1978 280z > all

[oostinn]

Hey guys. I'm a newbie here. I recently purchased a 1978 Datsun 280z. I have been lurking the forums for months now and I finally can call myself a proud Z owner. I have a few pictures to start out, I'm looking to engine swap this thing and put a l28et into it (current engine threw a rod), anyone who can lead me in the right direction or path would be much appreciated. I'm young, barely 19, and this will be my first project car I have ever done. I know she isn't pretty yet. BUT, she's mine and she will be. Also, can someone give me some insight between l28 and l28et? I know the L28et are the engines from 81-83 zx's, atleast I think. And please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this because I don't want it to look like a know everything, because I hardly know anything :blush:. 

 

Anywho, here's some pictures.

 

I was one happy man.

 

Limited rust on hatch

 

Here is the only rust I have found so far that has terrified me.  :crying: It's underneath the battery if you couldn't tell. 

 

Gonna salvage what I can out of this and get some $ back. 

 

Camera isn't too great sorry.

 

Interior day 1

 

Thinking to myself "What did I get myself into? :confused: "

 

 

On the way home we stopped for some taco bell and I had my dad take a picture next to it.

 

After my first day actually working on it, which was today. I removed the front bumper and most of the carpet/ interior. I have seen worse rust situations so I got somewhat lucky.

 

 

[datzenmike]

Welcome to Ratsun oostinn, yeah removing those bumpers improves the looks 10X. Nice S30, they still look like a z car

[oostinn]

Welcome to Ratsun oostinn, yeah removing those bumpers improves the looks 10X. Nice S30, they still look like a z car

Thank you. I am having some troubles with one side of the rear bumpers, I got the left side but the right isn't working with me. I will figure it out though.

[Draker]

I'm not a Z guy.. but there are lots of Z folks on here. Specifically member: Im blue

 

He knows these cars inside and out.. swapped lots of things. Built lots of stuff. And he's a really nice guy from Portland.

 

Lots of others can help you too of course.. 

[Skib]

With the L28et deff wanna get an 82/83, better electronics.
Has the CAS in the dizzy instead of external with a trigger wheel like the 81

the 81/early82 head is the P90 though with regular solid lifters

while the 82/83 run a P90A, same head just with hydro lifters.

 

only issue you will have with the P90A is if your starting to make more serious power/high RPM
or if one of the hydro lifters goes bad, no aftermarket replacement, have to pull a good one from another head.

[oostinn]

With the L28et deff wanna get an 82/83, better electronics.

Has the CAS in the dizzy instead of external with a trigger wheel like the 81

 

the 81/early82 head is the P90 though with regular solid lifters

while the 82/83 run a P90A, same head just with hydro lifters.

 

only issue you will have with the P90A is if your starting to make more serious power/high RPM

or if one of the hydro lifters goes bad, no aftermarket replacement, have to pull a good one from another head.

 

Okay. Thank you for the info, really will help me out a lot :) 

[oostinn]

I'm not a Z guy.. but there are lots of Z folks on here. Specifically member: Im blue

 

He knows these cars inside and out.. swapped lots of things. Built lots of stuff. And he's a really nice guy from Portland.

 

Lots of others can help you too of course.. 

 

I am located in Salem, so i'm right in between you 2  B)

[oostinn]

Update. Got the front and rear bumpers removed. Next goal. Removing the shock absorbers, or whatever you wanna call them.

 

 

[Slowpoke]

The bumper shocks come out pretty easy exept for the passenger side rear. You might have to drop the tank to get it out. Or if your lazy you can just cut off the end. You probably will want to drop the tank anyways, so maybe leave it till you get to that.

[Skib]

yup ^^

[oostinn]

yup ^^

 

 

The bumper shocks come out pretty easy exept for the passenger side rear. You might have to drop the tank to get it out. Or if your lazy you can just cut off the end. You probably will want to drop the tank anyways, so maybe leave it till you get to that.

 

Lucky for me, my z is missing its gas tank so it shouldn't be an issue atm  B)

[oostinn]

Also. Looking for a l28 short block, decided to stick with the original l28 engine. So, if anyone in the salem/eugene/portland area has a l28 shortbloxk that is reasonably priced. Please pm me and so we can chat about it :)

[C.RyanStephens]

hate to say it man, but i think you might have a hard time finding a gas tank, only ones i could find were out of my price range (but thats just me). also, pull a part shoves a screw driver through em to drain the gas (even though theres a drain plug, which is super convenient btw). if you pull a used one make sure you get it clean and coated, itl save you alot of heartache in the future.
heres one i came across that comes with the fuel sending unit (which can also be a tad tricky to find/not cheap)

http://www.zcarsource.com/gas-tank-sending-unit-set-240z-260z-280z_8_55263.html

those are reconditioned, they also offer the tank and sending unit seperatly.

 

i too have a 78, and yes, theyre the best ;D

 

[Phantom]

Go to www.zccw.org. That is the website for the Z car club over in the Seattle area.  There is a wealth of Z car specific knowledge in that club and a lot of folks driving the S30 chassis.  They'll be able to locate a 280Z tank for you - or anything else for that matter.

I drive a '77 280Z with an LS1 in it and live in Yakima. 

Also - if you can find an L28 out of an 82 or 83 280ZX and also get the transmission and differential you'll have a much better running car.  Datsun did some headwork for those cars that broaden the torque range and the 5-spd and 3.90:1 R200 differential give the car more get up and go as well as lower cruising RPMs.

Have fun with your project.

[oostinn]

hate to say it man, but i think you might have a hard time finding a gas tank, only ones i could find were out of my price range (but thats just me). also, pull a part shoves a screw driver through em to drain the gas (even though theres a drain plug, which is super convenient btw). if you pull a used one make sure you get it clean and coated, itl save you alot of heartache in the future.

heres one i came across that comes with the fuel sending unit (which can also be a tad tricky to find/not cheap)

 

http://www.zcarsource.com/gas-tank-sending-unit-set-240z-260z-280z_8_55263.html

those are reconditioned, they also offer the tank and sending unit seperatly.

 

i too have a 78, and yes, theyre the best ;D

 

 

I actually found a guy with a ton of stuff I need, located in the Eugene area. Lucky me right?

 

Go to www.zccw.org. That is the website for the Z car club over in the Seattle area.  There is a wealth of Z car specific knowledge in that club and a lot of folks driving the S30 chassis.  They'll be able to locate a 280Z tank for you - or anything else for that matter.

I drive a '77 280Z with an LS1 in it and live in Yakima. 

Also - if you can find an L28 out of an 82 or 83 280ZX and also get the transmission and differential you'll have a much better running car.  Datsun did some headwork for those cars that broaden the torque range and the 5-spd and 3.90:1 R200 differential give the car more get up and go as well as lower cruising RPMs.

Have fun with your project.

I have been thinking back and forth on what I'd like to do. Right now what I want is an l28 with su or triple weber carbs. I cant get enough of the sound of the carburated engines, just something about them. The guy I am buying my engine and carbs from is a Datsun guru and he's gonna help me getting it running good.  B)

[Skib]

Also check out the "Friends of NorthwestZ car club" on FB too.

Portland based Z club, lots of good dudes there and meet once a month.
Members all around.