then. So if the 1200 is done, I'm definitely bringing it. If not, this will be my backup plan. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Oh, and we brought home another Z today... :rofl: '70 240Z Might need to find a different hood, but otherwise not in terrible shape... Some rot around the gas door, but it came with a spare quarter panel in good shape (the right side anyway :rofl: )... Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 As for work on the blue 280Z today, got the driveshaft out, transmission out, then... Not too bad, may save the L28 short block for the 240Z... Time to start cleaning up in here now... Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Got the tow hooks and bumper shocks off, then started staring at the taillights... Nope, not a huge fan. Took the taillights off and went to the 240Z parts car... Oddly, the left lens has a bunch of tiny cracks in it... There's a spare 240Z taillight that's been kicking around the shop for years, and as it turns out, it's a left... :thumbup: So I started test fitting them on the 280Z... Yeah, they don't really fit at all... :rofl: So out comes the sawzall and... Also, only two of the bolt holes (sort of) line up... :rofl: Got those two bolts in and took a look at how it fits... Not too shabby. So set about drilling all the mounting holes. Also made a patch panel to cover the hole left by the old reverse light... Now do the same for the other side, and... I like this much better. B) Now to take it all back apart and fix that whiskey dent in the lower panel and weld up all those holes... :thumbup: 1 Quote Link to comment
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