70-71 240..? Or 78 280
09-23-2001 | 02:29 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
70-71 240..? Or 78 280
Hey Z'ers..
well, I'm finally delving into the early Z as a project car for the next year or two.. and I've come to a split decision.. thought I'd share. My plan is to buy a rust-free, driveable Z from somewhere within no more than a couple hundred miles away (I'm in SW washington)... and I plan on putting a Velo Rossa body kit with a 350 sbc and t5/t56 tranny (I know.. major bucks.. this is why my budget spans across a few years). I'm keeping my '79 zx as a daily driver while I am building the new beast.. now that I've put some money into it to rebuild/increase performance, Its a very stable and enjoyable ride. Still, with the advantages of an older Z (won't have to worry about emissions, the velo rossa kit, etc.) I've come to have to choose between a 70 or 71 240z or a 78 280z. Really the main debacle is that I've heard the chassis/frame on the 280's are a little bit stronger.. is this just speculation? As far as horsepower/performance goes, I'll probably run ~300 hp with the 350, and of course I'll tighten up the chassis/suspension in the conversion to the velo rossa kit, as it is a convertible. For either Z I'll be sure to find something rust free.. a good frame.. I'm not too concerned with body since I'll be replacing it with the gto kit. I've budgetted about 2-3k for the Z itself (nice condition), and I'll move on to budgetting other projects as they come along. Like I say, I don't have any time constraints, I have my 280zx as a daily driver, and the Z would simply serve as a healthy weekend/summer project. I've read the jtr manual many times... hyrbriz forum.. as well as documentations fitting the gto panels, finding good paint shops etc... so I know what i'm getting into. I'm mainly looking for advice from some of the Z experts as to which would be a better choice. Personal preferance doesn't really matter since the body/engine/suspension will be completely renovated. Tick.. tock.. tick.. tock
70 240z
71 240z
or
78 280z
???
-980mak
well, I'm finally delving into the early Z as a project car for the next year or two.. and I've come to a split decision.. thought I'd share. My plan is to buy a rust-free, driveable Z from somewhere within no more than a couple hundred miles away (I'm in SW washington)... and I plan on putting a Velo Rossa body kit with a 350 sbc and t5/t56 tranny (I know.. major bucks.. this is why my budget spans across a few years). I'm keeping my '79 zx as a daily driver while I am building the new beast.. now that I've put some money into it to rebuild/increase performance, Its a very stable and enjoyable ride. Still, with the advantages of an older Z (won't have to worry about emissions, the velo rossa kit, etc.) I've come to have to choose between a 70 or 71 240z or a 78 280z. Really the main debacle is that I've heard the chassis/frame on the 280's are a little bit stronger.. is this just speculation? As far as horsepower/performance goes, I'll probably run ~300 hp with the 350, and of course I'll tighten up the chassis/suspension in the conversion to the velo rossa kit, as it is a convertible. For either Z I'll be sure to find something rust free.. a good frame.. I'm not too concerned with body since I'll be replacing it with the gto kit. I've budgetted about 2-3k for the Z itself (nice condition), and I'll move on to budgetting other projects as they come along. Like I say, I don't have any time constraints, I have my 280zx as a daily driver, and the Z would simply serve as a healthy weekend/summer project. I've read the jtr manual many times... hyrbriz forum.. as well as documentations fitting the gto panels, finding good paint shops etc... so I know what i'm getting into. I'm mainly looking for advice from some of the Z experts as to which would be a better choice. Personal preferance doesn't really matter since the body/engine/suspension will be completely renovated. Tick.. tock.. tick.. tock
70 240z
71 240z
or
78 280z
???
-980mak
09-23-2001 | 05:31 PM
#2
professional Z car owner
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 112
From: Uniontown, Pennsylvania, usa
Re: 70-71 240..? Or 78 280
really depends on what you want or are looking for. the 70 and 71 in great condition will be hard to find. at the same moment though, they are much lighter then the 280. so with the lighter car come easier power from less weight. also though comes the traction problem irregaurdless of which you choose. the later 280s did have a stronger body and would probably be easier to find. i love my 240, but i did have a 350 280 which seemed to go well with the 280, being slightly longer and such. me personally i would go with the 280 for the V8 project. thats just my opinion. jaymes
watch out here comes my Z V8 powered and ready to roar
watch out here comes my Z V8 powered and ready to roar
09-23-2001 | 05:52 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 70-71 240..? Or 78 280
980mak,
A Velo rossa kit! Very cool. John Washington sent me a catalog, and boy I'd love to have one
Steve's Graber's 280Z is awesome its been featured in Kit Car magazine. He put a lot of hardwork into that car.
http://www.newtier.com/graber
I think I've sent you the link before, but it will help you to look at his site and what he has done
The 280Z is heavier definetly. Do you have to pass smog where you live. In california its 73 and below don't have to pass the smog test
If thats so in your case I have a 1973 240Z I would be willing to let you for a fair price if your interested e-mail me at Yuichi@ZDriver.com.
Also you might want to call John Washington at www.ReationResearch.com as he might have a opinion on what body will work better for the kit. Don't think it matters but I would defently talk to him if you already haven't. Tell him Yuichi from ZDriver.com sent yah
good luck on the project!
zya
Yuichi
ZDriver.com
StrictlyZ.com
A Velo rossa kit! Very cool. John Washington sent me a catalog, and boy I'd love to have one
Steve's Graber's 280Z is awesome its been featured in Kit Car magazine. He put a lot of hardwork into that car.http://www.newtier.com/graber
I think I've sent you the link before, but it will help you to look at his site and what he has done
The 280Z is heavier definetly. Do you have to pass smog where you live. In california its 73 and below don't have to pass the smog test If thats so in your case I have a 1973 240Z I would be willing to let you for a fair price if your interested e-mail me at Yuichi@ZDriver.com.
Also you might want to call John Washington at www.ReationResearch.com as he might have a opinion on what body will work better for the kit. Don't think it matters but I would defently talk to him if you already haven't. Tell him Yuichi from ZDriver.com sent yah
good luck on the project!
zya
Yuichi
ZDriver.com
StrictlyZ.com
09-23-2001 | 11:17 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
thanx guyz
I appreciate the info. And yes I've been drooling over steve grabbers sleek silver gto for the past few weeks, and I actually found a copy of that kit car mag on a mag database site.. wow is he dedicated to that car. I'll be sure to talk to john washington about the kit. Like Zmefly said.. I was really liking the ~2400 lbs stock weight on the early 240's.. and to find a rust free one in my state for 2-3 grand shouldn't be too hard. However, I will probably go with the 280 because they do seem a bit easier and from I've read in jtr a bit more stable with a 350sbc. ~300 lbs for a strengthened chassis is worth it in my book.. I can always work on lessening the weight after balancing f/r from the sbc conversion. Also, there is currently no smog in my area, and by the time there will be, IF there will be, both my illegal 280zx (no cat) and a '78 280 would be out of the margin. I'm sure I'll run into some problems during the next couple years in my project so I doubt this will be the last time you hear from me. I plan on e-documenting the major points of my project, because web-development is also a hobby of mine.. well, more of a career. Thanks for all the help, I'll be Z'n you all later
-980mak
*Sure, but you're paying for gas*
-980mak
*Sure, but you're paying for gas*
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