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New To Ratsun, With My Grandma's Datsun!


Mr.Comix

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Hey guys and gals, I'm new to the forum and thought you guys would be interested in checking out my 1976 Datsun 280z, Big Red!

 

http://muh%20280z_zpsj0kdt23c.jpg

 

This car has been the best and worse thing to ever happen to me as of now. It's the best because it made me love driving and when my grandma passed away this was the only thing she left me so it means a lot to me. Its also the worst thing to happen to me because I almost get sued because of it. Its a really long story but if you guys wanna hear it I'll tell you.

 

http://the280_zpsjrpatjao.jpg

 

My Grandma passed about 9 or 10 years ago, After about 8 years I was old enough to drive. The only problem was it sat for 8 years in my garage. I ended up spending about 2,000 to get it running again and it ran STRONG! 

 

http://280engine3_zps9tfgifzt.jpg

 

I decided to sell it even though I knew I would always regret it, but I needed money for another car that i could use for college, work, and other life things. 

 

This is when the story gets long and stressful so I wont type all that out (unless you want to read it then I'll tell you). But it ends with me getting the car back... In a horrible state. The paint was scratched by the other owners dogs, He ripped out all the carpeting, took out my passenger seat, and wore down my brand new breaks almost completely! Which almost caused me to get into an accident.

 

http://lowerfront_zpsecdxrloo.jpg

 

It was because of all those factors and many more, I decided to just keep the Z in my garage. That was a year ago, I let the car sit again without being touched our driven. 

 

Anyway, I went out into my garage two weeks ago and looked at my Z, covered in dust and cat hair. I tried to start it but nothing happened. That's when I felt so disgusted with myself that I would let this beautiful car get into this state. So I decided I'm going to fix it up and make it my daily driver.

 

http://backside_zps9v5wktvm.jpg

 

So I thought I would join this forum because I'm going to need all the help I can get! I don't know a single thing about cars. So any advice or help at all would be greatly appreciated!!

 

http://rightside3_zpsu8xyftrl.jpg

 

My first goal is to get it to start. I'm going to be recharging the battery and drain the old Gas out and put in some fresh gas in to see if that sturs up anything. after I get the car to start, I was told I should drain all the other fluids because they have just been sitting for a year. Hopefully then it will atleast turn on. After I get over that small hump I'm going to take it to a mechanic and get some new brakes and have him check it out to see what else I'm going to need to replace.

 

http://rightside_zpsqihsmxth.jpg

 

In the end, I want this to be my daily driver, but I also want it to be as unique and strong as my Grandma was (Because lets face it, if a grandma owns a 280Z and did all the work on it pretty much by herself, she's a badass). 

 

So if anyone has any tips, questions, or maybe even wants to check it out and help me out please let me know!!

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, I'll try and post some more at a later time.

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Don't expect the gas change to help. First thing is get a factory service manual (FSM) for your year of car. Get the FACTORY one from Nissan not the Haynes or Chiltons. This is much more detailed and complete.

 

Do change the other fluids as you really have no idea when this was done last and once done there is that peace of mind from doing so. This won't get it started either but you get to know your car and look it over. Chances are some of the fluids are low too. Follow the FSM directions and suggested fluid types for transmission (I assume automatic?) and differential.

 

That's a nice looking car, take care of it.

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Don't expect the gas change to help. First thing is get a factory service manual (FSM) for your year of car. Get the FACTORY one from Nissan not the Haynes or Chiltons. This is much more detailed and complete.

I actually do have a Haynes FSM, and its not vary detailed at all. I tried to change my brakes with that as my guide and it did not pan out well. I ended up just letting a mechanic do it. Ill have to try and find a Nissan FSM. Thanks for the tip!

 

 

Do change the other fluids as you really have no idea when this was done last and once done there is that peace of mind from doing so. This won't get it started either but you get to know your car and look it over. Chances are some of the fluids are low too. Follow the FSM directions and suggested fluid types for transmission (I assume automatic?) and differential.

I had all the fluids changed last year, but I think I'm going to do it again because that mechanic wasnt the most trust worthy. It has a 5 speed transmission, so the only difference I'm assuming is a manual transmission has clutch fluid?

 

 

Welcome dude, your Z looks pretty sweet only thing I'd change on first glance is the wheels but anyway I wanna know the whole story on this thing and DON'T GET RID OF IT AGAIN YOUR GRANDMA GAVE IT TO YOU

EVERYONE I show my car to tells me to change the wheels, so much so that I kind of want to keep them just because I know no one else will have this style. I don't know though, I'll see how I feel about them once the car is in good driving shape! By whole story do you mean the part I left out about why I had to take it back from the guy I sold it two? I guess the reason comes down to California smoging laws. The mechanic I paid to get the car to pass smog, made it pass smog. However, he did so illegally and without telling me that it was illegal. Basically he adjusted some knob on the engine to make more airflow come into the engine, thus making it pass smog (again, I dont know a lot about cars so that is just what I got from it). This is illegal because he turned it back down after. I sold the car saying and showing proof that it passed smog. The new owner tried to re-smog it at a different place and it failed, he supposedly got quoted that it would cost him around $2000-$3000 to make it pass smog. Here in California, it is illegal to sell a car that can't pass smog unless you sell it as Non-Op, which i did not. so he changed his mind, after doing some burnouts and tearing through my interiors of course, and threatened to take me to court unless I took the car back and gave him his money back. So I did. and now a year later here I am trying to fix it up for myself.

