Hello all! Picked up a 79 280ZX for restoration. Only 54,000 miles on the clock and in very nice condition. The car was in storage for 6 years. It started right up with the old gas but didn't run very well because of it. I did drive it home though. I drained the gas and added 5 gallons of fresh gas with a can of Seafoam. The car had original plug wires. I installed new plugs, wires, cap, rotor and fuel filter. It runs like a champ now. Took out the interior, cleaned and re-installed it. The body is rust free but very faded and oxidized. It will be going it for a paint job the end of October. It came with new tires, exhaust, battery, slave cylinder, master cylinder and hatch prop rods. Great deal I thought for $2,700.00. Any other members in and around Pittsburgh?
JanS

 

Welcome to ZDriver!

Got pics?

 

Sorry not much to look at right now! Pictures are pretty poor quality due to the rain and dark skys today. I'll try posting 3. Here goes!

 

Welcome to Z Driver!

Certainly looks like a better start than I had with my 79. Mine was 6 shades of black and had sat in a field for a few years before I got it (in Western Washington, none the less). Needless to say, it had a few solid body spots in the rust, rather than the other way around!

What shape is the dash in after being in storage? Hopefully it is uncracked for you! If it is, be sure to protect it in the sun!

 

Thanks! It does have one crack between the cluster and the speedo brow. Might do the repair I've seen explained here. Shouldn't be all that bad as it's only about 4 inches long and a 1/16 inch wide. I've done a few other cars in my lifetime.

 

Monongahela Pa here lol. There is a group of us forming a Z club in the pittsburgh area. Great to see another going back on the road. Would that be the craiglist car from butler?

 

No it was about 1 mile from my house in Lower Burrell. I'm the third owner and the car has spent it's whole life within a mile of me. It would be good to get together at the local shows. I go to car shows all summer long with my 71 Chevelle 454 SS and have only seen two Datsuns, both 240Z's. One is original and the other has a small block Chevy engine. Got the 280ZX to take to the shows when there is a chance of rain.

 

Yea it would. The crew is pretty shut down for the year. I have a 79 rat rod turbo 79 and a 81 t top which is down for a head gasket. That's great you found a clean one. Its a 1 in million shot to find a rust free zx in our neck of the woods for that price. If your ever out at the beach room shows in finleyville pa I usually have both mine out there Friday nights. They usually get a load of attention since there pretty rare here.

 

Mineral Beach, right? Never been out there. It would be a bitch to fight the cross town traffic on route 51 let alone route 88! Been to the Brookline show and out 51 to that T Time Golf show. You ever been out to the Wexford Church car cruise on Friday nights? They get close to 3,000 cars there! They run from Memoral Day till Labor Day every Friday night.

 

I got flyers for the wexford show. I never went since we got the mineral beach show. I own property down Oakland and the last time I drove the z down my left leg was killing me for a month with all the clutching. Lol word of caution stay off of 28!! We just had to go up the Mills in it tottal hell! 95 degrees T tops out and no A/C. But throw me a yell if you need anything. Got a stock pyle of parts. Just helped a guy out in highland park with his 78.

 

Did you go up the Mills Mall for a Wednesday night car cruise? I'm up there every Wednesday as I'm only 5 miles from there. They have cruises up there Friday nights now too. I think I'm good on parts now. Just ordered a right side tail light. Mines cracked and a good set of front turn signal lenses. Re-upholstered the rear cargo area 2 fiberboard trim pieces and sprayed them the correct color with vinyl dye. The spare cover was good and just needed a re-spray. Have the headliner out now and waiting for new fabric for it. Pretty much done then except for the paint job. I could use a good un-bent lower front panel if you have one. It's the piece under the plastic grille.

 

Good luck on that part. I've owned 4 of them so far and every one had either damage or rust. I have my guy that owns a defunct Datsun dealership out in finleyville. Weird guy kinda reminds me of "Doc brown" off them old Back to the future movies. He's got a 100 x 200 foot building that should be on "hoarders" full of z parts so next time I'm down ill see if he good some cherry ones. Do know he got a perfect lower valance one peice fiberglass. Is worth a ride over there got a 70 to 89 every model year lined up the sides and two scca race cars that he ran 24 hour daytona races lol. Not dropping names but he is the Z master in PA except he's bat **** crazy lol

 

Lesknocker, any chance you have the contact info for the SmittyBuilt from Finleyville, PA? I had bought some stuff from him way back when I was racing my 240, now I'm trying to put it back on the road and NEED some stuff.

Thanks, Regularjoe

 

[QUOTE=Lesnocker;317036]Good luck on that part. I've owned 4 of them so far and every one had either damage or rust. I have my guy that owns a defunct Datsun dealership out in finleyville. Weird guy kinda reminds me of "Doc brown" off them old Back to the future movies. He's got a 100 x 200 foot building that should be on "hoarders" full of z parts so next time I'm down ill see if he good some cherry ones. QUOTE]

There's a guy on Ebay with 10 new ones for sale now. I just bought one.

 

Thanks Jan ill have to take a look. Joe ill have to Pm you. Smitty is VERY unreliable anymore. I called him in march for a new T top and a turbo and still has not called me back. Im planning on heading down to the shop this week just to B.S. He had some health issues and is still working. But ill bring up I know a person looking for parts and see if he is comfy handing out his info. I got him kinda pissed last time I dropped his contact info. If your local should just stop down think he still working nights.

 

79 83 82 81 80 Nissan 280ZX Front Bumper Valance Apron | eBay

Here's the link. Only 8 left. $46.00 with free shipping. Got mine yesterday. It's aftermarket but nice with a good gauge of steel.

 

Lesknocker, tell him I'm the guy that raced the "sunshine" chartreusse 240 in ITS out at the Ledges.He remembered the last time I called about 9 months ago.

Thanks, Joe