 

While I'm thinking about it, I don't know if anyone would know, but does anyone know of any trustworthy mechanics in the Sacramento CA area who know their way around a Z's?

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If your build date on the driver's door jam is Aug '76 onward, it's really a '77 model year. The 5 speed was first offered as an option on the '77 model year. If this is the case use the '77 date when ordering parts. .... or grandma slipped a newer 5 speed in it.

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If your build date on the driver's door jam is Aug '76 onward, it's really a '77 model year. The 5 speed was first offered as an option on the '77 model year. If this is the case use the '77 date when ordering parts. .... or grandma slipped a newer 5 speed in it.

I just checked and it says the manufacture date is 3/76 so I'm guessing my Grandma put a newer transmission in. I know that the car only has 77k miles on it as well, which makes me wonder what she was planning on doing with this car haha. 

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Alright so I drained all the old gas and put in some brand new gas. My battery was completely drained so I went to recharge it and the battery was a total dud, so I just got a new battery. These Duralasts suck apparently.

 

When I put in the new gas and new battery then the car started right up! I was not expecting that! I just sat in the car for a good two minutes and let it idle, it didn't stall or turn off or anything. It just hummed nicely at 1k RPMs.

 

I think the next thing on my list to do is take it to a mechanic and have them replace all the other fluids and get some new brakes in the car. 

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GL4 in the transmission NEVER allow GL5 to be used.

 

GL5 in the differential

 

Any good quality anti freeze coolant, never with just water.

 

Engine oil? well there's a huge debate going on about the shrinking ZDDP levels in the oils today. ZDDP is a zinc anti scuff additive that protects the cam lobes from wear by the rocker arms. All new cars use a form of roller rocker and they need less protection. In addition the zinc ends up in the environment. Oil makers claim that the ZDDP levels (at one time as high as 1400 PPM down to as low as 600 PPM is still adequate) Well it's my car and I want what was available back in the 70s and what the engine was designed to run on. For this I run Chevron Delo 400 or Shell Rotella T 15W40. This a light diesel oil which still has the higher levels and still unaffected by the ZDDP uproar.

 

Oil filter? Don't use anything made by Fram. Get a NAPA gold or WIX filter. There are others but Fram are poor quality.

 

Replace your fuel filter now.

 

Make sure the hydraulic brake system is flushed with new fluid when the brakes are done.

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GL4 in the transmission NEVER allow GL5 to be used.

 

GL5 in the differential

 

Any good quality anti freeze coolant, never with just water.

 

Engine oil? well there's a huge debate going on about the shrinking ZDDP levels in the oils today. ZDDP is a zinc anti scuff additive that protects the cam lobes from wear by the rocker arms. All new cars use a form of roller rocker and they need less protection. In addition the zinc ends up in the environment. Oil makers claim that the ZDDP levels (at one time as high as 1400 PPM down to as low as 600 PPM is still adequate) Well it's my car and I want what was available back in the 70s and what the engine was designed to run on. For this I run Chevron Delo 400 or Shell Rotella T 15W40. This a light diesel oil which still has the higher levels and still unaffected by the ZDDP uproar.

 

Oil filter? Don't use anything made by Fram. Get a NAPA gold or WIX filter. There are others but Fram are poor quality.

 

Replace your fuel filter now.

 

Make sure the hydraulic brake system is flushed with new fluid when the brakes are done.

Holy crap thanks for all the info! This will make things a lot easier.

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  • 2 months later...

I hope you the best of luck! good for you getting it back after sale. I had a 86 caprice that i loved from my grandfather that i had to sell and now its probably a big ol donkmobile. Cherish your heirloom! P.S. those are sweet moons

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You're in an incredible location to meet some of the best Datsun folks in the world, I'd say that's in your best interest. The Bay Area has more of us than anywhere else, I'd say. I'm sure you already know this, but California has some very picky laws about 1976+ cars, and you're going to have to be careful about what you modify on that (at some point, you'll want to modify stuff).

 

Also, I really hate those wheels a lot ... so maybe you should keep them after all? That strategy seems to be working pretty well :)

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I also hate the wheels 

there is a local datsun club in sac that meets on the first Friday of every month and we go on a fun run every month 

the ring leader Dave was the first master mechanic for datsun back in the 70,s and he is a wealth of knowledge 

the car is my favorite factory 280z color

If you like the wheels keep them they are the style that was run on the Bonneville salt flats car back in the day  

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